2006–07 Cleveland Cavaliers season

NBA season

team = Cleveland Cavaliers
end_year = 2007
wins = 50
losses = 32
division = central
division_place = 2
conf_place = 2
coach = Mike Brown
arena = Quicken Loans Arena
playoffs = 12–8, Eastern Conference Champions

The 2006-07 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 37th season of NBA basketball in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers finished the season with a 50–32 record, a second place finish in the Central Division, and the champions of the Eastern Conference. LeBron James was the team's leading scorer and finished in 2nd place in league MVP voting.

Key Dates:

*On June 28, the 2006 NBA Draft took place in New York City, New York.
*In July, the free agency period began.
*On October 10, the Cavaliers' preseason began with a 93–109 loss to the Boston Celtics.
*On November 1, the Cavaliers' regular season began with a 97–94 win over the Washington Wizards.
*On March 27, the Cavaliers clinched a playoff berth.
*On June 2, the Cavaliers won their first ever Eastern Conference championship.
*On June 14, the Cavaliers' season ended in an NBA Finals loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

Offseason

Free agents

Trades

Player salaries

^*Qualified for playoffs

Game log

November

Record: 9–6; Home: 7–2; Road: 2–4

February

Record: 7–5; Home: 5–2; Road: 2–3

Player stats

"Note: GP= Games played; GS = Games started; MIN= Minutes; FG% = field goal %, FT% = free throw %, 3FG% = 3 point % STL= Steals; BLK = Blocks; AST = Assists; REB = Rebounds; PTS = Points"

Regular Season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Awards

*LeBron James was named the "Eastern Conference Player of the Week" for games played from November 13 through November 19.
*LeBron James was named the "Eastern Conference Player of the Week" for games played from March 5 through March 11.
*LeBron James was named the "Eastern Conference Player of the Month" for the month of March, the fifth time he has won the award.
*After the season, LeBron James was named to the All-NBA second team as a forward.

Records

*On November 25, Zydrunas Ilgauskas tied a franchise record for offensive rebounds in a half (10) and in a game (12) in the Cavs' 108–95 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
*On December 6, Zydrunas Ilgauskas became the all-time offensive rebound leader in Cavs history in a 95–91 win over the Toronto Raptors.
*In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron James set or tied franchise playoff records for: points in a game (48), points in overtime (9), field goals made and attempted in a game (18, 33) and field goals made in overtime (4).
*In Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Daniel Gibson set or tied franchise playoff records for: points in a quarter (19), points in a half (25), rookie points in a game (31) and three pointers in a half (5).
*With his 19th playoff win, coach Mike Brown set the franchise record for playoff victories.

Milestones

*On December 23, LeBron James became the youngest player in NBA history to score 7,000 career points (21 years, 359 days).
*In the 2006-07 season, the Cavaliers swept all four California teams for the first time in team history (Golden State, Sacramento, LA Lakers, LA Clippers)
*On March 14, LeBron James became the youngest player in NBA history to score 8,000 career points (22 years, 74 days).
*On April 6, LeBron James became the 2nd faster player to record 8,000 points, 2,000 rebounds and 2,000 assists in a career. LeBron did it in 311 games while it took Oscar Robertson 269 games and Michael Jordan 339.
*On April 14, the Cavaliers played the 3,000th game in franchise history

All-Star

*LeBron James led all players in votes received and was voted in as a starter for the 2007 NBA All-Star Game. His 2,516,049 votes were the second most in NBA history. He became the first player in team history to lead the league in votes.
*LeBron James led the Eastern Conference All-Stars with 28 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in the 132–153 loss.
*Damon Jones participated in the Three Point Contest and finished in 5th place.
*LeBron James participated in the Skills Challenge and finished in 3rd place.

Transactions

Trades

The Cavaliers did not make a trade during the 2006-07 NBA season.

Free Agents

The Cavaliers did not sign any free agents during the 2006-07 NBA season.

