Need to end a losing streak? Contact the Cavaliers.
Cleveland and J.J. Hickson (Wheeler High) were involved in the end of two notorious skids in the past week.
He was a major contributor in helping end Cleveland's NBA record 26-game losing streak. Hickson scored 27 points on 12-for-19 shooting, snagged 14 rebounds and blocked four shots in a 126-119 overtime victory against the Clippers on Friday.
"He's gotten so much better, plays so much harder on both ends of the floor, takes responsibility when he messes up. He doesn't point fingers," Cavs coach Byron Scott told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "To me that shows a sign of maturity. He's gotten better; we're getting healthier; we've been playing a little bit better as of late. I think there's a little bit of a correlation between all those factors."
Brown's revenge
Kwame Brown (Glynn Academy) made a triumphal return to Los Angeles in the past week. He scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds in a 109-89 victory Monday against the Lakers, one of Brown's former teams.
"It was fun seeing the guys," Brown said to the Los Angeles Times. "It was extra fun" winning the game, he said by such a large margin.
He snared six offensive rebounds and shot 4-for-8 from the field against the Lakers.
"I just closed my eyes and threw up some shots," Brown said, laughing. "I made some, too."
The Sixers trio
Point guard Jodie Meeks, out of Norcross High, averaged 11.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in the four games. He scored 16 points in the win at Minnesota. Meeks was named the starter at the point by coach Doug Collins on Dec. 3.
Guard Louis Williams (South Gwinnett High) averaged 15 points in four games, including 23 on 9-for-15 shooting in the loss to the Magic on Feb. 9. In his past three games, however, he shot 31 percent from the field, but he handed out five assists in the victory against the Timberwolves.
Sixers forward Thaddeus Young (Georgia Tech) averaged 13 points and five rebounds this past week. He scored 23 points to go with three rebounds and two assists in a 102-91 loss to the Grizzlies on Tuesday. On Saturday, he scored 18 points in a 107-87 victory at Minnesota.
The week in review
Clippers forward Al-Farouq Aminu (Norcross High) averaged two points, three rebounds and 16 minutes in four games in the past week.
Pistons guard Will Bynum (Georgia Tech) averaged 11.5 points and 5.8 assists in four games (3-1) this past week, shooting 46.8 percent from the field. He scored 17 with seven assists in a 103-94 victory against the Cavaliers on Feb. 9.
Nets forward Derrick Favors (Georgia Tech) averaged 4.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in four games (2-2). In a 105-95 loss to the Knicks on Friday, Favors scored nine and pulled down 14 rebounds. Favors will compete in the All-Star Rookie Challenge on Friday night.
The Hornets' Jarrett Jack (Georgia Tech) averaged 11.5 points in four games. Unfortunately, three were losses. Jack has played in 346 consecutive games through Tuesday, the second longest active streak in the NBA to the Lakers' Derek Fisher (466).
The Nets' Anthony Morrow (Georgia Tech) averaged 8.8 points and 3.8 rebounds for the week, with 17 points, four rebounds and three assists in a 103-101 victory against the Hornets on Feb. 9.
Suns reserve center Garret Siler (Augusta State) scored four points and had one rebound in a 112-88 win over the Warriors on Feb 10.
The Wizards' Al Thornton (Perry High) has been out since dislocating the middle finger on his right hand Feb. 7. He missed Sunday's 115-100 victory over the Cavaliers on a coach's decision.
The Superstars
The Heat's Chris Bosh (Georgia Tech) averaged 16.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in four games (3-1) in the past week.
Center Dwight Howard (Southwest Atlanta Christian) and the Magic hit a speed bump in the past week, losing two of three games. In a 99-95 win at Philly on Feb. 9, Howard posted 30 points, and 17 rebounds, shooting 8-for-13 from field and 14-for-19 from line. Orlando lost to New Orleans 99-93 on Friday (Howard had 20 points and 17 rebounds), and lost 89-75 to the Lakers on Sunday, with Howard posting 31 and 13.
From the D-League
A couple of guards out of Georgia Tech have been reunited with the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League. Mario West averages 13.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists for the Maine Red Claws. Lewis Clinch has averaged 8.3 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists for Maine Red Claws and the Austin Toros this season. Here's hoping they have acquired suitable clothing.
Injured list
Suns rookie forward Gani Lawal (Georgia Tech) is out for the season after he tore ligaments in his right knee.
