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http://wp2.medina-gazette.com/2008/05/12/sports/west-is-best-guard-on-floor/
West is best guard on floor
May 12th, 2008
By SHAUN BENNETT Staff Writer CLEVELAND — He used to make fantastic passes and knock down big shots while wearing Boston’s familiar green jersey, but Celtics fans must have been cringing every time Cleveland point guard Delonte West touched the ball during the Cavaliers’ 108-84 win Saturday night. West finished with a team-high tying 21 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Not that turning in a strong performance against his former team was a top priority for West. “I don’t care who it is when they’re standing in front of me,” West said. “It can be a former team or it could even be my own mama. She’s going down. “I have to get my hands on that trophy.” West and Wally Szczerbiak, who also used to play for Boston, were the catalysts when the Cavs rolled over the Celtics early, and they were the fuel that kept the Cavs from allowing the Celtics to get back into the game over the final three quarters. West, who has been criticized for being another in a long line of point guards that don’t really fit into that role, had five first-quarter assists while the Cavs built a 32-13 lead. He picked up a loose ball after LeBron James stripped Boston’s Paul Pierce at midcourt and flung it down the court for another James highlight dunk. He found Ben Wallace under the basket for a short jump-hook shot. He also kicked it out for long jumpers by Szczerbiak, James and — believe it or not — a surprising 20-footer by reserve big man Anderson Varejao. “Those are just my duties as a point guard,” West said. “I have to get the offense set up, I have to work the perimeter, I have to get inside and create chaos and I have to find the scorers.” Szczerbiak was one of the biggest scorers during the early going, hitting both his field-goal attempts during the first-quarter run and scoring a team-high 14 points during the first half. While Szczerbiak cooled after the halftime break, West stepped up to break the Celtics’ spirit every time the East’s top-seeded team tried to make a run. He hit four big shots — including a pair of 3-pointers — during a 10-point third quarter, and converted a back-breaking three-point play after getting fouled on a layup by Sam Cassell early in the fourth. “We knew we had to come out and attack tonight,” West said. “Every game is a must-win for us but this one was different. We came out and did what we were supposed to do … and that’s protect our home court.” It was a nice change from the performance West put up on his former home court. With James struggling mightily while the Celtics grabbed a 2-0 series lead with a pair of wins in Boston, the point guard was no help with a 2-of-10 night for four points in the opener and a 1-of-5 night for three points in Game 2. “Every time I step onto the court it feels good,” West said. “But sometimes the basketball gods look down and say, ‘It’s just not your day.’ “The more shots you miss, the smaller that basket seems to get.” After Saturday night’s win, the basket must look like the Grand Canyon.
Oldish article, but dont know if anyone already posted it.
Loved what he said up the top hahahaha. What a legend.
West is best guard on floor
May 12th, 2008
By SHAUN BENNETT Staff Writer CLEVELAND — He used to make fantastic passes and knock down big shots while wearing Boston’s familiar green jersey, but Celtics fans must have been cringing every time Cleveland point guard Delonte West touched the ball during the Cavaliers’ 108-84 win Saturday night. West finished with a team-high tying 21 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Not that turning in a strong performance against his former team was a top priority for West. “I don’t care who it is when they’re standing in front of me,” West said. “It can be a former team or it could even be my own mama. She’s going down. “I have to get my hands on that trophy.” West and Wally Szczerbiak, who also used to play for Boston, were the catalysts when the Cavs rolled over the Celtics early, and they were the fuel that kept the Cavs from allowing the Celtics to get back into the game over the final three quarters. West, who has been criticized for being another in a long line of point guards that don’t really fit into that role, had five first-quarter assists while the Cavs built a 32-13 lead. He picked up a loose ball after LeBron James stripped Boston’s Paul Pierce at midcourt and flung it down the court for another James highlight dunk. He found Ben Wallace under the basket for a short jump-hook shot. He also kicked it out for long jumpers by Szczerbiak, James and — believe it or not — a surprising 20-footer by reserve big man Anderson Varejao. “Those are just my duties as a point guard,” West said. “I have to get the offense set up, I have to work the perimeter, I have to get inside and create chaos and I have to find the scorers.” Szczerbiak was one of the biggest scorers during the early going, hitting both his field-goal attempts during the first-quarter run and scoring a team-high 14 points during the first half. While Szczerbiak cooled after the halftime break, West stepped up to break the Celtics’ spirit every time the East’s top-seeded team tried to make a run. He hit four big shots — including a pair of 3-pointers — during a 10-point third quarter, and converted a back-breaking three-point play after getting fouled on a layup by Sam Cassell early in the fourth. “We knew we had to come out and attack tonight,” West said. “Every game is a must-win for us but this one was different. We came out and did what we were supposed to do … and that’s protect our home court.” It was a nice change from the performance West put up on his former home court. With James struggling mightily while the Celtics grabbed a 2-0 series lead with a pair of wins in Boston, the point guard was no help with a 2-of-10 night for four points in the opener and a 1-of-5 night for three points in Game 2. “Every time I step onto the court it feels good,” West said. “But sometimes the basketball gods look down and say, ‘It’s just not your day.’ “The more shots you miss, the smaller that basket seems to get.” After Saturday night’s win, the basket must look like the Grand Canyon.
Oldish article, but dont know if anyone already posted it.
Loved what he said up the top hahahaha. What a legend.