Cavaliers News

Earl Boykins proves to Cavaliers that he's easy to overlook, except on the basketball court
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November 20
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"He's still 5-5 and he still looks completely out of place. But he's still getting it done on the highest level in the world. That was indeed the Cleveland native who played a significant role in beating his hometown team Wednesday night, scoring nine points with three assists and drawing three fouls on Mo Williams in the fourth quarter alone in his Washington Wizards' 108-91 victory. It was just his second game with the team and not even as good as his first, when he scored 20 points off the bench. All he did this game was keep Wizards' star Gilbert Arenas on the bench for the entire final quarter because he was so effective. "Honestly, it is because it just feels comfortable," said ..."
Cavs' lead, win streak disappear
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November 19
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"The Washington Wizards made a 17-point Cavaliers lead vanish Wednesday night. Ultimately, it was that magic trick that gave them a 108-91 win over the Cavs in front of 20,173 at the Verizon Center. LeBron James led all scorers with 34 points. Antawn Jamison didn't play in the first regular-season meeting between the two teams, but the Cavs certainly felt his presence Wednesday night as the Wizards' power forward scored 31 points and pulled 10 rebounds. Maybe it wasn't so much magic as circumstances that caught up with the Cavs. Playing without big men Shaquille O'Neal and Anderson Varejao, the Cavs had to rely on J.J. Hickson, who has been progressing well of late, and second-year forward ..."
Browns would welcome LeBron
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November 19
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"Last season, Cavaliers star LeBron James played out his football fantasies in an insurance commercial that had him clad in a No. 23 Browns jersey. Members of the struggling Browns are now willing to make that a reality. ''I think he should come on down,'' Browns coach Eric Mangini said Wednesday. ''I know he's pretty busy right now, but if he wants to give it a shot . . . the guy's gifted, gifted athletically, he's competitive, he's tough. I'm sure whatever he applied himself to, he'd probably be good in baseball, or soccer or or swimming. The guy's a freak athletically.'' After watching the Browns fall 16-0 to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, James suggested he could help ..."
Wizard puts disruptive spell on LeBron to beat Cavaliers
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November 19
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"It is rare for anyone to straight up outplay LeBron James and it is simply unheard of to see anyone get inside his head. But no matter what the stats say, that certainly appears to have been the case Wednesday night. There's been so much trash talk and hard fouls -- and even venomous rap songs -- between James and the Washington Wizards' DeShawn Stevenson. The scoreboard is overwhelming in James' favor, from playoff victories to flagrant fouls to Jay-Z in the studio having his back. This time, though, the worm turned, and in a most bizarre and unexpected way. All on Stevenson's "bobble hand" night. That's right, the sellout got tattoo-free figurines with the Stevenson's hand wagging in ..."
Jamison's return helps Wizards stop skid
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November 19
Washington Times
 
"After missing the first nine games of the season, Wizards forward Antawn Jamison didn't show the slightest trace of rust in his season debut against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night at Verizon Center. Instead, the two-time All-Star put his struggling team on his back and carried it to a 108-91 victory in front of a sellout crowd of 20,173 fans. Jamison picked up career double-double No. 263, recording 31 points and 10 rebounds, and helped the Wizards snap a six-game losing streak. "Me coming back and just trying to stop the bleeding a little bit, we found a way to pull it off," said Jamison, who made 12 of 22 shots from the field and five of six from the foul ..."
All together now, Wizards win
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November 19
Washington Post
 
"The Washington Wizards were in a month-long funk; unable to start, unable to finish, unable to win. It was a miserable, frustrating period that left players searching for answers, wondering how a team with so much talent could play so poorly. Antawn Jamison was a well-dressed observer for that entire period, taking note of what his team was lacking and what he could provide whenever he made his return. Jamison finally made his long-awaited season debut on Wednesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, coming around full circle since he partially dislocated his right shoulder against this same team during the preseason. He led the Wizards with 31 points and 10 rebounds as they snapped a ..."
Encouraging signs for a night
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November 19
Washington Post
 columnist Michael Wilbon
"Nothing good can come of drawing definitive conclusions before Christmas when it comes to the NBA. The game-to-game pronouncements that characterize the way we assess the NFL's 16-game sprint simply don't work in professional basketball, with the necessary ups and downs of its interminable marathon season. When the Cleveland Cavaliers lost their first two games of the new season, NFL-style wisdom was that Shaquille O'Neal was a bad fit and Mike Brown might need to be the first coaching casualty. Then the Cavaliers won eight of nine, five straight and the folks so worried about Cleveland looked at its standing near the top of the Eastern Conference and said, "Oops, sorry." The Washington ..."
Wizards End Cleveland's Winning Streak
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November 19
New York Times
 
