More from RealGM
 Cleveland Cavaliers WiretapCavaliers LinksNews Archive
NBA News
WizFans/RealGM learns Slam-Dunk participantsRealGM.com and WizFans.com has learned the participants of the 2004 All-Star Slam-Dunk Contest. Two-time defending champion Jason Richardson, of Golden State, will defend his title and will be challenged by newcomers Fred Jones of the Indiana Pacers and Chris Anderson of the Denver Nuggets. According to a league source, the fourth participant of the Slam-Dunk contest is to be determined in hopes that LeBron James will participate. Via WizFans.com and RealGM.com General Basketball, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Rolling Cavs dare to talk playoffsCLEVELAND (AP) Day after day, LeBron James politely answers the same humdrum questions. But Thursday, facing the usual bouquet of microphones and tape recorders, the rookie star was quizzed about something rarely talked about in Cleveland the past few years. How does it feel to be just two games out of the eighth playoff spot in the NBA's Eastern Conference? ``It's great,'' James said with a smile after practice. ``We've been working hard and I've always said that we're not going to give up.'' Whoa. Excuse the skepticism, but in those immortal, high-pitched words of one-time Indianapolis coach Jim Mora: Playoffs? Yep. The NBA playoffs. The Cavaliers, those laughable losers who have dropped at least 50 games in each of the past four seasons and haven't made the postseason since 1998, are on the rise. With their third straight win, 94-93 over Miami on Wednesday night, the Cavaliers (17-28) have already matched their victory total from last season. And after going 4-1 in a five-game homestand, they've won five of six games _ something they hadn't done in more than three years. ``It's happening,'' said first-year Cavs coach Paul Silas, whose club seems to improve every time it takes the court. ``We're finding ways to win. We're learning to win.'' The Cavs didn't get win No. 17 until the 2002-03 season-finale, when a victory over Toronto actually jeopardized their chances of winning the NBA draft lottery. But the pingpong balls bounced their way, the basketball gods dropped James in their laps, tickets flew out of the box-office windows and the Cavs were suddenly chic. However, the season got off to a rugged start. The Cavaliers opened 6-19, lost their first 13 road games, and some began to wonder if James and Silas could turn things around. Those doubts are subsiding, though. Since acquiring Eric Williams, Tony Battie and Kedrick Brown in a six-player deal with Boston last month, the Cavaliers are 11-10. In addition, Cleveland picked up point guard Jeff McInnis in a deal with Portland last week, a move made so James could play shooting guard _ his natural position. The Cavs are 3-0 since trading Darius Miles for McInnis, who has helped stabilize their backcourt and quickened their offense. ``He has changed the tempo of the game,'' Williams said. ``He has a lot of speed and he has taken a lot of pressure off LeBron, so he doesn't have to bring the ball up and run the offense.'' Lately, the Cavaliers have shown a grittiness that hasn't been seen in Cleveland teams for years. With James sidelined with a sprained ankle, the Cavs went 2-1, with the lone loss to powerful Sacramento. On Wednesday, Cleveland won despite playing without forward Carlos Boozer, who left the team to attend a family funeral. Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas picked up the scoring slack, getting 30 points on 14-of-16 shooting, and Dajuan Wagner made two key baskets down the stretch as the Cavs rallied from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Boozer, averaging 23 points and 16 rebounds in his last five games, said the Cavs are more a team than they've been in a long time. And if they can stay that way, they just might be one headed to the playoffs. ``The guys that have needed to step up have stepped up,'' he said. ``It's not a one-person team by any means. We're two games out right now and if we keep winning we'll be there. We definitely want to make the playoffs. It's a goal of ours.'' Silas thinks it's a reachable one. ``If we continue to play well, certainly,'' said Silas, who took the Hornets to the playoffs four years in a row. ``We're only two games out now, so nothing is out of the realm of possibility. But it's still going to be hard. ``We still got a long way to go.'' Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets James to skip dunk contest, could still be All-StarCLEVELAND (AP) Being named an NBA All-Star is no slam dunk for LeBron James. Cleveland's rookie said he will not compete in the Slam Dunk contest during the NBA's All-Star weekend next month in Los Angeles because of the ankle injury that sidelined him for three games. ``I thought about it, but with my ankle hurting, put me down (no) on that one,'' he said. On Tuesday, James was selected to play in the Rookie Challenge next month, an event that the league has moved from Saturday to Friday night in prime time. James and his good friend, Denver rookie Carmelo Anthony, will be teammates against a squad of the league's second-year players featuring Houston center Yao Ming and Cavs forward Carlos Boozer. The All-Star starters will be named on Thursday and James is not expected to be one of them. He was fourth in fan voting for the team, trailing Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady and Jason Kidd. However, James still has a chance to be named to the East team as a reserve. Eastern Conference coaches will select the seven reserves for the team, and James, who is averaging 20.3 points, will likely get strong consideration. ``I'll definitely consider him,'' said Philadelphia coach Randy Ayers, who would not say if he'd vote for James. ``I know he's on everyone's ballot. A lot of people appreciate his game.'' James said he'd love to make the team but won't be upset if he doesn't. ``I think I've played pretty well the first half of the season,'' he said. ``My team's success isn't where I wanted it to be. It's up to the coaches. If they select me, fine. If not, fine. I'll just keep doing my job.'' Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Cavaliers Jan 2004 Archive
|
