Varejao Wildness Returns

[Karma]

Varejao's wildness happily returns

Monday, January 30, 2006
Burt Graeff
Plain Dealer Reporter

Nicknames are cool only when they make sense. Virtually everyone who follows the Cavaliers knows Anderson Varejao's nickname: Wild Thing.

Varejao, a reserve forward/center has looked anything but wild since recovering from arthroscopic surgery to repair a dislocated right shoulder in September.

The coaching staff and front office have been waiting for the energy Varejao provided as a rookie last season, when he averaged 4.9 points and 4.8 rebounds in 16 minutes a game.

In front of a national television audience and a sellout crowd at The Q on Sunday, they got it.

In 19 minutes off the bench, Varejao had six points, seven rebounds and took one offensive charge. In eight games before Sunday, he had two points, seven personal fouls and 10 rebounds in 35 minutes.

Varejao, 23, and Suns guard Leandro Barbosa, 23, are native Brazilians who played together on the Brazilian national team as 17-year-olds. They dined together on Saturday night in Cleveland.

"He's a little frustrated that he's not been able to play like he did last season," Barbosa said. "He just needs patience."

Varejao, who has appeared tentative at taking the ball inside, lowered his head and took it past Phoenix's Kurt Thomas midway in the second quarter. He was fouled on the play. The driving layup, along with a subsequent free throw, cut what had been an 18-point deficit to 47-37.

Early in the fourth quarter, with the game tied at 91, Varejao stood in to take an offensive charge from the Suns' Eddie House.

Varejao was gone when reporters entered the Cavaliers' locker room afterward, but others spoke for him.

"Anderson did a great job without having a training camp or playing the first two to three months of the season," said Cavaliers coach Mike Brown.

"He gave us some energy, especially when we began to switch every pick-and-roll. He did a nice job of keeping the ball in front of him."

LeBron James liked what he saw. "We know what we are going to get out of Andy every night," James said. "That is hustle and rebounding.

"He is going to talk on defense, he is going to help on defense. I know he feels good to be back playing with us. I know it's good to see him."

Plain Dealer

 

[Karma]

Seldom-used Varejao pumps life into Cavs

Energetic forward plays best game of season in victory over Suns
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter

CLEVELAND - Anderson Varejao has been patiently waiting for his chance to contribute. It came Sunday.

The second-year forward missed the first 32 games of the season with a shoulder injury and, since returning three weeks ago, hasn't seen much meaningful action. With the Cavaliers flat-lining and in need of some athletic play against the Phoenix Suns, Varejao was the perfect ingredient.


He played his best game of the season, scoring six points and grabbing seven rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench.

What doesn't show up in those stats was how his energy helped change the flow of the the game.

``You can't say enough about Andy,'' Cavs guard Damon Jones said. ``The energy and effort he gave us was enormous.''

Not only did Varejao's work around the glass help the Cavs win the rebounding battle 50-31, holding the high-scoring Suns to just two second-chance points, but his quickness for his size made a difference.

With the Suns' small and quick lineup, the Cavs starting front line of Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden struggled. Cavs coach Mike Brown called on Varejao, who had played just seven minutes in the previous four games, to help out.

It made an immediate impact and allowed the Cavs to switch the way they were playing defensively on the pick-and-roll.

There were times when Varejao found himself guarding the explosive Steve Nash and other much quicker players, but he held his own and kept them in front of him, an issue that had prevented him from playing more recently.
By forcing jumpers and taking a charge, Varejao helped the Cavs hold the Suns to just 37 percent shooting in the second half.

``We know we're going to get hustle, rebounding, and he's going to help on defense,'' LeBron James said. ``I know he feels good to be back playing.''

 

[Jimmy]

one of the few times i have had the please in seeinghim play extended minutes...and with drew and Z not on the floor, he did a great job...cant wait to see him back to his beastly best!!!!