"The Washington Wizards overcame a 34-point performance by LeBron James to crush the Central Division-leading Cleveland Cavaliers 108-91 on Wednesday and snap a six-game losing streak. Antawn Jamison, who hurt his shoulder during pre-season and missed the first nine games, sparkled in his season debut, scoring 31 points and grabbing 10 rebounds for the Wizards."
Wizard beat Cavs, James injures wrist on dunk
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November 19
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"It is rare for anyone to straight up outplay LeBron James and it is simply unheard of to see anyone get inside his head. But no matter what the stats say, that certainly appears to have been the case Wednesday night. There's been so much trash talk and hard fouls -- and even venomous rap songs -- between James and the Washington Wizards' DeShawn Stevenson. The scoreboard is overwhelming in James' favor, from playoff victories to flagrant fouls to Jay-Z in the studio having his back. This time, though, the worm turned, and in a most bizarre and unexpected way. All on Stevenson's "bobble hand" night. That's right, the sellout got tattoo-free figurines with the Stevenson's hand wagging in ..."
Browns coach Eric Mangini to LeBron James: Come on down
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November 18
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns coach Eric Mangini was delighted to hear that Cavs superstar LeBron James thinks he could help the Browns' woeful offense. "I think he should come on down,'' said Mangini with a smile. "I know he's pretty busy right now, but if he wants to give it a shot, the guy's gifted, gifted athletically. He's competitive. He's tough. I'm sure whatever he applied himself to, he'd probably be good in baseball, or soccer or swimming. The guy's a freak athletically.'' Responding to a question about the Monday Night Football crew saying he'd be a great NFL tight end and has the "best offense in the city of Cleveland,'' James said, "If I put all my time and commitment into it, if I dedicated myself ..."
Shorthanded team fall short in Cleveland
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November 18
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Each of the Warriors' seven healthy players scored in double figures Tuesday, but the shorthanded unit failed down the stretch in its attempt to soften a day that was peppered with more injuries. The Warriors committed turnovers on three of their final six possessions, allowing the Cavaliers to pull out a 114-108 victory in front of 20,562. After the Warriors cut a 15-point deficit to 112-108 with 1:36 remaining, Corey Maggette missed a layup, Stephen Curry committed a turnover and Maggette followed suit on the Warriors' next three possessions. LeBron James poured in a game-high 31 points. "They've got one of the best basketball players on the planet, and we gave them a fight," said ..."
Warriors fall to Cavs; Is Ellis on way out?
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November 18
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"On Day 1 of the post-Stephen Jackson era, the Warriors found a way to replace their top soap-operatic story line as rumors swirled before Tuesday's 114-108 loss to Cleveland that the team is shopping Monta Ellis. According to unnamed sources in multiple reports, Ellis could be the next disgruntled player to get traded by Golden State. Coach Don Nelson denied a similar report last week, and general manager Larry Riley on Tuesday said that the reports were "making too much" of a potential meeting with Ellis' agent, Jeff Fried. Riley, however, wouldn't completely dismiss the trade rumors, saying "I don't have any trades working right now, but who is to say what might happen down the road?" ..."
Short-handed Golden State Warriors fall to Cleveland Cavaliers
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November 18
Contra Costa Times
 
