NBA NOTES : Injury-Plagued Cavaliers Will Rebound

During his 11-year playing career, Cleveland Cavaliers General Manager Wayne Embry looked forward to his battles with Wilt Chamberlain. Embry enjoyed the contact. He was that type of guy -- fearless and a little reckless.

That recklessness has prevented anyone from confronting Embry on his latest master plan. There are times when Embry loses his sense of humor, and at 6-foot-8 and 300 or so pounds, he could still deal out a lot of pain.

But forget the pain for a moment and focus on a plan that is very simple and absolutely brilliant. Recall that last season, the Cavs were the talk of the National Basketball Association for the first two-thirds of the season. They were 43-12 and the class of the league.

But their season effectively ended Feb. 28 when Mark Price’s forehead met Rick Mahorn’s forearm. The league office ruled that Mahorn initiated the meeting, and he was fined $5,000. But the incident was far more costly to Price and the Cavs, who never regained their effectiveness. The Cavs were a mediocre 14-13 over the last 27 games, then choked badly in the playoffs when Michael Jordan eliminated them with a last-second shot in the fifth and deciding game of the first-round series.

Embry rationalized the distressing playoff loss. He said the team was young, had accomplished a lot and a 57-25 record -- the best in franchise history -- was not exactly embarrassing. But he knew that big changes were required if the Cavs were going to battle for a championship, so he apparently instituted a plan that should make him a strong contender for the Executive of the Year award.

First, Embry knew that in the big picture 43-12 meant nothing. Champions are made at the finish line, not out of the blocks. So why not start slow and finish fast? To do that, it was necessary for the best players not to play. The Cavs’ PR department suggests that Larry Nance has had ankle surgery, that Brad Daugherty had swollen nerves in his foot that required surgery, Price had a bad ankle, backup center Chris Dudley had a broken bone in his left wrist, and -- get this -- Steve Kerr had chicken pox.

Let’s all laugh together. First of all, no team could have this many injuries. Secondly? Be serious.

Those absences helped the Cavs lose their first four games of the season. Last season, they did not lose four games until they had won 11.

The only plausible explanation is that the so-called injuries are part of Embry’s master plan. Instead of being successful for the first two-thirds of the season and mediocre for the last third, reverse it. Struggle for the first third of the season while the “injured” players rest. Bring them back for the final two-thirds, build momentum, peak when the playoffs begin, and win the first title in Cavs history.

Embry does not acknowledge that he has devised such a plan. He even sounds concerned when talking about the Cavs. “Our problem is that, hopefully, we will not dig ourselves in too deep of a hole,” he said. “Daugherty and Nance probably won’t be back until closer to January. We don’t want to be too far behind by then.”

Right, Wayne (insert wink here). We know the truth. You are resting your players and preparing for the playoff run. There are times when no one has seen Daugherty, and with a butt bigger than Charles Barkley’s or Roseanne Barr’s, that is impossible. You are hiding him.

Of course, if that is not the case and these injuries are for real, please accept an apology. No need to hit anybody, or anything drastic like that. Besides, the best thing that could happen would be for the Cavs to continue to struggle, get plenty of rest, get healthy and play well the last part of the season. That’s the way to win a title.

And, Wayne. Be careful. Chicken pox are contagious. Twin widebodies Barkley, by the way, said besides the obvious physical advantages of having Mahorn as a teammate on the 76ers, there are other benefits. “It means people will be able to see that I don’t have the biggest butt in the league,” said Barkley, apparently forgetting about Daugherty.

David Robinson has performed impressively for the San Antonio Spurs, but he has not been any better on the court than his picture has been off it. An early report is that Robinson’s NBA Hoops trading card, which sells in a package of 15 for 45 cents, has sold for as much as $5 at trading card shows. “If David Robinson lives up to expectations and plays in the 1990 All-Star Game or is named the rookie of the year, this card will be worth $20-$25, possibly more,” said John Dellaferra, the editor of a trading card price guide.

Interesting observation recently from former Boston Celtics guard Danny Ainge, now with the Sacramento Kings. It has become almost a trite expression to note that “the really great players are the ones who make their teammates better.” Ainge was asked if the return of Larry Bird this season would make other players on the Celtics better.

“I don’t think Larry makes anybody better,” Ainge said. “He takes the pressure off of the other guys because he takes so much responsibility with the ball. I think Magic (Johnson) makes people better. He gets the other people the ball in good position and allows them to score. I don’t think Michael Jordan makes people better, either. Larry’s like Michael Jordan. He just takes the pressure off the team. Magic creates for everybody else. Larry just makes a team better because of his presence with the ball.”

The next franchise move could come as early as next season. The Seattle SuperSonics have become tired of their dealings with city and county governments in their attempt to build a new facility and may move from Seattle. The Sonics were smart enough to include a buyout clause in their last contract with the city, and it will cost only $500,000 -- or the price of a good NBA 10th man -- to get out of the lease after the season. Groups in Memphis (led by former Denver Nuggets owner Sidney Schlenker), Orange County in California, Toronto, San Diego and the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky area have expressed interest.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Fred Roberts has had a history of being traded for “other considerations.” In 1983, his rights were traded from the New Jersey Nets to the Spurs so that the Nets could hire Stan Albeck, who was under contract to the Spurs, to be their coach. He also was traded from the Utah Jazz to the Celtics for a third-round pick and two exhibition games, which the Celtics agreed to play in Utah.

Bucks coach Del Harris said he is sensitive to Roberts’ past, therefore, “I have promised Fred if we ever trade him, it will be for a human being.” And then Harris quickly added, “Not that Stan Albeck is not a human being.”