Pine time puzzling for Marshall
In defeat, vet sat seething in nearly all of second half
Monday, February 06, 2006
Burt Graeff
Plain Dealer Reporter
The good ship Cavaliers is experiencing some turbulent waters.
No one was more upset in the aftermath of Saturday night's 100-95 giveaway loss to the Philadelphia 76ers than forward Donyell Marshall.
Marshall, who is arguably the Cavaliers' most productive reserve - averaging 10 points and 6.8 rebounds in 27 minutes a game - was benched for all but 54 seconds of the second half against the Sixers.
Marshall is one of the most affable and analytical players on the team, but was in no mood for chit-chat or analysis afterward. He was clearly miffed. "You've got to ask the coach [Mike Brown] about that," said Marshall, when asked to comment on playing less than one minute of the second half.
"I don't want to talk about it."
Marshall played a season-low 11:28, scoring two points and getting four rebounds. They were the fewest minutes he's played since late last season, when a back injury limited him to four minutes for the Toronto Raptors in a game against Atlanta.
Benching Marshall for virtually all of the second half was a puzzling move by Brown. His explanation: "I went with Andy [Anderson Varejao] , Drew [Gooden] and Z [Zydrunas Ilgauskas] to bring energy to the game," he said.
Gooden and Ilgauskas put up some respectable second-half numbers, combining for 14 points and 13 rebounds in 34 minutes, but shot 5-of-17 from the field. Varejao's second-half numbers: no points on 0-of-3 shooting from the field and four rebounds in 13 minutes.
With 51 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Cavaliers trailing, 94-89, Gooden fouled out. Instead of turning to 3-point threat Marshall in the final seconds, Brown went with Varejao. In 67 NBA games, Varejao is 0-of-2 from 3-point range.
The Cavaliers (27-19), who face the Milwaukee Bucs (24-22) tonight at The Q, hold down the fourth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. It's the final homecourt spot and games like tonight's against a team in the playoff mix affect the jockeying.
____________________________
Marshall's *****ing to the press about not playing in the second half seems out of character to me. In any event, it's not a good thing. Let's hope he apologizes and starts hitting some threes.
In defeat, vet sat seething in nearly all of second half
Monday, February 06, 2006
Burt Graeff
Plain Dealer Reporter
The good ship Cavaliers is experiencing some turbulent waters.
No one was more upset in the aftermath of Saturday night's 100-95 giveaway loss to the Philadelphia 76ers than forward Donyell Marshall.
Marshall, who is arguably the Cavaliers' most productive reserve - averaging 10 points and 6.8 rebounds in 27 minutes a game - was benched for all but 54 seconds of the second half against the Sixers.
Marshall is one of the most affable and analytical players on the team, but was in no mood for chit-chat or analysis afterward. He was clearly miffed. "You've got to ask the coach [Mike Brown] about that," said Marshall, when asked to comment on playing less than one minute of the second half.
"I don't want to talk about it."
Marshall played a season-low 11:28, scoring two points and getting four rebounds. They were the fewest minutes he's played since late last season, when a back injury limited him to four minutes for the Toronto Raptors in a game against Atlanta.
Benching Marshall for virtually all of the second half was a puzzling move by Brown. His explanation: "I went with Andy [Anderson Varejao] , Drew [Gooden] and Z [Zydrunas Ilgauskas] to bring energy to the game," he said.
Gooden and Ilgauskas put up some respectable second-half numbers, combining for 14 points and 13 rebounds in 34 minutes, but shot 5-of-17 from the field. Varejao's second-half numbers: no points on 0-of-3 shooting from the field and four rebounds in 13 minutes.
With 51 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Cavaliers trailing, 94-89, Gooden fouled out. Instead of turning to 3-point threat Marshall in the final seconds, Brown went with Varejao. In 67 NBA games, Varejao is 0-of-2 from 3-point range.
The Cavaliers (27-19), who face the Milwaukee Bucs (24-22) tonight at The Q, hold down the fourth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. It's the final homecourt spot and games like tonight's against a team in the playoff mix affect the jockeying.
____________________________
Marshall's *****ing to the press about not playing in the second half seems out of character to me. In any event, it's not a good thing. Let's hope he apologizes and starts hitting some threes.
