James shines, Cavaliers struggle

CLEVELAND (AP) Everything has come so easy for LeBron James _ except for the victories.

After just two months in the NBA, Cleveland's sensational rookie has been better than advertised, posting impressive statistics and assuming leadership of his team.

Now the teenager wants to turn the Cavaliers into winners.

After going 102-6 during his celebrated high school career in Akron, James is off to a 10-22 start as a pro.

Don't think his confidence is diminished at all, though.

``It's disappointing,'' James said recently. ``But it's a long season, and I still think we can make a run at the playoffs.''

Cleveland's No. 1 overall draft pick survived scandals in high school, signed a $90 million deal with Nike and brought hope to a championship-starved city. And his play on the court so far has been worthy of the endless attention and adulation.

``He's kind of amazing,'' Cavs coach Paul Silas said. ``I knew he was good. I didn't know he was this good.''

Just how good?

James _ who turned 19 on Tuesday _ is currently the only player in the league averaging more than 20 points, six rebounds and six assists. In 15 games in December, he averaged 23.3 points and scored more than 30 points five times.

No player in NBA history, not Michael, not Wilt, not Kareem, not Kobe or Shaq has been this good, this soon.

Already, James has modified and improved his game, showing the naysayers he can indeed shoot. And as he stuffs the stat sheet each night, James raises the bar for the future high school-to-NBA jumpers while dispelling the myth that he's simply the product of Madison Avenue hyperbole.

``In a two-month period, he's a legitimate blossoming icon in this game,'' said Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who has faced James three times this season. ``I'm amazed. I felt bad for the kid coming in because I wasn't sure any kid could ever live up to it. He's making that thought seem ridiculous now.''

James remains unimpressed by his fast start as a pro.

``Statistics don't matter to me,'' he said. ``I'm never satisfied with my game. I'm not disappointed with anything about my game. I just try to go out and play, and what happens, happens.''

Too often, what happens is that the Cavaliers lose.

Cleveland has just four more victories than it had at the same point last season on the way to a 17-65 finish. The Cavs dropped their first 13 games away from Gund Arena this season before finally ending a 34-game road losing streak.

But unlike a year ago, when the young Cavs (five players have no college experience) routinely fell behind early and packed it in under coach John Lucas, these Cavaliers fight to the finish for Silas.

Of Cleveland's losses, 16 have been by 10 points or fewer.

Slowly, the Cavs are learning to win. They're beginning to understand that each possession is priceless and not to be wasted.

But a loss is a loss, and right now, James feels the sting of each one.

There's hope, however. Since the Dec. 16 trade that sent Ricky Davis and others to Boston for Eric Williams, Tony Battie and Kedrick Brown, the Cavs are 4-4.

They'll get another boost when DaJuan Wagner and DeSagana Diop, former first-round picks, return from knee operations next week.

``We're not there yet,'' Silas said. ``But we're getting there. Take a look at us in mid-January.''

James has been a different player since the trade. With Davis gone, he has averaged 26.7 points. Also, urged by Silas to be more aggressive, the 6-foot-8 James is taking advantage of smaller guards and driving to the basket more frequently.

A bigger change is that James is having fun again. He wasn't himself with Davis around, perhaps because he didn't want to appear selfish.

Now the smile is back, and James is playing with the boundless joy that led to comparisons with Magic Johnson. He is leading, and the Cavs are following.

``It's earlier than I expected,'' James said, referring to his leadership role. ``But I knew it was going to come sometime. I've been playing this game long enough to know what I need to do.''

Via Associated Press

Cleveland Cavaliers

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Artest shuts down James on rookie's 19th birthday

The only thing wrapped up for LeBron James' birthday was James himself.

A year after receiving a Hummer for his 18th birthday, James had a bummer of a night as he turned 19. Artest locked him up in the second half as the Indiana Pacers defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 92-89 on Tuesday night.

``The guy is tough, but I think anybody can be stopped if you turn up your defense,'' said Artest, whose in-your-face defense against James down the stretch helped the Pacers become the first team in the league with 23 wins.

Artest scored 18 points, none bigger than his 3 with 54.6 seconds left, and Jermaine O'Neal had 21.

