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According to Brian Windhorst, Akron Beacon Journal Sports Writer, one key issue for the Cavaliers center is regular sleep.

The season has started again, and so have Ilgauskas’ bouts of insomnia. It was a problem that first cropped up at the start of last season and something he might have to deal with in spurts for the rest of his playing career.

He has it under control and treats it with medication when needed, but there are still rough patches.

“I slept just fine in the offseason,” he said. “I guess it is just the traveling during the season that gets me.”

It started last season, when the Cavs had a harsh road trip to start the year, a double-overtime home game followed by a three-hour flight to Miami that didn’t get the Cavs to their hotel until after 3 a.m.

The night after the Miami game, he wasn’t able to fall asleep at all. Then the team had a practice and another three-hour flight to Milwaukee. He scored just nine points against the Bucks.

He eventually overcame it, going on to appear in his second All-Star Game.

“It is one of those things I have to deal with,” Ilgauskas said. “The pills work when I have a problem.”

It was the Lebron and Larry show Tuesday night as the Cleveland Cavaliers (6-2) won their fifth straight overall and their fourth straight at home, defeating the Washington Wizards (5-2) 114-99. James scored a season-high 37, and collected 10 rebounds. Hughes had 22 points and eight assists. James, who helped recruit Hughes as a free agent during the offseason, scored just two points in the first quarter but followed with 14 in the second, 14 in the third and seven in the fourth before leaving with 2:32 left. He reminded Hughes why he came to Cleveland. Driving to the basket at every opportunity, James went 6-for-8 from the floor in the third. His three-point play in the final second gave the Cavs an 82-70 lead entering the fourth. Cavaliers coach Mike Brown tried to substitute for James “three or four times” in the first quarter, but it seemed like as soon as Jackson vacated his seat and headed for the scorer’s table, James responded with big plays.
“I hit a couple 3s and a dunk and I saw the guy who was coming to get me sit back down,” said James, who added 10 rebounds in 42 minutes.
Brown felt bad for Jackson and tried to make him feel better.
“I kissed him on the forehead one time,” Brown said. “But that’s kind of embarrassing for an NBA player.”
Hughes, who played for the Wizards last season, shot only 6-for-18, but he added eight assists and made two three-pointers and scored 12 points in the final 5:03.
Washington’s Gilbert Arenas, who scored a league-high 43 on Saturday against San Antonio, was held to 18 — 10 below his average — and shot just 4-for-17. Antawn Jamison led the Wizards with 26 points, and Caron Butler had 14.
“I couldn’t get to the basket,” Arenas said. “Every time we made a run, LeBron answered. We just didn’t have it tonight.”
With James on the bench, the Wizards pulled to 86-77 early in the fourth on a lay-up by Antonio Daniels. But James came back after sitting for only 1:12, and the Cavaliers immediately went on an 8-0 run.
Moments later, Hughes drained a three-pointer and Drew Gooden scored on a put-back as the Cavaliers opened a 101-86 lead and coasted.
Before the game, Hughes was asked how much he was looking forward to playing the Wizards.
“I definitely want to win so I talk a little smack to those guys,” Hughes said. “I was one of the oldest guys on that team and they kind of looked up to me.”
Arenas came in as the league’s hottest player after scoring 75 points in his previous two games, but he never got into a rhythm as Hughes and the Cavaliers chased him all over the floor.
“I was calling out their plays,” Hughes said. “I was with them long enough that I knew where their guys were going.”
Following the game, Arenas dressed quickly and came to visit Hughes in the Cavaliers’ newly remodeled locker room.
“Man,” Arenas said, admiring the state-of-the-art stereo equipment and TV screens in each player’s dressing stall. “Was this part of the salary cap?”
Arenas arrived so quickly after the game, Hughes asked his good friend if he had bothered showering.
“Yeah, I took one,” Arenas said. “Our meeting was quick.”
For complete game stats click HERE.

NBA TEAM SALARIES FOR 2004-05 SEASON
By InsideHoops.com / Feb. 5, 2005. Salaries are rounded off.

RANK TEAM TOTAL SALARY
1) New York Knicks $103,100,000
2) Dallas Mavericks $90,900,00
3) Portland Trail Blazers $75,000,000
4) Philadelphia 76ers $70,700,000
5) Minnesota Timberwolves $70,300,000
6) Memphis Grizzlies $68,100,000
7) Indiana Pacers $63,200,000
8) Boston Celtics $63,000,000
9) Sacramento Kings $62,000,000
10) Los Angeles Lakers $61,000,000
11) Orlando magic $60,500,000
12) Milwaukee Bucks $57,000,000
13) Houston Rockets $56,000,000
14) Golden State Warriors $56,800,000
15) Miami Heat $54,200,000
16) New Jersey Nets $54,000,000
17) Seattle SuperSonics $52,000,000
18) Detroit Pistons $51,700,000
19) Chicago Bulls $51,200,000
20) Toronto Raptors $51,000,000
21) Washington Wizards $47,000,000
22) Cleveland Cavaliers $47,000,000
23) San Antonio Spurs $44,500,000
24) Los Angeles Clippers $44,000,000
25) New Orleans Hornets $43,700,000
26) Utah Jazz $43,700,000
27) Denver Nuggets $43,700,000
28) Phoenix Suns $43,100,000
29) Atlanta Hawks $39,000,000
30) Charlotte Bobcats $23,000,000

