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CLEVELAND -- Not that there was any worry to begin with, but LeBron James and Larry Hughes have gotten along famously thus far this season.
There are always worries that when two stars cross paths, there could be a collision course. At times, one or possibly both will totally buck the system and try to out-do the other. Just the opposite has happened with the Cavaliers.
They not only play off each other on the court, they actually like each other off it. The result has been a chance for both players to earn an All-Star nod this February in Houston.
''They are showing they could be one of the best backcourt duos in the league,'' Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. ''It starts with them both being good people and showing respect to each other. It's carried over to the court.''
In the Cavaliers' current two-game losing streak, Hughes' production has deteriorated. He's been suffering from a cold and said he stayed in bed almost all the way up to game time on Saturday. Trainers made him weigh in before the game to make sure he hadn't lost too much weight (he doesn't have much to spare).
''I lost a couple pounds,'' he said. ''I wasn't myself. I tried to go out there and give the team something.''
Hughes was particularly woeful from the field against Minnesota when he shot 3-of-16. In fact, he's shooting just 25 percent from the field in the losing streak (6-of-24) and averaging 12.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists.
''I was so open (against the Timberwolves), I had to shoot it,'' he said. ''I just wasn't feeling it. I had a bad cold. I'm feeling a lot better.''
James, of course, just continues to plug along. He's third in the league in scoring at 28.4 points per game. He's averaging 5.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.7 steals.
''They are great basketball players,'' Brown said. ''They aren't jealous of each other. They are on the same page. They are buddies and friends and it translates to the basketball court.
''They know how to pass, dribble, shoot and how to win. They know they need each other to win. Soon, that chemistry thing will happen for as close to 48 minutes as possible.''
It took quite a while -- most of the preseason -- for the chemistry to click. But once it did, the Cavaliers rolled off seven consecutive wins.
''I can play off anybody,'' Hughes said. ''I'm going to rebound, get assists and play defense. I can play a lot of minutes. I just do my job.''
Hughes said he's having a ball so far in Cleveland.
''We're having a lot of fun really because we like each other,'' he said. ''We root for one another. If one guy is playing well, we want to pull that next guy up.
''(James') attitude is geared toward winning. He wants to be ready to make that big playoff push at the end of the year.''
Hughes is averaging 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists in the first 13 games.
During a two-game stretch against Philadelphia and Boston, Hughes and James combined for 134 points.
''I'm starting to know where Larry likes the ball, how he likes the ball and when he likes the ball,'' James said. ''The same with me. We're attacking and helping each other.''
James said there were no pitfalls in working with Hughes, a free-agent acquisition in the offseason.
''There will never be any pitfalls between two great players,'' he said. ''I don't need the ball (to be effective). I can get it off the rebound and I create.
''We have a great team. We have a great group of guys who have a winning mentality.''
Hughes said the duo has to spend some more time together to be recognized as one of the best in the league.
''I wouldn't put us on the board just yet,'' he said. ''Honestly, I wouldn't. It takes a little time to do it on a consistent basis. Give us a little time. Ask me in six months or next year.''
Noted
The Cavaliers say they put the kibosh on Brendan Malone serving as a consultant in Seattle because his role grew to that of an assistant coach. The SuperSonics were not willing to pay Malone, who is still on the Cavaliers' payroll. Malone was the Cavaliers' interim coach after Paul Silas was fired last March. ... Cavaliers forward Donyell Marshall's stepson, Ken Kielpinski, is starting to turn some heads. The eighth grader at Orange is about 5-foot-10. ''From being with me, he goes to seven weeks of camps over the summer,'' Marshall said. ''He goes to the Five Star Camp and my camp (and several others).'' ... Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry has returned to Cleveland after scouting the Maui Invitational in Hawaii. ... Power forward Drew Gooden was held out of practice to get some ''maintenance.'' No, he didn't get an oil change. ... Forward/center Anderson Varejao is participating in shooting drills, but isn't allowed any contact. He's still going to be sidelined until possibly the All-Star break after having a shoulder separation.
