Spreading cheer
Posted January 28th, 2007 by Brian Windhorst
I know plenty of you are all fired about how terrible you think the Cavs are and are ready to rip them after their 1-3 week. As you know, as your certified realist I am not opposed to spreading doom and gloom. That said, I’m here to tell you that you should be optimistic. I’ve actually liked a lot of things I’ve seen from the Cavs over the last few games and I think it bodes OK for the near future. Once LeBron is healthy again. My bet is he’s going to miss at least one more game with this toe injury. If Sunday wasn’t a national TV game, he would’ve sat and considering he re-injured the toe, and he should’ve.
Before you read these, please realize the Cavs are 8-7 for the month. If they handle their business against the Warriors on Tuesday, and that’s not a guarantee of course, they’ll finish it 9-7. This was their hardest month and they went 6-4 on the road. Which is solid. Of course, being 2-3 at home sucks. No, it’s isn’t great, but this isn’t a great team.
Three things to like
1. The past two games the Cavs have played excellent offense. Against Philadelphia it was because they didn’t have LeBron to watch dribble and actually had the move the ball and execute. Against Phoenix it was because they had to. But for the most part they really moved the ball well from side to side and worked to get open shots. They penetrated, drove and kicked and worked the ball in and out of the post. They even posted LeBron a few times. They’ve scored 100 points in back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 13 and Dec. 15. Folk, that’s progress.
2. The re-emergence of Daniel Gibson. He’s played more minutes than Eric Snow in the last two games. I still believe Snow is a cog on the team, but a combination of Mike Brown’s unwillingness to play the rookie and Boobie’s periods of productionless play (and while many of were demanding he get more time he was playing plenty of these types of games) had limited his time over the last month. Perhaps now Brown will ride him a bit more. I’m not saying he’s the answer, but right now he’s not a bad option.
3. Good play from Drew Gooden. Of course the Cavs played coy, but the guy had a sprained wrist that slowed him down for a week and it showed in his production. I know he disappears at times, but he’s actually had an excellent month and the lackluster games against Denver, Golden State, and Orlando are now a little bit explained to me. He told me today sprained his wrist against Denver.
Three things to hate
1. The Cavs defense over the last three weeks. Remember when they were a good defensive team? Well, they aren’t right now. The Suns are great, but they were the fourth straight team to shoot more than 50 percent against the Cavs and it’s happened in five of the last six games. Not acceptable. It comes down to laziness quite often. They are not rotating well or defending the paint as well. Also, they been turning the ball over a lot lately, which has led to easy shots.
2. Forgetting about Z again. I know he doesn’t exactly fit against the Suns, but he’s had some huge games against them in the past. OK, Amare Stoudemire abused him early, but he can outplay Stoudemire, too. Sunday was the third time in four games he’s scored less than 10 points on less than 10 shots.
3. David Wesley’s jump shot. I know the guy is playing hard or whatever, but he’s here to make shots. They reason he got benched was because he couldn’t make them and in these last three games he’s gotten time, he’s a woeful 3-of-12.
January 28th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
My question is where the hell was Sasha today VS the Suns? Instead Mike Brown plays Wastely who is basically an older version of Eric Snow who is a shooter that can’t shoot. I just don’t understand what Brown is doing, starting him one game, playing him 28 minutes another then benching him for no apparent reason today. What more can the kid do?
Last 5 games.
Gsw: 28 Mins 5-9 13 points
Orl: 8 Mins 0-1 0 points
Phi: 19 Mins 6-8 12 points
Phi: 27 Mins 3-7 6 points
Pho: DNP
When he get in there it seems he produces but when he gets benched for god knows what reason in favor of Wastely it makes me want to choke Mike Brown through my TV
Sorry Brian didn’t mean to hijack your comments with my Sasha question.
January 28th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
Five days ago you finally called attention to Ilgauskas’ career as a black hole that can’t pass a basketball. Finally seeing the light. And yet here you are, once again, writing about how they forget about him. Flip-flopping like an epileptic fish.
If that ESPN thing doesn’t work out, a career in politics beckons.
January 28th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Good point about Sasha. Quick, athletic, good shooter; uh, i think i’ll bury him on the bench for games at a time if he misses a single shot, goes COACH brown’s reasoning, you would think. I think we’ve all seen enough of David Wesley this year. Let him grow a mohawk and rot on the bench, as far as Im concerned. But take it easy on Z. He draws a double team. Occasionally, he’s automatic on the low block. Not too many teams have such a luxury at the 5. Remember the Bad Boy Pistons and James Edwards? They’d toss it to him 5 or 6 possessions in the first quarter almost every game. It set a certain tone and opened up the outside for Thomas/Dumars/microwave when crunch time arrived. Z doesnt have to average 20-10, but he does actually need to touch the ball every once in a while if you want to send a message. Of course, such common sense elludes our boy wonder head coach. Get rid of him. Now. Fired. Please.
