John Amaechi is coming out of the closet

John Amaechi is now the first NBA player to come out publicly.He is scheduled to appear on ESPN’s Outside the Lines on Sunday, and his autobiography “Man in the Middle,” will be released Feb. 14.

Amaechi, 36, who is British, competed for Penn State, then played 301 NBA games over five seasons. The 6-foot-10 center averaged 6.2 points and 2.6 rebounds in the NBA. He began his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1995-96, then spent a few years playing in Europe. He rejoined the NBA to play for the Orlando Magic from 1999-01, then played two seasons for the Utah Jazz.

Shannon Brown is back healthy

Shannon Brown took part in his first full practice in more than a month Tuesday. His left leg, which suffered a deep bone bruise in practice Dec. 29, finally is allowing him to move without pain. He has been inactive for all but one game since the end of December. He said he wasn’t sure when he would be available to play again.

“It was good to get back out there,” he said. “Right now, it’s just baby steps.”

Gerald Levert to be honored at the Q after game tonight

A reception and pre-release party for Levert’s upcoming CD will follow the Cleveland Cavaliers game at the Q.

Levert is a Cleveland rhythm & blues legend who died late last year.

A dedicate a section of East 25th Street will be renamed as Gerald Levert Lane. Ceremonies will begin at noon today.

The CD, “In My Songs,” is due in stores next Tuesday.

Hughes might be on the trading block

Larry HughesLarry Hughes sometimes publicly but more so privately been grumbling about the way he’s used, and he is upset because it isn’t the situation he thought he was signing up for when he left the Washington Wizards.

At some point in the foreseeable future, the Cleveland Cavaliers probably are going to have to make a major trade because they are not maximizing the potential in their pieces. The way things look, the guy most likely to go is guard Larry Hughes, who is not happy on this team.

Hughes averaging his fewest points in four seasons and shooting just 40 percent. He has turned primarily into a jump shooter. Beacon Journal

Lebron Wants to Run

LeBron James and the Cavaliers want to run, run, run. Coach Mike Brown isn’t ready to let his team loose.With their offense sputtering during a rough patch in an up-and-down season, some of the Cavaliers, most prominently James, are questioning the club’s defense-oriented philosophy.

James, whose scoring average is down five points from last season, believes the Cavs would be better off playing at a faster pace, pushing the ball up the floor to quicken the game’s tempo, and, to score more points.

Larry Hughes has the same opinion, as do other Cleveland players.

That contradicts Brown’s offensive style: a deliberate, half-court flow of screens and patience he learned working on San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich’s staff — a system that helped the Cavs advance in last season’s playoffs.

James, though, feels it’s time for a change. It’s time to run.

“I think so,” he said. “We’ve got enough athletes where we can get up and down the court. At times the coaching staff feels the same way, at other times, no. We’re kind of playing basketball for the playoffs. Our offense is geared toward half-court basketball instead of getting out and running.”

James said he has told the coach that, too.

Damon Jones gets his wish

League sources have indicated that Damon Jones is expected to be invited to take part in the Three-Point Shootout on All-Star Saturday in Las Vegas. On Monday, he stayed after practice and set up ball racks to work on the contest’s format.

“I feel good about my chances of being invited,” Jones said. “I’ve been watching it for years, wanting to take part in it. If I get the call, I will win, there’s no doubt in my mind.”

The official announcement isn’t coming until later in the week.

Lebron is working on his free throws

Lebron is working on his free throwsIn the last 10 games, Lebron made just 59 of 98 free throws, Shaq-like statistics that have dropped his average from the line to 68 percent, that is 7 points below his career average.

James is determined to fix this problem. He is working with Cavaliers assistant coach Chris Jent on his foul shooting after every practice. Jent has made some fundamental adjustments to James’ shot.

“We’re just trying to change how much time he is at the line, make it more of a rhythm shot,” Jent said. “We haven’t done much more than that, it’s him trying to find a comfortable routine.

“Free-throw shooting is so much mental that the routine part of it is important so your body feels comfortable. Right now, we’re trying to find that comfort level and sometimes when that happens, you regress before you progress. For him, it’s kind of a hard time right now.”

Of the 16 players who had attempted 300 free throws entering Monday’s games, he ranked 13th in free-throw percentage, ahead of only San Antonio’s Tim Duncan (64 percent), Orlando’s Dwight Howard (62) and New York’s Eddy Curry (61) — all big men.

“I’m trying to find a groove,” he said. “I just have to stick with the routine I’ve been doing lately and get better.”

The problem, James admits, has crept into his mind.

“It can be mental sometimes, and right now it is,” he said. “At practice, I don’t miss. I get in the game, and I miss.”

February, an entertaining month for Cavaliers fans, and all of the NBA

February schedule is going to be very entertaining for us Cavaliers’ fans and the rest of the NBA. 7 of the 12 games are going to be on National TV.  Three times on TNT, and three Sundays on ABC.

We are playing Miami three times, starting February 1st (TNT), 9th (ESPN),  and 25th (ABC).

We will see the Kobe and the Lakers twice, February 11th on ABC at home and the 15th on TNT.

We will take on Detroit on the 4th and Chicago on the 22nd. These games will be on ABC and TNT.

And finally, the Cavaliers will be visiting Boozer and Utah on the 14th. This will be the first time the Cavaliers play Utah when Boozer is healthy since he left the Cavaliers.