RealGM Basketball

Cleveland Cavaliers Wiretap

Cavaliers news gathered from around the net.

Cavaliers Links

News Archive

NBA News

Cavaliers vs. Washington

Jan 31, 2002 2:33 PM EST

Tip-off: 7 p.m. at Gund Arena.

TV/radio: Fox Sports Net Ohio; WTAM AM/1100.

Injuries: Cavs - Jeff Trepagnier (knee) and Lamond Murray (nose) are out. Wizards - Hubert Davis (flu), Bobby Simmons (knee) and Christian Laettner (thigh) are out.

Notable: Michael Jordan torched the Cavs for 40 points last Thursday in Washington's 94-85 victory. . . . The Cavs and Wizards split the first two games. . . . The Cavs have won 6 of 7 against the Wizards and 16 of the last 20 meetings in Cleveland. . . . The Cavs trail, 74-81, in the all-time series. . . . The Cavs snapped their 12-game losing streak with a blowout victory over Minnesota on Tuesday.

Via

Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards

Read the Full Story Discuss Buy Tickets

Coach Boyer filmed for NBA show

Jan 31, 2002 2:32 PM EST

It was the first day of training camp for the Cavaliers and Lisa Boyer was ready. Boyer sat in the stands at Gund Arena with her feet up, clipboard in hand and prepared to take notes.

That all changed once Cavs coach John Lucas noticed Boyer and invited her to the court to help the team. Lucas hasn't allowed Boyer to sit unassumingly in the stands since.

Boyer, already an assistant coach with the WNBA's Cleveland Rockers, is a volunteer assistant coach with the Cavs. She participates in all of the home practices, and she is a part of Lucas' staff during home games. She doesn't travel with the team. Boyer sits on the side with associate coach Chuck Person during games. The league allows only two assistant coaches on the team bench.

NBA Entertainment is in town this week filming Boyer. She's the only female assisting an NBA team in a coaching capacity.

"A lot of this has to do with John," Boyer said. "This guy is about opportunity. He's full of energy and he's about positive motivation. I don't think he necessarily had in this mind that morning that he was going to walk in and add me to his staff. The opportunity presented itself, and I was in the right place at the right time and I appreciate it. It's been an incredible learning experience."

Boyer has 19 years of coaching experience, all in the women's game. She was the head coach of the Richmond/Philadelphia Rage of the ABL from 1996 to '98. Prior to coaching the Rage, she was the head coach at Bradley from 1986 to '96.

Hamilton set to return tonight:

Richard Hamilton, the Washington Wizards' second-leading scorer behind Michael Jordan, was activated from the injured list and planned to play tonight at Cleveland.

Hamilton had missed 17 games with a groin tear. Hamilton, averaging 19.8 points, and Jordan are the only Wizards players averaging in double figures.

Hubert Davis, who has been starting in Hamilton's place, will miss the trip to Cleveland because of the flu. Coach Doug Collins said Tyrone Nesby or Courtney Alexander will start, with Hamilton coming off the bench.

To make room for Hamilton on the roster, Bobby Simmons was placed on the injured list because of tendinitis in his left knee.

Hot streak:

Bryant Stith played his second consecutive impressive game on Tuesday. Stith had a season-high 20 points last Saturday against Boston and he finished with 14 points and a season-high nine rebounds during the Cavs' victory over Minnesota.

Stith, however, knows his role as a starter can change.

"It feels good [playing well during the last two games], but I understand that I'm just doing my job until Lamond [Murray] gets back," Stith said. "Hopefully I've gained the confidence of my teammates and coaches where they feel comfortable to give me more minutes off the bench."

Feel-good session:

Trajan Langdon scored a season-high 14 points in nine minutes during the Cavs' win against Minnesota. Langdon's been on and off the injured list all season, so the time on the court was well-spent.

"It was good getting in before the last couple of minutes of a game and being able to get into a real flow," Langdon said. "It was good to get in and see the ball go through the hoop, and even better to end the [Cavs' 12-game losing] streak against one of the better teams in the league."

Spurt:

"I've never heard of a run like that before. I'm just glad I wasn't on the other end of it." - Lucas, on the Cavs' 45-4 run against Minnesota during the second and third quarters.

Birthday:

The Cavs followed practice with a birthday cake for rookie DeSagana Diop. Diop, the Cavs' first-round pick in last year's draft, turned 20 yesterday.

"I was surprised and I appreciate it," Diop said. "I'm going to celebrate by going to a concert and then I'm going to chill."

Comeback:

Lucas said chances are good Murray will come off the injured list on Saturday against Detroit. Murray will wear a mask to protect his broken nose, suffered against the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 18.

Via

Cleveland Cavaliers

Read the Full Story Discuss Buy Tickets

Jordan, Davis dunking on each other

Jan 31, 2002 2:30 PM EST

Cavs guard Ricky Davis doesn't back down from anyone. Not even Michael Jordan.

Following the Cavs' loss to Washington last week, where Jordan scored 40 points, Davis said everyone's scared of Jordan, but he isn't.

Jordan said he knows the younger players all want to challenge him, and he doesn't have a problem with that.

"[Davis] shouldn't be scared," Jordan said. "If he is scared, then obviously I've won the game before it starts. I take on all kinds of challenges and he's no different. He's going to come at me at home, and I'll be there. I don't think I'm running away from any challenges."

Jordan and Davis will get the opportunity to run into each other and settle the rubber match tonight between the Cavs and Wizards at Gund Arena. The Cavs easily defeated the Wizards by 19 points here on Nov. 27.

Jordan struggled from the field (9-of-24) and finished with 18 points. Davis, on the other hand, was 9-of-14 from the field for 18 points.

It was a game where Jordan perceived Davis as rubbing it in by dunking several times late in the game.

Jordan also didn't appreciate some pregame comments from Davis about dunking on him if he got the opportunity.

Jordan responded with 40 points against the Cavs last week in a Wizards victory.

It was the 14th time Jordan has scored 40 or more points against the Cavs during the regular season, the most for him against any team. Following the game, Jordan said, "It was one of those things that you didn't want to see happen again, so the best way to do that was to get [Davis] in foul trouble and sit him down over there so he can watch us."

Apparently, Davis didn't like last week's view.

"[Jordan] told me that he remembered the [first] game," said Davis after the game. "We're going to remember this when they come back to our place. He got the win this time."

Time has the ability to change things, and it appears time has changed Davis. Or Davis has come to understand trash-talking with Jordan isn't always beneficial.

"I'm just ready to go out and play hard and try to get a victory because we're struggling right now," Davis said. "Forget about all that one-on-one stuff. We need a victory. Finding something to motivate him is what [Jordan] needs to get himself going. He looks for stuff like that. I'm not going to help him get motivated this time. As we all know, he can still do what he wants to do on the court and he can embarrass you."

Well, a kinder, gentler Davis won't help Bryant Stith tonight. Stith is expected to start and he'll have the responsibility of defending Jordan.

"It's too late now," said Stith about no more trash-talking. "The damage has been done. Michael Jordan has a very long memory. What we have to do now is try to withstand his barrage of offensive moves, because you know it's coming."

Cavs coach John Lucas has tried to be a mediator since Jordan's offensive spree. Lucas has been overly complimentary about Jordan. Stith, who'll be in the middle of the fire, hasn't taken Lucas' stance.

"I'm not going to try to soften him up," Stith said. "I'm kind of psyched for the challenge. I want to play when he's giving his best. It's something you can go back home and laugh about over the summer. Either you can be a hero or you can be a goat."

Via

Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards

Read the Full Story Discuss Buy Tickets

Cavaliers Jan 2002 Archive