This is why you shouldn’t gamble
Posted May 17th, 2007 by Brian Windhorst
There was supposed to be a party at the Q tonight, instead it was a funeral. Although it is easy to say the Cavs laid an egg, the Nets were terrific. That’s why it was a blowout, the combination. In the second quarter it was a miracle the Cavs were within four points for most of the time the way the game was trending. I thought it would benefit them to get through the storm, in fact it was just the opposite, the dam broke in the third when the Nets got hotter and the Cavs got worse.
All of it is part of the larger issue, which is that the roster isn’t there yet and neither is the scheme and neither is the intensity. That sort of pesky stuff always seems to show up under pressure, eh?
Usual drill…
–The Nets didn’t play this game any differently than any other time in the series, they just executed at a much, much higher level than the Cavs. While not exactly the same in technique, both teams are using the same defensive principles. The idea is to double team the star and force the ball from his hands. Obviously with Jason Kidd the Nets ball movement will be better. But their spacing tonight compared to the Cavs was so contrasting it was funny. Genuine laughter. The Nets ran pick-and-rolls with Zydrunas Ilgauskas on Mikki Moore and because of the spacing and the quickness issues. You know what it reminded me of? I mean the way the Cavs were playing the picks was different, but it was just like the Greeks undressing the Americans with a high pick-and-roll in last year’s World Championships in Japan. Instead of Theodoros Papaloukas and Sofoklis Schortsanitis spinning Kirk Hinrich and Elton Brand dizzy, it was Kidd and Moore doing it to Eric Snow and Z. Mike Brown was just as slow to make adjustments as Coach K.
–The Cavs shot 33 percent on Wednesday and they’re shooting 40 percent in the series (all roads?). The Nets deserve credit for having a good game plan and working their tails off to get it done. If I were Mike Brown, I think I might bring out some tapes of the Wizards series when the ball movement was good when LeBron had the ball. Not sure where that went.
–Larry Hughes likes to shoot, he always has, he always will. He’s never been a good shooter, never has and never will. This is why he’s not a point guard. But he’s also not the guy you want taking up spot up jumpers on the back side in the best of times. That is not his game and he knows this, so he must stop being put in a position to take those shots. Against the Wizards, Sasha Pavlovic often set up on the backside and it ought to be him or Daniel Gibson over there. When he takes those shots, the Nets high-five each other, even when he makes them.
–I suspect that, based on the crowd reaction, there will be some of you who were angry at the officiating. I felt it was quite fair and balanced. The Cavs are not going to get calls going into the paint 1-on-3, no one ought to. The only moment that I thought was questionable was Bob Delaney calling the flagrant on Pavlovic’s foul on Moore. He was reaching for the ball. But the Nets should’ve gotten some calls in the fourth quarter they didn’t get.
–As for the fourth, I don’t care what the stats said, that the Nets scored six points and went 1-of-15 or whatever. The Cavs were so bad on offense, seriously there were some completely scatterbrained possessions in there, the Net did not have to score. Literally. The Nets scored six points in the quarter and were only outscored by seven. Do you realize they could’ve dribbled the ball out and taken a 24-second violation on every possessions and still won easily? That quarter meant nothing.
–Game 6 will be a bear for the Cavs. It seems pretty easy to determine how these games are going to go by now. The game will be decided by how well the Nets shoot. They move the ball to get open jumpers from guys not named Vince Carter. If those guys make them, the Cavs are in trouble. If not, they have a great chance to win. What will happen Friday when Kidd gets his open looks? Your guess is as good as mine.
–Even though it is 3:30 a.m. now, I could not stay up to watch the Jazz-Warriors series last night. A pity. Let me ask you this, do you suppose the NBA kept moving those Warriors games later and later was because they didn’t want any kids to be up to see how they play?
