http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/sports/7379892.htm
Posted on Sun, Nov. 30, 2003
Davis to stay, but Silas' way
Player must listen to coach if he really wants to play
By Terry Pluto
Ricky Davis will not be traded -- at least not in the near future.
All of this assumes Davis makes a sincere attempt to play the game
the way Cavaliers coach Paul Silas demands.
The Cavs realize Davis is a major offensive talent, their best
scorer when the 24-second clock is ticking down and a shot must
be taken. He also has an excellent medium-range jumper.
When the mood strikes him, Davis can be a tough defender.
The point is the Cavs don't have someone to replace him, nor are
they likely to find anyone on the trade market with that ability.
His $4.8 million salary is only slightly above the NBA average.
For all his stubbornness, Davis is probably a better citizen than
the players available if they were to trade him -- along with being
cheaper.
As one Cavs insider said, "We want to see if this can work."
Davis is averaging 15 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists and
shooting 43 percent. At 6-foot-7, 195 pounds and with pogo sticks
for legs, he can put the ball in the basket. The Cavs just want
him to shoot a little less, defend more and not worry about his
statistics so much.
If he doesn't follow those guidelines, he will sit -- and
eventually, he will be sent elsewhere.
Davis now has that message, very loud and very clear.
He knows his image is becoming a problem. He was suspended for
two games early last season by former Cavs coach John Lucas, who
said Davis was playing selfish basketball and needed to learn how
to get along with his teammates.
Davis also had the Shot At The Wrong Basket Episode, which was
played continually on ESPN and made him appear to be the epitome
of the Me First player.
"Ricky is listening," said the Insider. "He also has been getting
some good advice from some people close to him away from the team.
He could have turned this into World War III in the media, but he
has been showing some maturity after being held out of a practice
and the game at New Orleans."
General manager Jim Paxson, Silas and Davis had several meetings
this past week, and each one was better than the last.
They are ready to try again.
One of the issues they needed to deal with was some baggage that
Davis and Silas had from 1998-2000, when they were together in
Charlotte.
Davis thought Silas didn't appreciate his game or personality.
Silas also has learned Davis is not the same at 24 as he was as
a 19-year-old rookie with only one year of college.
Ideally, Silas and Davis will see they need each other.
Davis can be a terrific scorer here with LeBron James handling
the ball.
As the insider said: "LeBron really doesn't care about points,
he is all about winning. It won't bother him if Ricky is the
leading scorer. Ricky needs to believe that."
But Davis also learned that Silas is in charge, that he has the
backing of ownership and the front office. The new coach is armed
with a four-year, $16 million deal, and he's secure.
Davis has played for six different coaches in eight years, dating
to his senior season in high school. In the past, he never had to
worry much about the coach because there soon would be a new one.
Not now.
This is Silas' team. He wants Davis to be a part of it, and Davis
says that's what he wants, too.
Now, it's time for Davis to back up his own words.
TALKIN' CAVS ...
James must cut down on jumpers
‧ The Cavs believe LeBron James can help his scoring by driving
to the basket. At 6-foot-8, 242 pounds with incredible leaping
ability, he is an imposing presence attacking the rim. Like too
many young players, he has settled for jump shots -- and his
outside shooting remains inconsistent.
‧ James also is discovering the NBA schedule is more demanding
than he ever expected. At 18, he has a lot of energy. But going
from 32-minute high school games -- maybe two a week -- to four
games in five nights is a major adjustment. Especially when those
games are 48 minutes and the physical contact is much tougher
than he faced in high school.
‧ For now, Darius Miles will come off the bench. The coaches
appreciated how hard he worked in the summer and want to help
him reach his potential, but Miles seldom can put two good halves
together, much less a couple of solid games. He is so inconsistent,
the coaches are hoping he can find some confidence coming off the
bench and playing against the other team's reserves.
‧ Jason Kapono will start, at least for now. The Cavs are seeing a
lot of zones and other defenses that dare them to shoot from the
outside. Kapono does have the ability to make jump shots if he
has time to get set.
‧ Playing without Carlos Boozer hurts the Cavs not just because of
his determined rebounding, but also because he is a good team
defender -- willing to leave his man to guard the lane when an
opponent drives to the basket. This is something you seldom see
from Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who still remains too focused just on
his offense.
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