LeBron James criticizes coach Mike Brown’s failure to play Zydrunas Ilgauskas in record-setting game Saturday
By Mary Schmitt Boyer, The Plain Dealer
November 30, 2009, 2:40PM
Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer
via cleveland.com
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — LeBron James criticized Cavaliers coach Mike Brown today for his failure to insert Zydrunas Ilgauskas into Saturday’s win over the Dallas Mavericks, which would have given Ilgauskas the Cavaliers record in games played at 724.
Speaking after a rousing game of touch football following today’s practice, James said:
“Me personally, I definitely thought he should have played. I’m not trying to stir up anything with coach or the organization. I
1 DNP CD - on his big day
I stand behind Z and whatever Z feels at this point in time, I definitely — if I was in control of it — would have put him in, probably would have started him. You could have easily started him and subbed him right out and had the standing ovation from the fans with a timeout. If you didn’t want to play him, there were a lot of ways for that accomplishment to be accomplished.
It’s a sensitive subject. I’m not one to raise havoc or raise fire into the locker room or our team. But, for me, I speak the truth. I stand behind Z and I feel like Z not playing wasn’t the right thing. As a friend of his, I was very upset, and I know he was also.”
Ilgauskas, who worked on his shot while most of the rest of his teammates took part in the football game, declined an invitation to speak to the media, the first time reporters remember that happening. Saturday’s game might have been the first time in his career he did not play in a game based on a coach’s decision, although that cannot be verified.
He was the first person to head to the locker room after Saturday’s game and the first person to leave the locker room, also two rarities. He reportedly was devastated by the decision, in part because he had a contingent of family and friends at the game to help him celebrate.
It has been a difficult season for the 33-year-old center, who is coming off the bench for the first time in his career, backing up Shaquille O’Neal.
I Dunk on Your Face
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week, for games played Monday, Nov. 16, through Sunday, Nov. 22.
James averaged a league-best 34.3 points on .583 shooting from the field, 5.8 rebounds and a team-high 9.3 assists, leading the Cavaliers to a 3-1 week. James was the only Eastern Conference player to score 30 or more points in each of his games and recorded his first 40-point game of the season in a 105-95 win over Indiana on Nov. 20.
Here is a recap of the week for James:
Nov. 17 vs. Golden State: Posted 31 points, five rebounds and 12 assists in a 114-108 win over the Warriors.
Nov. 18 @ Washington: Scored 34 points to go along with two rebounds, nine assists and two steals in a 108-91 loss to the Wizards.
Nov. 20 @ Indiana: Poured in 40 points and added nine rebounds, seven assists, one block and one steal in a 105-95 win over the Pacers.
Nov. 21 vs. Philadelphia: Tallied 32 points, seven rebounds and nine assists in a 97-91 win over the Sixers.
We keep track of this stuff here.
Just a reminder, that with all the hubbub of Shaq and Delonte and JJ starting to play well that we may have overlooked a major milestone coming up in just one week.
On Nov 27th, big Z will tie former player and current GM Danny Ferry with 723 games played and on Nov 28th he will have played in more games than any Cavalier EVER.
Pretty big deal.
Old Man Z (as a young man)
By Henry Abbott (via ESPN.com)
High Regards
NBA Commissioner David Stern will be on The $ports Take with Rick Horrow (on Versus) on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Stern was asked about LeBron James, and this is some of what he had to say:
He may be the best player ever to have played. Michael might dispute that, but he has a lot of canvas yet on which to paint. I have no doubt the picture is going to be beautiful.
You know, he hasn’t won anything yet but he may be the best player ever to descend to this planet. It’s a delight to watch him; it’s a delight to watch him grow, to see his width and breadth, in terms of his interest and capacities. He’s a great kid and a great player.
So Now that we have some banners hanging up in the rafters, I thought it would be appropriate to represent them on the site. They now shine proudly on the awards page.
| dcass | 
November 30, 2009 5:38 pm | 
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