• Changing RCF's index page, please click on "Forums" to access the forums.

2009-2010 Pre-Season Game 3 VS Olympiacos B.C.

Do Not Sell My Personal Information
I will personally kill Mike Brown if Hickson blossoms into a 20 ppg/10rpg guy nightly but doesn't get the minutes because of defensive shortcomings.

Y'all may not agree with me, but if we got Boozer to fill our PF spot, everyone would love that. He may be bad at defense but we'd be unguardable and Andy/Shaq could always guard the better big man.

So if Hickson turns into a great scorer that players can't stop (atleast 15 ppg), I say give him the time. I don't think he's as dumb as Gooden and even Gooden found success here.
 
Game highlights:

<object width="388" height="394" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="ep"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="movie" value="http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.element/swf/1.1/cvp/nba_embed_container.swf?context=cavaliers&videoId=games/cavaliers/2009/10/12/0010900046_oly_cle_recap.nba" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><embed src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.element/swf/1.1/cvp/nba_embed_container.swf?context=cavaliers&videoId=games/cavaliers/2009/10/12/0010900046_oly_cle_recap.nba" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="388" wmode="transparent" height="394"></embed></object>
 
I will personally kill Mike Brown if Hickson blossoms into a 20 ppg/10rpg guy nightly but doesn't get the minutes because of defensive shortcomings.

Y'all may not agree with me, but if we got Boozer to fill our PF spot, everyone would love that. He may be bad at defense but we'd be unguardable and Andy/Shaq could always guard the better big man.

So if Hickson turns into a great scorer that players can't stop (atleast 15 ppg), I say give him the time. I don't think he's as dumb as Gooden and even Gooden found success here.

first hickson has all of the talent in the world to be a great defensive player he should be held to a high standard.

second, I dont care how good a player is offensively defense wins championships.

third. drew gooden did not find success here
 
The AP report:

Injured Cavs beat Olympiacos behind Shaq, LeBron

CLEVELAND -- Even at 37, Superman can still fly.

In his second preseason game at home, Shaquille O'Neal introduced himself to Cleveland's fans with a dive into the stands during the Cavaliers' 111-94 preseason win against Olympiacos.

O'Neal and LeBron James each scored 12 points in limited time, but it was O'Neal's launch into the seats that sent fans scrambling for safety. The 325-pound O'Neal angled himself so that he landed on an empty chair.

"That chair ain't going to hurt him," James said. "I feel bad for the chair."

Shaq soared into the seats after he was shoved in the back on a fast break in the first half. He brushed himself off and promptly missed both free throws, but was in position to grab the rebound. He tried another slam, but the ball smacked the iron and sailed toward half court.
O'Neal never made it back on defense, but a quick Olympiacos turnover allowed Anthony Parker to hit a wide open O'Neal, who used two hands for the dunk before finishing with a twist on the rim as the crowd inside Quicken Loans Arena roared.

"I just try to land safely," O'Neal said of his many dives.

Even at 7-feet, he is no stranger to airborne trips into the seats: "I look out for sharp objects, land and spring back up."

The Cavaliers' pair of superstars are still learning how to play together.

They executed perfectly a pick-and-roll in the first, when O'Neal took a pass from James and finished with an easy layup. But his alley-oop pass in the second quarter clanged off the back iron, drawing a smile from James as he jogged back on defense.

James made up for it just before halftime, when he lofted a pass above the rim that O'Neal caught with one hand and dunked in one motion.

James said he is still working on his chemistry with O'Neal.

"It's still continuing, where he wants the ball, where he likes the ball," James said. "We're going to force-feed him the ball if he wants it, and I think he does. He's one of the all-time leading scorers in this league's history, so we know he can score the ball."

The Cavaliers played without their starting backcourt. Point guard Mo Williams was held out with a sore right groin, while shooting guard Delonte West has been absent with the team's permission for the last week while dealing with personal issues.

Williams could also miss Wednesday's game against Washington, coach Mike Brown said, although he doesn't believe the injury is serious.

"He easily could have played," Brown said.

West was only expected to miss a couple of days, but has now been absent since last Tuesday with no return date in sight.

Daniel Gibson started in place of Williams, connecting on 3-of-6 3-pointers for 15 points with three assists.

Anderson Varejao had 13 points for Cleveland after missing Saturday's game against Charlotte with back spasms. J.J. Hickson scored 13 points and Anthony Parker had 10.

Cleveland was also without Jamario Moon, who had wisdom teeth extracted last week, and forward Danny Green, who has a sore leg.