Development League

*On March 2, Shannon Brown was assigned to the NBDL's Albuquerque Thunderbirds.
*On March 3, Shannon Brown was recalled from the Thunderbirds.
*On March 23, Dwayne Jones was assigned to the Thunderbirds.
*On March 27, Dwayne Jones was recalled from the Thunderbirds.

Playoffs

First Round

(2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (7) Washington Wizardsbasketballbox
bg = #eee
date = April 22
report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070422/WASCLE/recap.html 1]
team1 = Washington Wizards
score1 = 82
score2 = 97"'
team2 = "'Cleveland Cavaliers
place = Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland
TV = TNTbasketballbox
bg = #fff
date = April 25
report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070425/WASCLE/recap.html 2]
team1 = Washington Wizards
score1 = 102
score2 = 109"'
team2 = "'Cleveland Cavaliers
place = Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland
TV = NBA TVbasketballbox
bg = #eee
date = April 28
report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070428/CLEWAS/recap.html 3]
team1 = "'Cleveland Cavaliers
score1 = 98"'
score2 = 92
team2 = Washington Wizards
place = Verizon Center, Washington
TV = TNTbasketballbox
bg = #fff
date = April 30
report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070430/CLEWAS/recap.html 4]
team1 = "'Cleveland Cavaliers
score1 = 97"'
score2 = 90
team2 = Washington Wizards
place = Verizon Center, Washington
series = Cleveland wins series, 4–0
TV = NBA TV

A rematch of the previous year's first round series was spoiled when Wizards star Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler were both forced out of the playoffs due to injuries received in the later parts of the regular season. Without Arenas and Butler, the Wizards found themselves unable to stop LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers from sweeping them out of the playoffs. It was Cleveland's first playoff sweep in franchise history.

Eastern Semifinals

(2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (6) New Jersey Netsbasketballbox
bg =#fff
date = May 6
report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070506/NJNCLE/recap.html 1]
team1 = New Jersey Nets
score1 = 77
score2 = 81
team2 = Cleveland Cavaliers
place = Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland
TV = ABCbasketballbox
bg =#eee
date = May 8
report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070508/NJNCLE/recap.html 2]
team1 = New Jersey Nets
score1 = 92
score2 = 102
team2 = Cleveland Cavaliers
place = Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland
TV = TNTbasketballbox
bg =#fff
date = May 12
report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070512/CLENJN/recap.html 3]
team1 = Cleveland Cavaliers
score1 = 85
score2 = 96
team2 = New Jersey Nets
place = Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford
TV = ESPNbasketballbox
bg =#eee
date = May 14
report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070514/CLENJN/recap.html 4]
team1 = Cleveland Cavaliers
score1 = 87
score2 = 85
team2 = New Jersey Nets
place = Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford
TV = TNTbasketballbox
bg =#fff
date = May 16
report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070516/CLENJN/recap.html 5]
team1 = New Jersey Nets
score1 = 83
score2 = 72
team2 = Cleveland Cavaliers
place = Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland
TV = TNTbasketballbox
bg =#eee
date = May 18
report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070518/CLENJN/recap.html 6]
team1 = Cleveland Cavaliers
score1 = 88
score2 = 72
team2 = New Jersey Nets
place = Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford
series = Cleveland wins series, 4–2
TV = ESPN

The Cavaliers advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1992, while the Nets have lost in the Conference Semifinals in three out of the last four years.

New Jersey Nets point guard Jason Kidd averaged a triple double the entire playoffs, scoring 14.6 points, grabbing 10.9 rebounds and dishing out 10.9 assists per game.

