This and that from PHX
Posted January 11th, 2007 by Brian Windhorst
Phoenix — So I’m on my way to dinner on Wednesday night and I was listening to the Mike D’Antoni Show on a local radio station here. One guy called asked "If you were coaching against the Suns, how would you stop them?" The coach thought for a second and said "I don’t know if you can." I think he might be right, they’re pretty good. The Cavs have done a pretty good job of late in ignoring the other team and playing their way, but tonight will be the ultimate test. Win or lose, pay attention to whether the Cavs get seduced by the way the Suns play. It will be telling about their development and just how good there defense we’ve all been raving about is for real or not.
Other stuff:
–I know this road trip is brutal and supposedly the West is so dominant, but, sorry, it isn’t what it used to be. After the Suns game, four of the games are against teams under .500 and the only winning team, the Nuggets, are currently one game over and will be without Carmelo Anthony. It won’t be easy, the last four games are in five days, but if the Cavs are legit they should win a majority of those games. Again, we’ll see.
–Donyell Marshall isn’t really pleased his playing time has been cut, but right now Drew Gooden and Anderson Varejao are playing pretty well. So far, all those big men have kept their composure as the playing time has ebbed and flowed, this is the first time Marshall’s felt the rotation strain.
–It was interesting Mike Brown used David Wesley for the first time in weeks in Sacramento. It seems he trying to find ways to keep Wesley in it mentally. Recently you could tell he was struggling to stay focused, often just joking around before, during and after games.
–The trade market is heating up, but right now I see the Cavs staying on the sidelines for a bit. They like the chemistry of the team and they don’t really have an spare assets that are movable. That trade exception worth $2.1 million may be of most value but it may not reach maturity until the trading deadline. Certainly teams in the East will look to make moves to give them an edge among all the parity and perhaps that will add pressure to the Cavs.
–It was too bad Michael Redd messed up his knee when he threw down a meaningless dunk against the Cavs last week with a few seconds to go. It’s never good when you suffer such an injury in a meaningless moment (Ask Ted Ginn and Tony Allen). It’s the second guy who I’ve seen get hurt against the Cavs in such manner. The Kings’ Francisco Garcia sprained his ankle when he jumped up to get a ball that got stuck on the back of the rim during a game in Cleveland last year.
–Last week in Boston, some young guys who apparently work at TD Banknorth Garden ended up on the subway platform with me after the game. The had gotten into the Cavs locker room after the team had left and taken a pizza and several items including a sweaty headband and used socks. They thought they were LeBron’s, which they weren’t because he tossed his headband into the crowd after the game and he wore black socks that night and these guys were swinging white socks, but who am I to them they were Hank Egan’s. But I digress. Anyway, these guys were headed to New Hampshire and were desperate for a lighter, back in their car they had something they wanted to smoke, ahem. They were openly winning to trade the pizza for a lighter but only some middle-aged guys across the tracks had one. So, on the count of 3, they threw the pizza across and the guy tossed the lighter. Everybody had a hearty laugh, especially me. Those guys probably were going to wish they’d kept that pizza about an hour later if you know what I mean.
January 12th, 2007 at 4:08 am
I always wonder exactly what is meant when the Cavs front office lauds the team’s chemistry.
It’s great if everyone gets along, but the team does have a history of going through doldrums and listless periods when everyone stands around watching LeBron (I missed the Suns game but see he hoisted 9 threes).
It seems to me that the Cavs on-court chemistry is exactly what needs tweaking. A fiery point guard who’s taller than 5′6″ would be perfect.
January 12th, 2007 at 8:40 am
I agree with chemistry, to a point. But something needs to be done if they want to compete. Maybe I am just in “freak out mode” after the “game” last night, but to me, it looked very clear that Ferry needs to actually do his job. He made a lot of moves in 2005 and hasn’t really done anything since. What are they paying him to do?
January 12th, 2007 at 9:09 am
B-Dub, I love reading your blog and check it numerous times daily even though I know you don’t update it that frequently. Your insight into the day to day side of the CAVS and random events that you see covering them are just as good as the actual basketball coverage.
That said, the Suns are such a great team. I wonder if this is the year they can advance to the finals and contend for the title. It was disappointing to see that the game I eagerly anticipated for over a week wasn’t much of a game after all. The Cavs fell into the trap most teams do when they play the Suns- they just get a run going and before you know it, you look up at the scoreboard and you’re done. I envy the fact that they have two point guards, Nash and Barbosa, that I wouldn’t mind having play for the Cavs.
I love Nash, as most basketball fans do, and wrote an article about him and the possiblity of he and LeBron teaming up. Check it out at http://neonets.org/blog/joesnake/
January 12th, 2007 at 10:13 am
larry, i agree as well. LBJ played well last night but NO one else did. Z was terrible, as was hughes. but the most astounding thing to me last night was to watch a team, the suns, who know EXACTLY where their teammates were and, more importantly, how to create PASSING LANES AND ANGLES and when and where to move the ball. the difference between the two teams in that respect was jaw-dropping. the cavs, snow is particular, will make the intial pass to get into the offense and then, after perhaps another pass, the offense will stop or slow down as it appears that the players don’t know where to pass next. it was so striking in this game. the cavs don’t KNOW THE DAMNED offense! and snow is the one who frequently hesitates in his decision making. and please don’t get me started on snow pullin’ back on fast breaks or taking horrible angles on said fast breaks!!
brian, i know the media likes to tut tut us mere fans for not seeing all the great things snow does on the court but it is abunduntly clear that his NEGATIVES outweigh his POSITIVES at this juncture. he is a mediocre ball handler, a HORRIBLE FT shooter and terrible jump shooter, he misses lay-up after lay-up, turns the ball over late in close contests far too often. yes, sometimes his defense is quite good but it is frequently on SG’s or SF’s because he CANNOT guard PG’s! so, even his strength, defense, is only useful in certain situations!
the cavs must make a change or we are looking at another 2nd rd exit. that is dreadfully obvious at this point. i take no joy in admitting this…
January 12th, 2007 at 11:45 am
Snow gotta go. I cringe everytime he touches the ball. Pheonix could have beat them by 50 last night. Snow is a complete waste of money. I have never liked him. He plays a little defense but doesn’t do anything offensively. Brown needs to wake up too. He does not keep these players motivated. Every single big lead they have had this year they have lost it. Couple weeks ago they were up 23 points. I went in and took a shower, and came back and they were down 5. They make millions of dollars doing something they really enjoy. Lets put a little more effort into your game, boys. Snow .. 1-4, Hughes .. 3-13, Z .. 1-9 and a 52% free throw %. You can’t win games like that. ANOTHER HOPELESS CAUSE FOR NE OHIO.
January 12th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Please try and explain to me why we are one of the ONLY contending teams not mentioned in any rumors to upgrade our roster when players are rumored to be available. For example, the Mavs, the Heat,Pistons & Bucks have all been mentioned in rumored deals, whether they are just rumors or not, we continue to stand on the sidelines.
Also why have we not continued to pursue one of the Celtics Point Guards? West or Telfair would fit nicely. Maybe Sasha & the exception for one of these guys.
January 12th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
it drives me crazy watching this basketball team, and if the management do not get there act together leeebron will be leeegone in 4 years
January 12th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
what the heck is donyell mad at, he sucks any way all he do is shoot threes and he missed those, “danny ferry for three” sucks at the gm spot and it all started with the signing of larry instead of joe johnson, dan gilbert will u sell the team when lebron leave in fours years, or will you move them to another city?
January 12th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
oh yeah, one more thing, why in the heck did mike brown not play gibson and brown, more that was the perfect game for them to get out and do there thing, coach brown you suck and your glasses are ugly. you are one lucky sob to be coaching the best player in basketball without any head coaching exp. who the hell was whispering in dan gilbert ear when he selected brown anyway. if they do not make a good move by the deadline, then we could start planning for the indians big move to florida or arizona for spring trainging. players who must go now, z, larry SNOW, ira, donyell, damon, sorry sasha, you must go to, everytime u get into the game u look scare, i am tired of backing u, and is it me or is andy losing some of his game from last year, he looks like he has regress instead of getting better.
