Cavs 08-09 Season - Central Div Champs (official thread)

[OState29]

Originally Posted by OState29

The Cavs are now breaking records. This is the first time an NBA team has won 8 games in a row by at least 12 points ever!

Actually they were tied with four other teams including the 70-12 bulls and last years rockets, but now the record is all theirs

[JXC]

I tell you what, in most years this would be the best team in the NBA...but the Lakers are so damn good too, that the Cavs and the Lakers may be 2 of the best teams this decade. I am still not sold on the Celtics, yes they beat the Cavs opening night...but I think time will show the Cavs are better than the Celtics.

[NFBuck]

Z set the Cavs career rebounding record tonight, surpassing Brad Daugherty. Congrats to the big man. LBJ also moved past Mark Price to become the Cav's all-time steals leader.

[OState29]

Originally Posted by JXC

I tell you what, in most years this would be the best team in the NBA...but the Lakers are so damn good too, that the Cavs and the Lakers may be 2 of the best teams this decade. I am still not sold on the Celtics, yes they beat the Cavs opening night...but I think time will show the Cavs are better than the Celtics.

100% agree

[OregonBuckeye]

Originally Posted by JXC

I tell you what, in most years this would be the best team in the NBA...but the Lakers are so damn good too, that the Cavs and the Lakers may be 2 of the best teams this decade. I am still not sold on the Celtics, yes they beat the Cavs opening night...but I think time will show the Cavs are better than the Celtics.

Lakers just stunk it up against Sacramento. I'd say the C's and Cavs are the best teams right now.

[JXC]

Originally Posted by OregonBuckeye

Lakers just stunk it up against Sacramento. I'd say the C's and Cavs are the best teams right now.

We will most certainly see. I think the Lakers are MUCH better than the Celtics. As are the Cavs.

[OState29]

Originally Posted by OregonBuckeye

Lakers just stunk it up against Sacramento. I'd say the C's and Cavs are the best teams right now.

So if Cavs and Cs> Lakers and Cavs>Celtics then we're the best team in the league

[purplehaze1213]

Originally Posted by OState29

So if Cavs and Cs> Lakers and Cavs>Celtics then we're the best team in the league

Hmm...I think I like that logic.

At this point in the season I think it is pretty obvious that one of those 3 teams is going to win the title. But I really think its a little too early to tell which among them is the best. That being said, did anyone notice in the midst of that 23-2 run the Cavs had to open the 3rd quarter when there were like back to back to back steals leading to fast break dunks? It was a completely dominating stretch of play.

However, you gotta think they're gonna have a down game some time soon. It will be interesting to see how this team responds to adversity, because I don't think they've really been tested yet.

[Buckeye89Fan]

Originally Posted by OregonBuckeye

Lakers just stunk it up against Sacramento. I'd say the C's and Cavs are the best teams right now.

The West is ALWAYS better though!

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Rebound from pain Ilgauskas savors good fortune since his career was jeopardized
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Tuesday, Dec 09, 2008
INDEPENDENCE: He owns the most notorious left foot in Cleveland Cavaliers history. Now, surprisingly, he probably will own the team's rebounding record after the Cavs square off against the Toronto Raptors tonight at Quicken Loans Arena.
It's difficult not to be impressed with what Zydrunas Ilgauskas has accomplished after missing most of two seasons with a broken left navicular bone in his left foot.
When he grabs rebound No. 5,228 to break former center Brad Daugherty's record, expect Quicken Loans Arena to erupt with emotion.
As for No. 11? He'll be cool.
Cont...

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Ilgauskas breaks team record His 5,228th rebound surpasses Daugherty. James sets steals mark
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Wednesday, Dec 10, 2008
CLEVELAND: Cavaliers coach Mike Brown had a quick response when asked about center Zydrunas Ilgauskas breaking Brad Daugherty's team record for rebounds and whether the current Cavs center relies too much on his height.
''Chuck Nevitt was 7-3 and long and didn't get that many rebounds,'' Brown said.
When reminded that Nevitt topped out at 7-5, Brown laughed and said: ''Well, he's got advantage on Z then at 7-5.''
Nevitt played for five NBA teams in his nine-year career. No one is comparing Ilgauskas, who has played with just the Cavaliers, to Nevitt.
But Brown said that Ilgauskas, because he's so unique as a player, might not get the recognition he deserves. Ilgauskas' ability to rebound proved difficult for the coach to put into words, but Ilgauskas' numbers speak for themselves when he broke the record.
Brown said that the 7-3 Ilgauskas might not be appreciated as much as he should be around the league.
''They probably have (undervalued him), but because we've had some success as a team, he's gotten a lot more attention,'' Brown said. ''Going into the playoffs, you can tell that teams game plan for him. They have to play him a certain way because he shoots the ball so well.''
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[osugrad21]

