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Cavs rebound in big way with win over Arenas-less Wizards 98 - 121
January 6, 2010
When you don't have your leading scorer and the other team has LeBron James, chances are, you're in serious trouble. Actually, the Cleveland Cavaliers have a whole lot more than just James -- the latest evidence coming during Wednesday's 121-98 hammer job of the visiting Washington Wizards. Not that the Wizards have been providing anyone with stiff competition these days. At least, they sure haven't been doing it on a regular basis, as their 11-22 record confirms. Throw in the fact Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas was suspended by NBA commissioner David Stern before the game, and what was already a tall task became insurmountable. That's especially the case when you consider the Cavs (28-9) looked unprepared and a little overconfident in their previous home game, a loss to Charlotte. But they had two full days afterward to think about it and try to get things corrected. "We got a lot of things worked out yesterday at practice," said James, who finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. "It was good. We got to watch some film and then go out on the floor and have a contact practice." Meanwhile, Arenas was the news of the day after receiving an indefinite suspension for his role in an incident Dec. 21, when he brought four guns into the Wizards' locker room at the Verizon Center. Arenas added to that decision with comments and actions that caused more of a stir, including a pregame routine in which he used his fingers to act as if he were shooting his teammates. He also said "Stern is mean" when asked what type of punishment he expected to face.
Stern responded Wednesday by saying Arenas faced "a substantial suspension, and perhaps worse" from the league. Shortly before the game, Arenas told a Cleveland TV station, "My teammates are behind me. I'm very upset. I will let my agent take it from here." One of those teammates, guard DeShawn Stevenson, said the Wizards will try to move on as best they can. But he admitted it's not going to be easy. "It's like a black cloud over us," said Stevenson, who also expressed remorse over the fact some of the Wizards were laughing at Arenas' pregame "shooting" act. "It's tough. If you hit us over the head again, we might break or something. It's a lot of stuff that we're dealing with right now. The media has been here everyday. Not because we're winning, but because of other stuff. We don't know how to react to it. This is my 10th year, and I've never been in a situation like this."
James said he wasn't surprised the league took action. "My opinion was that [Arenas] would probably get suspended," James said. "I know it's tough for him, but you've just got to use better judgment sometimes." Added Cavs coach Mike Brown, "Gil is an All-Star and he can hurt you in many different ways. Just his presence will open up the floor for other players. But that's just the business of the league." As for the actual game, the Cavs were never really threatened in scoring a season-high in points. They raced to a 65-43 advantage at halftime and used their reserves for most of the second half. Also, first-year Cavs starters Shaquille O'Neal and Anthony Parker played perhaps their best games in Cleveland. O'Neal finished with 17 points on 6-for-9 shooting, Parker 16 on 6-for-8.
Brown said that O'Neal's productivity was no accident -- that it was a largely result of the Cavs moving the ball and playing unselfishly. "A lot of Shaq's buckets came from our guys driving and kicking, or driving and dumping it into him," Brown said. "He spaced the floor correctly when someone drove, too. If teams are going to take their bodies off of him and help on the drive, then as big as he is, we can get him the ball." Delonte West added 14 points and six assists off the bench, and Anderson Varejao and Zydrunas Ilgauskas each scored 12 points and grabbed eight boards. "We are a very, very unselfish team," O'Neal said. "We are moving the ball, guys are shooting the ball well, guys are taking the high-percentage shots and guys are making the extra, extra pass." The Cavs have won 13 of 15 overall. They finished with 29 assists and are 8-0 when they compile 25 or more. Antawn Jamison paced the Wizards with 26 points and Randy Foye scored 18 in reserve.