The wait is finally over!!! Eight days of no basketball is way too long…The Cavs are as ready as they will ever be, ready for a 3rd foray into the ECF…this was a day of tying up loose ends on both ends of the floor and going over every finite detail of preparation .. Larry Nance took in the workout…every time you see the big fella, you are reminded how good and consistent he was in every phase…At end of practice, Joe Smith was laughing, as Andy bear hugged him from behind…if you had a snapshot of this team and how they enjoy each other, that would be it for me...
The Q is getting ready for Game-1 and all that goes with it…and that includes TNT…crews were busy installing all the final necessary toys, including their set, which is in the corner of the arena, opposite the visitor’s bench, at the base of the section….Be nice to Sir Charles...he was only trying to get a rise out of all of us...
LeBron of course will get plenty of attention from Courtney Lee, Mickael Pietrus, Rashard Lewis and anyone else Stan Van Gundy chooses to put on 23...LeBron was asked if only he can stop himself...LeBron thought about it, said...not really, then reversed himself and gave the honest answer...Yes!!! he said with an I can't help it smile...Meaning if he is on his game, you know the result...Kobe, D-Wade, MJ all believe the same thing...
LeBron and the gang got a chance to bond a little more than usual during Game-6 of the Magic-Celtics series last week...LBJ hosted the entire team at his home for a little barbeque/viewing session...Mo said the food was perfect!!! LeBron has a bowling alley, so he and Boobie went toe to toe; each winning a game....The King was asked what he averages...he thought for a moment and answered, 300!!! Only LeBron can stop LeBron on the lanes too!!!
Finally, congrats to Elijah Brown and his AAU teammates, as they won a tournament title on Sunday, a game which went to double overtime against a team from Chicago...and the best part is his Dad got to see the entire game!! Mike was among the proud parents on hand...next stop for the 8th grade group....ironically, Orlando this summer for the national tournament...
See you before AND after Game-1 and ALL the playoff games on Cavaliers Live on FS Ohio...
Good things come to those who wait, which for the Cavs would mean winning this next series. But on this day, a little change of scenery, a practice session at The Q, since the guys have not been there since Game 2 of the Hawks series (a week and a half ago).
LeBron ended his free throw session with a perfect rendition of Paul Pierce's one leg back stance, complete with the entire release, follow through and scowl. My guess is The King can imitate a bunch of free throw routines from around the league. I'll have to ask him how many he does. Grant Hill, I remember had quite a dossier, including a hilarious Kevin McHale and Larry Bird, as well as one of the ugliest of all time, that one handed southpaw shot put of Anthony Mason. You may recall that included an are you kiddin' me pause before the release. One never duplicated I'm sure.
Before LBJ walked off the court today, he walked about 10 feet from the extreme corner of the floor by the Cavs bench, toward the locker room. He turned and eyed the hoop, which at that angle he could barely, I mean barely, see the front edge of the rim. So, from about 30 feet, he high arced it, and it passed down over the corner of the backboard, and barely moved the net. Nothing but the bottom! A shot in horse that would have meant an automatic letter. LeBron, without breaking his concentration, strutted his stuff to the locker room, figuring that meant it was time to head home and catch the Lakers-Rockets (I felt compelled to call 60 minutes and tell them what they missed).
Tarence Kinsey laughed and shook his head, saying..."I'm not even going to bother trying it".
Back to work for the Cavs at practice on Saturday, as they still await their next opponent...Thursday night, Mike and his assistants watched Game 6 at his home...Italian take out was on the menu (now I REALLY wish I was a coach)...they will reconvene again tomorrow night at Casa de Brown...maybe Mexican will be the food of choice (If so, I'd want to partake again!).
Mike said it best during the workout today, reminding his guys to focus on getting better in every aspect...that's the best recipe for the Cavs to follow with so much time off...focus on themselves...By the time they play Game 1 of the ECF Wednesday night, they will have only played four games in three-and-a-half weeks! Meanwhile, Boston or Orlando will have played either six or seven more post season games than the Cavs, and that does not include the seven overtimes the Celtics had to endure in the Chicago series.
During today's five-on-five, Z drew the biggest oohs and ahs, when he took off outside the restricted area and threw down a thunderous dunk...even the big fella had to wear a grin after that one...later, with the final seconds ticking down, Mo, with his typical ball on a string, froze the defense and then calmly hit an 18 footer to close out the scoreboard.
After practice, Ben rolled out two remote control cars from his expansive collection...Mike was asked if his guys were bored...he looked over at Ben and smiled..."right now they are"...top speed on Ben's second set of wheels by the way, 60 mph.
All 10 thousand plus of you...(that number keeps blowing me away, by the way)...a lot of good questions so far for "Throwin' the Hammer Down," including centralwinners23:"how are you going to answer all these questions" Good one!!!
We'll get to as many as we can, as soon as we can...A.C. gave me his trademark chuckle when I read him some of these Q's...(I told him again, he needs to trademark that laugh!!!!)...I know it's the internet and all, but when we get responses from all over the world, it's pretty incredible...or as Kanye West would "It's Amazing"...it tells you how global LeBron, Mo and the guys have become....so, keep the inquiries coming.
For example...from Gene, from Manila, Philippines: What's a "Rubber rim"? Why call it rubber rim? and Where did you get that line?
Well, Gene, "Rubber Rim" is nothing more than a metaphor for when the Cavs score off a shot that bounces in...we only do it for the Wine and Gold of course, as if the ball bounced off a rim made of rubber, so it went in...I can't even remember where it started...Delonte seems to get plenty of rubber rim hops because of his soft touch...I think it was Mo or Wally who had the best one all season, when it bounced high off the rim, above the glass and down.
Anyway...you guys are all the best...as Mike Tirico said so well during the Atlanta series, The Q has become one of the best home environments in pro sports...and I agree.
A.C. and I will start with the video responses next week...and Yes, CURTYCURT, my partner could "throw the hammer down" in his day...even now, he's still a knock down shooter...(even more so on the golf course!!!--darn it AC!)