ABJ

Cavs: One for the record books LeBron, Ilgauskas, Cavaliers all set marks in victory over Raptors
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 11:38 p.m. EST, Dec 09, 2008
CLEVELAND: At least someone tried to rewrite the script on the Cavaliers for a change.
The Toronto Raptors (8-12) arrived at Quicken Loans Arena Tuesday night and tried to spoil the night.
With Zydrunas Ilgauskas and LeBron James looking to further secure their legacies and the Cavs having a shot at breaking a league record, the Raptors wanted to play spoiler.
Ilgauskas looked to best Brad Daugherty's team rebound record, and James was after Mark Price's mark for steals. And the team? The record for consecutive wins by more than 12 points.
The Raptors had little interest in being made the answer to a sports trivia question, because they scratched and clawed as much as they could to prevent it from happening. So much for that.
The Cavs (18-3) beat the Raptors 114-94, their ninth win in a row. And the records?
James broke Price's faster than a dog going after a steak. It took just 28 seconds before he stole the ball and raced in the opposite direction for a slam dunk for his 735th steal to break Price's mark of 734. Daugherty's record of 5,227 rebounds fell with 2:01 left in the half when Ilgauskas got his fourth of the night. James finished the game with three steals, and Ilgauskas had six rebounds.
Cont...

[osugrad21]

CPD

Spin those records: Cavs' run of romps an NBA first as Z, James set marks in ripping Raptors

by Brian Windhorst/Plain Dealer Reporter Tuesday December 09, 2008, 11:09 PM


Numbers 5,230, 737, nine, four and six. In order those represent: The Cavaliers' new franchise record for career rebounds now held by Zydrunas Ilgauskas, the new franchise record for career steals now held by LeBron James, consecutive games the Cavs have won by 12 or more points to set an NBA record, consecutive victories by at least 20 points to set a franchise record, and the number of times James has sat out the fourth quarter in the last seven games.
It was that kind of night Tuesday as the Cavs did it yet again, thrashing the Toronto Raptors, 114-94, at The Q to rack up their ninth victory in a row.
"This is a very competitive league and I've been through my fair share of games and it's tough to win by double digits," said James, who had 31 points in 30 minutes on the floor.
"To do it nine straight times on the road and at home, it's great."

Cont...

[osugrad21]

CPD

Windhorst Beat Blog: Boobie update, a little team meeting, and LeBron's Christmas gifts

by Brian Windhorst/Plain Dealer Reporter Tuesday December 09, 2008, 11:53 PM


Cavs 114, Raptors 94
? First things first, looks like Daniel Gibson may be out for a bit after spraining his left big toe. He's going to have an MRI in the morning. He had this exact same injury in his rookie season and missed about two weeks. During that injury, he hurt it and missed a game and then came back too soon and missed two weeks. So it wouldn't surprise me if they decide to sit him down for a bit. One of the Cavs officials told me "it's a yellow flag, not a red flag."
? The Cavs had an impromptu team meeting at halftime to talk about complaining to the refs. Mike Brown came out of his meeting with the coaches in his office to speak with the team about it and they were already discussing it. This is part of the way the team "polices itself." Some of it is veteran leadership, some is Mike giving the team space to handle issues and them doing it responsibily. LeBron has four technicals already this season and three in the last week. Either the triggers are coming quicker or he's protesting too much. It doesn't matter if the calls were correct or not, the Cavs have to deal with it and they didn't in the first half very well.
Cont...

[osugrad21]

CPD

Always standing tall, Ilgauskas is well deserving of his Cavaliers record, says Bill Livingston

by Bill Livingston/Plain Dealer Columnist Tuesday December 09, 2008, 11:00 PM


Goliath had to stoop to conquer. Jason Kapono's missed 3-pointer with 2:01 remaining in the first half Tuesday night could have been claimed by either LeBron James or Zydrunas Ilgauskas. But, as the ball bounced to the floor, James raised his hands, backing off. Z dribbled it once and then picked it up as a gratified roar came from the sellout crowd at The Q.
It was the 5,228th rebound of his Cavaliers' career, breaking Brad Daugherty's franchise record, and it is hard to remember one taken any closer to the ground. During the ensuing 20-second timeout, Z reacted like a man who had taken the trash out 5,228 times without splitting the bag or mixing the recycled waste in with the cold pizza. His teammates had to almost push him onto the court to receive a standing ovation.
Minutes earlier, James had almost reluctantly grabbed a missed free throw by Toronto's Jermaine O'Neal. He shot a quick, admonishing glance at Z after taking it. It showed how much his teammates care about Z. It also showed how little individual goals mean to the object of their affection.

"It means more to me what Z did than what I did myself," said James, who broke the Cavaliers' career steals record in the first minute of a rout over Toronto Tuesday night.
"It will be something I will cherish, one of the top moments," said Ilgauskas. "But it was good to get it out of the way in the first half and go play the game."
It was fitting that Z and James set their records on the same night. Few players have more respect for each other.

Cont...