Eastern Finals

Conference Finals: (1) Detroit Pistons vs. (2) Cleveland Cavaliersbasketballbox
bg =#fff
date = May 21
report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070521/CLEDET/recap.html 1]
team1 = Cleveland Cavaliers
score1 = 76
score2 = 79
team2 = Detroit Pistons
place = The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills
TV = TNTbasketballbox
bg =#eee
date = May 24
report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070524/CLEDET/recap.html 2]
team1 = Cleveland Cavaliers
score1 = 76
score2 = 79
team2 = Detroit Pistons
place = The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills
TV = TNTbasketballbox
bg =#fff
date = May 27
report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070527/DETCLE/recap.html 3]
team1 = Detroit Pistons
score1 = 82
score2 = 88"'
team2 = "'Cleveland Cavaliers
place = Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland
TV = TNTbasketballbox
bg =#eee
date = May 29
report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070529/DETCLE/recap.html 4]
team1 = Detroit Pistons
score1 = 87
score2 = 91"'
team2 = "'Cleveland Cavaliers
place = Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland
series =
TV = TNTbasketballbox
bg =#fff
date = May 31
report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070531/CLEDET/recap.html 5]
team1 = Cleveland Cavaliers
score1 = 109
score2 = 107 (2OT)
team2 = Detroit Pistons
place = The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills
TV = TNTbasketballbox
bg =#eee
date = June 2
report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070602/DETCLE/recap.html 6]
team1 = Detroit Pistons
score1 = 82
score2 = 98
team2 = Cleveland Cavaliers
place = Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland
series = Cleveland wins series, 4–2
TV = TNT

In a rematch of last year's thrilling second-round series, the Pistons and the Cavaliers matched up in perhaps one of the closest contested series in NBA history, with the first five games being decided by 6 points or less. The spotlight of the series fell on Cleveland's LeBron James. Despite gaining some momentum in the opening games of the series against the experienced Pistons, key last-second decisions by James led to Cleveland losses in Games 1 and 2 in Detroit, by identical scores where Cleveland led for most of the two games. They faced a 0–2 deficit for the second straight year but would easily remember from the year before they could win three straight games to get back into the series.

With media circles on his back for his complacency in these games (James had a playoff career low 10 points in Game 1), LeBron came back to will the Cavs to close victories in Games 3 and 4 in Cleveland, evening the series at 2. The series shifted back to Detroit for a Game 5 that proved to be one of the most memorable postseason games in recent NBA history. In a match that went into double overtime, the Cavaliers stunned the Pistons on their home court, thanks to LeBron James' playoff career-high 48 point performance. James scored the Cavaliers' final 25 points of the game, including all 18 points in overtime making it two straight two-point wins at the Palace in Game 5.

This time around the heavily favored Cavaliers took advantage of their home court in 2007 and exploded in Game 6 to close out the Pistons once and for all, and to clinch the franchise's first trip to the NBA Finals. Rookie Daniel Gibson scored his career high 31 points including five three pointers to lift the Cavs in the second half behind a roaring home crowd.

NBA Finals

Game 1

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers entered the 2007 Finals as newcomers. Game 1 was the first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history, and the first for each of its players (other than reserve point guard Eric Snow). However, the San Antonio Spurs had been to the Finals in three of the past eight seasons, winning a championship each time. With solid performances by Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili, the Spurs won the series opener in convincing fashion, limiting LeBron James to 14 points on 4–16 shooting.basketballbox
bg =#eee
date = June 7
time = 9:00 p.m. ET
report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070607/CLESAS/recap.html 1]
team1 = Cleveland Cavaliers
score1 = 76
score2 = 85
team2 = San Antonio Spurs
Q1 = 15–20 | Q2 = 20–20 | Q3 = 14–24 | Q4 = 27–21
points1 = Gibson 16, James 14
points2 = Parker 27, Duncan 24
rebounds1 = James 7, Ilgauskas 6
rebounds2 = Duncan 13, Ginobili 8
assist1 = James, Gibson 4 each
assist2 = Tony Parker 7
otherstat1 = TOs: LeBron James 6 | otherstat2 = Blks: Tim Duncan 5
place = AT&T Center, San Antonio
attendance = 18,797
referee = Ken Mauer, Mike Callahan, Steve Javie
TV = ABC, ABCHD, TSN, Canal 7, Canal+, ESPN Brasil

Game 2

The Spurs took a stranglehold on momentum in Game 2. The Spurs big three overwhelmed the Cavs and the Spurs led by as many as 29 points in the third quarter. They absolutely dominated game during first 3 quarters and played show-time basketball. A furious 25–6 rally by Cleveland in the final quarter wasn't enough as the Spurs took a 2–0 lead in the series.

