Big Z's role change, the ball flap, weird sights & more

	Zydrunas Ilgauskas (right) is seeing fewer touches in the post as the Cavs emphasize a motion offense. AP

It could have been any random winter night in Cleveland and any random grocery store that Zydrunas Ilgauskas walked into last season. "You'd be there to get eggs and you'd be minding your own business," Ilgauskas recalled in a phone conversation Wednesday. "Some 80-year-old lady would come in and ask you about the game and then she'd give you some tips."

Things aren't any different in Cleveland now for the Cavs after a disappointing season for the Indians and another subpar campaign in the works for the Browns. But after surprising losses to the Bobcats and the Hawks following an impressive win in San Antonio, the Cavs would be wise to get Z a bit more time on the court and a little less time pondering his next shopping trip.

As the Cavaliers have grown from 17-win embarrassment to Finals contender, the 7-foot-3, 260-pound Lithuanian center has been given an increasingly smaller role. Cleveland -- like so many other teams -- has stressed speed over size, unless that size can facilitate an easier path to the hoop for LeBron James or Larry Hughes. "The big guys start up at the free-throw line," Ilgauskas said of the Cavs' current offense. "And then you set a screen and then you go down and set more screens. It's constant movement."

But when you're moving around with 10 (seven in the left; three in the right) screws holding your feet together (the result of five surgeries), quickly setting pick after pick isn't a fluid operation. Consequently, Ilgauskas is on pace to average a career-low 25 minutes a game this season.

"Last year, once the play was called, everybody knew who was going to shoot it or who was the first option on a play," Ilgauskas said. "But now there are a lot of reads, a lot of cuts, a lot of screens. So it's been an adjustment. You have to be patient and try to get better and try to find your looks when you can."

But are the Cavs focusing too much on what Z can't do instead of what he can? Centers with Ilgauskas' combination of skills aren't abundant in today's NBA. Most rebound, some block shots, but rare is the player who can do those things as well as score inside and out.

"There are a lot of guys who are tall but never really worked at it and put it all together," an Eastern Conference official said. "Z gets pretty much everything he can out of his physical skills. He's not the quickest guy in the world, but he does things the right way. And I love the fact that whenever a shot goes up, he is right there in front of the rim tipping that ball up into the basket."

Having endured six consecutive seasons of playoff-free basketball until last spring, Ilgauskas, 31, said he isn't concerned about a role change. "Obviously if we didn't have LeBron, we wouldn't be in the position where we are now, so I'd rather be a complementary player to LeBron or Larry than shoot 30 times and lose 60 games," he said. "I don't have a big ego. At this point in my career, I would like to win something and win something in this city."

With four years left on a $51 million, five-year deal, that window to win something is closing fast, considering Ilgauskas admits he will probably retire at the end of the deal. "I still think this team is best with me on the floor, whether it's helping on defense and blocking shots or getting offensive rebounds and scoring," the 10-year veteran said. "I still can help this team."

Cleveland fans of all ages should hope the Cavs agree.