HOUSTON -- Thoughts following the Cavs' 95-85 loss to the Rockets: * If anyone just watched this one Cavs game, and plenty of people in Houston did including some that know a lot about basketball, you could come to the conclusion that Shaquille O'Neal's time is over. In truth, he looked terrible in this loss. It was the first time this season he looked this way. This on a day when he was playing against a 6-6 center in Chuck Hayes, a game where most thought he put the Cavs over the top. After shooting the ball pretty well in the preseason, Shaq has not been as effective as in the regular season. A prime issue is that he just doesn't get much lift on his shots. This is not a new problem, but Shaq has not compensated for it by adding loft to his hooks. He continues to shoot them they way he did five years ago, like a line drive. Like his free throws. But when your arm is more than 11 feet in the air, like it used to be, you have a better chance than when it is just over 10 feet in the air. The angle doesn't work as well. But beyond that, he's missing easy layups and he has been for several weeks now. When you ask Shaq about this he gives a standard answer, which is he is no longer a focus of the offense and he isn't looking to take 20 shots a night. That he wants to come in an be a complementary piece. That is what he's been saying since day one and it is also true. But that doesn't explain why his shooting percentage is down nearly 10 percent this season. Shaq has been very effective for the Cavs in certain ways. He has directly helped the Cavs defene the paint, score more points in the paint, free shooters and keep opponents honest. He has shown against some big centers what his value is. It is not fair to look at this game, the second night of a back-to-back, and make a proclaimation. I am sure that is what some will do. But it is fair to point out where he's struggling right now and this game showed it. * Teams are starting to figure something out about the Cavs, if you get physical with them defensively they are going to turn it over. A lot. This has happened in each of the last two nights. Neither Memphis or Houston are good defensive teams. But they forced the Cavs into a lot of turnovers by simply applying pressure, getting up into them like Mike Brown would say. The guy who seems to really be feeling this is LeBron, who has 15 turnovers in the last three games. He's forcing passes and trying things that aren't normal for him. * Mo Williams is officially in a slump. He's 21-of-59 over the last five games shooting and his defense has been suffering because of it. Though as I wrote before the game, Aaron Brooks is a tough cover. Also, Anthony Parker hasn't hit double figures in scoring for five of the last six games. His minutes are down a little because Delonte West is playing more. But he's not being as effective in getting open or shooting. Plus, J.J. Hickson is averaging just seven points in the last six games and Jamario Moon has scored exactly four points in the last four games (yes, he missed two to injury). The point: The Cavs are suddenly in a slump. Just like how they had 10 players doing well a week ago, now only Anderson Varejao has really brought his game every night recently. This is the NBA season, folks. * After the game, Yao Ming spent about 10 minutes talking with Zydrunas Ilgauskas in the Cavs locker room. Still on crutches, Yao is battling back from the same type of foot injury and foot reconstruction surgery Ilgauskas had that saved his career. They were in touch when Yao was deciding how to proceed last summer and Ilgauskas has been a bit of a support system for Yao because not too many people in the world can relate. Without a doubt, Ilgauskas is a massive success story because his feet have held together for the last nine years and he's ended up with a great career. That is the NBA, too. Two massive men, one from China and one from Lithuania, speaking English in a locker room in Houston about a radical surgery. Small world. http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2009/12/cleveland_cavaliers_at_houston.html --

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