May 17th, 2007 at 1:40 am
Man, we laid a bigger egg, then coach browns head. we really sucked out there we were xxx. I can not stand it, my teammates suck, I was hyped up to be the next mj, but because of my lack of help on the team, I am more like a Scotty Pippen with out the mj. Please will somebody give me some help. This is the line up that I want, but can not seem to get coach brown to agree to. gibson, pt, sasha 2, me 3, gooden,4 and z or andy 5, boom, there it is, bring old machine gun larry off the bench, I feel with that line up we could shoot better, and more penetration with dg at the pt. Im getting sick and tired of this because every time we lose, I get the blame, and God knows it not my fault, Its the stagnant offense that Brown and his croonies try to run. Listen between you and me I am out of here in three years. and that is a Guareensheed!!!
May 17th, 2007 at 4:06 am
After watching this series, I am BORED to death. Did you guys see what happened in the 4th quarter of Game 5? Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeezus. Put in the ball man. That was the most horrible display of offense I have ever seen. *Slaps LBJ* Wake up man, are you still alive? Play some ball! Come on, helloo???? *Slaps VC* Come on man, punch some body! Where’s the intensity? This is a joke! Somebody kick somebody else’s ass! PUT THE DaMN BALL IN THE DAMN HOLE! Or I’ll be forced to watch Stern screw the Suns’ asses!
I like your blog commentary by the way, toodles
http://fullcourtnba.blogspot.com
May 17th, 2007 at 4:19 am
I heard on the radio that LeBrons girlfriend was taken out of the arena on a stretcher at halftime. Any truth to this rumor? If so, no wonder Lebron sucked, his mind was definitely elsewhere. I guess that explains his “I got a family to worry about” comments after the game.
May 17th, 2007 at 4:44 am
LeBron’s lady did receive some medical attention at half-time, though she appears to be fine. LeBron did say that had no effect, and I’d have to agree becuase he was invisible in the first half.
Anyone who says “Toodles” in a blog comment deserves to be *Slapped*.
I’ll tell you what. What disturbs me the most about this game wasn’t the fact that the Cavs lost. It is they showed absolutely no heart, no intensity, and no emotion while getting blown out in their own building. That makes LeBron 0-2 in clinch games at home. Sure, it probably means nothing, but I think the Cavs love the “Us against the world” feeling of playing on the road.
We had to know the Cavs would throw up a stinker at some point during the playoffs. The Cavaliers have four bad habits and all of them reared their ugly head last night - Come out flat, hoist way too many jumpers, lack of hustle, let a lessor team dictate play at home……
Let the hand-wringing begin!!
FTS
http://www.fearthesword.com
May 17th, 2007 at 5:09 am
Man, Larry Hughes is garbage. All season long teams have been giving him that outside shot and all season long he’s been bricking it. Stop already. What happened to all roads lead to 40%? The way he shot in the first three quarters, I figured he’d be on fire based on that logic.
Joe Tait made a comment that would have been hilarious if it weren’t so true… he guaranteed that if the Cavs got Mark Price out there in the second half, he’d find a way to put the ball in the basket and get some assists.
The current assembly of Cavs is horribly flawed. They’re not bad, probably even pretty good, but it’s impossible for them to be great. Why wasn’t Z out there in the fourth? Amazing how a few personnel decisions and free agent signings will bite us in the ass for years. I’m not going to be able to take Hughes bouncing the ball off the rim 15 times a game for many more seasons and I don’t think LeBron can either.
If LeBron doesn’t bring it, which he didn’t, no one will.
