NEW YORK, Dec. 4, 2009 — The Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for games played during October and November.
James paced the Eastern Conference in scoring (29.2 ppg), was second in assist (8.0 apg) and added 6.7 rebounds per game, leading the Cavaliers to a 12-5 start. James is one of only two players to record a triple-double this season (Rafer Alston) after recording 23 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists on Oct. 28 at Toronto. With 38 points on Oct. 27, James set a franchise record for points in a season opener and with his seventh point became the youngest player to score 13,000 (24 years, 301 days old). James was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Nov. 23 after averaging a league-high 34.3 points for the week and leading Cleveland to a 3-1 record.
Big Month James
Here is a closer look at the month for James: Oct. 28 vs. Toronto: Scored 23 points and added 12 assists and 11 rebounds in a 101-91 loss to the Raptors.
Nov. 6 @ New York: Tallied 33 points, eight rebounds, nine assists and three steals in a 100-91 win over the Knicks.
Nov. 11 @ Orlando: Recorded 36 points, eight rebounds and four assists in a 102-93 win over the Magic.
Nov. 17 vs. Golden State: Tallied 31 points, 12 assists, five rebounds and two blocks in a 114-108 win over the Warriors.
Nov. 20 @ Indiana:
Poured in 40 points and added nine rebounds and seven assists in a 105-95 win over the Pacers.
LeBron James criticizes coach Mike Brown’s failure to play Zydrunas Ilgauskas in record-setting game Saturday By Mary Schmitt Boyer, The Plain Dealer November 30, 2009, 2:40PM Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — LeBron James criticized Cavaliers coach Mike Brown today for his failure to insert Zydrunas Ilgauskas into Saturday’s win over the Dallas Mavericks, which would have given Ilgauskas the Cavaliers record in games played at 724. Speaking after a rousing game of touch football following today’s practice, James said:
“Me personally, I definitely thought he should have played. I’m not trying to stir up anything with coach or the organization. I
1 DNP CD - on his big day
don’t know who made the call. But sometimes one game is a smaller thing. What was on the line the day before yesterday was way bigger than us playing the Mavericks, and that was Z breaking the record to become the franchise leader in games played. I stand behind Z and whatever Z feels at this point in time, I definitely — if I was in control of it — would have put him in, probably would have started him. You could have easily started him and subbed him right out and had the standing ovation from the fans with a timeout. If you didn’t want to play him, there were a lot of ways for that accomplishment to be accomplished. It’s a sensitive subject. I’m not one to raise havoc or raise fire into the locker room or our team. But, for me, I speak the truth. I stand behind Z and I feel like Z not playing wasn’t the right thing. As a friend of his, I was very upset, and I know he was also.”
Ilgauskas, who worked on his shot while most of the rest of his teammates took part in the football game, declined an invitation to speak to the media, the first time reporters remember that happening. Saturday’s game might have been the first time in his career he did not play in a game based on a coach’s decision, although that cannot be verified. He was the first person to head to the locker room after Saturday’s game and the first person to leave the locker room, also two rarities. He reportedly was devastated by the decision, in part because he had a contingent of family and friends at the game to help him celebrate.
It has been a difficult season for the 33-year-old center, who is coming off the bench for the first time in his career, backing up Shaquille O’Neal.
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week, for games played Monday, Nov. 16, through Sunday, Nov. 22.
James averaged a league-best 34.3 points on .583 shooting from the field, 5.8 rebounds and a team-high 9.3 assists, leading the Cavaliers to a 3-1 week. James was the only Eastern Conference player to score 30 or more points in each of his games and recorded his first 40-point game of the season in a 105-95 win over Indiana on Nov. 20.
Here is a recap of the week for James: Nov. 17 vs. Golden State: Posted 31 points, five rebounds and 12 assists in a 114-108 win over the Warriors. Nov. 18 @ Washington: Scored 34 points to go along with two rebounds, nine assists and two steals in a 108-91 loss to the Wizards. Nov. 20 @ Indiana: Poured in 40 points and added nine rebounds, seven assists, one block and one steal in a 105-95 win over the Pacers. Nov. 21 vs. Philadelphia: Tallied 32 points, seven rebounds and nine assists in a 97-91 win over the Sixers.
Not what anyone thought the start of the season would look like.
Shaq boxes out Robot-Leg
LeBron has looked good or better than he ever has to start a season, but the Cavs as a whole haven’t looked prepared. They ran out of gas quickly against the Celts and Toronto looked like a better, more talented and better prepared team then us (which they CAN’T be… right?).
Brown is still figuring out the rotation and learning to play with (and use effectively) the “Big Witness Protection Program” is going to take some serious thinking.
One thing all Cavs fans in the webisphere have agreed on: No one knew how much we would miss Delonte.
NBA Commissioner David Stern will be on The $ports Take with Rick Horrow (on Versus) on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Stern was asked about LeBron James, and this is some of what he had to say:
He may be the best player ever to have played. Michael might dispute that, but he has a lot of canvas yet on which to paint. I have no doubt the picture is going to be beautiful.
You know, he hasn’t won anything yet but he may be the best player ever to descend to this planet. It’s a delight to watch him; it’s a delight to watch him grow, to see his width and breadth, in terms of his interest and capacities. He’s a great kid and a great player.
LeBron and his High School Coach show up on Fresh air from NPR.
One caller asked a particularly hard question. “Why isn’t LeBron married to the mother of his children. LeBron handled it pretty well. The guy just doesn’t get rattled easily.
The visit was mainly to promote his new book “Shooting Stars” and the movie “More Than a Game”, but he also fielded questions about Shaq and next years free agency. With Shaq, he’s excited to play with a “big kid” and thinks he may be the last piece. With free agency, he said he’s excited about it but more excited about the upcoming year and will wait until free agency to answer speculative questions (he did all this while their weatherman shouted “Knicks” at him from off camera).
| dcass | 
December 5, 2009 5:52 pm | 
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