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Is Varejao The Key To The Cavaliers Success?

Authored by Keith Berzanske - March 14, 2005 - 3:10 am

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Originally thought to be just a throw in when the Cavalers acquired Drew Gooden, Brazilian rookie Anderson Varejao has turned out to be much more. Varejao quickly became a fan favorite in Cleveland because of his kinetic style of play and unique hairstyle. But he's no gimmick - Varejao is a winner, and it's no coincidence that the Cavaliers breaking out of their slump coincided with Varejao returning from the injured list.

The Cavaliers struggled to a 7-11 record while Varejao was sidelined with a sprained ankle, and it wasn't all due to a tough schedule. Without Varejao, the Cavaliers had no energy off the bench. This was especially evident in the recent games against the Pacers and Timberwolves where the Cavaliers bench was ineffective and outscored by greater than a 5 to 1 margin. Often during the slump, the team would totally collapse in the second half of games. Several times they blew big leads, and it seemed like they were not able to summon up the will to make the big play when they needed it.

Varejao's energy affects the whole team. The second string is mroe active when he's on the court and the starters get invigorated watching him play and re-enter the game with renewed vigor. But it's not all style either. Varejao is a superb rebounder, and an excellent defender in general. He has a knack for being around the ball. Varejao is 7th in the NBA in rebounds per minute and 15th in steals per minute. Most impressive, Varejao leads the league in offensive rebounds per minute. It will be interesting to see how he produces as his role expands. He's the type who one day could league the league in rebounding.

Players like Varejao are the kind that you always find on winning teams. They're the ones that do the little things, the hustle plays that you may not see in the box score. They chase down loose balls, get tip ins, and take charges. Vareajo's return was just what the slumping Cavaliers needed. Even though he's not a starter and may not even play half the game, his impact should not be underestimated.