By Zac Jackson
Fox Sports Ohio
October 18, 2010
With eight days before the real games begin, the Cavaliers will treat their two remaining preseason games more like they count.
That means more minutes for the guys in the rotation and some decisions on who, exactly, is in that rotation. Head Coach Byron Scott said Monday that he's decided on Anthony Parker as his starting shooting guard and that Jamario Moon "has probably won the job" as the starting small forward.
It means Anderson Varejao's preseason debut Tuesday night in Cincinnati as the starting center. It doesn't mean Mo Williams (groin) and Antawn Jamison (knee) will play, but Scott remains confident he'll have them both for the Oct. 27 opener.
In the meantime, Ramon Sessions will start in Williams place at point guard. J.J. Hickson starts at power forward, and Scott said he planned to speak with Jamison soon about possibly coming off the bench. That remains unsettled, though, as Scott has made it clear he wants to see more consistency from Hickson "especially at the defensive end."
Here's what else the Cavaliers will be sorting through in this week's games with the 76ers and Bucks (Thursday in Columbus) before turning their full attention to the Celtics visit for the opener.
**There won't be much of a chance to see Scott's actual rotation ideas with guys missing and the desire to get minutes for more than nine or 10 players. But he's still praising Daniel Gibson, who's led the team in scoring this preseason, and won't be overexerting Varejao as he gets his legs back after an extended absence. Manny Harris has earned the chance to keep pushing for a roster spot, too, and though Scott said Parker is fine after injuring two fingers on his shooting hand late last week there's not much reason for the 35-year old Parker to get any extra minutes this week. Scott said Joey Graham "has been banged up the last couple days."
That's basically a long-winded way of saying you'll see -- and Fox Sports Ohio has the 7 p.m. broadcast Tuesday -- more of Sessions and Gibson playing together in the backcourt, still plenty of minutes at center for Ryan Hollins and maybe Hickson and the Cavaliers pushing the ball with a small but quick lineup.
**With Hickson's youth (22) and upside, it might make long-term sense to keep him in the starting lineup and let him attempt to hold down that spot for years to come. But Scott said the battle between Hickson and Jamison for that starting power forward spot will go to "the best guy."
Scott said he'll talk with Jamison about coming off the bench but seems to think it's a role Jamison would embrace, in part because he's a team-first guy and in part because Jamison has been a sixth man in the past. He was the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year in 2004 in Dallas.
"He understands what that role pertains to as far as he's concerned," Scott said. "I think that he would be fine either way. He's a professional. It's something we'll talk about. I still haven't made up my mind."
**Scott said he's been impressed by Jawad Williams ability to play both forward spots and thinks his shooting ability is a good fit for the team's new offense. His playing the power forward spot is another sign the Cavaliers will use a "small" lineup as more than just a change of pace.
**Scott praised Parker's leadership and defense and said "he's been much better at the offensive end than I thought."
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