Larry Sanders Grabs 25 Rebounds, Swats 4 Shots Across 2 Games

Cleveland Cavaliers center Larry Sanders had a pretty good weekend of basketball.

Cleveland Cavaliers center Larry Sanders, who is on assignment with the Canton Charge, grabbed a total of 25 rebounds and blocked a total of 4 shots across two games this weekend.

Against the Grand Rapids Drive, a game that the Canton Charge lost 94-83, Sanders recorded 10 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocked shots in 25 minutes of play.  This was the third game in a row that Sanders recorded three blocks.

He looked quick, active and engaged all night long. He also looked dominant. Besides having a solid stat line, it was obvious that he towered over most of the big men that were trying to double him and keep him off of the boards. His timing seemed to have come back in the last game, which is why him having three blocks against the Drive isn’t surprising.

His nine rebounds were the surprise as, before, it still looked like Sanders was still having trouble boxing out and getting contested rebounds. His length, at 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-7 wingspan, will always give him a chance to get those boards. However, if Sanders showed that he could establish himself in the paint enough to box out and get rebounds it would be evidence that Sanders had the requisite leg strength to get rebounds against the centers he would face at the NBA level.

Sanders got that right in his next contest, although the Charge lost the game 111-108.

Against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, who were without their top rebounder in Tyler Hansbrough (yes, Psycho-T), Sanders didn’t get in the game until the start of the second quarter as they were down 29-26.

Early on in the contest, Sanders showed his knack for verticality and ability to alter shots. Once he stopped the shot contest, he grabbed the rebound and found teammate Gerald Beverly under-the-rim on the other end. For a team that was trying to attack the paint with consistency in the first quarter, often drawing fellow center Eric Moreland out of the paint, the Mad Ants were suddenly fearful of going all the way to the rim.

Perhaps what was most impressive about Sanders was his ability to consistently run at a full sprint and not get winded.

However, what could be seen as just as impressive was Sanders’ high motor and his ability to battle ferociously inside in order to secure rebounds.

He finished the game with 16 rebounds in 18 minutes of play, grabbing 4 offensive rebounds for the second contest in a row. He also had a block and two assists.

The only negative of Sanders’ second game was his inefficiency, as he only made 2-10 field goals, often unable to convert the tip-in or short-arming a shot inside. His touch is still something that needs to be worked on, as in a call-up to the Cleveland Cavaliers many of Sanders’ shots would come as a diver in the pick-and-roll.

Nonetheless, this is a weekend that should have boosted the Cavs’ confidence about Sanders’ readiness to contribute. With only ten days left in the regular season, perhaps Sanders will see some regular season action with the Cavs as they look to rest center Tristan Thompson before the playoffs.

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What do you think of Larry Sanders’ performance this weekend? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA.