Wine and Gold Scribbles: Jackson gives thoughts on Cleveland, Sessions rumors as well

With the Los Angeles Lakers in town, this used to be one of the marquee games in the NBA season. This year, it is the defending World Champions versus the worst team in the NBA. A lot has changed on the Cavaliers side and for the Lakers it is the second meeting against a team they beat by 55 points a month ago. Lakers head coach Phil Jackson notices a big difference without LeBron James in the building anymore.

Different Feel In Cleveland:

Cleveland – With the Los Angeles Lakers in town, this used to be one of the marquee games in the NBA season. This year, it is the defending World Champions versus the worst team in the NBA.

Getty ImagesByron Scott will have his number retired at Arizona State.

A lot has changed on the Cavaliers side and for the Lakers it is the second meeting against a team they beat by 55 points a month ago. Lakers head coach Phil Jackson notices a big difference without LeBron James in the building anymore.

"What seven years he was here so that is a noticeable amount of time," Jackson said. "It is a period of time that this town really feasted on his ability. They were witnesses and they had the big sign against the building.

"They witnessed him leaving and now it is a hole. It's unfortunate for the town and the team."

Things have gotten so bad that Jackson has some sympathy for them, especially the 26-game losing streak the Cavaliers just snapped.

"You never want to see a team go through that kind of period in time," Jackson said. "You don't want anyone else suffer the loss but it is demoralizing for a team and demoralizing for a group of players that are trying to put together the best face and for a coaching staff.

"Byron has been a good coach in this league and you suffer all the pains of self doubt when that happens and you don't like to see that."

Scott Gets Number Retired:

Cavaliers head coach Byron Scott will spend the all-star break a little different than most as he will have his jersey retired at his alma mater—Arizona State. He already is in the PAC-10 Hall of Honor and now is #11 will hang in the rafters at Arizona State.

"It is an unbelievable honor to be going back to your alma mater and having your jersey retired," Scott said. "So I guess every time I go to Arizona (State) and walk in the building and see my number up there and remember I was here and I did pretty good.

"It is a great honor and as I told them on the radio that I am very humbled by it."

Scott went 43-11 in his three seasons there and ended his career there as the school's all-time leading scorer. That has changed a bit as he now ranks sixth on that list.

More Trade Talk:

The trading deadline is fast approaching in the NBA and now the rumors are swirling especially with two Cavaliers—Antawn Jamison and Ramon Sessions. According to various sources these two names have been bandied about in various NBA circles.

The New Orleans Hornets are said to be very interest in Jamison but do not want to pay the amount that is still owed on his contract for this year and next. With the Hornets now being owned by the NBA, some stories have said that they will not be able to add salary, but a couple of reliable sources have said that is not necessarily true.

It is believed that Hornets GM Dell Demps would love to have Jamison and plus this gives them a bit of insurance for next season should David West opt out and leave via free agency.

Another rumor that was first reported by CBSsports.com NBA writer Ken Berger was that the Hawks were very interested in acquiring Ramon Sessions. Sessions would immediately replace Jeff Teague as the backup to Mike Bibby but the question is what do the Cavaliers get in return.

Several sources have said that a second round pick is what the Hawks are offering but the Cavaliers will not bite on that. One player that has been talked about is Jordan Crawford, the rookie out of Xavier that made his claim by dunking on James at a summer camp a couple years ago.

It is also believed that the Cavaliers are very aggressively shopping their trade exception as well.

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/dsn/index.ssf/2011/02/wine_and_gold_scribbles_jackson_calls_cleveland_a_hole_sessions_rumors_as_well.html

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