Oops, they did it again
Posted December 12th, 2006 by Brian Windhorst
Oklahoma City — Here we go again. Seems like I keep writing the same story in different towns on different days. Last night the Cavs get beat by the Hornets here. Mike Brown says it is because of bad defense. LeBron James says it is because he smartly passed the ball and his teammates didn’t make jumpers "they usually make" and they’ll get ‘em next time.
I say the Cavs lost not because of defense but because of bad offense, Mike. And LeBron, you’re great, but saying jumpers didn’t fall in the fourth quarter is a cop out. You’re a superstar, find a way to get to the basket. I’ve seen you do it so many times before, I know its in you. If those guys are going to keep saying that stuff and remain about a .500 team (that’s right, 6-6 in the last 12), then I’m going to keep writing it.
So the Hornets had a hot night. Jannero Pargo, Hilton Armstrong and Marc Jackson were out there making jumpers. That happens. Other than the fact that Chris Paul had his way going to the basket — and that is no surprise, he’s a quick, skilled guard and the Cavs simply can’t defend guys like that right now — I thought the Cavs were OK on defense last night. Hearing me say that might give Brown palpitations, but I’m serious. If the Marc Jacksons and Jannero Pargos of the world want to take on long jumpers, many of them contested, then so be it.
But for LeBron James not to score in the fourth quarter, for him to get one free throw all night (and that was on a bad call), for Larry Hughes to be chucking 3-pointers in crunch time, that simply won’t do gentlemen. It didn’t get it done in Charlotte, in Toronto, in Indy, in Houston, at home to New York. Need I go on? I fear I will soon when describing another similar loss.
The only thing I am seeing offensively that I like right now is the production from Anderson Varejao and Daniel Gibson, who is shaping up to be a crafty steal.
December 12th, 2006 at 8:28 am
bri, how can you point out that LBJ’s lone FT attempt was on a “bad call” and NOT mention him getting knocked on his ass by chandler and NOT getting a call then? can’t have it both ways, my friend. and that was a big play in the 4th qtr, as well…
i agree whole-heartedly with your analysis of the D. if marc jackson makes 18-footers all night, well, thems the breaks…
i disagree with your take on the O, however. i think LBJ is right, the cavs had PLENTY of WIDE-open looks and didn’t make ‘em. the hornets did. sometimes basketball truly does come down to who makes shots. LBJ set up his teamates; they didn’t make shots.
i’ve got news for everybody, this is what LBJ is gonna do for most of the season because he recognizes early on, unlike MJ or kobe, that he needs to get his teamates to step up now, cuz they’ll need to step up come playoff time. he saw that yes, he can take over and win playoff games but to win playoff SERIES’ (see detroit) he needs teamates to step up.
i defy anyone to tell me this team is not, right now, a much better TEAM than last year. snow is marginally better, andy is better, jones is better and gibson is better than murray, really. even Z is better recently than he was at the end of last year! only marshall is not better.
LBJ knows that they can beat any team in the east in the playoffs, so right now, as i said before, rightly or wrongly, he’s gonna “rest” and try to involve his teamates a LOT more at least until the all-star break. i guess we’ll see if his strategy is a good one but i’m ok with it.
December 12th, 2006 at 7:53 pm
Thank goodness someone knows what’s wrong with the Cavs because they are obviously failing to admit it! I don’t buy all the convenient excuses tossed around by everyone. For me it’s obvious LBJ isn’t quite himself this season. At times he seems bored, distant and dare I say bigger than the game. This attitude rubs off on the whole team and results in a flat performance that all too frequently ends with another loss. Lebron - I love you but you could really use a lesson in “showing up every night” from Anderson Varajeo - the only Cav that actually DOES.
December 13th, 2006 at 5:13 am
It’s obvious that the Cavs don’t have the talent to coast by even the worst or most injury-depleted teams. They’ve got LeBron and a bunch of average guys.
