Ferry stoked for great Cavs season
By Chris Beaven
CantonRep.com staff report
Posted Oct 05, 2009 @ 12:14 AM
AKRON —
He didn’t play a minute Saturday. He didn’t coach a single second, either.
But for Danny Ferry, Saturday’s Wine and Gold Scrimmage represents one of his favorite days of Cavs’ training camp.
“We’ve really gotten a good feel for the start of the season,” the general manager said after the team’s scrimmage at Rhodes Arena. “This scrimmage, there’s a different energy than there is in practice. It’s fun to see the difference.”
For Ferry, Head Coach Mike Brown and his staff, it was the first chance to evaluate in gamelike conditions the team they’ve assembled. And with the addition of Shaquille O’Neal, Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon, this is quite a different team from a year ago, when the Cavs won 66 games.
“Our guys have come in with a great attitude, a great work ethic and an energy about what we’re doing,” Ferry said. “There’s a natural excitement on the court right now.”
Several things caught Ferry’s eye Saturday.
“It was encouraging to see the length on the perimeter,” Ferry said. “It was encouraging to see Shaq out there. He looked good. And sitting next to Mike, it was good to hear him say we still have a lot to work on, because we do.”
That work continues at practice today and then Tuesday night when the Cavs open the preseason by hosting Charlotte at 7. A primary focus of their work is continue to install an offense that best showcases the skills of LeBron James, O’Neal and the cast around them.
“Offensively, I thought that we showed our versatility,” Brown said. “The basketball IQ of this team ... is very high.”
O’Neal sees a “perfect” chemistry developing on offense.
“The ball is moving, guys are shooting the ball well,” he said.
That does not surprise James.
“We’ve got guys that know how to play the game of basketball the right way,” James said, “and we’ve got guys that have been playing the game for a long time.”
MAKING STRIDES
Second-year forward J.J. Hickson made a nice initial impression on Brown in the scrimmage. Coming off a back injury that ended his season in April and limited his offseason, Hickson looked as athletic as ever. “Young fella played well,” Brown said. “It’ll be interesting to go back and look at the tape.”
When Brown reviews tape of Hickson, he’s not doing it to count dunks or blocks. He’s well aware Hickson “can jump higher than almost anyone in the league.”
“He has to keep doing the little things, keep trying to find bodies to box out. ... I’m looking forward to see how he turns out this year.”
GETTING THERE
O’Neal didn’t pronounce himself completely ready physically for the season, but he’s close. “I can still get my wind better, but I’m in damn good shape now. I should have perfect basketball wind in about eight days.”
