COLUMBUS — The battle for the Cavaliers’ starting shooting guard spot is down to two.
Prior to his team’s final exhibition game Friday, an impressive,
ESPN-televised 107-80 victory over the Washington Wizards at the Schottenstein Center, Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said he preferred to have 10-year veteran Wally Szczerbiak come off the bench.
That means Cleveland’s starting shooting guard in its regular-season opener Tuesday in Boston will be Sasha Pavlovic or Delonte West.
The 6-foot-3 West got the nod against the Wizards and received high praise from Brown before and after the game, but the St. Joseph’s product sprained his left ankle with 1:40 to go in the second period and did not return.
“He could have gone back in,” Brown said. “But there was no reason to put him back in there.”
Pavlovic, whom Brown has a history of starting, is probably the front-runner due to his bigger 6-7 frame and similarity to Szczerbiak, but the coach has yet to make up his mind.
“Delonte’s tough and athletic,” Brown said. “He can shoot the three and he can shoot off the dribble. There’s a lot of things he can do for us. Sasha has some pros, too, with his size and defensive ability.”
Brown praised the long-armed West’s ability to defend a lot of players because of his quickness and grit, but the coach seems enamored with Pavlovic, who did little in the preseason to deserve the spot.
Starting Pavlovic, however, would set up an easier and more fluid rotation, because he and Szczerbiak are basically the same player.
By starting Pavlovic alongside point guard Mo Williams, Brown can try to get five guards some action early in the season. West and Daniel “Boobie” Gibson can see time at both guard spots, while Pavlovic and Szczerbiak can slide down and play a few minutes in relief of small forward LeBron James.
Regardless of which way Brown ends up going, nothing is etched in stone.
“I’d prefer to stay with a set (starting) lineup, but I may start a guy for a few games and switch to something else,” he said.
Brown wants to try to use 10 players early in the season. If Pavlovic does in fact join James, Williams, Ben Wallace and Zydrunas Ilgauskas in the starting lineup, his bench rotation would include Szczerbiak, West, Gibson, Anderson Varejao and either J.J. Hickson or Lorenzen Wright.
Hickson looked like he would be in the rotation, but he missed the team bus for a Friday morning shootaround and did not play in the first half against the Wizards.
“As a rookie, he’s going to sit there,” Brown said. “If it had been a close game, he was going to sit the whole game.”
Szczerbiak, who had 11 points in 20 minutes against Washington, will sit to start games, but he’s going to get his minutes.
The 6-7, 240-pounder came off the bench after being acquired from Seattle at the trade deadline last season and struggled for long stretches, but started throughout the playoffs and played decently. Still, Brown plans on using the sharpshooter off the bench, where, in a best-case scenario, Szczerbiak will provide instant offense.
“Wally’s best right now coming off the bench,” Brown said. “He can give us a scoring lift.”
West, who was gone from training camp for 12 days while being treated for a mood disorder and depression, attempted just two shots and scored only two points against Washington, but had four assists in the first period and five on the night.
“Delonte did a nice job,” Brown said. “I liked his defense. I thought he was aggressive offensively. He made plays for himself and for his teammates.”
Pavlovic, who could play sparingly if he doesn’t start, had eight points, three rebounds and three assists in 24 minutes.
James, meanwhile, was sensational against Washington (2-5), putting up 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting, five rebounds, six assists, two steals and three blocks in 29 minutes.
Cleveland (3-5), which led by as many as 31, also got 15 points and six rebounds from Williams and 12 points and eight boards from Ilgauskas.
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TIP-INS: During a timeout with 8:19 to go in the game, a member of the high-flying Scream Team suffered a horrific and gruesome fall after flipping and landing on the side of his face, knocking him out cold. Players and coaches from both teams huddled and prayed near midcourt as the young man, whose name was not released, received medical attention. The game was delayed for approximately 10 minutes before the Scream Team member, who never stopped breathing and had movement in all his extremities, was taken off on a stretcher. … James will be a guest today on ESPN’s College GameDay as Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit preview the Penn State-Ohio State football game. James wouldn’t reveal his final score prediction, but when asked if he was picking the Buckeyes, he said “of course.” … James will co-host a Jay-Z concert Wednesday at Quicken Loans Arena. Billed as “The Last Chance for Change,” the concert will serve as a rally for presidential candidate Barack Obama. “We all know how important it is to vote,” James said. “I’m in town, so I wanted to be a part of it.” … The Cavaliers will be off today and practice Sunday and Monday before opening the regular season Tuesday in Boston. … Brown will not be surprised if Ronald Dupree, the last player cut by the Cavaliers, plays somewhere in the league this season. “He has NBA skills,” Brown said. … Washington guard Gilbert Arenas (knee) is hoping to return in late December or early January. Center Brendan Haywood could miss the entire season with a torn ligament in his right wrist. … Former Cleveland first-round pick Luke Jackson was among Portland’s last cuts.
Noland may be reached at rickn@ohio.net or 330-721-4061.

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