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The coaches pretended to be wallflowers, dropping their whistles and rolling the ball to the middle of the floor.
There was no laughter or smiles, just grunting, cursing and sweating.
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Much has been made of the long-term learning process the young Cavaliers will go through this season. But the coaches are learning, too.
Some of it is X's and O's off film breakdowns and meetings. And some of it comes
without clipboards, charts or even voices. Ticketmaster
The morning after a disappointing performance in a preseason loss to Milwaukee,
the Cavaliers held what was likely their most intense practice of the season
Tuesday, climaxing in a five-on-five drill that was a test of character and
will more than basketball.
The goal was to get five points, a basket counting as one, a turnover counting
as minus one. It was the first unit vs. the second unit in a 45-minute long
war with no fouls and plenty of pride on the line.
The listlessness of the night before evaporated in perspiration. Feelings were
hurt and every basket turned into an exhausting dogfight. In the end, when the
first unit finally got five points ahead, LeBron James, the rookie who made
the deciding basket despite being mauled by a teammate, grabbed the ball and
whipped it to the other end of the floor in a release of frustration.
"It was a heated practice today," James said. "It's competitive,
you want to win. I was glad I was on the winning side."
The 87-81 loss to the Bucks, a team not expected to contend for a playoff spot
this season, showed the improved Cavaliers still have plenty of deficiencies.
The attitude at practice showed they're putting forth the effort to improve.
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"We really went at it today, that is what it is all about," Silas
said afterward, seemingly pleased he'd incited it. "I talked to them about
fighting through adversity and to come back after a not-too-good of a performance
last night and have that kind of practice is very gratifying."
Silas is already tweaking his approach for the next test, a high-profile exhibition
game Thursday against the Lakers in Los Angeles which is slated for national
television.
"I can see I've got to shorten that span where we play one unit in the
first quarter and another in the second," Silas said. "I've got to
develop more of a rotation."
Silas already has seen he's got to keep either Carlos Boozer or Zydrunas Ilguaskas
on the floor at all times because reserve big men Chris Mihm, DeSagana Diop,
Michael Stewart and Jelani McCoy haven't developed an offensive low post presence
in relief. Ticketmaster
The coach has also been inserting more offensive plays designed for individual
players. Even though the team is 2-1, the offensive execution has been spotty
at times and the Cavaliers have turned the ball over 20 more times than their
opponents.
"We're not as comfortable with offense, we don't know where the shots are
coming from yet," Silas said. "But we'll get it."
Newble back
After a week of limited participation, small forward Ira Newble took part in
all of practice Tuesday. He sat out the first week of training camp recovering
from tendinitis in his right knee. He started working out with the team last
week and is now expected to be close to 100 percent.
"Ira did very well, he knows the offense and he didn't seem to be favoring
the knee," Silas said. "I'm going to try to play him in the next three
games to get his feet wet and into the rotation."
Newble said the problems started after he bumped knees with another player during
a pickup game over the summer. Ticketmaster
"I am just taking my time because it's preseason," Newble said. "It
is good to get back out on the court and start competing with the team."
Too rich for LBJ
When a reporter asked James if he'd be willing to match the record $10 million
donation promised to his alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary, from Akron magnate
David Brennan and his wife, Ann, he was almost speechless. "No, I don't
even have $10 million to give yet."