basketballbox
bg =#eee
date = June 10
time = 9:00 p.m. ET
report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070610/CLESAS/recap.html 2]
team1 = Cleveland Cavaliers
score1 = 92
score2 = 103
team2 = San Antonio Spurs
Q1 = 17–28 | Q2 = 16–30 | Q3 = 29–31 | Q4 = 30–14
points1 = LeBron James 25 | points2 = Tony Parker 30
rebounds1 = Anderson Varejao 10 | rebounds2 = Duncan, Horry 9 each
assist1 = LeBron James 6 | assist2 = Tim Duncan 8
otherstat1 = TOs: LeBron James 6 | otherstat2 = Blks: Robert Horry 5
place = AT&T Center, San Antonio
attendance = 18,797
referee = Dick Bavetta , Jim Clark , Joe Derosa
TV = ABC, ABCHD, TSN, Canal 7, Canal+, ESPN Brasil

Game 3

Rookie Daniel Gibson started Game 3 in place of the injured Larry Hughes but scored a series-low 2 points on 1–10 shooting. As a team the Cavs shot only .367 but out-rebounded the Spurs 48–41. Zydrunas Ilgauskas had a 2006-07 season high 18 rebounds. On the game's final play, LeBron James missed a potential game-tying 29 foot 3-pointer (which he contested as a foul on Bruce Bowen).

Game 3 was the lowest-scoring Finals game since 1955, with Tim Duncan of the Spurs having his lowest scoring game in his NBA Finals career, with 14 points.basketballbox
bg =#eee
date = June 12
time = 9:00 p.m. ET
report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070612/SASCLE/recap.html 3]
team1 = San Antonio Spurs
score1 = 75
team2 = Cleveland Cavaliers
score2 = 72
Q1 = 16–18 | Q2 = 24–20 | Q3 = 15–12 | Q4 = 20–22
points1 = Tony Parker 17 | points2 = LeBron James 25
rebounds1 = Duncan, Bowen 9 each | rebounds2 = Ilgauskas 18, Gooden 12
assist1 = Manu Ginobili 5 | assist2 = LeBron James 7
otherstat1 = Stls: Michael Finley 4 | otherstat2 = TOs: LeBron James 5
place = Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland
attendance = 20,562
referee = Bernie Fryer, Bob Delaney, Dan Crawford
TV = ABC, ABCHD, TSN, Canal 7, Canal+, ESPN Brasil

Game 4

San Antonio started out strong through the first three quarters, leading by as many as 11. Cleveland would stage a rally near the end of the third quarter and the first five minutes of the fourth, scoring 14 consecutive points to take its first second-half lead of the series. However, the Spurs would stage a 12–3 rally of their own to retake the lead and win the series in a 4–0 sweep.basketballbox
bg =#eee
date = June 14
time = 9:00 p.m. ET
report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070614/SASCLE/recap.html 4]
team1 = San Antonio Spurs
score1 = 83
score2 = 82
team2 = Cleveland Cavaliers
Q1 = 19–20 | Q2 = 20–14 | Q3 = 21–18 | Q4 = 22–27
points1 = Manu Ginobili 27 | points2 = LeBron James 24
rebounds1 = Tim Duncan 15 | rebounds2 = Ilgauskas 13, Gooden 11
assist1 = Manu Ginobili 5 | assist2 = LeBron James 10
otherstat1 = TOs: Tim Duncan 6 | otherstat2 = TOs: LeBron James 6
place = Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland
attendance = 20,562
referee = Bennett Salvatore, Joe Forte, Eddie F. Rush
series = San Antonio wins series 4–0
TV = ABC, ABCHD, TSN, Canal 7, Canal+, ESPN Brasil, Sport 1

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWVMdIrRCX4 2006-07 Cavaliers Tribute]

References

* [http://www.databasebasketball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?yr=2006&tm=CLE&lg=N Cleveland Cavaliers on Database Basketball]
* [http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/2007.html Cleveland Cavaliers on Basketball Reference]
* [http://www.nba.com/media/cavaliers/200708_200607_season.pdf 2006-07 Season Media Guide]