"After Tuesday's 114-108 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Warriors guard Monta Ellis was faced with the same, obvious question. With swingman Stephen Jackson traded to the Charlotte Bobcats, does he see an opening for him to increase his role? "I told y'all," Ellis said after totaling 23 points and eight assists. "I'm not putting any more on my back." The Warriors are hoping just the opposite. According to team sources, Warriors brass are watching closely to see if Ellis assumes the role as face of the franchise, being the highest paid and, arguably, the team's best player. How he responds could determine whether he's around long term. Reports surfaced Tuesday about the Warriors actively ..."
Cavs win fifth in row
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November 18
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"All offense, little defense. That's the rep that the Golden State Warriors arrived at Quicken Loans Arena with and that's the one with which they departed. Forced to play the Warriors' uptempo style of basketball, the Cavaliers squeaked by with a 114-108 win Tuesday night, their fifth in a row, in a game they should have run away with. Instead, they succumbed to a problem that's manifested itself with big leads - sloppy fourth-quarter play. ''That fourth quarter for both sides gets a little tough and we still got a long way to go, a lot of improving to do,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. ''Yeah, it's a concern, but there are a lot of other things to be concerned about.'' The Warriors made ..."
Friends LeBron, Curry meet on court
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November 18
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"LeBron James has continued a friendship with the Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry that began two years ago when Curry was in college at Davidson. Curry, who was born in Akron, was the first-round draft choice of the Warriors last summer and started Tuesday night against the Cavaliers. With some of the things happening to the Warriors - the controversy surrounding Stephen Jackson and the ongoing speculation about coach Don Nelson's status - James offered Curry some advice. ''I guess there was a little chaos on our team,'' Curry said. ''He's just making sure I was keeping my head straight, working hard and reminding me to get better every day.'' James said that he's a fan of Curry's game ..."
Though Cavs win again, Warriors hang around
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November 18
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The Cavaliers' winning streak is still alive, but then again, so is their finishing streak. As expected, the Cavs handled the injury-depleted and road-weary Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at The Q, 114-108, for their fifth straight win. But it was more difficult that it could have been -- a trend that is riding sidesaddle with the hot streak. For the fifth consecutive game, the Cavs were outscored in the fourth quarter and not in a meaningless away. The Warriors erased an 11-point lead and cut it down to one in the final minutes, necessitating some extra sweat at the start of a four-games-in-five-days stretch."
Cavs' Parker starting to find his role
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November 17
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"Anthony Parker knew what his role would be when he signed with the Cavaliers. He knew he'd be in coach Mike Brown's rotation and he knew the Cavs were looking for him to provide some perimeter defense. The defense has been the easy part, finding his shot has been more difficult. Until recently, Parker was struggling with his shot as the team struggled to find its identity. Now, with the Cavs riding a four-game winning streak and winning 7-of-8, the struggles appear to be over. Parker said the team has been practicing well. ''When you get that confidence in practice, it kind of rolls over into games,'' he said. ''We have confidence in the guys who line up behind the [3-point line] because ..."
Cleveland Cavaliers' record rising as Anthony Parker's long-range shot keeps falling
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November 17
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Anthony Parker just can't win. If he's not being compared to his sister, WNBA star Candace Parker, then he's being confused with similarly named San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker. "I'm used to playing in the background," Parker said, laughing. But the Cavaliers guard has been front and center as the team has won four straight and seven of eight heading into Tuesday night's game against Golden State at The Q. Shaquille O'Neal is listed as doubtful for the game with a strained shoulder, but there has been no doubt about Parker's contributions lately. He has hit 13 of his last 18 3-pointers and is leading the team and ranks second in the league with a 59.3 percentage from 3-point range ..."
Shaquille O'Neal doubtful for Warriors game
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November 16
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Cavaliers center Shaquille O'Neal did not practice on Monday and is listed as doubtful for Tuesday night's game against the Golden State Warriors at The Q with a shoulder strain. The Cavs have not said which shoulder is strained, and O'Neal has not spoken to the media since missing Saturday's victory over the Utah Jazz with the injury."
