Friday, April 19, 2002
Cavs stagger through another year
By TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer
CLEVELAND — One of John Lucas' goals with the Cleveland Cavaliers was getting injury-prone center Zydrunas Ilgauskas through the season standing — without crutches.
Ilgauskas is healthy. “Z” was benched for the season finale Wednesday night in Toronto to make sure he stayed that way.
It may have been Lucas' best coaching move of the year.
Lucas didn't dare tempt fate at the end of a tough first season with the Cavs, who lost 53 games and the interest of many of their fans.
“We didn't get any worse,” Lucas said.
Actually, they did — a little.
By losing their final four games, the Cavs finished 29-53 — the club's worst record in a full season since 1985-86. And although Lucas got the team to play harder and made it more fun to watch, frustrated fans turned away in record numbers.
The Cavs drew 14,539 fans per game — their lowest average attendance since 1987-88 and a drop of 3,500 since Gund Arena opened in 1994.
“We have to do a better job,” Lucas said. “We've been guilty of (the feeling that) mediocre to bad is OK.”
The Cavs were closer to bad in 2001-02.
They finished 21 games behind first-place Detroit in the Central Division, and only Chicago had a worse record in the weak Eastern Conference. Tyrone Hill missed 50 games with a bad back and seemed to find excuses not to play.
Rookie center DeSagana Diop wasn't ready to contribute. Second-year forward Chris Mihm struggled and backup point guard Bimbo Coles suffered a season-ending knee injury.
But it wasn't a total disaster.
Ilgauskas stayed healthy, Andre Miller continued to develop into one of the league's stars and Wesley Person and Lamond Murray improved.
“Now we have to get good together,” Lucas said. “We need team progress.”
Miller won the NBA assists title, averaging 10.9 per game — one assist more than New Jersey's Jason Kidd. Imagine if he had someone to pass to?
“That's pretty good,” said Miller. “That's one good, positive thing about this season.”
Next season, Miller will make $2.5 million in the final year of a four-year contract. The Cavs could negotiate an extension with him this summer or wait until after next season and allow Miller to become a restricted free agent.
Before that, the Cavs have to decide if Miller is worth a potential $100 million investment.
“Andre has got to improve on defense,” said Lucas, a former point guard who demands a lot. “Andre did some good things this year, but he has to take a similar step up next season. That means defense, too.”
The Cavs are in a similar situation with guard Ricky Davis, their best player during the season's final month.
Davis didn't figure to be in Cleveland's long-term plans after being acquired in a three-way trade last October. But in the past few weeks, the 22-year-old became a crowd favorite with his soaring dunks, high-octane personality and 3-pointers.
During an eight-game stretch, Davis averaged 25.3 points per game, including 35 against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Lucas went so far as to call Davis, “the next Michael Jordan”.
“He has the potential,” Lucas said. “It will take three or four years of hard work. He's got a coach who will put up with some of his stuff, the cornrows, the wild stuff.”
Davis, who butted heads with Lucas for much of the season, is an restricted free agent. The Cavs will be able to match any offers Davis gets.
Davis wants to stay in Cleveland, but could be tempted by more money elsewhere.
“My plan is to come back here and regroup with the team,” said Davis. “If the money is all the same, then you look at the quality (of the team). Whoever pays, if it's a good spot, then that's where I'll be.”
Ilgauskas' comeback gave the Cavs some hope.
The 7-foot-3 center played in 62 games after injuries and surgeries on both feet limited him to 29 games in the past three seasons.
His numbers — 11.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 21.4 minutes per game — should go up next season, now that he has a full summer to get in playing shape without worrying about getting hurt.
“I feel great,” he said. “Usually I'm on crutches this time of the year. I'm just happy to be walking right now.”
For the Cavs, that's a big step, too.
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