Lil Red Machine

I had a random thought last night during the Cavs’ 119-100 victory over the Phoenix Suns:

Just how good would that Phoenix team be if their key guys were all in their primes? A superfluous discussion, certainly, but interesting to still sit back and ponder. Their core is old, or hurt (in the case of Amar’e Stoudamire). I was trying to picture the 2004 version of Steve Nash running the ball up the court, with several delicious options at his disposal. Obviously, you want to get the big man going, first and foremost. That being Shaquille O’Neal from roughly 2000. If for whatever reason, the nine guys guarding him are actually able to hang on for dear life, then you have a 1996 Grant Hill, who can handle the ball and play very similar to the current LeBron (minus the power game). Also, you have pre-microfracture surgery Amar’e, who could power it to the hole and dunk on anybody at anytime.

Welcome to 2009, boys. (and thank GOD the Cavs didn’t have to play THAT team last night in which I just described)

Nash and Shaq are still capable of putting up numbers, but are clearly on the decline (Shaq much more so than Nash). You can’t even call Grant Hill aging anymore. He’s aged. Obviously, Stoudamire is out for the season with an eye injury, but even when he was healthy, he was forced to play more of the perimeter game due to his condition.

The Cavs feel no pity, though. They have their own battles. Every game is very important from this point on. The Cavs have Boston in their rear view mirror, but the term “object in mirror are closer than they appear” clearly applies here. Cleveland has no room for error. The lack of urgency that was missing at the start of the game against the Clippers was there last night from the start. Phoenix, led by Matt Barnes who had 21 and Nash who had 20, kept up, but Lebron James put up his second consecutive triple double with 34 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds. Mo Williams had 30 of his own.

Down 97-95, Phoenix looked to have a breakaway opportunity, but Jason Richardson did something unbelievably stupid. Maybe he thought the 360 dunk attempt would give them more points than just 2, but that’s what he tried. LeBron came up from behind, and swatted it. TV replays showed that LeBron got his wrist as well. Richardson understandably grew upset, and got a technical for it. When you are on a sinking ship, and you are playing against one of the elite teams in the NBA, you aren’t going to get the benefit of the doubt on those calls. Just go for the simple play.

Sasha Pavlovic…….SASHA PAVLOVIC(!) hit three 3-pointers in the 4th quarter. The (deservedly so) much-maligned guard has had yet another rocky season, so you take from him whatever you can get.

The Cavs have an “easy peasy, nice and easy” game vs. a dreadful Sacramento Kings team tonight. Isn’t that what fans were saying about the Clippers game, though? Don’t let those cowbells at Arco Arena get warmed up.