Thread: Zydrunas Ilgauskas Picture/Update Thread
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remy23 · 11-28-2005, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Windhorst on the Cavaliers

When the going gets tough, don’t forget Z

Cavaliers need to remember their All-Star center can help when the revamped offense is struggling

By Brian Windhorst

The Cavaliers have an All-Star center.

Even casual fans know this. Considering they just signed him to a $50 million contract, you can bet the Cavs know it, too.

So it is hard to fathom how sometimes Zydrunas Ilgauskas is forgotten.

There's no denying the Cavs have a potent offense; when they're running and gunning with their vast array of weapons, they are the best in the NBA. LeBron James is often unstoppable going to the hole, Larry Hughes can score from anywhere and Damon Jones' and Donyell Marshall's shooting add an entire new element.

Coach Mike Brown's decision to sit Ilgauskas and go with a smaller and quicker lineup for stretches is well-founded. Reducing Ilgauskas' minutes from their record highs of last season is also prudent.

But it seems as if when they need him the most, the Cavs too often forget they have such a talent as the 7-foot-3 Lithuanian. Their offense struggles when they face a team that slows the game down and makes them execute in halfcourt sets, an obvious issue since day one.

The teams that are best at this are the best in the league, notably Detroit, Indiana and San Antonio. This has been obvious in the Cavs' blowout losses against the Pacers and Spurs as they've wheezed offensively when their driving lanes and fastbreak points were taken away.

This is why having a skilled center is valuable, but the Cavs thus far are under-using Ilgauskas in these moments. In their first three losses, Big Z has averaged just eight points.

There are circumstances surrounding that stat, but it makes a point. In last week's loss at Indiana, there didn't appear to be enough of an effort to get Z involved even when it was clear that Hughes, because of sickness, and James, because of Ron Artest, weren't going to be able to get it done.

Ilgauskas is guilty of not passing out of double-teams and letting the offense stagnate. In traffic, sometimes he attempts to draw fouls or get a shot up and try to get the offensive rebound instead of looking for a teammate. He averages less than one assist per game. He even admits he needs to see the floor better. That is his end of the deal.

With his length, shooting touch, free-throw accuracy and back to the basket ability, Ilgauskas is probably the second-best offensive pure center in the NBA after Shaquille O'Neal. The Cavs' end of the deal is to remember that he's there, especially when the going gets tough.

Dribbles

• One of the ways to upset the rest of your teammates is to dribble the ball too much, which is what has driven some of Steve Francis' and Stephon Marbury's mates batty. So pick your spots, but according to a few scouts, James would do well to keep his dribble more. James has gotten better at going to the basket and at free-throw shooting, which is why he's off to such a good start.

Sometimes, though, he picks up his dribble and looks to pass when he doesn't see a lane. Trained observers suggest he look to keep his dribble and be more patient when looking to go to the basket.

• He's a great defender and he's from Cleveland, but don't expect the Cavs to pursue Ruben Patterson, whose time in Portland is at an end. He might be the kind of player the Cavs want, but insiders say management considers chemistry as much as talent, and Patterson doesn't pass.

• The little flap created this week when the Cavs asked the Seattle SuperSonics to stop using Brendan Malone as a consultant really isn't Malone's fault. All Malone wants to do in life is coach; he wasn't looking to get over on anyone. The Sonics operate on a tight budget and if they had the money, they probably would have hired Malone as a full-time assistant coach. There are no hard feelings from the Cavs over it. In fact, they might use Malone to do some scouting work for them this season.

• The Cavs spent $40,000 on their player introductions presentation, complete with fireworks and smoke and fire machines. But it caused too much smoke and ash, which bothered players, so it was gutted. Now, fans sit quietly while watching a video in the dark that is way too long, and then they have to be told to stand up when the players are introduced. Here's a friendly tip: It is too bad all the bells and whistles didn't work out, but go back and watch how the Chicago Bulls were introduced in the 1990s. Skip the video and the disco ball, shorten it up and put the focus on the player not the scoreboard.

• James doesn't get enough credit for how much he gives to charity. He spent a few hundred thousand on Hurricane Katrina relief, and last week he gave away no less than 1,200 turkeys in Cleveland and Akron.

• The Cavs debuted their new navy jerseys Saturday. After they had a gold jersey last season, talks are under way to release all wine and all orange throwback jerseys in future years. The LeBron fan in your life can have a James jersey rainbow.

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Thread: Zydrunas Ilgauskas Picture/Update Thread
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