Comments on: Weekend wrap

By: Tetris

Tetris — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 03:38:48 +0000

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By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 20:46:01 +0000

DK - very good point about his contract. He’ll be relatively cheap as long as he’s only scoring 7 a game.

Edit: I meant watch the sunS. Don’t even WATCH THE SUN lol.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 20:44:31 +0000

dpl - To follow up: I think that Varajeo’s improvement curve has been steadier than I had hoped. I think he improves team chemistry a lot by his hustle and I think drawing a charge generates a lot of instant momentum (something the Cavs have had trouble doing since LeBron stopped playing the passing lanes.) If you ever watch the Sun, you’ll notice that they NEVER and I mean NEVER allow an opposing team to gain momentum. Their style of game just STIFLES an opposing team’s momentum. You play your heart out to make a great shot and .2 seconds later Barbosa steaks to the other end for a layup or Bell hits a 3. And what hurts teams is not that points from that play, but just the crowd-hushing, momentum killing effect. The Cavs used to be able to generate tons of momentum with high flying dunks from LeBron. I’m starting to see that again with LeBron, Sasha, and S. Brown but for the majority of the season - Varajeo and Gibson’s 3s have been the major source of in-game momentum.

Varajeo needs to improve his scoring and defense. He’s developed a few nice moves, but he needs to finish. He plays too much below the rim for a guy his height. (Must be learning from Z). Also, he shows on the pick n roll better than any defender and is the only guy I trust running a pick n roll with LeBron.

As I said before - ultimately, it is his ability to win us possessions and his paint-clearing abilities when LeBron is on the floor that are the biggest factors. (and why he plays crunch time minutes even though he is inferior to Gooden on Offense)

By: DK

DK — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 20:33:20 +0000

Varejao is perfect for this team and he doesn’t even NEED to develop much more of an offensive game so long as the people who are supposed to score score. Look at Rodman on the bulls/pistons teams. He didn’t score, yet they were fine. The only reason there is any kind of emphasis from a fan view on Varejao scoring more is because guys like Hughes aren’t carrying their weight. (until recently) They scored 124 points last night WITHOUT LeBron and Andy had 7 points. You’re crazy to think Varejao isnt right for this team. He has won games on his energy alone this year.

Besides, if he turns into an offensive threat too we will never be able to sign him.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 20:07:34 +0000

Varejao does 2 things that I think we absolutely need. 1.) He gets offensive rebounds or “tip-outs” which is so necessary on a less than avg shooting team like the Cavs.

2.) He spreads the floor well for LeBron. LeBron is at his best when Varajeo is in. The amount of possessions he gives us back is amazing when you think of his charges+offensive rebounds+steals.

By: Geddy

Geddy — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 20:01:56 +0000

Tom, I believe you are absolutely correct about Sasha, and though statistics don’t imply correlation, there is nothing to back up the assumption that “anyone besides snow starting” is responsible for the Cavs’ current success. Also julius piltz, great post.

By: dpl

dpl — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 19:42:55 +0000

Tom - Right now I see Varajeo as a valuable roll player. I thought maybe he would be great trade bait (not for Bibby), but for the lack of inside presence on tthis team. I don’t see much offensive potential. Defensively, a one trick pony (taking charges) that I here the league might crack down on (flopping). Defenitely an asset, but a future starter for a championship team? I could be wrong though. Where do you see him in the future?

By: dpl

dpl — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 19:34:32 +0000

No way does a G.M. use just his eyes and gut feel to evaluate his teams performance. G.M.’s in all sports use statistics to measure a players value and performance. That’s just plain fact.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 19:32:28 +0000

They posted this stat last night on FoxSports. Cavs hold opposing Small Forwards to like 10-12 points a game. The lowest opp. SF ppg of any team. They credited it to LeBron but it’s really: Bron, Pavlovic, Hughes, Help Defense.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 19:29:29 +0000

lol tucker - I watch all the games, read all the analysis, and occasionally check stats. What is the difference between that and say, watching game tape and reading scouting reports? The “great teams” of past, present, and future (will)watch(ed) game tape and (will)read scouting reports. I only reproduced those stats because I think they paint as clear of a picture as any of what I am trying to say. If the point of basketball is to put the ball in the bucket more than the other guy and the Cavs do JUST THAT CONSISTANTLY when Pavs is in the backcourt…why not point that out? I don’t know what the guys at ESPN.com make but it’s probably more than I do. Watch the games, check the stats, analyze. Repeat.