Written by Brian McPeek

---

Who flipped that switch? The Cavs completely and totally demoralized the New Jersey Nets in the final 18 minutes of play Wednesday night at ‘The Q’ to win 104-83 and eliminate New Jersey from playoff contention. To say the Cavs needed a night like Wednesday evening is a few steps below underestimation. After recent fourth quarter collapses against Orlando and Chicago, and with the rest of the playoff contenders below them in the seedings hot on their tails, the Cavs responded with their best half of basketball in weeks. Peeker tells us about the win.

Who flipped that switch?

The Cavs completely and totally demoralized the New Jersey Nets in the final 18 minutes of play Wednesday night at ‘The Q’ to win 104-83 and eliminate New Jersey from playoff contention.

The onslaught came not a minute to soon for the Wine & Gold who found themselves trailing by 14 points at one point halfway through the third quarter. But a furious rally late in that quarter tied the game and the momentum continued throughout the fourth and led to the blowout victory.

To say the Cavs needed a night like Wednesday evening is a few steps below underestimation. After recent fourth quarter collapses against Orlando and Chicago, and with the rest of the playoff contenders below them in the seedings hot on their tails, the Cavs responded with their best half of basketball in weeks.

That’s impressive enough. But the fact the Cavaliers changed the direction of the game without LeBron James on the court was somewhat shocking. Instead of living and dying with James the Cavs tightened up the defense to ‘strangle’ mode and got back into the ballgame courtesy of New Jersey misses and run outs the other way. Daniel Gibson led that attack by running the floor expertly and distributing the basketball to open shooters. And at least tonight those open shooters knocked down shot after shot.

How suffocating was the Cavalier defense? How about 1 of 20 from the floor for the Nets in the fourth quarter? That is about as suffocating as it gets.

James re-entered the ballgame in the fourth quarter and made sure to keep order. James finished with 33 points despite a sore back and he backed it up with 8 assists and 7 rebounds. Gibson scored 12 points, passed for 5 assists and grabbed 5 rebounds. None of Gibson’s numbers were earned at anything other than warp speed.

Well Done

• Welcome back Wally Szczerbiak’s jump shot. Nice to see you were finally able to get out of Seattle and arrive here in Cleveland. Were you flying American?

Szczerbiak looked like the player the Cavs thought they had dealt for a few weeks back. He was active on the floor, hit 5 of 9 shots (including two of three from deep) and blocked a shot. Wally is not quick and he’s not an accomplished on-the-ball defender, but he is active and he is more physical than what many had given credit for. The guy is hard-nosed and gives effort each night. Effort is great, but it sure is more enjoyable when it’s accompanied by those made shots.

• Like Szczerbiak, Delonte West is starting to figure out his role here in Cleveland. And as he does it becomes more and more obvious that he possesse some offensive skills that can be formidable and useful for this Cavs team. Rarely do I agree with Austin Carr (hell, rarely can I understand Austin Carr), but he’s right on the money when he exhorts West to look more for his shot. We said it early; LeBron will take his shots. West does not have to look for him each trip down the floor. West will help LBJ far more by aggressively playing his game instead of being concerned with keeping the King happy each trip down the court.

• Intensity can take you a long way and the Cavs rode it for 18 minutes in the second half Wednesday night. It’s also something you can come with each and every night regardless of whether your shot is falling. The ‘All For One, One For All’ mentality the Cavs employed against the Nets can’t be something they just turn to in times of desperation. The talent and the ability are there. Throw in the intensity and suddenly the shots that didn’t fall resulted in offensive rebounds, tip-ins and new possessions. That, as much as anything, demoralized and beat the Nets.

Raw

• Probably picky. But if I want drama I flip to TNT for some “Law and Order” re-runs. It’s been a recurring theme in this column but the LBJ theatrics are played out and tired. The guy got fouled by DeSagana Diop, found a camera and then immediately started grimacing and rolling around like he had been attacked by a bear or set on fire. We get it LeBron, your back was sore and you were playing with some discomfort. But that doesn’t make you different than 98% of the rest of the guys in the league this time of year. And picking yourself up after flopping, hopping and writhing around for three minutes and then running the floor like a gazelle and jumping out of the building while throwing down a two-handed dunk doesn’t lend your routine any credence.

• Might be time to sit down Ben Wallace for the remainder of the regular season. Big Ben looks like a shadow of his former self. Lets hope it’s more the balky back than age and gravity taking their inevitable toll. The Cavs are where they are today despite playing the majority of their games without Ben Wallace. It would be terrific if Wallace went into the playoffs healthy and was able to contribute. But he’s clearly not producing or contributing much as it stands right now. If the Cavs advance deep into the playoffs the time will surely come when a healthy, effective Wallace will be not only nice to have on the floor, but necessary just to compete. Let him get right for when that time comes as opposed to tweaking the back in the remaining games and not getting much in return anyway.

Finally

The Cavs travel to Chicago Friday for a pay back game against the Bulls. The Bulls overcame a huge second half deficit last Thursday in Cleveland to send the Cavs to a rough defeat. Still not much breathing room regarding that 4 seed. Redemption and the playoffs will hopefully combine to keep that switch flipped in the ‘on’ position.