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Cavs, Spurs going in opposite directions
Game Time: Cavaliers 101, Spurs 91 It's a long, debilitating season, and not even the most elite teams can get up for every game. So, after a pair of embarrassing losses to Washington and Orlando, the Cavs were intent on demonstrating that they are still a championship-caliber team. With this lopsided win, Cleveland also demonstrated that the Spurs' odd-year-supremacy is kaput. Why the Cavs can be champs After getting burned for 16 points on San Antonio's screen/rolls during the first half, Cleveland made adjustments in its defensive rotations, i.e., the bigs showed long enough to allow the screenees to recover, while the baseline defenders halved the distances between their men and the open areas in the paint. As a result, SA registered only five points on similar plays during the second half. If you have a question or comment for Charley Rosen, submit it below and Charley may just respond. Subject: Comment/Question: Name:

There are a couple of reasons why your suggestion doesn't work. First, Fisher has the ability to hit shots as soon as the game begins. This allows his teammates time to get loose and in synch with each other. Early scoring is invaluable to prevent teams from having to play from behind all game long.

But the most important reason why Farmar shouldn't start is simply that it's still not a given that he is — or will be — a consistently effective NBA player. His shot is streaky, he's not an accomplished passer and his decision-making is suspect. Even more serious is Farmar's inadequate defense, especially in screen-and-roll situations.

Which is precisely why Shannon Brown is getting more time as Fisher's backup as of late.

Travels with Charley

Besides the actual games, most CBA teams provided additional entertainment for the hometown fans. An appearance by the famous San Diego Chicken was advertised in advance and was a surefire way to boost attendance. Accordingly, the Chicken charged a hefty fee.

Lesser attractions were a glass-eater, a Frisbee-catching dog and a hip-hop dance group that dressed in the home team's locker room and stole everything that wasn't locked away after their performance.

Several teams also sported mascots, but the mascot of the Bay State Bombardiers had a trick that was never surpassed.

At the time, the home court of the Bombardiers was the Memorial Auditorium in Worcester, Mass., and the mascot's outfit replicated the uniform of a World War II bomber pilot replete with leather jacket, leather hat with goggles and earflaps. Naturally, he was called The Bombardier, and his trick was to get a running start before diving forward, landing on his belly and then sliding along the floor with his arms outstretched in front of him. With a good run, he could slide for at least 75 feet.

During one particular game, the Bombardier had a faulty takeoff and hit the floor face first. As a result, the track of his long slide was marked by a thin trail of blood.

No matter how hard the ball boys mopped and scrubbed, the stain was indelible and lasted for the rest of the season. And despite the subsequent encouragement of the local fans, the Bombardier abandoned his dive-and-slide trick forever.

Since then, the Bombardiers (and the CBA) are long gone, and the Worcester Memorial Auditorium has been torn down.

I wonder if anybody thought to save a section of that blood-stained trail, honoring it as a testament to courage, carelessness and foolishness in the name of entertainment.

And I also wonder what The Bombardier is doing these days.