Loving the Cavs "small" lineup

In the Cavaliers' 124-93 dismantling of the Knicks on Monday, they played without a center, as Shaquille O'Neal is out until the playoffs and Zydrunas Ilgauskas is sitting at home. Mike Brown decided to start J.J. Hickson at "center", preferring to keep Anderson Varejao on the bench. The moved worked beautifully. Hickson responded with a fantastic game, totaling 17 points (on 6 of 7 shooting) and nine rebounds. Also, his +/- was +28, an astronomical number (LeBron posted a +38). This athletic, quick and explosive Cavs lineup outrebounded the Knicks 60-31 and had a whopping 66 points in the paint. These are video-game like numbers, people. Antawn Jamison totaled 12 rebounds and Varejao posted 10 off the bench.
As I said in this space earlier this week, the Cavs are filled with good rebounders and I surmised that the loss of Shaquille O'Neal wouldn't be doomsday. LeBron and Jamison are absolute beasts inside, and oh yea, both can also run the court, hit jump shots and play defense.
Yes, yes, I know the Knicks are putrid and are barely resemble an NBA franchise. But its important for the Cavs to pound these lesser teams into submission. Wins like this make sure the desired level of intensity is kept, and also I believe this win was big for the Cavs as far as confidence. Twelve players got minutes, LeBron was able to rest and the team continues to meld with Antawn Jamison.
With games against the Nets, Bucks and Pistons this week, things could get even better for the Cavs. A real test will come next Monday, when the Spurs come to town. In the game, it will be interesting to see how this Cavs lineup responds to a team with a real inside presence, in the form of Tim Duncan.
- By the way, this current Cavs' lineup is not "SmallBall." That term fits with what the Suns were doing a few years ago, literally starting four guards. LeBron is 6-8, Antawn Jamison is 6-9, J.J. Hickson is 6-9 and Anthony Parker is 6-6. That is not a small lineup. Just a lineup without a "true" center.