Drama queen role fit for King James
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November 16
Washington Times
 columnist Tom Knott
"Perhaps a Nike representative whispered into the ear of LeBron James and told him that all this talk of his impending free agency comes across as being disrespectful to his teammates and to the Cavaliers organization. Other than the Witnesses living in the Cleveland region, no one is apt to be in a rush to buy shoes from an out-of-touch narcissist. Whatever the deal, the narcissist finally - and thankfully - decided that enough is enough with his free agency obsession last week. His teammates know too much already. They know he was all gushy on his last visit in Manhattan, where the Knicks are clearing salary cap space to make room for him. They know he is big buddies with Jay-Z, the rap ..."
In trying to honor His Airness, is LeBron's aim off-target?
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November 15
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 columnist Bud Shaw
"Granted, this is not an image any reader should have to visualize, but in honor of Michael Jordan, I will no longer wear Hanes or any other underwear. In Greek mythology, Nike is the goddess of victory. There was no god of overpriced shoes until Michael Jordan came along. LeBron James seems to have confused that kind of ground breaking with the pioneering that gave baseball reason to retire Jackie Robinson's number in every major-league park. The Cavaliers superstar plans to stop wearing No. 23 and switch to No. 6 next year out of respect for Jordan after wearing No. 23 all these years out of ... uh ... respect for Jordan. (We can assume by switching to his Olympic jersey number that ..."
James hits top gear in the final minutes, pushes Cleveland Cavaliers past Utah, 107-103
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November 15
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"It was an off night for Shaquille O'Neal, and it certainly looked like LeBron James was planning on working a part-time shift. But as much as the Cavaliers role players are growing, and they certainly are, there is still no weapon quite like the hammer when things get choppy. James slipped into that familiar role Saturday night. After seemingly holding back for the game's first 45 minutes and openly encouraging his teammates to do the work, James stepped up to make sure a winning streak kept rolling. He scored 10 of his 21 points in the game's last six minutes and his team's last eight to carry the Cavs to a 107-103 victory over the feisty Utah Jazz. It ought to sew up James' first player ..."
Retiring Jordan's number is a Catch-23
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November 15
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"LeBron James' declaration that he might change his jersey number has started a debate in the NBA. James announced Thursday after the Cavs' win over the Miami Heat that he was seriously considering changing to No. 6 and said that he would launch a petition to get Michael Jordan's signature No. 23 retired. In some circles, the move has been met with support, including from Jordan's former coach Phil Jackson, who said that he likes the idea, but it's ''a little step on the toes for a guy like Magic [Johnson] or [Larry] Bird.'' Therein lies the debate. For as much as Jordan helped to build the NBA with his legendary career, Bird and Johnson saved it when they were drafted in 1979 after they ..."
Cavs struggle but manage to keep cool to beat Jazz
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November 15
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"The Cavaliers gave another sellout crowd at Quicken Loans Arena the impression that there was little for them to worry about then made them watch a 16-point lead get whittled away to a one-point deficit. Still, the Cavs maintained their cool and beat the Utah Jazz 107-103 for their fourth consecutive victory. Both teams shot better than 50 percent from the floor with the Jazz outshooting the Cavs 53 percent to 51 percent. LeBron James scored the Cavs' final seven points to lead the Cavs to the win. He and Mo Williams led the Cavs with 21 points each. Jazz forward Carlos Boozer led all scorers with 25 points. But on a night when James barely cracked 20 points, a balanced effort took over. ..."
Stephen Jackson with the Cleveland Cavaliers? It's a matter of debate
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November 15
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"This week, Stephen Jackson will be in town with the Golden State Warriors for his one scheduled visit this season. The question that many fans seem to want to know is whether he will be back on a permanent basis. The answer is definitely maybe. It is understandable why the Cavs are so often attached to Jackson. For one, General Manager Danny Ferry has made big trades in each of the last three years. There's the uncertainty around Delonte West, who happens to play the same position as Jackson. Then there's Jackson's declaration that he wants to come to Cleveland to play, which frankly isn't something you hear every day from NBA players. For those reasons, yes indeed, according to multiple ..."
Jackson backs retiring No. 23 permanently
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November 14
Denver Post
 
