Certainly beating a team like the San Antonio Spurs is always a big win, but tonight’s game against the Boston Celtics in Beantown is the really big game for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Why? Because this is the exact situation the wine and gold have struggled with the entire season. It is the second game of a back to back situation and also a road game. The Cavs are only 4-9 away from the friendly confines of the "Q", and have been battered when playing their second game in two nights.
If the Cavaliers want to be one of the top seeds in the East, or maybe even win their first division title since the "Miracle of Richfield" season of 1975-76, they simply must win tonight. Boston has just an 11-19 record and they are only 4-10 on their home court. Even though Cleveland faced an excellent San Antonio team, and has to travel to the east coast, they cannot afford a loss to the Celtics.
Last night’s win was the kind of game that reminds one of playoff basketball. It was not artistic, but the Cavaliers won a game in which they did not play particularly well, and they did it against one of the better teams in basketball. Larry Hughes stepped up big in the 4th quarter, a period in which the wine and gold almost scored as many points as they did in the first three quarters. Hughes’ effort is the type the team needs from him. They need him to score 18-20 points per night on a consistent basis. They will be a better team when that happens.
Anderson Varajao’s game might just be more suited to the playoffs, as he seems to perform better in these types of games. Remember, he had a great playoff last spring. Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored only 8 points, but had 13 rebounds, and since only 5 were offensive boards, he apparently was not just tipping up his own misses against the Spurs.
Speaking of Ilgauskas, it seems to me that the Cavs usually have pretty good starts to games. My guess (although I currently cannot find this stat) is the Cavs’ point differential in the opening quarter is positive. Z is on the floor for at least eight minutes in that period. So, it appears to me that he does have a positive impact on the team. In Sunday’s Plain Dealer, Bud Shaw pointed out that most big men don’t run the floor on a fast break. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar didn’t with the Lakers in the 80’s for example. Ilgauskas does not slow the Cavs down.
Anytime you beat the San Antonio Spurs, it’s a good win. Going out tonight and taking care of business against a mediocre team on the road, makes that win even larger. If the Cavaliers want to stamp themselves as an elite team, they must beat the Celtics tonight.
JK
Cleveland Sports Perspective 