Another Z is battling to back up Z
Monday, October 17, 2005
Branson Wright
Plain Dealer Reporter
Jahidi White came into Cavaliers camp as the favorite to back up center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, but White has been slowed with a sore left knee, and he did not receive his first action until Saturday against the Milwaukee Bucks.
White scored seven points and collected three rebounds in nearly 11 minutes, but that was a far cry from the recent play of center Zendon Hamilton, who had 10 points and six rebounds against the Bucks and 13 points and seven rebounds against Philadelphia last Friday.
Hamilton is serving notice.
"[Against the Bucks], Zendon was good on the boards," coach Mike Brown said. "Defensively, he did a lot of things aggressively. He made mistakes, but he was aggressive when he did them."
Hamilton, 6-11 and 254 pounds, has bounced around the league and played in limited action over the past five seasons. He has been a journeyman at best but that has not stopped him from vying for this backup opportunity.
"I just come with 100 percent work," Hamilton said. "I'll dive on the floor and do whatever I have to do. I bring my lunch pail. Things don't come your way unless you work for it. [To make this team], I have to continue to learn the plays, play good defense and listen to what coach Brown wants. I can't have any errors."
White needs more time, too. White has been a career backup in seven NBA seasons, averaging 5.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. He has the experience over Hamilton, and at 6-9 and 295 pounds, he has more strength.
"The biggest thing about these guys are their physical presence," Ilgauskas said. "Jahidi is bigger than Zendon, but Zendon is probably more around the basket, and he can shoot from the outside. Jahidi is one of those guys that when he gets the ball around the basket, unless he loses it, you're done. You have to foul him early or he will literally hurt you. You need guys like that on your team."
Making the team as a backup center is not guaranteed. Brown said he will take the best players available on his final roster, no matter what position. If neither Hamilton nor White can cut it, power forwards Drew Gooden and Alan Henderson will back up Ilgauskas.
"We're still looking [for a backup center]," Brown said. "This was Jahidi's first test [against the Bucks], and obviously, playing wise, he's behind, but that'll come with repetition. We still have four preseason games and a ton of practices to figure this out."
Pointing ahead:
Larry Hughes injured his right middle finger during the second quarter against the Bucks. X-rays were negative, and Hughes said it was not serious, and he doesn't expect to miss any time.
Branson Wright
Monday, October 17, 2005
Branson Wright
Plain Dealer Reporter
Jahidi White came into Cavaliers camp as the favorite to back up center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, but White has been slowed with a sore left knee, and he did not receive his first action until Saturday against the Milwaukee Bucks.
White scored seven points and collected three rebounds in nearly 11 minutes, but that was a far cry from the recent play of center Zendon Hamilton, who had 10 points and six rebounds against the Bucks and 13 points and seven rebounds against Philadelphia last Friday.
Hamilton is serving notice.
"[Against the Bucks], Zendon was good on the boards," coach Mike Brown said. "Defensively, he did a lot of things aggressively. He made mistakes, but he was aggressive when he did them."
Hamilton, 6-11 and 254 pounds, has bounced around the league and played in limited action over the past five seasons. He has been a journeyman at best but that has not stopped him from vying for this backup opportunity.
"I just come with 100 percent work," Hamilton said. "I'll dive on the floor and do whatever I have to do. I bring my lunch pail. Things don't come your way unless you work for it. [To make this team], I have to continue to learn the plays, play good defense and listen to what coach Brown wants. I can't have any errors."
White needs more time, too. White has been a career backup in seven NBA seasons, averaging 5.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. He has the experience over Hamilton, and at 6-9 and 295 pounds, he has more strength.
"The biggest thing about these guys are their physical presence," Ilgauskas said. "Jahidi is bigger than Zendon, but Zendon is probably more around the basket, and he can shoot from the outside. Jahidi is one of those guys that when he gets the ball around the basket, unless he loses it, you're done. You have to foul him early or he will literally hurt you. You need guys like that on your team."
Making the team as a backup center is not guaranteed. Brown said he will take the best players available on his final roster, no matter what position. If neither Hamilton nor White can cut it, power forwards Drew Gooden and Alan Henderson will back up Ilgauskas.
"We're still looking [for a backup center]," Brown said. "This was Jahidi's first test [against the Bucks], and obviously, playing wise, he's behind, but that'll come with repetition. We still have four preseason games and a ton of practices to figure this out."
Pointing ahead:
Larry Hughes injured his right middle finger during the second quarter against the Bucks. X-rays were negative, and Hughes said it was not serious, and he doesn't expect to miss any time.
Branson Wright