CLEVELAND -- If Anderson Varejao isn’t holding ice below his eye, it's probably only because he has it wrapped around his lower back.
One thing we know for sure: Varejao spent all day Thursday feeling extremely sore.
Sore because of the two hard falls he suffered in the fistfight that was a 99-92 win over the Clippers the night before.
Sore because of the elbow he took to the eye in that same game.
And sore because of to constant bumps he took to the chest from monstrous Clippers forward Blake Griffin.
Varejao is the Cavaliers’ center, even though he is actually supposed to be a power forward. You don’t need to look at his numbers of 11.0 points and 11.8 rebounds per game to know he is having a career year.
All you need to do is watch Varejao act like his normal Wild Thing self, a 6-foot-11 mop top who is all arms and legs and heart. And All-Star Game appearance or not, Cavs fans can’t get enough of him.
Well, fans should know Varejao can’t get enough of them, either.
“Since I got to Cleveland, the fans have taken to me,” he said. “I didn’t speak any English, but every time I got in a game, I felt like I had somebody behind me, helping me and motivating me.”
It’s not just the fans.
Opposing coaches have praised Varejao’s intangibles for years. This year, even more so. And those coaches apparently know what they’re talking about.
Take, for instance, Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro.
Prior to tip-off, Del Negro talked of Varejao’s ability to do all the energy stuff he normally does so well, “but he’s really improved his offensive skills too.”
Del Negro specifically cited Varejao’s consistency “hitting that 12-foot jumper from the elbow.” Unfortunately for the Clippers, Del Negro proved to be a prophet.
That’s because with the game in the balance, Varejao found himself 12 feet from the hoop, alone on the elbow, a big shot waiting to be made. You know the story, as Varejao buried it and the Cavs leaped for joy.
In the end, Varejao went for 15 points on a sizzling 6-for-8 shooting, 11 rebounds and tons of floor burns. He also annoyed the more physically gifted Griffin into fouling out. Griffin is an All-Star starter, and he wore the look of a man who wanted to rip Varejao’s long curly hair right off his head and make a sweater out of it.
A lot of guys who face Varejao feel that same way at the end of the game. He’s not supposed to be good -- but he will kill you every time. While rookie point guard Kyrie Irving is the Cavs’ new star, and Antawn Jamison is their second-leading scorer, Varejao is the guy who makes it all happen.
The Cavs know and deeply appreciate that.
“Some people downplay how talented Andy really is,” Irving said. “He’s a great center for us and a great center around the league. I think he’s leading the league in offensive rebounds. Just that stat right there shows you how much energy he brings.
“He’s always on the offensive glass and giving us energy, talking to us all the time.”
Of course, it’s Varejao’s name that is most often thrown around in trade rumors. But the Cavs won’t actively place him on the market, because odds are, you’ll never get equal value in return.
Besides that, the big man with the endless spirit doesn‘t want to leave.
“I feel like my football team is the Browns, my basketball team is the Cavs and my baseball team is the Indians,” Varejao said. “That’s all I know. I feel like I’m from here.”
Follow Sam Amico on Twitter @SamAmicoFSO
