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Kobe Bryant hit a jump shot in the dying seconds to give the Los Angeles Lakers a 99-98 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday. Bryant, who sat out part of the game after injuring his wrist, came off the bench in the final quarter to score the winning points with nine seconds remaining.
Lebron James had a chance to steal victory for the Cavaliers but his jump shot rebounded off the rim at the buzzer.

After averaging more than 40 points in his last five contests, Bryant was held to just 27 but he was well backed up by Lamar Odom, who gathered 20 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Zydrunas Ilgauskas had a game high 29 points for the Cavaliers while James finished with 28 and Drew Gooden 15 as the Cleveland lost for the third time in four games.

“It was awesome,” said James. “Kobe is one of the best players in the game, he puts his team on his back and I try to do the same. We gave the fans what they wanted to see.”

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Brian Windhirst of the Akron Beacon Journal reports “There’s a good chance Anderson Varejao will make his season debut tonight against the Lakers at the Staples Center. Varejao, out all year after offseason shoulder surgery, has been cleared for practice for the last week and a half and is ready. Brown said before the team left the final decision will be made after this morning’s shootaround.

“We’ll talk about it on the flight and tomorrow morning,” Brown said. “He probably would be cleared to play. It is a discussion we’ll have on the flight out.”

Star News Services reports even though New York Knicks coach Larry Brown spent most of last spring flirting with the Cleveland Cavaliers about becoming their next general manager, he now says he no longer wants to move into a front-office role.
“I’m just a basketball person,” Brown said this week. “I want to be a coach. And I don’t know if I could do (both jobs) right now. I’m 65 and I want to coach. And when you’re (12-21) and trying to be responsible to get this team to play as good as they’re capable of playing, I have no thoughts about doing anything else.”
Brown, however, was thinking about his future during last year’s playoff run with the Detroit Pistons when it became known that he was talking to a representative of Cavs owner Dan Gilbert.
Brown was criticized for his actions, especially since the Pistons were vying for a second straight title. Brown’s back-channel conversations with the Cavs created a media frenzy, but it never distracted the Pistons, who advanced to Game 7 of the NBA Finals before losing to the Spurs. Cleveland eventually hired Mike Brown as coach and Danny Ferry as GM.
“I said from day one that if I could coach I was hopeful of being back coaching Detroit,” Brown said. “It was a terrible time for me. It should have been the best of times. But that’s over.
“I like the people in Cleveland. I’m thrilled Danny got the job. I’m thrilled that Mike got the job. And I think it’s worked out great for them.”
He added: “If you think about the way things worked out, it just was bad timing on a lot of people’s part. But I never changed on what I said to Cleveland and what I said to the people who were covering the story; if physically I was not able to coach again I would probably think about (being a general manager) but I really didn’t want to consider that. I wanted to coach and I told them that.”
There is widespread speculation Cavaliers forward LeBron James was not prepared to endorse Brown as a GM. James and Brown clashed at the 2004 Olympics over playing time.

“It’s obligatory for New York writers to ask LeBron James if he would consider New York when he becomes a free agent at the end of his rookie contract in two more years. But it’s impossible to imagine him ever reuniting with Larry Brown after his experience under the Knicks’ coach at the 2004 Olympics.” Greg Logan, Staff Writer of Newsday.com writes.

“Not only did the U.S. finish with a bronze medal, but “The Chosen One” also spent most of his time on the bench.

“It was difficult not playing, never being in that position before,” James said last night before the Cavaliers’ 92-84 loss to Brown and the Knicks. “To go far away from home and not be able to play the game that I love was difficult.

“I handled it the best way that I could. When I was put into the game, I produced, and that’s all I could ask for myself.”

Asked what kind of relationship he has with Brown, James indicated it’s nonexistent.

“That’s over and done with,” James said. “I’ve moved on, and he’s moved on.”

James never understood what Brown wanted from him in Athens.

“I was kind of air-headed,” James said. “I was put into a situation where I didn’t have a clear mind about it. That’s my fault also, not knowing what I was getting myself into.”

There was speculation last spring that Brown was in line to become president of the Cavaliers, but James said he never discussed it with owner Dan Gilbert. As for the free-agency question, Knicks fans shouldn’t get their hopes up.

“That’s so far down my path,” James said, “I can’t even see it.”

To follow up with my previous post, I was able to get in touch with FOX Sports Net Ohio. “FSN Ohio is working on doing a number of games in high definition later this season.” according to people familiar with the matter.” We are also looking into airing a few selected games on the WUAB/Cavs TV Network in HD as well.”

Smizik reports that FOX Sports Net Pittsburgh will carry a schedule of Cleveland Cavaliers games the rest of this season, with the feed coming from Cavaliers TV outlet FOX Sports Net Ohio. Smizik says that FSN Pittsburgh will pick up 12 Cavs games from its Ohio sister network starting on January 27th, and “six of the games will be carried in high definition”.

Now, If you get HDTV then you know FSN Ohio has never aired a Cavaliers’ game (or any event) in HDTV and I haven’t seen an announcement for such an event anywhere. Can someone confirm this?

The closest we got so far to watching the Cavaliers in HDTV is when the game is on ESPN (and only some of the games). TNT broadcast in HDTV but Adelphia for unknown reason still doesn’t carry TNT HD.

Just imagine watching every Cavaliers’ game in High Definition!

Sources: OMW and NBA Journal

Cleveland Cavaliers Co-Captain, Eric Snow, concluded the 2005 year by donating over $7,600 to three local community organizations from the Cleveland and Canton through his Shoot for the Moon Foundation’s “Steals and Assists Donation Program”.

The Center for Families & Children ($3,000), Passages, Inc. ($3,000), and Multi-Development Services of Stark County,Inc. ($1,680.00) each received donations through this initiative to support their efforts to be committed to assisting fathers, families and children.

Snow personally commits to donate $20 per steal and $20 per assist each season. For the 2004-05 regular season, his first with the Cavaliers, Snow accumulated 317 assists and 67 steals, which were the 3rd most in both categories for the Cavaliers last season.

“I started this program when I was in Philadelphia because I believe that a personal commitment to financially assist a few local and grassroots organizations that focus on fathers, families, and children could make a difference,” said Snow. “Many of these organizations are struggling and don’t always have access to consistent funding sources. So this small donation may help them fund a retreat, conference, or some special community activity aimed at supporting fathers and helping children. To give a little back to the people of Northeast Ohio is just my way of saying thanks for so many years of support”.

The Passages Inc. is a non-profit faith based initiative located in the heart of Cleveland. Among their many community programs is their “Reunification Project” that reunites hundreds of children to incarcerated fathers along with specialized retreats for Father-Sons and Father-Daughters.

Jones signed an agreement with Li-Ning, a Chinese athletic shoe and apparel company. “I got billboards all over China,” said Jones, only half-joking with reporters before the game. “I got wax sculptures. I’m an icon. I’m global. Who’s that global around here, except LeBron James?” The NBA agreed to allow its players to wear and endorse Li-Ning gear last year.