"This week, Cavaliers star LeBron James said he's going to stop wearing jersey No. 23, in order to pay respect to Mi- chael Jordan, the legendary Bulls guard. And James suggested that no other player should ever wear No. 23, to honor the Hall of Famer. Friday, Jordan's old coach thought it was a classy move. "I think it's great," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who coached Jordan to six titles in the 1990s. "Hockey did that for Wayne Gretzky. He was a guy who changed the way the game is played. We haven't seen this happen in basketball. It might be a little step on the toes for guys like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. But he certainly set a standard.""
Shaquille O'Neal helps Cleveland Cavaliers find more 3-pointers, more wins
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November 14
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Over the first couple of weeks of the season, there was fair criticism aimed at the Cavaliers and their regression on offense compared to last season. The Cavs were using basic sets that often froze, they weren't able to create easy points despite deploying a load of talent, and coach Mike Brown's approval rating was slipping while departed offensive coordinator John Kuester's seemingly had never been higher in Cleveland. During the stretch, the players -- specifically stars LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal and Mo Williams -- asked for patience while Brown seemed to keep giving the same answer about needing to find a comfort level. Yet looking at the ugly numbers through the first six ..."
Pistons agree on retiring '23'
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November 14
Detroit News
 
"LeBron James plans to give up No. 23 next season and wants other players to stop wearing Michael Jordan's iconic number as well. Maybe even have the number retired around the NBA. "Michael has done some incredible things for this league," Pistons center Kwame Brown said. "I'm all for it. That would be something out of respect for Michael and what he's done." After Thursday's game in Miami, James, who has worn No. 23 for Cleveland, said he's switching to No. 6 next season. James would wear No. 6 to honor another of his legendary favorites -- Julius Erving. But also, James' son was born on Oct. 6, 2004, and his second son was born in June (the sixth month of the year). James believes ..."
LeBron is in an Empire State of mind
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November 13
New York Post
 
"LeBron James is wearing a new Nike shoe saluting his favorite New York team — the Yankees, not the Knicks. Nike designed a Yankee shoe commemorating their World Series title for LeBron James personally and he debuted them Wednesday night in Orlando. On the left shoe, at the toe, the words "New York" is screened over pinstripes bordered by baseball stitching. On the right shoe reads the number "27" over the same background. James was presented the shoe by Nike on Friday night before the Cavaliers' ballyhooed blowout victory over the Knicks in his lone Garden appearance. Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira, who attended the Cavaliers-Knicks game after their championship parade, ..."
Lebron James and Dwyane Wade talk getting old
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November 13
Miami Herald
 
"LeBron James was right. All the 2010 free agency talk is just getting old. Boooring. Move along -- nothing to see here. Seriously, who really cares that we could be less than one year away from teaming together the best perimeter tandem in NBA history in James and Dwyane Wade; or that it would turn Miami -- assuming this is where they choose to play together, because really they could go anywhere -- into the official new basketball Mecca; and turn AmericanAirlines Arena into the most popular building on the planet; and officially turn Pat Riley into a god; and turn every Heat home game into a statewide holiday? I mean, really, all that talk just gets old real quick. Let's talk about the ..."
Less limitations for Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade than LeBron James
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November 13
Miami Herald
 
"Heat guard Dwyane Wade said he believes there is a pretty good reason why he seems to be more at ease than buddy LeBron James these days handling the speculation heading into 2010 free agency. ``LeBron is a different story in Cleveland,'' Wade said before Thursday's game against the Cavaliers. ``Those guys [in Cleveland] are feeling he's going to leave. They're a little more sensitive to any story that comes out.'' Whereas James is considered the top potential prize of next summer's free agent class should he opt out of his Cleveland contract, Wade is widely viewed as the No. 2 target on the list. Wade created somewhat of a media frenzy earlier this week when he said it's possible the two ..."
Cavs make King-size statement in win over Miami Heat
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November 13
Miami Herald
 
