Toronto Raptors vs Cleveland Cavaliers Feb.18/09

Even if they dont make a move before the trade deadline, the Cleveland Cavaliers think theyve got enough for another run at the NBA Finals.

LeBron James had 20 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 22 points in the Cavaliers 93-76 victory over Toronto on Wednesday night.

James said the Cavaliers have improved in the two years since they were swept by San Antonio in the finals.

Were a better team now in 09 than we were in 07 at this point, but theres a lot of games left, James said.

With the Cavaliers (41-11) on pace for the best record in team history, guard Mo Williams said theres no need to make a deal, meaning the players are relaxed as the deadline draws near.

Were already good, Williams said. We know that. When youre at the level that we are right now, theyre not just going to blow up the team. Guys are not on pins and needles.

Nevertheless there are rumors that Cleveland, which leads the Central Division and is chasing Boston for top spot in the East, may seek to bolster its roster before Thursdays 3 p.m. deadline. Reports have linked the Cavaliers with deals for Washingtons Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler and with Marcus Camby of the Los Angeles Clippers, but the availability of both Camby and Jamison is in question.

Cleveland had also been in the running for center Brad Miller, who was traded Wednesday from Sacramento to Chicago in a deal that also sent John Salmons to the Bulls.

Coach Mike Brown said he didnt believe a deal was likely and planned to leave the trade talk to general manager Danny Ferry.

Its Dannys job to work the phones to see if theres a way that we can get better, Brown said. If there is, there is and if theres not, theres not.

Brown also said the Cavaliers still have room for improvement.

I feel like we can get better and I feel that the group of guys in that locker room make us a championship-caliber team, he said. We feel like were one of the elite teams in the league. But just because we feel like it, weve got to go do it, because we havent done that yet. Then we can go patting ourselves on the back.

Needing two rebounds and one assist in the final quarter for his 21st career triple-double, James had six points but only one rebound before leaving the game for good with just over 3 minutes remaining.

James scored only four points in the first two quarters but got 10 in the third as Cleveland outscored Toronto 24-15 to take a 71-56 lead into the fourth.

He can have two points in the first half and you just know theres a good chance hes going to end up with 20-plus, Brown said. Not only that, hes going to affect the game in other areas. He almost ended up with a triple-double tonight and you wouldnt have thought that at halftime.

Williams scored 17 points, Wally Szczerbiak had 11, and Anderson Varejao finished with 14 rebounds for the Cavaliers, 6-2 in their last eight games.

Ilgauskas shot 11-for-17, falling one point shy of his season-high.

We knew we had a size advantage against these guys, Ilgauskas said. They tried to look for me early in the post and I was able to succeed. Having played poorly in the last couple of games before the All-Star break, just for myself I wanted to have a good game and get back in the swing of things.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James goes up for a dunk against the Toronto Raptors during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009, in Toronto.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Le
AP - Feb 18, 9:52 pm EST

Joey Graham had 15 points for Toronto, which has lost five straight to Cleveland. Jose Calderon added 13 points, and Andrea Bargnani has 11.

Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks, acquired from Miami on Friday, made their Toronto debuts. Marion started and scored 10 points in 40 minutes, while Banks came off the bench to score four points.

Chris Bosh (right knee) missed his fifth straight game for Toronto, while Cleveland was without forward Ben Wallace, who needed 14 stitches to close a cut on his right elbow after crashing through a car window during a game of street football over the All-Star break.

Raptors coach Jay Triano was ejected for arguing with 5 minutes left.

Triano picked up a double technical for arguing that Anthony Parker had been fouled by James on a missed jump shot. Assistant coach Mike Evans tried to restrain Triano, but couldnt prevent him from being ejected by referee Kevin Fehr. Evans took over as Triano headed to the locker room.

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• Feb.18/09

[MicNarcolepsy]

its stupid that TSN2 isn't in Rogers, Raps have 25 games showing on TSN2 =/

[hellyehboy]

you repeater the part 4:00

[09282598262]

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[glennlweis3991]

yo monuow, I m trying to increase my jumping ability by doing the exercise program over at (50 inch vertical [dot] com) - and thus far got like over 8-9 inches so far but I m still a bit off from dunking the ball It's only my third week thus far, any tips?

Toronto Raptors vs Cleveland Cavaliers Feb.18/09

[jorgewong56]

monuow, oftentimes I attempt to remind myself of just what exactly it was like before I was able to dunk for real. Right after I made use of the workout system at | 50 inch vertical [dot] com | - my skills has been improving quickly I'm not a bench player anymore! #key1#

Toronto Raptors vs Cleveland Cavaliers Feb.18/09

[leslieperry136]

eh monuow, if you {want|would like|wish|really want} to improve in basketball, you should start {following|sticking with} #RANDSETa {real|actual|genuine|authentic­|serious|proper|legit} # workout. I used widely known nba training system over at 50inch vertical[dot]com. I haven t even told this to my basketball teammates yet hehe

Toronto Raptors vs Cleveland Cavaliers Feb.18/09

[bobbymay5076]

lolo monuow that is nice if you're interested in dunking you have to go here today - |50 inch vertical [dot] com|

cya monuow

[jonnagilda]

This happened on my birthday

[RonaldoSkillz777]

Kapono running..

That's right, Kapono running.

Aha.

[SaraCousineau88]

I was totally at this game- insane.