Until Zydrunas Ilgauskas returns from his 30-day waiting period to rejoin the Cleveland Cavaliers, if he really does, perhaps the most watched men on the team will be Anderson Varejao, 27, and J.J. Hickson, 21.
Cleveland's Anderson Varejao, right, being defended by the New York Knicks' Jonathan Bender in Monday night's game, will have to step up at center for the Cavaliers since Shaquille O'Neal is out up to eight weeks following thumb surgery.
They will take up for center Shaquille O'Neal, who had surgery on his right thumb Monday.
The Cavaliers said O'Neal, who turns 38 on Saturday, will be out up to eight weeks. So he might not be ready for the start of the playoffs, let alone the push to secure the overall No. 1 seed.
Varejao, at 6-11, 260, gives away two inches and 65 pounds to O'Neal. Hickson, at 6-9, 242, gives away four inches and 83 pounds.
To face the New York Knicks on Monday, coach Mike Brown started Hickson, who had 17 points and nine rebounds in 23 minutes. Varejao, off the bench, had 14 points and 10 rebounds in 16 minutes of the 124-93 win.
"Will be out for a min but when I return it is on," O'Neal posted on his Twitter account Monday. "Win da ring for da king! Luv my team, Cavs baby!"
•Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Redd is scheduled for surgery today on his left knee after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament Jan. 10 vs. the Los Angeles Lakers. Redd tore the same two ligaments in January 2009.
Around the hardwood:
The Charlotte Bobcats did not sell out Monday's home game vs. the Dallas Mavericks, their first since Michael Jordan agreed to buy the club late Friday. Announced attendance was 15,691 at 19,077-seat Time Warner Cable Arena, although the building was half full at best. Jordan sat in his courtside seat at the end of the Bobcats' bench during the 89-84 loss to Dallas. ... That NBA ban vs. Mavericks forward Caron Butler chewing on straws during the game? They reached a compromise -- he can chew on the sidelines but not when he plays. ... The Indiana Pacers suspended forward Solomon Jones for today's road game vs. the Lakers for unspecified conduct detrimental to the team. ... Golden State guard and leading scorer Monta Ellis (sore back) and center Andris Biedrins (sports hernia) are not joining the Warriors today as they begin a five-game East Coast trip vs. the Miami Heat. ... Maybe the Warriors should fall behind early more often. The last-place team in the Pacific Division, the Warriors have won only 17 games -- but eight have been when they trailed by 10 points or more. ... The Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies on Monday said they won't raise season ticket prices for 2010-11.
SOURCE: USA Today
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