Mengke Bateer was among the 20 players that made up the Cavaliers’ 2005-06 training camp roster. Bateer averages 3.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 11.6 minutes in 39 games. He was selected as a free agent by the Denver Nuggets during the 2002-03 season. Then he was traded by the Denver Nuggets along with Don Reid and a future first-round draft pick to the Detroit Pistons for Rodney White. The Pistons traded him to the San Antonio Spurs for a 2003 second-round pick, and then was Signed as a free agent by Toronto.
At least Their Relationship Is Healthy
Shira Springer from Boston,Com thinks, “For James, one thing that appears healthy is his relationship with first-year coach Mike Brown. ”
“James likes the emphasis Brown puts on defense, as well as the experience he brings from being an assistant with successful teams in the East (Indiana) and West (San Antonio).”
”The way he’s coached us the first week of training camp and now in the preseason has been great,” said James. ”He has a lot of pressure because he’s a rookie head coach, but we don’t look at him like that. He’s been on championship teams his whole life and he’s going to bring that same intensity to us.”
Lebron Is Still Hurting
The AP is reporting on the Seattle PI.COM That “LeBron James winced with pain at times during practice Wednesday, a day after he woke up with a strained chest muscle.
James sat out the Cleveland Cavaliers’ exhibition game Tuesday night against Boston and is listed as questionable with a strained left pectoral muscle for Friday night’s home exhibition game against Philadelphia.
He began experiencing pain Tuesday. But he was baffled about how he was injured in an exhibition game Monday night against Washington.
“I don’t know where it came from,” James said. “I don’t remember getting elbowed in the chest. I woke up yesterday morning and it was hurting. It’s something I’ve never felt before.”
He said he wouldn’t have been able to play Tuesday night even if it had been a regular-season game.
“I’m not 100 percent right now, but I’m getting there,” he said.”
Luke Jackson To Lead The Cavaliers to a 96-86 Victory Over The Celtics
With LeBron James out as a precaution after he strained his left pectoral muscle, the Cavaliers were able to pull a win over the Boston Celtics. The game was held at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh and drew a crowd of 8,112.
Jackson scored 14 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, had a pair of steals and a pair of blocks. Jackson got the start for James and was assigned to cover Paul Pierce. Paul got the best of Jackson with several moves as he put up nine points in the first quarter. Jackson settled down and allowed his teammates to come to his aid and gave up just nine more points to Pierce the rest of the night.
“My hat’s off to Luke, it was great he stepped up to the challenge. Paul handed him his rear end in the first half and I thought he came back and tried to do the things we’re talking about and relied on his team to help him.” Brown said
Donyell Marshall had three 3-pointers and 13 points for Cleveland, while Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 12 points and Drew Gooden 11. The Cavaliers were 29-for-40 at the free throw line.
Damon Jones started at point guard picking up five assists and two steals with no turnovers. He went just 2-of-8 on 3-pointers and scored six points.
Sasha Pavlovic left the game in the second quarter with a hip pointer. He is listed as day-to-day.
LeBron sits out Cavs-Celtics game
“PITTSBURGH (AP) reported that LeBron James sat out Cleveland’s exhibition game against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night as a precaution after experiencing some pain in his left arm in the Cavaliers’ preseason opener a day earlier.
James strained his left pectoralis in Cleveland’s 116-94 win over the Washington Wizards on Monday night.
Team physician Dr. Richard Parker advised James to sit out Tuesday’s game. James is listed day-to-day.”
What about the Offense
“Updated: Oct. 4, 2005, 3:40 PM ET
Cavs overview: LeBron’s leap year?By John Hollinger
ESPN.com
John Hollinger from ESPN.COM takes a look.
“Cleveland’s biggest weakness last season was outside shooting. The Cavs ranked 28th in the NBA in 3-pointers, enabling defenses to collapse around LeBron James and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
The presence of those two deadly shooters also should open more lanes to the basket for James and free-agent addition Larry Hughes, both of whom excel at getting to the rim. With three high scorers surrounded by two deadly shot-makers, Cleveland should be one of the league’s best offensive teams in 2005-06.”
Some Keypoints From the Cavaliers vs. Wizards
– Hughes was greeted by more boos than cheers during introductions
“I expected it,” Hughes said. “I know those boos were from fans who wanted me back. I definitely know it wasn’t because I’m a bad person.”
– The defense was commendable especially after a rocky start. The Wizards shot just 35 percent in the final three quarters after putting up 41 in the first 12 minutes, managed just 53 points the rest of the way.
“They started to trust the system, started to trust their teammates, started to communicate, When we do that, we’ll get results.” Brown said
– LeBron James and Drew Gooden scored 16 points apiece.
– James made his first four shots and 7-of-11 on the night combined with three assists and four steals in 25 minutes.
– Gooden was 5-of-5 from the field and also had a game-high eight rebounds.
– Larry Hughes, making his return to the MCI Center after leaving the Wizards for the Cavs in free agency, was just 1-of-6 from the field but wasn’t afraid to go to the basket and draw fouls. He got to the foul line nine times and finished with nine points, three assists and three rebounds.
– Alan Henderson scored seven points and had four rebounds in his first eight minutes on the floor. Luke Jackson scored 12 points and lead the team in 3 points, 2-of-3 and had an explosive dunk in transition.
– Donyell Marshall and Damon Jones had eight points each off the bench.
Cleveland forward Donyell Marshall, who selected the Cavaliers over the Wizards during free agency, said he’s happy with the choice but has thought about what might have been, according to the Washington Post.
“The last couple of days I have thought about it because it did come down to these two teams,” Marshall said. “It was almost like choosing a college. I think I made the best choice for myself and my family.”
Cavaliers Win 1st Exhibition Game
The Cavaliers won their first pre-season game of the 2005-06 season against the Washington Wizards 116 to 94. Lebron James and Drew Gooden led the way for the Cavaliers with 16 points each. For the Wizards, Awvee Storey had 14 points and Antonio Daniels 13. For a complete list of the Box scores check out ESPN.COM