CAVS.SPACE

Five years ago, the Cavaliers did not renew the contract of interim Head Coach Keith Smart. Smart's departure followed the exits of John Lucas and Randy Wittman. Paul Silas took the helm but only lasted about 1 1/2 seasons before he was replaced by Brendan Malone. Prior to Silas's start as Head Coach of the Cavs, Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer asked that Cavalier fans send in advice for the new coach. My advice was among the commentary selected for posting. Here it is: "With a team as young as our Cavaliers, you should consider using a mix of man-to-man and zone defenses. Then, emphasize to the players the importance of controlling the tempo of the game. If the opposing team goes on a 6-0 mini-run, do not be afraid to call an immediate time-out (better a 6-0 mini-run than an 18-0 run). Most importantly, make sure that every player on the team knows that you are here to make them better players. It is one thing to criticize a player; it is another thing to help

The Cavaliers have signed center-forward Lorenzen Wright. The 13-year veteran has played for the Los Angeles Clippers, the Atlanta Hawks, the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Sacramento Kings. In 761 career regular season games--including 445 starts--Wright has averaged 8.1 PPG and 6.5 rebounds per game. This included a stretch of averaging 10.9 PPG from 2000-2005. In 15 career postseason games, he has averaged 7.7 PPG and 5.3 RPG. Although on the decline, Wright brings power and size along with his experience. His addition to the Cavaliers' bench should help fill the void left by the trading of veteran center-forward Joe Smith.

Newly signed draft pick Darnell Jackson expressed his gratitude to his peers and Jayhawk fans at Kansas University via a letter he sent to Lawrence Journal-World & News last week. He spoke of the good times and the bad times. He talked about the struggles he dealt with as a player, a student, and a family man. Although he experienced the glory of winning a championship, Jackson's struggles were less about frustration and more about trying to hold strong and grow for his family and his team. For someone who just recently earned an undergraduate degree, he seems well-experienced with life and well prepared to deal with the ups and downs of NBA life. Best wishes and blessings to Jackson, and may he bring his heart and leadership to Cleveland.