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Photo: Joshua Gunter/The Plain Dealer
The two-win New Jersey Nets came into the Q tonight, and the Cavaliers played like they had won the game before they had even stepped on the floor. Turnovers, frequent fouling, and a general lack of focus allowed the Nets to hang around for the entire game. In the end, the Cavalier centers and a Devin Harris ejection proved to be enough to extend the Cavalier win streak to three, but the Cavaliers have a lot to look at after this one.
One in, one out: Daniel Gibson made his return after missing the past two games with a sprained right pinky, but it was Delonte West who kept the Cavaliers at less than full strength. West had "a couple of bad days" according to Brian Windhorst, and so he misses yet another game in the truly hour-by-hour saga that is the 2009 Delonte West.
His bobblehead, his fast start: On Shaq bobblehead night, the big fella got going early. The Nets attempted to play O'Neal largely straight up initially, and they paid for it. Shaq had nine points before his behind hit the bench in the first quarter, and he showed off some of his more impressive and imaginative post moves as a Cavalier. O'Neal in fact had his best shooting night as a Cavalier, finishing 7-of-9 for his 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 assists, and 1 steal in 25 minutes. Shaq appeared to fight for post position much more often in this game than most, and his shot was less laser-beam-like and more arching.
March of the Nets (to the line): In the current "funk" the Cavaliers are in, their fouling has been pretty frequent. They've been picked on by officiating crews, but they are also simply not moving their feet enough and trying too hard to block already contested looks. Tonight, J.J. Hickson picked up three fouls in the first six minutes, and Anderson Varejao picked up two quick first quarter cheapies as well. That meant Darnell Jackson was pressed into early service. D-block actually played 13 very uneventful minutes, pulling down 1 rebound and missing one shot, but his +4 plus/minus indicates that he did his job: hold the fort. The free throw line was the only thing keeping the Nets in the same arena as the Cavaliers. While the Nets were shooting sub-40%, they had 23 first half free throw attempts, making 18 of those. The Cavaliers by comparison had 10 less attempts, making 8-of-13 in that stretch.
2nd quarter contributions: The Cavaliers' main scoring threat in the second quarter was not LeBron, Mo, or Shaq.. it was Big Z. Ilgauskas had nine second quarter points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting. The most enjoyable thing was Z got to operate in the post a little bit. Starting with the second half of last year, the Cavaliers really pulled the plug on post feeds to Ilgauskas. I feel there is still a place in the offense for that, especially when the Cavaliers are getting such good practice doing so with Shaq. Z showed he can exploit the right match up just like O'Neal can. Z also finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 blocks in his 22 minutes.
Use your head, LBJ!: With all of the amazing things LeBron James can do, you are left shaking your head sometimes at some of the bonehead plays he occasionally makes. Most of them come in the area of offensive fouls; LeBron can be prone to pick them up in bunches particularly when he's trying to do too much. LeBron picked two of those fouls up tonight on back-to-back possessions, and the second one was the type of play you just ask "why"? On a fastbreak scenario, LBJ didn't have numbers and worse, Trenton Hassell had set up shop for a couple of seconds just outside the charge circle. James ran right through Hassell and someone sitting in the cheap seats could have called that charge.
Zoning up: The Cavaliers led by seven at the break, but that lead closed to just two largely because of the Nets' defensive adjustment. The Nets switched to a zone, and the Cavaliers played right into their hands at first, refusing to move the ball effectively, left to jack up outside shots. The Cavaliers eventually adjusted by moving LeBron to the foul line and hitting a few weakside three pointers, but it was a nice adjustment by green head coach Kiki Vandeweghe.
An old foe who loves the Q: If Rafer Alston was a Cavalier and got to play half his games in the Q, he would be nearly an All-Star player. Skip to my Lou, as we remember all too well from last year's Eastern Conference Finals with Orlando and regular season matchup with Houston, transforms into part Reggie Miller and part Chris Paul when playing on the Cavaliers' homecourt. Alston scored 18 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, connecting on 4-of-7 three point attempts. He did this all in just 19 minutes of action, which proves the backup point can be lightning quick scoring in a bottle, at least in downtown Cleveland.
Lunar assault: With just under four minutes remaining, the Cavaliers got a runout off a Shaq steal and Jamario Moon was poised to smash it. Instead, Devin Harris blasted off alongside Moon, smashed him around the neck, and sent him flying awkwardly to the floor. LeBron came sprinting to Moon's defense, pinning Harris by the stanchion of the basket, before the other seven players arrived. Harris was assessed a flagrant-two and was ejected, and the call was upheld by Bennett Salvatore on replay. It was the right call, and I'm not sure if you can call it dirty, but it was certainly ill-advised for the young point guard. With Moon that far into his dunk, you let him have that. I'm pretty sure Harris wouldn't appreciate being hammered like that.
Hack-a-Shaq: The Cavaliers got another taste of the Hack-a-Shaq tonight late in the fourth. Rafer Alston and then Eduardo Najera each wrapped up O'Neal to send him to the line where he missed a pair of attempts. After an Alston pair of free throws made it a nine point game with just over two minutes left, Mike Brown went back to Z at center, and he nailed a foul line jumper to remove all doubt on the next possession. The ability to go to Z, a solid foul-shooter, late in the game is key.
 goes to: Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Shaquille O'Neal. The two 7-footers took turns carrying the Cavalier offense tonight. Shaq scored nine in the first quarter, and Z scored nine in the second quarter. They each finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 blocks on the evening.
Team Grade: C-
The Cavaliers did drop 58 points in the paint on New Jersey, shot 58 percent, and had 23 assists on 39 field goals. However, their 14 turnovers, 10 missed free throws, and allowing the Nets to shoot 23 first half free throws are causes for concern. Most importantly, their lack of focus against lesser opponents is startling to say the least. If they bring this kind of effort tomorrow night, they should anticipate getting beat.
That game tomorrow night will be in Philadelphia, where they will take on Allen Iverson and the struggling Sixers.
All for one. One for all.
Kirk
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