Tina's Tales from Cleveland: Game Day
The spectacle that is LeBron James
by: Tina Cervasio
Sunday, March 16th
I know for Knicks fans, it's a bummer the team lost after playing so well this week in the Rust Belt; especially the way they played it close with the Cavaliers, who are SO DOMINANT at home. BUT, I'm psyched. This was one of my best games this season. I had a ton of stories ready to go and we used most of them.
I did have a little flub during a very serious story about Larry Hughes experiencing several tragedies while he played in Cleveland. Here's the deal, and this is not an excuse for a mistake during one of my stand-ups, but I'm just "explaining" the situation. Quicken Loans Arena might be the loudest arena in the NBA. I know, I know, The Garden is the greatest, World's Most Famous Arena, and rocks with the best of them when the Knicks are playing well, but there was something about this place: The music, the announcer, the fireworks, the fans ... it's a bit distracting.
So when I couldn't hear myself through my IFB (my little earpiece where I hear the game announcers, myself when I'm "on the air" and my producer and director) I knew what I was saying, but couldn't hear myself in my ear, in my head ... I couldn't hear ANYTHING, but all the noise going in the Q.
So I stuttered or repeated or misspoke. Whatever. I was really aggravated because it was a strong, serious story. Below, you'll see what I wanted to say in my pre-game notes and to-do list. What you won't see are my notes from talking to Delonte West, who gave me great stuff to report on for the Cavs.
I got to talk to Delonte in the Cavs locker room, right after it opened. The plan was to, of course, get LeBron James in his little pre-game meeting with the media. The doors open about five minutes late and all the media barges through like they're going to miss something. And right there to welcome us, is Bron-Bron, smack dab in the middle of the floor, lying on the floor, getting stretched by one of the team trainers. Everyone basically is standing there, waiting for LeBron ... and ... staring at him. Weird scene.
What I notice right away is that the Cavs have an AWESOME locker room. Every single player's locker has a DVD player, a stereo, a PlayStation (or one of those video games), a TV monitor which is hidden within a cabinet, and very nice paneling to finish off the look. There are HD TVs hanging from every corner currently running Knicks games (I cringe when I see myself doing a report in one of those previous games). What strikes me the most, and displays the direction the Cavaliers are clearly heading in this season, are two boards, one with the Eastern Conference standings, and one showing opposing defenses, ranking the teams' field-goal percentage allowed. I'm not talking about dry erase boards. These where magnet based, colorful, with snazzy plaques for each team with the team emblem! Oh yeah, it stops at eighth place in the East. So, no Knicks today.
As everyone continues to stare at LeBron stretching, the only other player in the locker room is West. So, I go to work. At first we just chat about the time Delonte was playing in Boston while I was working there, and then I got some great details about the team getting Central Division Champion T-Shirts after defeating the Kings the other night when they clinched. He talked about the emotion, and the team all wearing the T-Shirts and hats on the plane. But he also emphasized how focused this team is on winning a championship. He also clued me in that he's in the midst of "playoff hair". Like the good old hockey playoff beard, Delonte said he's not cutting his hair until they win the Title. This could get hairy, the Finals are in mid-June. I do believe the Cavs will get that far, but not for nothing, that's three months away.
Eventually, he RISES. Yeah. Him. And like a pack of dogs, we all rush over to LeBron's locker. The guy is as cool as a cucumber. We used pretty much every sound bite from that session during the Knicks game broadcast. From his praise for Nate Robinson's energy and freakish athletic talent, to his continued close relationship with Hughes, to how he found out the league took away his triple-double from "Dream Week" at the Garden.
Fireworks, family pictures, rosin shower, action.
These guys are good.
Go figure ... Delonte West is my walk-off interview.
At home my sister is hysterically laughing, because when I was about 11, I had the same hair. Thank God for 21st century hair products.
As promised, here are some of my PERSONAL pre-game notes for you to enjoy:
Vs. Cavaliers March 15, 2009
Larry Hughes on Defense:
Larry Hughes has been a big part of the Knicks improved defense on this road trip. Against both Detroit and Minnesota, in the fourth quarters, Larry says the team started switching more effectively to both take away high picks and inside threats. He credits Quentin Richardson coming in off the bench and getting on the same page quickly to be effective. Plus, there's been good communication, especially when they are dealing with guys under the basket.
On Cleveland ...
On the loss of his brother, Justin, at 20 years old, when he was playing here in Cleveland ... was not just a big brother, but a father-figure, as his mother was so young as well. They were all very close ... congenital heart defect ...
LEAD:
When Larry Hughes was playing here in Cleveland three years ago, his 20-year old brother, Justin passed away after battling a congenital heart defect.
Within a two-year span of Justin's death, Larry's aunt also died, and his wife Carrie had a brain aneurysm. He says it was back-to-back-to-back tragedies ... and it really affected him on the court.
SOT (sound on tape)
"I experienced some things in Cleveland that, I wouldn't have been happy staying there, because of the things I experienced while I was there. So having the opportunity to get away from Cleveland, get a fresh start ... everything that happened while I was there that, that's helped me a bit, because the things that happened off the court, were affecting me on the court."
TAG (off camera)
Larry says he lives knowing no one is promised tomorrow, and whether he's playing basketball, golfing, watching TV ... he has come to appreciate every moment in life and just wants to enjoy it.
- Danilo on adjusting to NBA
- Legends Promo ... never did it last game.
- Dan D'Antoni on film sessions ... might not work w/o Duhon in game
- Duhon injury update.
- LeBron pre-game stuff.
- Cavs raising Division Championship banner pre-game
- Q next page
Quentin Richardson:
Quentin Richardson is a very experienced voice in the Knicks locker room. He says, "If I see someone that I can help ... if I encourage him, I'll do it."
"Nate's like my little brother. Since he got here we got close."
Late in the Minnesota game, Q put his arm around Nate to say something before he went to the free-throw line. We now know Nate was very sick, and Quentin said to him, "we have three more minutes, I know your toughing out this stomach thing, but we can do it ... we're straight!
Q on Will (Wilson Chandler):
"To him I just try to encourage him, to always stay focused on playing hard, and be aggressive because sometimes, Will has the tendency to go in-and-out, be real aggressive, and then hold back. He sees it more on the offensive end. So Q tells Chandler to always be thinking about making your presence known and make an impression on the game "because he's a player that can really take it to the hole."
Q says Wilson is a clutch player, and he was big for the Knicks in that Minnesota game.
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