With center Michael Doleac having returned Saturday against Boston
after missing two months with a fractured ankle, the Cavaliers have no shortage of post players. Other big men are Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Chris Mihm, Brian Skinner and DeSagana Diop. The Cavs also have 6-foot-8 Jumaine Jones, who has started most of the season at power forward. Prior to the 108-101 loss to the Celtics, Cavs coach John Lucas was asked how he would find minutes for Doleac. ``Skinner's minutes are going to get cut some,'' he said. Then Lucas used Skinner for 22 minutes, four more than his average, and Doleac for just two. Lucas was upset that Doleac did not block out on a play at the free-throw line late in the first half, and he didn't play in the second half. ``(Doleac) looked great in practice, but I told him that when the fans and the popcorn come on, it's a different thing,'' Lucas said. So it remains to be seen how Lucas will divvy out minutes to big men.
WHAT ABOUT DIOP? -- Diop has played the least of any big man on the team. But the Cavs believe he has potential, so when will the rookie get to play meaningful minutes? ``I'm going to wait and see,'' Lucas said. ``Part of the problem is we're not out of any games. I can't just throw him in. I don't want to just throw him into the meat of games. That has been difficult.'' For whatever it's worth, Diop says he's up for the challenge. ``I think I'm ready to play whenever Coach wants to put me out there,'' said Diop, who has played in just 59 minutes in nine games, nearly all of it in garbage time.
NOT GIVING UP -- With the Cavs mired in a 12-game losing streak, team captain Bimbo Coles vows the Cavs aren't about to pack in the season. ``The easiest road is for us give up and say the season is over,'' he said. ``But the guys on the team still think we can win games.'' The Cavs tomorrow face the Timberwolves (31-12), whom the Cavs stunned 107-103 on Nov. 13 at Minnesota. ``In the last game, (Minnesota) forward Kevin Garnett walked off the floor and said, `We got you guys in Cleveland,' '' Coles said. ``But I remember last year when they kicked our butts in Cleveland (90-81) and (Garnett) laughed the whole fourth quarter. That still sticks in my mind, the way they laughed at us.''
NOTABLE -- Cavs point guard Andre Miller had his third career triple-double and second this season Saturday with 25 points, 17 assists and 10 rebounds. ``Andre looked like the Andre of old,'' said Lucas of Miller, who had been in a bit of a slump. . . . Mihm hasn't come out of his slump. Over the last four games, Mihm has averaged 4.5 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 8-of-25 (32 percent). ``He's been struggling,'' understated Lucas.