The LeBron and Shaq Show is off and running.
NBA icons, All-Stars and A-plus-list celebrities LeBron James
and Shaquille O'Neal made their debut as Cleveland teammates on
Tuesday night in the Cavaliers' 92-87 preseason-opening victory
over the Charlotte Bobcats.
The two are hoping to end this city's pro sports championship
drought stretching to 1964, and while they are as much as nine
months away from accomplishing that goal, it's already clear their
pairing will be fun to watch.
James, wearing a pink pair of his signature Nikes for breast
cancer awareness month, scored 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting in 14
minutes. O'Neal, who said his goal is to "win a ring for the
King" in Cleveland, scored six points and added three rebounds and
a block in 15 minutes. Neither played in the second half.
D.J. Augustin, whose third-year option was exercised before the
game, scored 12 for the Bobcats. Charlotte was without injured
starters Tyson Chandler (ankle surgery) and Boris Diaw (ankle
sprain). Bobcats coach Larry Brown was called for a technical foul
by official Ben Taylor, one of three replacement referees being
used while the regular refs are locked out. Brown spent most of the
night chirping at the refs.
Everything James and O'Neal do together will get added attention
this season, and it won't be limited to their on-court moves. The
Cavaliers' pregame introductions, which already ranked among the
league's splashiest before Shaq's arrival, could rival Broadway
productions.
The Cavs didn't provide any sneak preview, as James and O'Neal
simply slapped hands and saluted each other when they were
introduced.
While the James-O'Neal pairing seems ideal, some are wondering
if their personalities will mesh and if the arranged marriage will
work.
"I don't see why not," Brown said. "LeBron's gotten better
every second he's been in the league. To get a quality player like
Shaq, who's been special his whole career, without giving up
anything, it's phenomenal."
Cavaliers guard Delonte West, battling mental sickness and legal
troubles, had been expected to play 15 to 20 minutes but didn't
leave Cleveland's locker room. He warmed up 90 minutes before
tip-off and sat in his cubicle before the game, but never joined
his teammates on the bench.
West, who has bipolar disorder, was arrested last month on
weapons charges in Maryland after police found him carrying three
loaded guns while riding a three-wheel motorcycle. He faces a
likely league suspension pending the resolution of his criminal
case. West didn't show up for team's first four practices of
training camp last week, absences the team termed unexcused.
The Cavs have been taking a one-day-at-a-time approach with
West, who has been their second-best player in the past two
postseasons. For now, the team is content to give West space and
time.
O'Neal has missed more than 5,000 free throws during his career,
a flaw that led to the birth of Hack-A-Shaq, a late-game strategy
teams have used against the big man for years.
O'Neal scored the game's first point from the line, drawing a
huge ovation from Cavs fans hoping its an omen of made free throws
to come.