Sofoklis Schortsanitis, commonly known as "Baby Shaq" in Greece, had a tough time going against the real Shaq. Schortsanitis didn't get his first basket -- on a dunk -- until O'Neal was out of the game with seven minutes left until halftime. He finished with 4 points.

Schortsanitis, whose draft rights are held by the Los Angeles Clippers, played a key role in Greece's upset of LeBron and the Americans in the 2006 World Championships.

"I grew up watching Shaq, so it was great," said Schortsanitis, who enjoys being compared to O'Neal. "It's a real honor that I can get a nickname of a player like that. He's an absolute power. I thought I was strong, but he's so strong. I really enjoyed it."

O'Neal welcomed the visitors by sending his game-worn jersey to Yotam Halperin and he posed for pregame pictures with some of the Greek players.

Josh Childress, who played four seasons with Atlanta before leaving for Europe in 2008, scored 16 for Olympiacos.

With the NBA's referees currently locked out, the replacement officials are still learning on the job.

Childress was upset James was not whistled for goaltending on a block from behind in the third quarter and was quickly given a technical for griping.

The Greek players and coaches were harassing the referees throughout the night, sparking one official from the Greek team to quip: "These refs are tragic."
 
Good article, great game. I went courtesy of chiefwahoo, thanks Chief! Some quick thoughts:

  • Boobie had what I hope is a breakout game. Nice to see him drive to the hole and handle the ball so well. It was fun to watch in person. The Greek PG was smaller and quick, but it seemed to me that Boobie played very good D on him.
  • Shaq is a true force of nature. I have never seen Shaq play live before. He is absolutely massive. He has more finesse to his game than I thought he did.
  • Z is going to have to learn how to play with the 2nd unit better. I don't think he is used to being the focus on the floor. I'm sure he will adjust.
  • Andy is Andy. I thought he was having a miserable game until I looked up and saw his stats.
  • LeBron wasn't really trying hard, and he was still awesome.
  • Parker is a really nice addition. Smooth movements, good judgements, seems like a total team player.

I just felt sorry for the Greek team after awhile. It was a lot of fun.
 
I will personally kill Mike Brown if Hickson blossoms into a 20 ppg/10rpg guy nightly but doesn't get the minutes because of defensive shortcomings.

Y'all may not agree with me, but if we got Boozer to fill our PF spot, everyone would love that. He may be bad at defense but we'd be unguardable and Andy/Shaq could always guard the better big man.

So if Hickson turns into a great scorer that players can't stop (atleast 15 ppg), I say give him the time. I don't think he's as dumb as Gooden and even Gooden found success here.

Has there been any official info on why JJ came out in the 1st half? Because I have a theory...

I was at the game tonight. You couldn't really tell on TV, but when JJ came out, it looked like he asked to come out, almost to the surprise of the coaches, and pretty sure he headed right for the locker room.

I'm pretty sure he had to take a dump... Some sort of stomach issue. You know, like something that just couldn't wait. Cause he looked in a hurry to get out, and then he came back out later and everything seemed fine, with MB patting him on the back, etc.

I'm serious too.
 
I know that Mike Brown has good intentions for Hickson, but let this kid play! He looks like a completely different player thus far in preseason.
 
I disagree with this assessment.

Lots of people are liked... but we aren't trying to win the "good neighbor" championship, we want an NBA championship.

Karl brings more than Jawad, and Barrett is a LOT, LOT, LOT better than you give him credit for. I wonder if you have ever even watched him play????? He is the best ball handler on the team right now... BAR NONE!!! He is also damn near automatic from inside 15. He is also the 2nd best passer on the team behind LeBron.

Jawad may be liked for practice, but what is really going to set it in stone, is the fact that the Cavs will likely be making a move later this year that will require that they have other ball-handlers already on the team. Jawad doesn't even handle the ball as well as my 16 yr old son!!!

Karl & Barrett make the team.

The Cavs won't be bringing in two guards.

I don't care if you disagree with what Jawad brings, but I'm telling you, and it's pretty evident, that Mike Brown has essentially already decided Jawad is getting a roster spot based on his work in camp.

Barret's the best ball-handler on this team and he's automatic from 15 feet?I'm starting to think you're his cousin or something, but get real, Barret is a scrub just like all of these guys. I think his height hurts him. He's also not "the second best passer on this team:". You are ridiculously and completely overrating him. Sorry, but you need a reality check. Dude isn't very good, neither is Jawad, neither is Coby.