"This clearly wasn't simply one of 82. Not for the Heat. Not Thursday night. That much was obvious from the outset by the look on Dwyane Wade's face. It was underscored by his ferocious dunk over Cleveland's tumbling forward Anderson Varejao. And it was punctuated by Jermaine O'Neal's early rejections at the rim. ``If we're going to do anything special this season, we're going to have to see them at some point in the playoffs,'' O'Neal said. ``We don't want to only play them well for our city, but also for the national scene.'' ``Them'' would be the Cavaliers, a team the Heat was hoping to make a statement against Thursday night on TNT's national television broadcast. Miami's ..."
LeBron-Dwyane matchup shows Heat season has meaning
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November 13
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 columnist Ethan J. Skolnick
"Ten minutes. That's all it took. That's the world in which we now live. Ten minutes, and it had spread like a pandemic, with NBA fans and players scrambling to type Twitter tweets and embed YouTube video and update Facebook pages, all so you could see what they couldn't believe they just saw. They had just seen the soles of Anderson Varejao's shoes. That was caused by Dwyane Wade dribbling down the right side, veering into the lane, shifting from right to left and back to right, taking off, kicking out, climbing, climbing, climbing, slamming, sending Varejao sliding back into the stanchion, heels over curly-permed head. Wade then stepped over his victim and stormed off, first silent and ..."
Cavs, James gets the best of Wade in riveting duel
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November 13
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"This didn't just live up to the hype, it lived up to LeBron-level hype. LeBron James vs. Dwyane Wade transcended mere opening-month basketball Thursday night. The Cleveland Cavaliers' 111-104 victory over the Miami Heat got to the soul of why 19,600 packed AmericanAirlines and a national television audience looked on. "When you go against one of the best players in the league," James said, "it's like playing your brother outside in the backyard." This time, little brother, at least by age, got the best of the scoreboard, if not the scoring column, with the Cavaliers' James outscored 36-34 by Wade. But it wasn't without a fight by big brother, with Wade nearly producing his third 40-point ..."
James planning to give up No. 23 out of respect for Michael Jordan
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November 13
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Basking in the glow of a victory over the Heat, Cavs superstar LeBron James looked over at his idol sitting in the stands at AmericanAirlines Arena on Thursday night and made a command decision. Out of respect to Michael Jordan, who sat courtside and watched James score 34 points, James said he is planning on switching his number after this season from No. 23 to No. 6. It just sort of came out, but it was obvious he's been thinking about it for a while. And James wants to lead a movement to get every player who wears No. 23 in the league to give it up as a tribute to Jordan. "I just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized some way soon," James said. "There ..."
Cavaliers seem to be preparing for life without Delonte West
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November 13
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Both consciously and subconsciously, the Cavaliers seem to be preparing themselves for life without Delonte West. Out of respect to his problems, both mental and legal, the team continues to be vague and clipped whenever addressing his status. But the more he's not around, the more the Cavs players and coaches are showing signs they're just moving on. West did not play Thursday against the Miami Heat and was not at AmericanAirlines Arena after he was with them the night before in Orlando but not on the bench. He was simply placed on the inactive list again. It didn't even seem to make a blip in the locker room or in coach Mike Brown's plans for the game. "My comfort level isn't ..."
LeBron wins duel with Wade
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November 13
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"LeBron James and Dwyane Wade put on a show and J.J. Hickson had a coming-out party during the Cavs' 111-104 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday night at American Airlines Arena. LeBron James scored 34 points, grabbed four rebounds, handed out seven assists and made a pivotal 3-point shot with 2:41 left in the game after the Heat had trimmed the Cavs' lead to one point. Wade led the Heat with 36 points, four rebounds and a slam dunk right in the face of Anderson Varejao that might haunt him until next Halloween. Just as it was the night before against the Orlando Magic, what the Cavs did on the court wasn't all about James. Hickson, a second-year forward, scored a career-high 18 points in ..."
Brown is settling on a player rotation
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November 13
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said today that he's starting to get a feel for his rotation, something that's been in flux since the start of training camp. ''It's been evident the last two games,'' Brown said. ''I'm starting to feel comfortable with the different pieces and parts to this team and I'm starting to be able to mix them on the fly.'' The Cavs have won five of their last six games and the offense has flowed better. The Cavs have scored 100 or more points in four of those games, including Wednesday night's win over the Orlando Magic. But issues remain. The primary one is the continuing saga of Delonte West, the troubled, talented and inactive guard. West, missed both the game ..."
LeBron James, Cavs handle Heat
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November 13
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"There was some heat in South Florida on Thursday night but it belonged to the Cavaliers. With the sluggish start in the rearview mirror, the Cavs are warming up and they showed it with a gritty 111-104 victory over the Miami Heat to complete a 3-0 road trip and an impressive sweep of the Florida teams on back-to-back nights. That's now six wins in the past seven games and it has come with the awakening of most of LeBron James' supporting cast, the measure of which will end up determining the Cavs' season. Yet the finish was perhaps most impressive as James took over and bulled his way into the usually strong Heat defense to draw key fouls in the closing minutes. He scored 10 of his 34 ..."
LeBron zipping his lips
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November 12
New York Post
 
