Trade deadline looming

ATENEARS

Trade deadline looming, Cavs' inability to 'come up big' not a fatal weakness yet, says Bud Shaw

by Bud Shaw/Plain Dealer Columnist

Sunday February 08, 2009, 9:31 PM

CLEVELAND -- Twice now, the Lakers have made the Cavaliers' season of serious title contention look fictional.

The first time had the feeling of unfortunate circumstance. Sunday's repeat, in which the Cavs were once again convincingly cast in the role of Lilliputians, indicated a growing problem.

So to speak.

February is no time to worry yourself sick -- at least that part of February that comes before the trade deadline. One thing we know, though, the Cavs aren't going to get any taller on their own by late May or June.

"We have to get healthy," LeBron James said of how the Cavaliers measure up against L.A. "It's a long way away to see if we match up against them in the finals."

Their locker room is a lab brimming with good chemistry, but they're also light in one ingredient. It's why acquiring Marcus Camby has its merits. If not him, Joe Smith.

"When you convert almost every rebound into points in the paint it makes it tough," said head coach Mike Brown, who flatly rejected the suggestion that the Lakers have exposed a big-man weakness in his team.

Certainly the Cavs weren't going to go 41-0 at home. They aren't going to win many games when James shoots 5-for-20 and can't make a layup either. Or when they follow up a 61-point first half with a 30-point second half.

But don't spend too much time arguing that point as it pertains to James. Kobe Bryant was sick and needed an IV at halftime. James scored 16, Bryant 19.

What passed for the NBA's premier individual matchup was Bryant's arching fallaway jumper over James for his only two fourth-quarter points. Bryant deferred to Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol, when possible. And it was often possible.

"They did the same thing to us in L.A.," Wally Szczerbiak said of the Lakers' dominance inside. "They're the best in the league at doing that."

James pointed out that Sasha Pavlovic's ankle injury at the end of the first half limited the Cavs and he was right. James had to play Bryant with Pavlovic unavailable. James otherwise could've slid over to try his luck with Odom, who finished with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar numbers. He had 15 points and 10 rebounds in the third quarter alone on his way to 28 and 17, respectively.

You can rationalize that the Cavaliers still aren't full strength with West out. But neither were the Lakers, playing their sixth and final game of the trip east.

For one painful third-quarter stretch, the Cavs trotted out a lineup of Szczerbiak, Daniel Gibson, Anderson Varejao, Mo Williams and James. That dog may bite an ankle or two, but it won't hunt.

"Championships aren't won in February," said Szczerbiak, whose expiring contract makes him tradeable despite his good season continuing even with a broken nose.

He's right. But Sunday was yet a reminder that championships are won in the lane and above the rim.

ATENEARS

The addition of Amare Stoudemire could brighten the Cleveland Cavaliers' future

Posted by Branson Wright / Plain Dealer Reporter February 09, 2009 11:47AM

Categories: Cavaliers, Sports Impact

Several things were clear about the Cleveland Cavaliers' first home loss on Sunday. The Lakers' defense forced the Cavs to take jump shots (which the Cavs missed); and the Cavs did not have a defensive answer for the Lamar Odom inside the paint.

Something else was also made clear: If the Cavs want to improve their chances of winning a championship, they will have to acquire a player who can score and defend inside.

That player will be in uniform at The Q on Wednesday night ---- Suns forward Amare Stoudemire.

Clearly, the Cavs have had trouble defending or scoring down low. Presently, the Cavs don't have any consistent low-post scorers. There's no one who can consistently score on the block.

And when it comes to stopping someone down low, the Cavs have trouble in that area. Ben Wallace is the best low-post defender, but a high-level, bigger player (Wallace is listed at 6-9) does not have much trouble scoring on Big Ben.

The addition of Stoudemire would prevent that.

But a deal for Stoudemire and an additional player would not come without a sacrifice. Of course, the Suns would want an expiring contract like Wally Szczerbiak ($13 million), but the Cavs would have to add someone like Anderson Varejao ($5 million) or Delonte West ($3.8 million) to make the Suns blink because of the other enticing offers being made to the Suns.

According to several reports, the Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls and the Detroit Pistons are willing to give up at least one starter for Stoudemire. Anything less offered by the Cavs would not get the deal done.

So, if the Cavs plan to continue their NBA Finals dreams, it could become more of a reality with a move to get Stoudemire.