January 28th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
This team is in serious need of more players. They need a point guard and a shooter because clearly Snow and Jones can’t get the offense moving and Larry Hughes was never the answer to begin with. Remember the Cavs tried to get Redd, Ray Allen and Joe Johnson before Hughes. LeBron might as well be a one man show out there. And what is with Mike Brown? Ilgauskas sits almost the entire game and Varejao is nowehere to be found. Why not put out the unit of Jones, Pavlovic, James, Marshall, and Varejao, you know the same rotation that helps them win 73.3 percent of their games? Something has to be done please get more talent or go with the rotation that works!
January 28th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
Jay, I don’t think your quite got the grasp on the stats 82games is providing.
That rotation you mentioned beats the opponents rotation 73% of the time. It has nothing to do with wins or losses. The fact is that rotation has played less then two games together the entire year.
January 29th, 2007 at 3:14 am
When you’ve got a few Plutos that revolve around the James sun, a term like “rotation” is diminished. Like the vast majority of statistics, in the real world, it is fairly meaningless. Makes for interesting conversation, but then again, so does Borat. But I wouldn’t want Borat playing point guard or center for the Cavs.
Although, now that I stop and think about it…
January 29th, 2007 at 6:45 am
And once again, as soon as someone can tell me which mythical players we are supposed to get to fill the holes, let me know. Please, bring up Ray Allen and Michael Redd and Joe Johnson, three players that weren’t coming to Cleveland no matter how much money the Cavs through at them. Tell me how many dominating big men have changed teams.
Explain to me how the same Andre Miller who was making Daniel Gibson look “great” was supposed to stay in front of Steve Nash yesterday. Explain to me how you’re supposed to win when the other team shoots 57%, heaving up tough shot after junk shot. The Suns are rolling, the Cavs are sliding, and once Larry Hughes started missing wide-open jumpers, it was over.
And that’s the problem, more than anything. The Cavs aren’t getting consistent production from the offense. Guys aren’t sure where their shots are coming from, they’re not sure which opportunities they’re going to get, and so the offense is inconsistent. And that inconsistency is leading to hesitation, which just makes matters worse. All of the Cavs shooters passed up shots in the 4th quarter yesterday, because they didn’t want to miss yet another shot. Conversely, the Suns were tossing up anything and getting them to go through.
I still hold that the offense is still the biggest problem for this team, regardless of yesterday’s 100 point output. They need to do some intense work on it, soon. If the offense was starting to come together, you would see spurts where they were consistently getting good shots and scoring points, going on nice, extended 10 point runs. Yesterday’s runs came from the Cavs offensive rebounding superiority. So far the Cavs offense is still largely ineffective, and unless that changes soon, things will continue to slip.
Go Cavs,
Mike
PS: Back to the Hughes thing, remember that when they signed him, the Cavs were a weak defensive team, with Jeff McInnis basically acting like a screen door letting opponents into the lane. Hughes was supposed to address that issue too, much better than any of those other, more offensive-minded players. They thought he could handle the ball well enough to play a little point guard, but that thought is out the window. So we have to see Snow or Jones or Gibson on the floor all the time.
January 29th, 2007 at 6:57 am
Where was Anderson in the 2nd half On Sunday? Was it just me or did it look like Larry Hughes wasn’t shooting the ball at the max height of his jump? It seemed like he was releasing the ball on the way down instead of at the peak of his jump…
January 29th, 2007 at 7:09 am
jeebus, tucker’s back AND we get a lesson using JAMES DONALDSON as the example! things MUST be bad in cavs-land!
i am, by nature, an optimist but with a strong dose of realist thrown in and while i agree with brian that a 6-4 road record this month is REALLY quite good, the things i actually SEE on the court gives me more than a little pause.
read bill livingston today. he pretty much nails it on the head. hughes essentially commits mutiny against brown and his style. and LBJ is consistently contradicting brown in post-game comments the last 2 weeks. this, as they say, is a problem. brown’s rotation was a problem last year that has only gotten worse this year.
i chuckle when i read brian talk about gibson having periods of “productionless play!” ok, so how mnay of those periods has eric snow had?? yet we fans are told we really don’t see all the things he does on the court! and after sasha plays the best stretch of ball all year, he gets buried on the bench again.
i think marshall went to brown and complained about PT and that has thrown the rotation off somewhat as well. i dunno but there is a semi-mutiny brewing and brown has to know that if LBJ turns on him, it’s all over…
brian, love the straight talk on wesley but only wish you would apply that same standard on some other cavs!