May 17th, 2007 at 5:33 am
The thing a lot of people including the media won’t recogonize is if the Cavs beat the Nets, its simply NOT a step up from last year. In a lot of ways, this team has regressed to the point where they are completely unwatchable. Not simply because of their inability to beat bad teams, but because when watching them it seems like they don’t give a S**t; Mike Brown included. Reggie Miller’s analysis the other night was dead on; the Hughes PG situation is like a cut with a bandaid that actually requires stitches. Does anyone on Earth think we will beat Detroit if we beat the Nets? There is no chance. Anyone who has watched the Det - Chi series should recognize that the 2 wins by Chi were not due to Detroits lack of defense as much as Chicago simple nailing every single jumper. The reality is that they will not be able to do this 4 games in a row. When Detroit beats Chicago either tonight or Saturday, Flip Saunders is immediately going to the tape of the Nets Cavs series and will drill Detroit to make someone other than Lebron beat them. Even if the series goes 7 games and Detroit ends up winning, this team will need a serious overhall that will be more or less impossible considering the lucritive and ludicrous contracts of Hughes and Gooden. Lets throw Donyell Marshall in there too. The guy is useless. Cant shoot, cant get a shot of the dribble, and he CONSTANTLY misses layups. Inexcusable. The next game I watch from this team will either be in the finals or next year. It seemed like the cavs fans where painfully quiet and pathetic last night, but when your team is doing much of the same, I cant blame them. Good riddance and lets go Indians (they actually have a winning record through May, maybe this is a sign they are for real this year)
May 17th, 2007 at 5:54 am
The Cavs are pure garbage. James is wasting his life staying in Cleveland. I hope and pray that he demands a trade from the Cavaliers. The only thing that is worse than the way this team is put together is the way it is managed and coached.
May 17th, 2007 at 6:43 am
Where is Alan Tucker? The Cavs absolutely sucked last night, and Alan is silent. I figured he would be on here bashing everyone from Dan Gilbert down to the towel boy (DJ).
Come on Alan, give us some of your stuff!!
May 17th, 2007 at 7:03 am
You are all a bunch of fair weather whiners.
Get up off your asses and cheer this team
on. They had a bad game last night. Life goes on. You should all move to Memphis
and get fat with Elvis. Shut up already
losers.
May 17th, 2007 at 7:12 am
One bad game and waaaa from the fans, I was at the game last night and if you want to have a winning team in town and make the playoffs and attract free agents to play with LBJ STOP BOOING. Bron says they have a right to boo us BUT deep down if he don’t get to atleast the finals here soon why stay in Cleveland, then oh goodie we have the browns and cavs that will suck and not even come close to a .500 record. We may not be winning championships at the Q yet but come on people 2 straight 50 win games and 2 straight 1st round victories, I agree Detroit is probably gonna wipe the floor with us but atleast were going to be there.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:07 am
“We may not be winning championships at the Q yet but come on people 2 straight 50 win games and 2 straight 1st round victories, I agree Detroit is probably gonna wipe the floor with us but atleast were going to be there.”
the typical cleveland attitude.
accepting failure.
the fans booed last night because it was appropriate. when the people in the seats display more basketball sense than the players things are very wrong. from lebron failing to recognize that the baseline was open while standing on the wing waiting for the triple team to larry hughes bricking shots all game. lebron should dip into his nike cash to pay everyone who forked over cash to watch that trash. mike brown should be given a blanket party and shipped back to the high school ranks. right now the best thing that could happen to the cavs is losing to the nets so the potato experiment can end and a credible coach can be found.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:24 am
While LeBron has incredible physical gifts, he is still learning on the leadership front.
At what point does someone on the team get in Hughes faces and scream at him to stop hoisting horrible jumpers?
Everyonce in a while I see a flash from LeBron that he might have that competitive fire to be a champion and not care if he is liked by everyone, but not often enough yet.
Seriously, is there anyone in the league that will take Larry Hughes? I’ll admit to thinking that was a good pickup at the time, as did a ton of people, but he helps to kill more possessions than anyone else on the team.
May 17th, 2007 at 9:05 am
“the typical cleveland attitude”
Well I’m 30 years old and the closest I have seen Cleveland win anything “fatso” blew it in game 7 against the Marlins. Be happy we are this far. Not defending Hughes as a great player but if he scores 20+ then LBJ won’t get triple teamed every damn play and he can score more, the baseline or the middle can’t be open when you have 3 people all over you.
