- Joined
- Jul 14, 2005
- Messages
- 20,027
- Reaction score
- 49,800
- Points
- 148
Ilgauskas finds some happiness this time in playoffs
By Terry Pluto
WASHINGTON - There's a part of Zydrunas Ilgauskas that always seems sad. Sometimes, it's his sagging shoulders. Other times, it's just a pained, weary expression like that of a man who realizes that he just missed the bus -- the last bus of the night -- and he has a long, cold walk home.
But these days, the Cavaliers center is smiling, especially after they took a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven, first-round playoff series against the Washington Wizards with a 98-92 victory Saturday.
Ilgauskas is not about to put a lampshade on his head and become the life of the party. Most fans are aware that his wife prematurely lost twins (their first children) in early February. It took Ilgauskas a few weeks to snap out of it, as would be expected.
You can be sure that some of that grief never will go away.
He also has battled through five foot surgeries over the years, and in many ways, it's remarkable that he's even on the court.
Now, he's playing some of the best basketball of his career as he dropped in 24 points on only 13 shot attempts Saturday.
In these three playoff games, he's averaging nearly 19 points, plus 8.1 rebounds, and is shooting 61 percent from the field. The Wizards have no idea how they can defend him, and the Cavs are spending more time than ever trying to find him on offense.
It is so different from a year ago when he averaged only 10.4 points and 6.3 rebounds and shot 45 percent in a very frustrating postseason.
Z becomes key
If the Cavs do dive deep into the playoffs, making sure that Ilgauskas is a significant part of the game plan will be crucial. Most big men need to be nudged to score. They can't dribble the length of the court and create a shot as LeBron James can.
But they can maximize their height when they are used right.
Too often, the Cavs have been confused as to how best to employ Ilgauskas. Either the offense was ill-suited to deliver the ball to him in the right place at the right time, or the players failed to make it work.
But recently, that has changed.
``This whole series, I've been getting good shots, and I've been able to capitalize on it,'' he said. ``For a big guy, it's easier to play the game when you get a couple of dunks, a couple of layups, a couple of tip-ins. It opens up your jump shot, as the hoop seems a lot bigger the next time you shoot.''
Most big men are just that -- physically huge -- but they have the same doubts and insecurities as anyone else. Ilgauskas goes through those spells, and he seems to turn passive and appear lost on the court.
``Right now, Z has a comfort level with his teammates and with myself,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. In the playoffs last year, ``he was coming off an ankle injury and just didn't have much rhythm. But he has a lot of confidence right now. He has been huge for us.''
And Brown meant not just in terms of size, but also production.
Stopping the Wizards
Yes, there have been some very annoying aspects of these three games for the Cavs. They have twice failed to assume complete command of games that were available for the taking as the Wizards are without two of their top players -- Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas -- who combined to average 42 points this season.
The Cavs remain an immature playoff team -- one too prone to stepping back and admiring its work, allowing the opponent to step up and get right back into the game.
That's how the Cavs blew a 17-point halftime lead, allowing the Wizards to tie the score. But the Wizards never moved in front, and the 7-foot-3 Ilgauskas was a big reason for that.
It's easy to forget Ilgauskas' scoring skills. He swishes jump shots from 18 feet like a guard. He has sweet, 10-foot turnarounds. He is one of the most effective offensive rebounders in the NBA as he tips... tips... tips until the ball finally slips through the hoop.
Some Cavs fans never will appreciate Ilgauskas, just as they underrated another Cavaliers center, five-time All-Star Brad Daugherty. They want him to slam and scowl, to intimidate and take over the game.
That's just not him.
But what Ilgauskas does bring to the Cavs is very, very good. This series has showed that.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Terry Pluto can be reached at terrypluto2003@yahoo.com. Sign up for Terry's free, weekly e-mail newsletter ``Direct from Pluto'' at www.ohio.com.
By Terry Pluto
WASHINGTON - There's a part of Zydrunas Ilgauskas that always seems sad. Sometimes, it's his sagging shoulders. Other times, it's just a pained, weary expression like that of a man who realizes that he just missed the bus -- the last bus of the night -- and he has a long, cold walk home.
But these days, the Cavaliers center is smiling, especially after they took a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven, first-round playoff series against the Washington Wizards with a 98-92 victory Saturday.
Ilgauskas is not about to put a lampshade on his head and become the life of the party. Most fans are aware that his wife prematurely lost twins (their first children) in early February. It took Ilgauskas a few weeks to snap out of it, as would be expected.
You can be sure that some of that grief never will go away.
He also has battled through five foot surgeries over the years, and in many ways, it's remarkable that he's even on the court.
Now, he's playing some of the best basketball of his career as he dropped in 24 points on only 13 shot attempts Saturday.
In these three playoff games, he's averaging nearly 19 points, plus 8.1 rebounds, and is shooting 61 percent from the field. The Wizards have no idea how they can defend him, and the Cavs are spending more time than ever trying to find him on offense.
It is so different from a year ago when he averaged only 10.4 points and 6.3 rebounds and shot 45 percent in a very frustrating postseason.
Z becomes key
If the Cavs do dive deep into the playoffs, making sure that Ilgauskas is a significant part of the game plan will be crucial. Most big men need to be nudged to score. They can't dribble the length of the court and create a shot as LeBron James can.
But they can maximize their height when they are used right.
Too often, the Cavs have been confused as to how best to employ Ilgauskas. Either the offense was ill-suited to deliver the ball to him in the right place at the right time, or the players failed to make it work.
But recently, that has changed.
``This whole series, I've been getting good shots, and I've been able to capitalize on it,'' he said. ``For a big guy, it's easier to play the game when you get a couple of dunks, a couple of layups, a couple of tip-ins. It opens up your jump shot, as the hoop seems a lot bigger the next time you shoot.''
Most big men are just that -- physically huge -- but they have the same doubts and insecurities as anyone else. Ilgauskas goes through those spells, and he seems to turn passive and appear lost on the court.
``Right now, Z has a comfort level with his teammates and with myself,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. In the playoffs last year, ``he was coming off an ankle injury and just didn't have much rhythm. But he has a lot of confidence right now. He has been huge for us.''
And Brown meant not just in terms of size, but also production.
Stopping the Wizards
Yes, there have been some very annoying aspects of these three games for the Cavs. They have twice failed to assume complete command of games that were available for the taking as the Wizards are without two of their top players -- Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas -- who combined to average 42 points this season.
The Cavs remain an immature playoff team -- one too prone to stepping back and admiring its work, allowing the opponent to step up and get right back into the game.
That's how the Cavs blew a 17-point halftime lead, allowing the Wizards to tie the score. But the Wizards never moved in front, and the 7-foot-3 Ilgauskas was a big reason for that.
It's easy to forget Ilgauskas' scoring skills. He swishes jump shots from 18 feet like a guard. He has sweet, 10-foot turnarounds. He is one of the most effective offensive rebounders in the NBA as he tips... tips... tips until the ball finally slips through the hoop.
Some Cavs fans never will appreciate Ilgauskas, just as they underrated another Cavaliers center, five-time All-Star Brad Daugherty. They want him to slam and scowl, to intimidate and take over the game.
That's just not him.
But what Ilgauskas does bring to the Cavs is very, very good. This series has showed that.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Terry Pluto can be reached at terrypluto2003@yahoo.com. Sign up for Terry's free, weekly e-mail newsletter ``Direct from Pluto'' at www.ohio.com.
