Cavs try to unleash James
Across from the trio of NBA championship banners hanging in the AT&T Center rafters are two honoring the arena for hosting the “Rodeo of the Year” in 2005 and 2006.
Maybe one for 2007 should be raised.
On Thursday night, LeBron James got lassoed.
The Spurs, defending every grain of hardwood on their floor, kept Cleveland’s star under control and in their commanding grasp. They held James to just 14 points on 4-of-16 shooting in his highly anticipated NBA Finals debut and rolled to an easy 85-76 victory over the Cavaliers in Game 1.
James had encountered gadget defenses designed to stop him before, but the Spurs were all over the place, popping up in front of him like wild Texas sunflowers.
“This is definitely a different beast,” James said.
With two days to make adjustments before Sunday’s Game 2, both teams spent time Friday breaking down videotape of the series opener, which was sometimes tough to watch as the clubs struggled on offense.
For the Cavaliers, the critical challenge is to figure out how to get their marquee player free of Spurs forward Bruce Bowen, one of the league’s premier shutdown defenders, who led San Antonio’s posse.
A seven-time All-Defensive team selection, Bowen seemed attached to James. Wherever No. 23 went, No. 12 was right alongside, pestering him, pushing him, bumping him and never allowing James to get comfortable.
James, who averaged 25.7 points in the Eastern Conference finals against Detroit, was unable to get loose for any powerhouse dunks, and any time he managed to slither past Bowen, the Spurs were lined up waiting.
“It’s all a team effort,” Spurs forward Michael Finley said. “It started out with Bruce lining up on him and just making his looks and his drives and such difficult. But at the same time, Bruce knew he had his teammates behind him.”
Ratings poor for opener
Game 1 drew the lowest rating for an opening-game in prime time, dropping 19 percent from last year. The game earned a 6.3 rating and 11 share on ABC.
Sichting joins T-Wolves
Former NBA player Jerry Sichting was hired as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves, his second stint with the team.
Sichting was an assistant for the Wolves under coach Flip Saunders from 1995-05. After Saunders was fired, Sichting became an assistant at Marquette. Sichting played 10 seasons in the NBA for Indiana, Boston, Portland, Charlotte and Milwaukee.