January 29th, 2007 at 10:17 am
Let’s please not mention Bill Livingston, or any of the PD’s columnists for that matter. Big Bill just woke up to the Cavaliers, and now he’s a basketball genius. The whole Sports department of that paper has lost touch, ranting and raving without actually *covering* or *explaining* anything. It’s a joke newspaper, and anyone could have told you that what Hughes said after the game was just a stupid statement, and less an indictment against the Coach or the system.
Livingston should have known well enough not to take Hughes seriously, because Hughes is both a) frustrated and b) part of the problem offensively. When was the last time Larry beat anyone down the floor? How is changing the offense going to get him to the basket before the defense? This guy used to go to the hoop with reckless abandon; now he goes to the hoop knowing that he’s not going to find a hole in the defense. He had three offensive fouls yesterday, all because he tried to go through the defender instead of around. Where were you on that one Bill? Larry Hughes’ opinion about the offense has about as much weight as Eric Snow’s right now.
Brown is having some major difficulties, and implementing that offense was a big risk, because it demanded movement from players who aren’t very good at the catch and shoot. There has been the same lack of focus in developing the offense as there was in developing the defense last year.
But if the Cavs really want to get themselves in trouble, they should start listening to guys like Bill Livingston.
Go Cavs,
Mike C
January 29th, 2007 at 10:50 am
Everyone has covered this at least one time.
The Cavs targeted Redd, Allen & Johnson and struck-out. So they tag Hughes.
The question has been why.
I was calling for Cutino Mobley.
He’s a bit older and was cheaper plus a better all around player that would fit this team better. (He’s a career 43% shooter with a 39% from 3 & plays defense.)
Anyway, that’s water under the bridge now.
So what do they do now?
Need some team speed!
You need to create a 2nd threat, since Z can’t be an option.
Need to get the ball out of LeBron’s hands early on and put him in positions to create.
Need some team speed!
Need a shot blocker.
I’ll play Danny Ferry —
I want the AK-47 from Utah!
I’d give Hughes, Shannon Brown & $2.1 trade exception to Utah for AK-47 and Gordon Giricek.
Kirilenko can be a 2nd option and block shots, moving LeBron to SG.
Hughes can give Utah a SG they need plus we’ll take their unwanted in Giricek.
Also, Utah saves money in the long term.
Second; I’d call Phoenix and ask about Marcus Banks (He’s got $3.6M+++ til 2010). Will they take Newble’s contract which expiries in 07/08 or take a package of Pavlovic & Wesley.
Just a couple thoughts!
January 29th, 2007 at 11:29 am
mike, i love ya but let’s not act like livingston doesn’t know anything about basketball! he was a beat writer on the 70’s sixers, who had some damn fine teams. now, i’m not taking what he says as gospel either but it’s just as ridiculous to discount ALL he says!
larry is disgruntled with the O and so is LBJ, to a lesser extent. this is bad news for brown. he CANNOT win in that “fight.” this, coupled with what seems to be an inability of LBJ and hughes to mesh on the court makes for a LOT of instability on a team who’s fightin’ for a #1 seed…
oh, dave, we want NO PART of marcus banks, trust me. he’s fast but has no game. dontcha think if had even had a little game he would get SOME run with phoenix? but i would LOVE to get ak-47! he would be a great compliment to LBJ, IMHO…but can we get him? i doubt it…
January 29th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
here we go again. Lebron is playing point.
While Nash waves on the way by and dishes
to Amare who posterizes Z. When Bron and
Gooden cover the low block and allow Z to
clean up the mess they are effective. When
Wesley, Jones, and Bron/Hughes are trying
to guard Nash, Bell, and especially Barbosa
it is almost comical. Wide open 3 after wide
open 3. If they are going to play him at guard which again is stupid given his strength, leap, and weakside awareness they
might as well pay racehorse because they cant defend underneath or outside with him
out of position. And yes you folks are correct Sasha needs to play.
January 29th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Did anyone see Sam Smith’s column today? Here’s what he had to say about Lebron:
“It was interesting to watch the Suns beat the Cavs on Sunday for their 17th straight win. For those who think LeBron James should be in the top 10 in MVP voting, forget it until something changes in Cleveland.
It’s said that great players make their teammates better, and Nash is the prime example. Over the last two seasons, virtually all his teammates have had career years.
James is becoming the anti-Nash. The other top players in the Cavs’ rotation—Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Drew Gooden, Larry Hughes, Eric Snow and Donyell Marshall—all are averaging below their career scoring averages this season.