January 12th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
oh yeah, i forgot one more thing, is it me or do damon jones look like a little kid at the mall running around on the court, the guy is pathatic and danny is stupid for signing him, damn, this team sucks. oh yeah i am a fan, but they suck the need a pt guard and a shooter of the bench just like the browns need a oline.
January 12th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
I’m sorry, but you’re just exaggerating..
Of course, the offense needs to be improved, but the Cavs are playing very well defensively, and at least Damon Jones has stepped up and right now is extremely valuable as there’s no other player who can hit the threes consistently.
I agree with what you said about Eric Snow. Maybe, his defense isn’t that bad, but he’s just a black hole on the offensive end. It really hurts physically to see him being wide open but not able to hit an easy jumpshot…
So if we could get rid of him in a trade that maybe brought us a second rounder (or even better a first rounder, but I don’t see this happening)and a talent or just an expiring contract, it’d be the best for the team.
But the stuff about Jones, Z and Hughes needing to be traded or so is just crap - i’m sorry.
Who should you trade Z for? despite his bad start he still is one of the better centers in the league, old and has a big contract. who would trade for him without offering only crap?
Maybe hes overpayed but nonetheless you would not find a different- and better - solution for the center spot.
And the same for Hughes - you simply wouldn’t get anything Larry is worth. Everybody’d try to fool us. Of course, Redd oder Johnson would have been better choices, but done is done.
so, i just talked and talked and talked an wrote more than i ever wanted.
What i actually wanted to say is that the status of the team is not as bad as you could guess while reading your comments.
btw: if some of you guys understand a few words German, I’d be happy to welcome you on my German Cavs-Blog on http://www.baskteball-blogs.de/cavaliers
greetings from Germany, Toothbrush
January 12th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Any chance of the Cavs picking up Jalen Rose after the Suns buy out his contract?
January 13th, 2007 at 7:16 am
Brian,
I also hope for a winning record on this 7-game swing, and I also see it as a great opportunity to make some hay. (This usually doesn’t happen on Western Conference road swings.)
That said, I have a couple quibbles with you.
– The Western Conference is actually playing better against the East this year than it was last. It may change, but Western teams are winning almost 60% of their games as compared with 56% last year. There may be more parity this year in the Western Conference than in the past, but it’s playing as a stronger conference, not a weaker one.
– Every one of those four opponents next week will have more rest for their games than the Cavs. Typically, you expect to lose the second game in as many nights on the road when the other team has at least one full day’s rest. Typically, you expect to lose the third game in four nights and the fourth in five when the other (home) teams have at least one day’s more rest than you.
– You noted that those teams on this seven-game road trip are mostly .500 teams, but please note that only one of them is a below .500 team at home; collectively, they win 59% of their home games.
Put it all together and you have the Cavs playing seven road games against a conference that wins 60% of its games, playing seven teams who win almost 60% of their home games, and playing two sets of back-to-backs (4 in 5) against teams which will have anywhere from 1 to 3 games more rest than the Cavs (beginning with tonight’s game against LAC).
I want the Cavs to come away with a 4-3 record in these 7, but it’s still a tall order, even with these opponents.
January 13th, 2007 at 7:17 am
Have you all noticed how we can’t hold a lead. Like I said, I was watching a couple weeks ago and we were up 23 points. I went in, took a shower, came back out and we were down 5. We came back and won but why does every game we play have to come down to the wire? I think thats lack of motivation. And have you noticed how everytime Jones hits a 3 he runs down the court smiling and acting like he just won the NBA championship. BIG deal Jonesy, theres more to winning a game than you hitting a 3 pointer. Number 1 though is a point guard. You need some production out of your point. SNOW gives none. And dont get me started with the Browns. Thats never ending.
January 13th, 2007 at 9:43 am
good analysis, kevin and i agree with you; 4-3 would be a damn fine accomplishment on this trip.
btw, for you d.jones haters; he’s shooting 50% on 3’s in the last 6 games. he’s pulling his weight, so quit bitchin’, ok?
