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Posted on Tue, Dec. 20, 2005
Injuries could jumble lineup
Gooden, Ilgauskas questionable as Cavaliers close out homestand with tonight's game against Jazz
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter
CLEVELAND - By this point in the season, there's barely a team in the NBA not affected by injuries. And injuries affect games, as any fan, fantasy team owner or gambler will explain.
The Cavaliers lost to the Atlanta Hawks last week and not having Zydrunas Ilgauskas due to a knee injury certainly played a role. Two nights later, the Cavs beat the Denver Nuggets when the Nuggets were without their center, Marcus Camby.
Which brings up tonight, when the Cavs host the Utah Jazz to close out a four-game homestand. Who can suit up and play through injuries and who can't very well might have a large impact.
Both the Cavs and Jazz, teams riding streaks and a couple of off nights after winning Saturday, practiced at Quicken Loans Arena without key players Monday, and all are game-time decisions for tonight.
The Cavs lost both Drew Gooden and Ilgauskas in Saturday's win over the Miami Heat. It was the Cavs' second consecutive win. Gooden sprained his left ankle, the one he'd already turned once last month. Gooden only did some light shooting Monday, but the Cavs have listed him as probable.
``I'm going to try to go,'' said Gooden, who got hurt landing on Shaquille O'Neal's size 22 foot. ``It was really tender, but I've had a couple days' rest, and hopefully, I'll be able to recover.''
Ilgauskas suffered a minor concussion late in the game Saturday, when he and Heat star Dwyane Wade collided. He also has been dealing with a sore right knee, for which he briefly left the game Saturday to seek treatment. Ilgauskas didn't come to the arena Monday, and the team has listed him as questionable.
With rest, Cavs coach Mike Brown is hopeful Ilgauskas will be able to play.
``Both guys it sounds like there's a chance they'll play, but we'll wait and see,'' Brown said. ``I'm concerned; I was concerned when it happened. The indication I'm getting is they're going to be fine.''
The Jazz, winners of three of their past four games, practiced without Russian standout Andrei Kirilenko on Monday. Kirilenko, a former All-Star who's averaging 12.2 points and 7.8 rebounds, left the Jazz's victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday with back spasms. The Jazz have listed him as questionable; his status will be decided at game time.
Utah forward Matt Harpring also missed the Bucks' game after getting a cortisone shot in his right knee. He did practice Monday and is expected to play.
No Boozer
For the second consecutive season, former Cav Carlos Boozer will miss his team's game in Cleveland due to an injury. Boozer, who left the Cavs to sign with the Jazz in the summer of 2004, hasn't played a game this season because of a severe left hamstring injury.
The fan base might still have issues with Boozer, but the organization and players have mostly moved on. The Cavs ownership, management and coaching staff have completely changed as has much of the roster. And the remaining players harbor no ill will.
Earlier this month in Los Angeles, several Cavs players, including LeBron James, bumped into Boozer and his wife, CeCe, at a Beverly Hills hotel, and both sides wished each other luck.
``The first time when he really decides to come here and play, he'll get a nice `Booz' without the z,'' James said Monday. ``We're going to welcome him with open arms; there's no reason to pout about what happened; he moved on, and we've moved on.''
Injuries could jumble lineup
Gooden, Ilgauskas questionable as Cavaliers close out homestand with tonight's game against Jazz
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter
CLEVELAND - By this point in the season, there's barely a team in the NBA not affected by injuries. And injuries affect games, as any fan, fantasy team owner or gambler will explain.
The Cavaliers lost to the Atlanta Hawks last week and not having Zydrunas Ilgauskas due to a knee injury certainly played a role. Two nights later, the Cavs beat the Denver Nuggets when the Nuggets were without their center, Marcus Camby.
Which brings up tonight, when the Cavs host the Utah Jazz to close out a four-game homestand. Who can suit up and play through injuries and who can't very well might have a large impact.
Both the Cavs and Jazz, teams riding streaks and a couple of off nights after winning Saturday, practiced at Quicken Loans Arena without key players Monday, and all are game-time decisions for tonight.
The Cavs lost both Drew Gooden and Ilgauskas in Saturday's win over the Miami Heat. It was the Cavs' second consecutive win. Gooden sprained his left ankle, the one he'd already turned once last month. Gooden only did some light shooting Monday, but the Cavs have listed him as probable.
``I'm going to try to go,'' said Gooden, who got hurt landing on Shaquille O'Neal's size 22 foot. ``It was really tender, but I've had a couple days' rest, and hopefully, I'll be able to recover.''
Ilgauskas suffered a minor concussion late in the game Saturday, when he and Heat star Dwyane Wade collided. He also has been dealing with a sore right knee, for which he briefly left the game Saturday to seek treatment. Ilgauskas didn't come to the arena Monday, and the team has listed him as questionable.
With rest, Cavs coach Mike Brown is hopeful Ilgauskas will be able to play.
``Both guys it sounds like there's a chance they'll play, but we'll wait and see,'' Brown said. ``I'm concerned; I was concerned when it happened. The indication I'm getting is they're going to be fine.''
The Jazz, winners of three of their past four games, practiced without Russian standout Andrei Kirilenko on Monday. Kirilenko, a former All-Star who's averaging 12.2 points and 7.8 rebounds, left the Jazz's victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday with back spasms. The Jazz have listed him as questionable; his status will be decided at game time.
Utah forward Matt Harpring also missed the Bucks' game after getting a cortisone shot in his right knee. He did practice Monday and is expected to play.
No Boozer
For the second consecutive season, former Cav Carlos Boozer will miss his team's game in Cleveland due to an injury. Boozer, who left the Cavs to sign with the Jazz in the summer of 2004, hasn't played a game this season because of a severe left hamstring injury.
The fan base might still have issues with Boozer, but the organization and players have mostly moved on. The Cavs ownership, management and coaching staff have completely changed as has much of the roster. And the remaining players harbor no ill will.
Earlier this month in Los Angeles, several Cavs players, including LeBron James, bumped into Boozer and his wife, CeCe, at a Beverly Hills hotel, and both sides wished each other luck.
``The first time when he really decides to come here and play, he'll get a nice `Booz' without the z,'' James said Monday. ``We're going to welcome him with open arms; there's no reason to pout about what happened; he moved on, and we've moved on.''