BFinnan@news-herald.com
There are always worries that when two stars cross paths, there could be a collision course. At times, one or possibly both will totally buck the system and try to out-do the other. Just the opposite has happened with the Cavaliers.
They not only play off each other on the court, they actually like each other off it. The result has been a chance for both players to earn an All-Star nod this February in Houston.
''They are showing they could be one of the best backcourt duos in the league,'' Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. ''It starts with them both being good people and showing respect to each other. It's carried over to the court.''
In the Cavaliers' current two-game losing streak, Hughes' production has deteriorated. He's been suffering from a cold and said he stayed in bed almost all the way up to game time on Saturday. Trainers made him weigh in before the game to make sure he hadn't lost too much weight (he doesn't have much to spare).
''I lost a couple pounds,'' he said. ''I wasn't myself. I tried to go out there and give the team something.''
Hughes was particularly woeful from the field against Minnesota when he shot 3-of-16. In fact, he's shooting just 25 percent from the field in the losing streak (6-of-24) and averaging 12.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists.
''I was so open (against the Timberwolves), I had to shoot it,'' he said. ''I just wasn't feeling it. I had a bad cold. I'm feeling a lot better.''
James, of course, just continues to plug along. He's third in the league in scoring at 28.4 points per game. He's averaging 5.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.7 steals.
''They are great basketball players,'' Brown said. ''They aren't jealous of each other. They are on the same page. They are buddies and friends and it translates to the basketball court.
''They know how to pass, dribble, shoot and how to win. They know they need each other to win. Soon, that chemistry thing will happen for as close to 48 minutes as possible.''
It took quite a while -- most of the preseason -- for the chemistry to click. But once it did, the Cavaliers rolled off seven consecutive wins.
''I can play off anybody,'' Hughes said. ''I'm going to rebound, get assists and play defense. I can play a lot of minutes. I just do my job.''
Hughes said he's having a ball so far in Cleveland.
''We're having a lot of fun really because we like each other,'' he said. ''We root for one another. If one guy is playing well, we want to pull that next guy up.
''(James') attitude is geared toward winning. He wants to be ready to make that big playoff push at the end of the year.''
Hughes is averaging 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists in the first 13 games.
During a two-game stretch against Philadelphia and Boston, Hughes and James combined for 134 points.
''I'm starting to know where Larry likes the ball, how he likes the ball and when he likes the ball,'' James said. ''The same with me. We're attacking and helping each other.''
James said there were no pitfalls in working with Hughes, a free-agent acquisition in the offseason.
''There will never be any pitfalls between two great players,'' he said. ''I don't need the ball (to be effective). I can get it off the rebound and I create.
''We have a great team. We have a great group of guys who have a winning mentality.''
Hughes said the duo has to spend some more time together to be recognized as one of the best in the league.
''I wouldn't put us on the board just yet,'' he said. ''Honestly, I wouldn't. It takes a little time to do it on a consistent basis. Give us a little time. Ask me in six months or next year.''
Noted
The Cavaliers say they put the kibosh on Brendan Malone serving as a consultant in Seattle because his role grew to that of an assistant coach. The SuperSonics were not willing to pay Malone, who is still on the Cavaliers' payroll. Malone was the Cavaliers' interim coach after Paul Silas was fired last March. ... Cavaliers forward Donyell Marshall's stepson, Ken Kielpinski, is starting to turn some heads. The eighth grader at Orange is about 5-foot-10. ''From being with me, he goes to seven weeks of camps over the summer,'' Marshall said. ''He goes to the Five Star Camp and my camp (and several others).'' ... Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry has returned to Cleveland after scouting the Maui Invitational in Hawaii. ... Power forward Drew Gooden was held out of practice to get some ''maintenance.'' No, he didn't get an oil change. ... Forward/center Anderson Varejao is participating in shooting drills, but isn't allowed any contact. He's still going to be sidelined until possibly the All-Star break after having a shoulder separation.
BFinnan@news-herald.com
