Flying Under the Radar: Ira Newble

Ira Newble has always been regarded as a solid player amongst NBA insiders, but there is a good chance that if the 6’7, 220 lb. forward wasn’t playing for your favorite team that you would have no idea where he was or if he was still playing.

Well, Cleveland Cavaliers fans certainly know that the 33 year-old veteran is still going strong and if he continues his recent hot-streak, a lot more casual fans might start paying attention to him too.

Through his eight-year career, Newble has played a majority of his games with Cleveland, but since perennial All-Star LeBron James was drafted by the Cavs in 2003, Newble has consistently seen his playing time drop and has been reduced to a role a player at this point in his career. Since mid-December, James has proven his status as an elite NBA player, leading the Cavaliers to an outstanding 17-5 record, and for much of that time, Newble was forced to watch from the bench. From December 20th to the end of January, Newble logged just 104 minutes of playing time and most of that came in the final four games in the month.Due to injuries to forwards Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic, Newble was placed back in the rotation in late January and he is playing so well, he just might stay there. Since the begging of the month, Newble has been starting in place of a struggling Drew Gooden and is playing extremely well. In the four games he has started, Newble is nearly averaging 10 points, 4.5 rebounds and a steal, but his versatility is what’s helping Cleveland out the most.

"Ira plays everything but the point guard, but he even brought the ball up sometime. Ira doesn't have a position. He plays where ever coach puts him,” said James after a victory over the Hawks on Friday night, in which Newble scored a season high 18 points and grabbed eight boards.

Newble was once considered a “tweener”; a player who doesn’t fit one position. Now, Newble is using his versatility as an asset to help the Cavs and is doing everything that’s asked of him. While not known for his offense prowess, Newble is considered a very good defender who can matchup with players out on the wing or down low in the paint.

Heading into the season, the Cavaliers probably didn’t expect Newble to be a key contributor next to James, but his hustle, effort and ability to play four positions has landed him some significant playing time for a banged up Cleveland team that has been on a roll lately. On Monday, Orlando will host the Cavs, with most of their fanfare directed at superstar “Yankees fan” Lebron James, but if the Magic are going to find a home victory over a streaking Eastern Conference foe, they can’t sleep on Newble being that he can contribute to the Cavs in so many different ways.