LeBron shocked by Shaq trade

From: www.zwire.com
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By Bob FInnan

INDEPENDENCE -- Like most observers, Cavaliers forward LeBron James was caught off guard by the Shaquille O'Neal trade to Phoenix.

"Unbelievable," he said. "Besides Phoenix and Miami, it caught everybody by surprise."

James said the stunning deal doesn't elevate Phoenix to the favorite in the Western Conference.

"The Lakers are the favorite in my eyes," he said.

He said making a move of that magnitude midstream is risky.

"Part of the risk is the chemistry thing," James said. "The reward is getting a player like Shaq, who has averaged 20 (points) and 12 (rebounds) in his career."

James said the Cavs don't necessarily have to make a deal. He said the Cavs can still get where they want to go with the team they have.

"As long as I'm healthy, it gives us a chance to win ball games," James said. "No matter whom I'm on the court with."

Cavs guard Damon Jones said he spoke to O'Neal by phone after Cleveland's game with Boston.

"All I could say is you're headed to a great situation," Jones said. "The initial shock to being traded again is probably wearing on him mentally."

Jones said the deal caught Shaq off guard.

"At the end of the day, being a Hall of Famer, a top 50 player, when things are going bad, you tend to wonder, 'Was I to blame?' " Jones said. "With the way things were going, they had to do something to shake it up."

Jones, a former teammate of O'Neal's in Miami, said he'll still draw a double team. That should open up many open shots for the Suns' perimeter players.

"People think he's done," Jones said. "But I've seen this guy do some things in adverse situations that a normal human being couldn't do." Boobie's in

Cavs guard Daniel "Boobie" Gibson is among a star-studded field in the Three-Point Shootout during All-Star weekend in New Orleans.

Other competitors are defending champ Jason Kapono of Toronto, Phoenix's Steve Nash, Detroit's Richard Hamilton, Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant and New Orleans' Peja Stojakovic.

"It's a good opportunity for me to go out and make a couple shots," Gibson said. "It will be nice to go out there and compete against the best shooters in the world."

Jones, who finished last in the 2007 competition, is serving as Gibson's 3-point shooting coach.

One tip he shared is that Gibson shouldn't jump as high as he normally does on each shot (he'll wear out by the end of the night).

"He (also shared) where to run around the rack and where to pick up the ball," Gibson said. "I want to win, but I'm going to enjoy myself. I'm going to have fun with it."

Gibson was involved in the McDonald's All-American game in Oklahoma City, Okla., after his senior year in high school.

"I would have won it, but the draw string on my pants broke," he said. "After every shot, I had to pull my pants up."

The Three-Point Shootout is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 16, in New Orleans.

Gooden iffy

Cavs power forward Drew Gooden had an MRI on Wednesday and was held out of practice. His right groin strain he suffered against Boston on Tuesday could keep him out of the Houston game at 8 tonight at the Toyota Center.

"We don't know (if he'll be able to play)," James said. "He didn't do any workouts today. If not, someone else has to stand up."

Coach Mike Brown wouldn't say who would start if Gooden couldn't play. One option could be to move Ira Newble to power forward and insert Devin Brown at shooting guard.

The Cavs have won 15 of their last 19 games. Players are dropping like flies, but they've been able to persevere.

"If I can stay healthy, along with Daniel, Larry (Hughes) and (Zydrunas Ilgauskas) - some of our key guys - we'll be fine," James said. "We know injuries happen, but we have three of our top seven players injured, which is not a good thing. Hopefully I can stay healthy, and we can give ourselves a chance to win. We're just competitors."