January 14th, 2007 at 1:58 am
wow, billy, tell us what you really think–you sound as if you have a rather negative disposition towards humanity, not just the cavs. i suggest getting back on your meds.
not living in cleveland and having to follow the team from afar and therefore lacking the insight that you all may have, i have a few questions that windhorst or others may be able to answer–
is it not possible to get some minutes for brown and gibson? i’m not naive, i understand the need to win, but i also know these guys have to be evaluated at some point(in games, not practice)so that you can decide what to do with them.
why all the negativity towards snow? he does his job, he fills his role–he is competent and from all accounts a great clubhouse prescence–dont be dreaming of steve nash or the reincarnation of mark price(although price in his prime on this team makes me almost orgasmic at the mere thought). for that matter, lets bring back brad daugherty in his prime to join price and lets see us win a championship. tough break we can’t bring all these guys back. so snow it is and snow you have–get over it, already.
whats the deal with marshall? talk about a dimunition of playing time. i agree the dude takes too many 3’s, many times at the wrong time, but if the man could fall out of love with that, he’s an excellent inside player and tenacious rebounder.
anyway, it’s a nice team—they may be missing a part or 2 to win it all, but real progress has been made in a short amount of time. being a cavs fan is heaven compared to being a browns fan, which is as miserably depressing as it can get.
January 14th, 2007 at 2:21 am
dude, snow got lucky tonight hit 16 pts, big freakin deal, he still suck, i stopped my meds last week and i refuse to go back on them, and i am a very posistive person, i am just a realist, it is what it is, simple as that. DAMON JONES SUCKS, he is not consistent with his threes, thats all he do is sit outside and shoot, never drives to the basket. this team need to get some one who could come off the bench and shoot out the lites, ala vinny johnson. sasah sucked last night, got a chance to start and he still play as if silas is still the coach, dude relax and go to the basket, stop settling for the out side shot. larry hughes is a waste. snow would be better suited for this team if he was the third or maybe the second person offf the bench. lets see what happens tue and wed, games that they should win, and by the way this defense crap is over rated.
January 14th, 2007 at 4:52 am
Injuries are one thing but when does it reach the point when Hughes’ toughness or desire comes into question. It seems like it’s been months since he turned his ankle and now he’s day to day?
Snow had a good game last night and Damon Jones has been okay lately, doing what he does, but the Cavs have got to have the least reliable backcourt in the league. When is Ferry going to ask about Steve Francis?
January 14th, 2007 at 9:00 am
For all the haters out there, the Suns have been running that offense for the past 3 years, so when executed properly, which they so often do, of course they know where each player is at any given time. They make the Harlem Globetrotters look like the Browns offense!
Sure we need improvement from the PG play, but we are getting stronger and stronger as the season goes along and to be 10 games over .500 with Lebron still getting his legs back from his Team USA excursion, I think we’re heading in the right direction, and CONTINUITY is the KEYWORD. While i don’t think Snow will be throwing up 5 alley-oops to Lebron and Gooden everynight, you can expect us to be more effecient/effective and not give up 100 points a night..
GO CAVS!
January 14th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
“What, exactly, is “Heading in the right direction?” It’s the same darn team as last year. The only saving grace is they play in the East. They’re the Lakers with a different great star and with a different second banana that always seems to get hurt. And the rest is nothing but guys that would look super…if they were in Charlotte.
A team now able to rent Chris Webber for a massive discount. Allen Iverson is dealt. Even little Earl Boykins could have helped. Mid-season acquisitions that happen every year. Instead, the Cavs are stuck paying years for unmovable white elephant parts.
Chemistry? Sorry, not sure what that actually means.
January 14th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
good job alan, could not have said it better, this wait and see attituted that danny has is going to cause them a 1st round knock out of the playoff, they need to make a move now. they need to pull the trigger on a big deal, even if wild thing is included in the deal.
January 15th, 2007 at 3:22 am
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cavs play disappointingly this week to finish their 7-game Western Conference road swing, and that will obviously change the perception of this season (should they fare poorly).
That said, I don’t quite understand the carping on this team when it: 1) has the best record in the EC; 2) is playing better than last year (and projecting to more wins); 3) is playing better against better teams; 4) is trending upwards (9 wins in the last 11 games); and 5) is doing all this with Lebron playing slightly worse than last year.
Critics have continually asked for improvement in this team, and they’ve gotten it every year in the Lebron Era.