Because the Cavs lack many gifted offensive players, I’ve got to agree with Coach Brown that they’ve got to go full bore defensively, every night, to win.
You can argue that nobody expects Marc Jackson, Hilton Armstrong, or Jannero Pargo to make jump shots, but most NBA teams do have players, big and small, who make jump shots regularly.
December 13th, 2006 at 5:33 am
Brian.. any insight on what Lebron’s problem is this year? Is he tired? Is their some personal issues distracting him? Is he saving himself? Is their problems between him and Mike Brown? Why does he completely lack the killer instinct that the Wade’s, Bryant’s, and Lue’s (ha) possess? Is it just me or should this team realistically have the best record in the league right now based on their schedule thus far? Please advise.
December 14th, 2006 at 10:24 am
Avid reader, but not much of a poster, so bear with me.
I think everyone is worrying a bit too much. LBJ was gassed in the playoffs last year, then played again this offseason, so I just think he’s pacing himself. And, as many of you have written, he’s getting others involved to see what they can do.
I do think they’re better than last year’s team, as kj posted, but it’s also clear they don’t have the talent to win 60-65 games unless LBJ busts it every night. But if he did that, others wouldn’t improve and he be gassed when it mattered most.
I’m happy to see Andy improve, excited about Gibson and how good me might be by May, thrilled about the rejuvenated Damon Jones. Gooden has been good, too, and if Z and Yell come around by spring when LBJ kicks it into gear, I like the Cavs being in position to win a title.
More important than a top seed is being in position to win a title, which they’ll only be if others improve and LBJ is rested. I say get others involved, keep Hughes healthy, let LBJ take nights off here and there and just do enough to secure a top four seed, then let it rip come playoff time.
December 14th, 2006 at 1:11 pm
JMB,
obviously, since you agree with me on so many fronts, i think your assertions are correct as well BUT what i will say is, that despite what brian, espn, the national media, me, you and a boy named sue think, LBJ, IMHO, is gonna do the “get others involved; save myself for the playoffs” thing ANYWAY. ya see what i mean? now, as i’ve said before, we can argue with it but he’s gonna do it. and the final grade will only be handed out when the playoffs are done.
i know this kinda sucks for us who follow the team closely, including people who get paid to do so like brian. but it is what it is, right?
December 14th, 2006 at 7:50 pm
No doubt about it. He tried it last year and nearly killed himself doing it. I bet he sat watching the Finals thinking: If only I had had more gas left in the tank … and he’s probably right about that. As you say, we’ll find out in June.
Not to be the Farside guy whistling in Hell, but the upside is that we really are seeing improvement from some key guys, like Andy and Gibson. It’s the only way they’re gonna win a title as long as they’ve got Z’s anchor around their neck (sorry, Brian, he’s just not the right fit for LBJ or the style this team needs to play to win).
Now if only Gibson, and/or Shannon Brown, can improve enough that Coach is willing to sit Snow, the Cavs might get somewhere.
BTW, Brian, great article on how Gibson became a Cav, fabulous insider stuff.
December 19th, 2006 at 7:21 am
This has nothing to do with this post, but I think this guy is right on the money. http://cavaliers.mostvaluablenetwork.com/columns/snowed-in/
December 19th, 2006 at 12:09 pm
Actually, that column was WAY off-target with respect to his off-hand comment regarding Snow, Hughes and past All-Defensive teams. In fact, the statement was pretty damn clueless, with no basis in fact. The schmoe should have done himself a little more research as to past votes, because the dope could not have been more wrong.
With that said, of course he’s right, Snow now brings little. But it’s not like there’s presently another viable option at the point, so I really don’t know what his point is. No pun intended. Good point guards don’t just grow on trees. But maybe Ferry, in his infinite wisdom when he’s not otherwise dropping an anvil on the salary cap to sign average players, will eventually give one of the laid off ABJ sportswriters a tryout. Can Stephanie Storm penetrate?