TOP NBA PLAYER SALARIES FOR 2004-05 SEASON
By InsideHoops.com / January 5, 2005

RANK PLAYER SALARY
1) Shaquille O’Neal, Miami $27,696,429
2) Chris Webber, Sacramento $17,531,250
3) Allan Houston, New York $17,531,250
4) Kevin Garnett, Minnesota $16,000,000
5) Jason Kidd, New Jersey $14,796,000
5) Jermaine O’Neal, Indiana $14,796,000
7) Ray Allen, Seattle $14,625,000
7) Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Portland $14,625,000
7) Allen Iverson, Philadelphia $14,625,000
7) Antoine Walker, Atlanta $14,625,000
7) Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cleveland $14,625,000
7) Latrell Sprewell, Minnesota $14,625,000
7) Stephon Marbury, New York $14,625,000
7) Anfernee Hardaway $14,625,000
15) Michael Finley, Dallas $14,609,375
16) Tracy McGrady, Houston $14,487,000
16) Jalen Rose, Toronto $14,487,000
16) Keith Van Horn, Milwaukee $14,487,000
16) Grant Hill, Orlando $14,487,000
20) Tim Duncan, San Antonio $14,260,640
21) Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers $14,175,000
22) Eddie Jones, Miami $13,455,000
23) Brian Grant, L.A. Lakers $13,233,434
24) Tim Thomas, New York $12,900,000
25) Antonio Davis, Chicago $12,865,000
26) Antawn Jamison, Washington $12,584,688
26) Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas $12,584,688
26) Vince Carter, New Jersey $12,584,688
29) Paul Pierce $12,570,000
30) Damon Stoudamire $12,200,000

An interesting look at the NBA Power Rankings by By Kori Ellis of SpursZONE.com

THE TOP

1. Detroit Pistons – The undefeated Pistons have won six in a row, including three straight on the road. Maybe Larry Brown wasn’t that important after all?

2. Washington Wizards – The Wizards are flying high at 5-1, led by Gilbert Arenas who was unstoppable against the Spurs on Saturday night with 43 points on 15-for-20 from the floor.

3. San Antonio Spurs – With Michael Finley and Brent Barry sidelined with injuries, the Spurs dropped two on their five game trip. Good news is Manu Ginobili, who was struggling early, seems to be getting back on track for the champs.

4. Milwaukee Bucks – Down 14 points with 3:39 left, the Bucks rallied back to defeat the Pacers on Saturday night. Maurice Williams’ buzzer beater catapulted the Bucks to their fourth victory in five games.

5. Dallas Mavericks – Dirk is a little banged up but Avery Johnson will keep this team playing hard, while attempting to put the D back in Dallas.

THE BOTTOM

26. Sacramento Kings – The addition of Shareef Abdur-Rahim looked good on paper but it isn’t translating into the win column for the Kings.

27. Seattle Supersonics – Will Bob Weiss be the first NBA head coach fired this season? If the Sonics keep giving up over 111 points per game, he very well may be.

28. New York Knicks – Larry Brown was relieved to notch his first win with the Knicks on Sunday, a 105-95 victory over the struggling Kings.

29. Atlanta Hawks – Scoring just over 90 points per game, the hapless Hawks will need Josh Smith to step up his game as the young Hawks try to find their way.

30. Toronto Raptors – Sam Mitchell has three impressive rookies on his squad but that will be the only bright spot up north. The lottery balls are already bouncing in Toronto.

OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH

Los Angeles Clippers – It’s only seven games into the season, but the Clippers are sitting atop the Pacific Division.

Cleveland Cavaliers – Winners of four straight, the Cavaliers (5-2) are looking to make a move up the standings.

LeBron James made history and became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 4000 career points. Donyell Marshall helped make sure it came in a victory.

Marshall swished a 3-pointer with 14 seconds left to force overtime and rescue the Cavs from a second-half free fall. Hughes had his best all-around game and took over in crunch time. Ilgauskas had 16 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.

James led the team with 26 points, but it was his teammates that shared equal or perhaps greater credit in a 108-100 overtime win over the Orlando Magic.

“It’s devastating … it’s a heartbreaker,” Orlando’s DeShawn Stevenson said of Marshall’s shot. “Donyell’s a good shooter. You have got to give him credit.”

“We had different guys step up down the stretch and we found a way to win,” Brown said. “We’re still in the learning process and still have a long way to go.”

Brown drew up the key play on the sideline with James as a decoy and called for Ilgauskas to set a screen on the Magic’s Pat Garrity to free Marshall. He trusted Hughes — who had a massive evening to run the play. It worked perfectly, down to Marshall’s dead-eye jumper.

“We have to sustain for 48 minutes,” Brown said. “We can’t let up. I keep pounding on that. We’re still in the learning phase.”

For a complete game report click here

Isn’t it ironic that Carlos Boozer has not played in a Utah Jazz game that counts, since February of last year, two days after Jazz owner Larry Miller questioned Boozers’ durability and toughness. Its rumored Carlos will be ready to go in a few days – but the Jazz are about finished with Carlos according to one league source. With Mehmet Okur continuing to lead the Jazz in scoring and rebounding, minutes for Boozer seem scarce. It’s believed the Jazz will roll Boozer out to prove he’s healthy – but he’s not going to get the kind of minutes thrown at him last year, and he is expected to be traded before the trade deadline in February – if anyone will take him, which is of real concern to the Jazz.

If the Seattle SuperSonics and their talent-laden roster continue to struggle and the rumors of coach Bob Weiss’ early demise come to fruition, don’t be surprised if former Cavs coach Paul Silas emerges as a potential mid-season replacement. Silas, a well-liked former Sonics player, had some contact with the Sonics when they were looking for a replacement for Nate McMillan last summer.

Silas is currently a studio analyst for ESPN and is paid $8 million by the Cavs over this season and next.