Elsewhere, New York routed Miami 102-73, Dallas defeated Milwaukee 101-92, Seattle topped Memphis 105-99, Minnesota beat Chicago 98-93, Toronto downed Denver 81-74 and Atlanta defeated Washington 83-73.

James finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in 38 minutes but couldn't shake free in the fourth quarter. Cavs coach Paul Silas felt his talented rookie was intimidated.

``Artest is going to test anyone. He's grabbing and holding, and they're letting him get away with it,'' Silas said. ``But LeBron has got to push him off, stand up to him and get in his face, and say, `If you do it again, we're going to war.' LeBron is not there yet.''

James, who came in averaging 27.8 points in his last 10 games, was just 3-for-12 from the field after a 6-for-8 first quarter. He missed all four of his 3-pointers.

The Cavaliers lost their third straight to Indiana this season in part because of 18 turnovers and 10 missed free throws _ six in the fourth quarter. The Pacers have beaten the Cavaliers 11 straight times at Gund Arena and eight in a row overall.

``I love playing physical. But this is one team we can't get over the hump on,'' James said.

Knicks 102, Heat 73

At New York, Keith Van Horn had a steal and buzzer-beating dunk to cap a dominant first quarter, and the Knicks cruised the rest of the way.

New York won its fourth in a row, all the victories coming in convincing fashion. The last three victories have all been by at least 20 points, the first time New York has done that since November, 1997.

Van Horn scored 22 points, shooting 10-for-16 from the field in breaking 20 for the fifth time in six games. Shandon Anderson came off the bench to add 21.

Before the game, the Knicks acquired point guard Moochie Norris and center John Amaechi from Houston for forward Clarence Weatherspoon.

Lamar Odom led Miami with 19 points.

Mavericks 101, Bucks 92

At Dallas, Antoine Walker had 22 points and 14 rebounds, and Dirk Nowitzki made two key fourth-quarter 3-pointers to help Dallas withstand a late rally.

Steve Nash added 14 points and 12 assists, Antawn Jamison came off the bench to score 17, and Nowitzki had 20 points and 11 rebounds to help Dallas to its third straight win. The Mavericks improved to 14-2 at home.

Michael Redd led the Bucks with 25 points.

SuperSonics 105, Grizzlies 99

At Memphis, Rashard Lewis scored 33 points and Ray Allen had nine in the final three minutes.

Lewis and Allen scored Seattle's final 15 points as the SuperSonics pulled away late. Allen finished with 22 points, playing in his fourth game of the season after right ankle surgery.

The Grizzlies have lost seven straight, matching their longest losing streak under second-year coach Hubie Brown.

Timberwolves 98, Bulls 93

At Minneapolis, Kevin Garnett had 28 points and 15 rebounds to lead Minnesota to its eighth victory in nine games.

Latrell Sprewell had 27 points _ 20 in the first half _ and Sam Cassell had 21 points and nine assists for Minnesota, which beat the Bulls for the 10th straight time.

The Timberwolves held on despite blowing a 20-point first-half lead and missing nine free throws in the fourth quarter, including four straight by Garnett in the final two minutes.

Raptors 81, Nuggets 74

At Denver, Alvin Williams and Jalen Rose each had 17 points, and Williams hit four free throws in the last two minutes as Toronto snapped the Nuggets' three-game winning streak.

Carmelo Anthony had 19 points and seven rebounds for the Nuggets, who lost for only the fourth time at home.

Hawks 83, Wizards 73

At Washington, Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 25 points and 16 rebounds to help Atlanta end a nine-game road losing streak.

Stephen Jackson scored 16 points, Jason Terry added 13 and Dion Glover 10 for the Hawks, who hadn't won on the road since beating Milwaukee on Nov. 18.

Larry Hughes had 24 points for the Wizards, who have lost five in a row.

Via Associated Press

Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers

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Wagner could return to Cavs by Jan. 6

There is a new timetable for the return of injured guard Dujuan Wagner to the Cleveland cavaliers.

''We're looking at the 6th of January,'' Cavaliers coach Paul Silas said. ''That's not written in stone. I'll leave it up to the doctors.''

Via Bob Finnan of the Lorain Morning Journal

Cleveland Cavaliers

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