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Posted on Sat, Dec. 24, 2005
Cavaliers notebook
Varejao on track for early return
Shoulder rehabilitation is ahead of schedule
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter
CLEVELAND - Wild Thing's return might be close.
The Cavaliers are not publicly budging from their stance that Anderson Varejao's return from shoulder surgery will come in early February. Behind the scenes, though, there is some tentative optimism he could be back within two weeks or so.
Varejao is scheduled to rejoin full practice right after the new year and could be available for games shortly after that if he has no setbacks. The Cavs are planning to proceed cautiously to make sure he has enough strength in the shoulder to handle being in a game.
When Varejao's severely dislocated right shoulder was surgically repaired Sept. 2, the Cavs didn't guess when he could return. Conservative estimates had it at five months.
The 6-foot-10 Varejao, who suffered the injury while playing for the Brazilian national team in August, has been ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation for weeks and has been involved in practices for about a month.
Varejao averaged 4.9 points and 4.8 rebounds in 54 games last season, winning over fans and teammates with his energetic play.
Z on record pace
Heading into Friday night, Zydrunas Ilgauskas was shooting a career-best 89 percent at the free-throw line after going a perfect 11-of-11 Thursday night in Chicago. If he keeps it up, he could break an NBA record for big men. The best 7-footer percentage for an entire season is .882, which Joe Kleine accomplished in 1989-90.
Dribbles
Sasha Pavlovic is nearly three weeks off his left ankle sprain but still not close to returning. He'll probably need another week before being able to practice.... The Cavs lead the NBA in free-throw attempts made per game at 24.2.... LeBron James is averaging 31 points and shooting 50 percent. The most recent player to average more than 30 points and shoot 50 percent or better was Michael Jordan in 1991-92.
Cavaliers notebook
Varejao on track for early return
Shoulder rehabilitation is ahead of schedule
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter
CLEVELAND - Wild Thing's return might be close.
The Cavaliers are not publicly budging from their stance that Anderson Varejao's return from shoulder surgery will come in early February. Behind the scenes, though, there is some tentative optimism he could be back within two weeks or so.
Varejao is scheduled to rejoin full practice right after the new year and could be available for games shortly after that if he has no setbacks. The Cavs are planning to proceed cautiously to make sure he has enough strength in the shoulder to handle being in a game.
When Varejao's severely dislocated right shoulder was surgically repaired Sept. 2, the Cavs didn't guess when he could return. Conservative estimates had it at five months.
The 6-foot-10 Varejao, who suffered the injury while playing for the Brazilian national team in August, has been ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation for weeks and has been involved in practices for about a month.
Varejao averaged 4.9 points and 4.8 rebounds in 54 games last season, winning over fans and teammates with his energetic play.
Z on record pace
Heading into Friday night, Zydrunas Ilgauskas was shooting a career-best 89 percent at the free-throw line after going a perfect 11-of-11 Thursday night in Chicago. If he keeps it up, he could break an NBA record for big men. The best 7-footer percentage for an entire season is .882, which Joe Kleine accomplished in 1989-90.
Dribbles
Sasha Pavlovic is nearly three weeks off his left ankle sprain but still not close to returning. He'll probably need another week before being able to practice.... The Cavs lead the NBA in free-throw attempts made per game at 24.2.... LeBron James is averaging 31 points and shooting 50 percent. The most recent player to average more than 30 points and shoot 50 percent or better was Michael Jordan in 1991-92.