Jawad has proven he can hit a shot in an NBA game though(last year he had a few decent regular season games). He knows the system and is obviously a favorite of MB, he's well liked by the players. He's going to get the spot. I'll bet you 20 bucks via paypal Jawad makes the team if you want.

In my mind it comes to Coby and Barrett. I think Mike Brown covets Coby's size over Barret and I think that'll be the ultimate deciding factor.

Jawad/Coby. Book it.
 
And Windhorst:

Greek holiday: Cavaliers breeze to exhibition win over Olympiacos, 111-94
By Brian Windhorst
October 12, 2009, 9:19PM
UPDATED: 11:08 p.m.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- So far this preseason the Cavaliers have been giving off the impression that they are in their own world, focusing on their own issues and goals without even noticing the competition.

That was magnified on Monday night when they seemed to just sharpen their claws on some imported visitors from Greece. With LeBron James deciding to work on his passing skills and Shaquille O'Neal enjoying a matchup with a massive body, the Cavs trounced Olympiacos, 111-94.

It wasn't a masterpiece performance, which coach Mike Brown always seems to desire even this early, but it was a pretty complete dismantling. Down the line, the players who were able to suit up all seemed to get something accomplished.

O'Neal's meeting Sofoklis Schortsanitis, the 6-10, 310-pound center who long ago was nicknamed "Baby Shaq," was the most intriguing highlight of the night. The two giant men sized each other up and often crammed into the areas around the basket, each having their moments.

But as is usually the case, Big Shaq had more of them. He scored 12 points and had five rebounds in 21 minutes including two rim-shaking dunks. Those maneuvers, though, had nothing on his short but riveting flight late in the first half.

He and Schortsanitis got tangled up and O'Neal went sailing into the stands. First he side-stepped the first row of seats, then jumped over the second row, and finally landed not so softly on a thankfully empty chair in the third aisle. He popped back up as if he'd hit a trampoline even as the crowd gasped. So did some on the bench.

"I feel bad for the chair," James said.

"He should feel sorry for the chair," O'Neal said. "I just try to land safely, I try to look out for sharp objects."

"I saw him do it before on TV," Brown said. "At first I thought, 'Oh my gosh, he's going to get hurt.' But then I remembered he's Superman, so he was just flying."

Playing the huge O'Neal, Schortsanitis struggled and he did so with the officials, too. Unused to the way the game was called hurt Olympiacos, especially when it came to setting screens. Schortsanitis was called for three offensive fouls and scored just four points in 21 minutes.

"It was a great honor," said Schortsanitis, whose draft rights are owned by the Los Angeles Clippers and may come to the NBA someday. "I grew up watching Shaq, so it was great."

James, meanwhile, was operating the offense with Mo Williams and Delonte West missing. He piled up 12 points but more impressively had seven assists and two steals in 23 minutes.

Five other Cavs scored in double figures. Anderson Varejao was clearly at ease playing against a European team and he darted everywhere in scoring 13 points with eight rebounds. Anthony Parker continued his smooth and efficient play with 10 points and he's now shooting 71 percent (10-of-14) in the three preseason games.

Daniel Gibson, who started at point guard, had a good shooting night and finished with 15 points, four assists and three steals. Coby Karl (10 points) and J.J. Hickson (13 points) were strong off the bench.

In all, the Cavs got about anything they wanted on offense, shooting 55 percent, scoring 66 points in the paint and amassing 30 assists.

Olympiacos was led by former Hawk Josh Childress and his 16 points. Despite the loss, they seemed to enjoy the experience.

Several players got photos with O'Neal after the game. Guard Theo Papaloukas, who was the star in beating a James-led Team USA in the 2006 World Championships, waited 10 minutes in his uniform outside the Cavs locker room for James' autograph. O'Neal sent his signed jersey to guard Yotam Halperin.
 
From Windy's twitter:

Classic moment: Theo Papaloukas, man who vanquished USA in '06 World Championships, waiting 10 min in his uniform for LeBron autograph.

EDIT: looks like it was in the article wuck posted.
 
I don't think he will shoot 70% for the season, but we have seen how good good shooters can be on this team when left wide open. Mo's better 3 point % last year was mostly because of this. I am really wondering how many 3's we are going to sink this year with Lebron, Shaq, and every player on the opposing team in the paint.
 
Went to the game last night and all I have to say is that whoever is in charge of playing videos on the scoreboard should be fired immediately. The Teletubbies? Really?
 

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Video

Episode 3-13: "Backup Bash Brothers"

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Spotify

Episode 3:11: "Clipping Bucks."
Top