Chron Article about Boozer Cavaliers' Boozer has saved face Ex-Duke star draws second-season raves By MEGAN MANFULL It was only a year ago when Jason Richardson dribbled the ball off Carlos Boozer's face during the Rookie Challenge over All-Star Weekend. All Boozer could do was seethe. Richardson was the darling of the rookie game. Boozer was mocked. Times have changed, though. Richardson is still the acrobat, but Boozer, who had 16 points and 18 rebounds Wednesday night in a 90-84 loss to the Rockets, has gone from underappreciated to the buzz of the NBA. On a team where the attention is focused on LeBron James, Boozer is hardly going unnoticed. The second-round draft pick out of Duke is carving out his own niche on the Cavaliers and rising up the list of the NBA's best young players. Since Jan. 17, Boozer has averaged 19.2 points and 13.2 rebounds. He was named the NBA Player of the Week for Jan. 19-26, and he is in the mix for Most Improved Player this season. The attention and accolades are all a far cry from the past year and a half. Boozer had to wait for 34 picks to pass in the 2002 draft -- including his Duke teammate Jay Williams, who was drafted second overall -- before hearing his name called. He was then given no respect during his rookie campaign. The oversights motivated Boozer. "I wanted to go in the first round," he said. "I thought I was first-round-caliber talent. But I used it as motivation. It was one of those things; you can't sulk and cry about it. You go out there and work your tail off, and when you get a good opportunity, take advantage of it. Coach (John) Lucas gave me an opportunity to play. I started one game, I took that, and I haven't looked back since he gave me the opportunity." Last year, Boozer tried to remain optimistic even after the Cavaliers finished with the worst record in the NBA. He started 54 games as the team went on to a 17-65 record. Boozer averaged 10 points and 7.5 rebounds. "As a team, coming from Duke, I expected us to win a lot more games," Boozer said. "You really never know how tough the NBA is until you go out there and play against some of these guys, and you end up realizing that it's a lot tougher than you imagined when you were watching it on TV. "So it was tough in that regard. But I had to go out there and prove to everybody that I was capable of playing at the four position in this league. And I think I did a good job of that. And this year, I'm coming back just to show everybody that I'm going to be here a long time." Boozer becomes a free agent this summer and has definitely improved his stock. He credits his success with the addition of James as well as his own intense summer workout program. Boozer changed his shot, worked out in the weight room and spent hours on the court to improve his game. Teammate Zydrunas Ilgauskas spent the summer working out with Boozer and said he was not surprised by Boozer's improvement this season. He added that Boozer wasn't as appreciated as he should have been last year. "Part of it was he was a second-round draft pick, and we had a difficult season, finishing last in the league," Ilgauskas said. "So nobody really got any exposure. So this year with LeBron and the team playing better, he's having a great year, and everybody started to notice him. "We stayed together all summer, and I saw him every day on the basketball court and in the weight room. He has a great work ethic. The sky is the limit. With that work ethic and his physical tools that he has, he's going to be pretty good." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Someone said he is not a free agent, but it looks like he is...we should do everything in our power to get this guy in a Rockets uni...he and Yao on the frontline would be NAILS !! DD
i posted a Steve/Cato/Pike for Boozer/Z/Wagner proposal before the deadline. After seeing tonights game I really wish we had done it. Booz is a stud and he has a lot of respect for Yao.
Boozer has shown that he is legit and ready, just looked what he did for the Cavs tonight. He schooled Cato/MoT real bad, but don't worry about it, he's been doing it all season long. If the Rockets do have a chance to bid for Boozer, I hope they make a SERIOUS run for him. Would be a perfect compliment to Yao. Of course, he might be happy playing with the most popular player in the league, but $$$ changes everything.
Boozer in a Rockets uni is a dream. Cavs will lock him up long term after this year. We'd better stick with trying to get Rasheed and Darko with the TE and Cato as bate.
Definitely like his game, but I think he'll struggle guarding the 4's in the West on an almost nightly basis. But then again, who doesn't?
he looked to be same size as Mo Taylor when they played on the court tonight except with more muscle mass. Small compared to Garnett, Gasol and Duncan. Comparable to Stoudemire, Malone, Walker, Brand, Randolph.
I think I'd rather have KMart's athleticism and attitude. Right now, our team is missing that "meanness" that many championship teams possess.
James is on record saying he wants Boozer to be in a Cleveland uniform for his entire career. Seeing as how "King" James runs their $hit, cash money says he gets what he wants.
he's a great rebounder and can get it done on the offensive side of the ball as well, I for one would love to see him playing for us.
Yeah, those salaries are gonna match up. How do you feel about Steve Francis? Since so few of your 130 posts have been about him, I'm not sure we're all clear on that just yet.
I do not trust these guys who have outstanding seasons in a contract year. What if the Rockets (or any other team) give him big bucks, and he immediately pulls a Cato. I'm tired of getting burned. Raven