"If the Knicks still are on his radar, LeBron James will no longer give out any hints. A frustrated James said yesterday he won't talk about his possible free agency next summer until after this season. The Cleveland star and reigning NBA MVP said the talk is "getting old." James cut off interviews after being hit with questions about free agency and teaming with Miami's Dwyane Wade, who has said the two have discussed forming a mega-tandem. "This free-agent talk is getting old. It's getting old and I think I'm going to stop. Tonight will be the last time I answer any more free-agent questions until the offseason," James said. "I think I owe it to myself, and I owe it to my teammates. It's ..."
Shaq hears the boos, helps Cavs top Magic
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November 12
Florida Today
 
"They still don't Love Shaq. Not in Orlando. Not anywhere really where Shaquille O'Neal has played. Oh, they love him in Cleveland. For now. And especially for what he did Wednesday night at the Amway Arena, in what was a 102-93 victory for the Cavaliers against Shaq's former team, the one that drafted him out of LSU in what now seems a lifetime ago. Seventeen years ago, to be exact. But these Magic fans, they don't forget. And they'll never forgive O'Neal for how, just four years into his Magic career, he bolted for the left coast. So they still boo him here whenever Shaq's name is announced. They still jeer him whenever he bricks a free throw. And they still chant words at him that can't ..."
Wade and LeBron could form Miami's own Dream Team
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November 12
Palm Beach Post
 
""It's fantasy basketball. I don't play fantasy basketball." Heat coach Erik Spoelstra when asked Wednesday afternoon about the possibility of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade playing on the same NBA team beginning in the 2010-11 season. But what if the fantasy basketball team were Spoelstra's very own come to life? That's going to be Topic A when James and the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Heat tonight in AmericanAirlines Arena amidst speculation that he and Wade - both superstars of the highest order and summertime free agents-to-be - might become Miami teammates next season. Cue the calliope music, because the carnival is about to hit South Florida for an evening. Shaquille O'Neal, who ..."
If LeBron James, Dwyane Wade stay put, New York Knicks may target Chris Bosh and Joe Johnson
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November 12
New York Daily News
 