James is having some issues as a finisher too. He has shot 57 percent from the line in the last seven games, and the Cavs are last in the league in free-throw shooting.”
Is this a reflection on Lebron, or is it an indication that their offensive system is subpar?
I think it’s obvious that he’s fatigued. Last season, he was able to shift into another gear in the fourth quarter, and I haven’t seen it much this year. Only in the Orlando game at home in December have we seen that kind of performance from him. Granted, only a few players in the history of the league can will their team to a win like he has.
January 29th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
My main problem with Brown is his rotation. Going into the season the thing I liked most about the roster was its flexibility.
If they wanted to go small and quick against teams likst Washington, Phoenix, Dallas, etc. they could.
If they wanted to go big and slow the pace against San Antonio and Miami, they could.
However, yesterday was a prime example of Mike Browns biggest flaw. The starting 5 was struggling to start the game so Brown took out Snow and Z, while bringing in Jones/Gibson and Andy/Donyell. We were able to keep up with Phoenix for the rest of the first half.
Then to start the second half, he goes back to the original starting 5 and we start out slow again. Personally, I would have kept Snow and Z on the bench since having them there worked the first half.
I think Brown is to dead set on having the same line-up and rotation every game and does not seem to be willing to adjust and go against it. So what is Snow only plays 8 minutes and the Cavs win. So what is Gibson and Jones only play 12 minutes combined and the Cavs win. Brown cannot worry about pleasing everyone and work on winning the games. That will certainly help.
If Brown can use better use rotating the roster, this team can beat anyone.
January 29th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Hughes has been a flop but he’s right to be disgruntled with the Cavs style of play. Up until the last two games this team has been catering to Snow and Ilguaskus, negating the athleticism of its most promising players.
You can’t blame Mike Brown, though the whispering started last spring (”Brown’s learning” or has done “a good job for a first-year coach”). It was Ferry who brought in guys like Marshall, Jones and Wesley on the promise that they can wait around on the three point line, watching LeBron or waiting for a kick out from Z. Wesley even said so when he signed.
The result is an uneven roster, clogged with old guys who can’t get open and make a 15-foot jumper. Who wants to run a precise offense if it results in missed shots 65 percent of the time? And why listen to a coach when he’s always characterized as incompetent or inexperienced in regard to offense?
Unfortunately, but tellingly, the players who slow the team down are the untradeable ones. Ferry’s in a bind but my guess is he’ll find another “shooter” before the deadline, getting raves in the media for uncovering another 8 pt.-a-game nugget.
Then he’ll fire Brown this summer when the Cavs get upset in the first round. Maybe that’s just what happens when you hire the coach before the GM.
January 29th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
The die was cast on this team when they decided to re-up with Z … he’s an anchor dragging this team down in every facet — defensively, because he’s a total liability; offensively, because his game is the wrong fit for James and most definitely economically, in that his contract has kept them from signing the players they do need around James. Until he goes, they’re dead in water.
I know King James wanted to keep Z, but the kid was 19 at the time and in no position to play GM. Had the Cavs done the right thing, then used the cap room to sign a big man who could get up and down the floor and a point guard who could do likewise, we wouldn’t all be on here grousing.
Call me when Z is no longer wearing the maroon and gold (and Snow, btw, would follow him right out the door, because he can’t run an up-tempo offense, as we saw on Sunday).
Of course, by then, James may be gone, too, and all because of one — albeit incredibly bad — decision. What a sad day it will be when it dawns on this organization (and sadly, its fans) that they somehow managed to blow the James Era.
January 29th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Wow, amazing comments from Hughes and LBJ after the game. This team is two or three losses away from an all-out mutiny. How does Mike Brown defend himself against the following: 1. cluelessness on the offensive end 2. inconsistent on defense. 3. having his superstar take a step back in his fourth year? Their so called “defensive identity” is a fraud. They slow the pace and walk the ball up the court, thus limiting possessions. Keeping the score low doesn’t necessarily mean you’re playing solid defense; it just means you’re afraid to run and trade baskets. They don’t get key stops. Nobody steals the ball. Their defining defensive move is for varejao to slide over on the help and flop for a charge. It’s a joke. Get rid of Brown now. The NBDL has a few openings I hear.
January 29th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
I think Hughes is correct in his assesment.
The only way out of the East with this
group is to run. They really cant defend
on the perimeter or under the basket. They
will have to play the passing lanes like last year, tire teams out and go to the
basket. Gibson is a pleasant surprise
fearless, physical and quick. Time for lots
of on the job training. Z will have to run or sit. Same with Marshall. Snow and Wesley
to the garbage can. Need another quick guard
somebody doesnt want. Delonte West? Earl Boykins?