"If the Knicks find themselves struggling to woo LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, who can become free agents next summer, they'll likely turn their attention to the players such as Chris Bosh and Joe Johnson, who are expected to headline the next tier of potential free agents at season's end. Regardless of how much money the Knicks will have to spend, there's no guarantee of landing a superstar given the state of the franchise, and because James grew up in Ohio and Wade appears to be staying put in Miami - on Tuesday Heat owner Micky Arison said he had "every indication" that Wade wants to finish his career where it started. And while Bosh isn't the same caliber of player, he has already and ..."
Miami Heat-Cleveland Cavaliers matchup more than a game
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November 12
Miami Herald
 columnist Greg Cote
"Dwyane Wade and LeBron James sharing the same court. It happens on the U.S. Olympic team. It happens when the Heat play the Cavaliers, like Thursday night. Imagine if it happened all of the time, right here in Miami, the NBA's two brightest, in-their-prime superstars joining forces to make the Heat an envied and perennial league power. ``We're playing fantasy basketball right now,'' Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Monday when the notion was put to him. I wasn't sure if that was Spoelstra dismissing it, or dreaming it. Either way, in this case the leap from fantasy to reality isn't so far-fetched. Could it actually happen, Dwyane? You and LeBron together in Miami? ``It really could,'' said ..."
LeBron's destination? He's not talking
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November 12
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 columnist Dave Hyde
"Let's start here: No one knows what they're talking about. No one. Not the unnamed agent who says LeBron James is going to Los Angeles or the columnist who says he's staying in Cleveland or the league source who mentioned Minneapolis -- Minneapolis? -- or the reporter asking James right now if Dwyane Wade was really, "selling you on the beautiful city of Miami?" Ten feet away, across the locker room, sat the remnants of yesterday's Heat prize. Shaquille O'Neal's folded Cleveland jersey and Size 23 sneakers awaited him before Wednesday's game against Orlando. Here stood today's next Heat hope, it's prime one for next summer it now seems, putting his two cell phones that buzz constantly in ..."
LeBron to stay silent on free agency
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November 12
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"To some it might sound like noise, but to Cavaliers fans, it will be music to their ears. LeBron James put a moratorium on talk of his impending free agency in the summer of 2010. ''I think, honestly, this free-agent talk is getting old,'' James said prior to Wednesday's game against the Orlando Magic. ''It's getting old and I think it's probably the last time I answer anymore free-agent questions until the offseason.'' James' future has been the object of speculation for more than two years. In New York, fans at Madison Square Garden encouraged him to make the leap to the Knicks. The media asked the question - and rightly so - in multiple ways hoping to get some feel for what James will ..."
Cavs find way to stop Magic
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November 12
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"For an early season game that supposedly didn't mean a lot, the Cavaliers and Orlando Magic tussled as if it were the seventh game of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday night at Amway Arena. Ultimately, the Cavs won 102-93. They can attribute the win to LeBron James and Mo Williams, both of whom played as if they had boulder-sized chips on their shoulders. They combined for 64 points. James connected for 36 points and Williams 28 points. At one point in the first half, Williams made nine consecutive shots, including 4-of-4 on 3-pointers. Without All-Star Rashard Lewis and forward Ryan Anderson, the Magic's lone spark came courtesy of guard Vince Carter, who scored 29 points on ..."
Cavaliers get winning returns on off-season moves with dominating win over Magic
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November 12
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Playing their most complete game of the young season, the Cavs looked like a cohesive, deep and tough unit in dismantling the Orlando Magic, 102-93 Wednesday night. LeBron James picked up right where he left off last time the teams played, scoring a season-best 36 points with eight rebounds and four assists. But the rest was far from the same. The preface is this: It is early, the Magic were missing two of their key players including one of their stars in Rashard Lewis and Orlando was playing on the second night of a back-to-back while the Cavs had four days off. All of those factors impacted the game on some level. But here is the core of the night: The Cavs never played the Magic this ..."
Delonte West sitting out Wednesday in Orlando after reportedly missing team flight
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November 12
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The Delonte West process is continuing, complete with its ups and downs. Wednesday was a down day, as the Cavaliers put West on the inactive list for their early season matchup with the rival Orlando Magic. Team officials, which did not make the decision public before the game, said it was a part of the ongoing process with West, who had played the last four games. According to multiple sources, however, West missed the team's charter flight Tuesday afternoon to Orlando. Cavs coach Mike Brown said West had been excused for missing the flight. This was at least the second team flight West has missed this season, according to a source, and the others were not excused. Team officials ..."
Dwyane Wade: LeBron James as teammate improbable, not impossible
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November 12
Miami Herald
 
"The thought is tantalizing: The Heat's Dwyane Wade and Cleveland's LeBron James playing alongside each other as teammates. Wade said Wednesday ``it really could'' happen, though he cautioned the odds are against it even though both can be unrestricted free agents next summer. If it did, it would be more likely to happen in Miami than in Cleveland -- because the Heat has the cap space to sign two maximum-salary free agents (Wade and another player) in 2010, and Cleveland could sign only one maximum-salary player unless it can dump multiyear contracts. ``It's something we've talked about, of course,'' Wade said of playing together. ``No question, it's a long shot. He's put in position in ..."