May 17th, 2007 at 9:39 am
Will people ever stop blaming Mike Brown? Mike Brown didn’t sign Larry Hughes, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Damon Jones and Donyell Marshall to 30-year zillion-dollar cap-annihilating contracts through Iconic D-Day 2010. Nor did Mike Brown let Carlos Boozer walk away with absolutely nothing in return.
“MIKE BROWN HAS TO GO!” posts are just plain dumb. Mike Brown is just fine. He’s a convenient scapegoat. Would they be any farther than they are now if they had a different coach? Of course not.
I want to see a show of hands: Who here can’t smile when they see a shaved sweaty chocolate brown head, baggy stylish Rosie O’Donnell man-suits and goofy jutting gopher teeth? The man is Ebony Magazine’s worst nightmare. Who would you rather see coaching? Denzel Washington?
May 17th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Yes it is Mike Browns fault you dilweed. He should have put DJ in the game in the 4th qrtr to drain a couple 3’s and get us back in the game. They don’t call him the greatest shooter in the NBA for nothing!! Instead, DJ wastes away on the bench while Larry is chucking up shots that have about a 20% chance of going in.
May 17th, 2007 at 10:42 am
JoeHoops, who is this “they?” Is Damon Jones now referring to himself in the third person? Other than Damon Jones himself, who calls Damon Jones the greatest shooter in the NBA? I mean, other than you, JoeHoops.
Is Mike Brown now shooting Larry Hughes’ shots? Or is Larry Hughes, a grown adult with free will and freedom of choice, shooting them? I know Brown has teeth to chew through wood and a flapping tail thing to help him stay afloat when he builds a dam, but I didn’t realize he also has arms like that stretchy guy in the Fantastic Four.
Brown put in Gibson to shoot. For Damon Jones lovers, that coaching decision should more than appease all the blind kids at home watching on their braille TV sets.
Now that it’s on my mind, I’m curious: When Bruce Bowen kneed Steve Nash in the balls, what did your braille bump feel like?
May 17th, 2007 at 11:24 am
It has been mentioned many times on this blog, but it still seems very bizarre–how could Damon Jones fall so completely off the map? They were down by 20, and Brown couldn’t roll the dice and see if the scissor-kicking clown could nail a couple buckets?
I’m not really saying I’d like to see him in there, but what is going on and why haven’t any beat writers even taken an educated guess?
May 17th, 2007 at 11:30 am
This team is disgraceful. I don’t know what else to say. Hughes is abominable. I mean, I can understand having an off shooting night. But it’s the arrogance and stubbornness to just keep firing away that needs redressed. He’s not a good shooter. He never has been and, after being in the league 8 years, probably never will be. It wasn’t an off night. It was simply the culmination of a long history of horrid performances. What do you think we could fetch for him in a trade now? Maybe Eddie House straight up?
The offense is stagnant and repugnant. Anyone watch the suns/spurs game? Everyone seemed to have wide open looks with plenty of time on the shot clock. Why? Ball movement? Having a coherent game plan? I don’t know, but spending 10% of practice time on offense because the offense “will take care of itself” probably doesnt help the situation. You can’t fire Brown, not yet anyway. He’ll be gone soon enough, but the roster is a disaster. Just cut the following: Hughes, Marshall, Jones, Wesley. Cut them. Swallow their salaries like the Sixers did with Webber. Then trade Varejao. He’s soft, he flops, the hair is played out. He has no offense. He’s not tough. But a common perception among the less basketball literate is that he is “gritty” and provides “a presence on defense”. He doesn’t. He gets stomped on by the men of the NBA. And flopping for charges doesnt count as defensive presence. So beat it Andy.
And as for the King. I won’t eviscerate him today given that he is at home “taking care of his family”, but at some point it would be nice if an alleged superstar seized the reins and took over this series. I don’t get the feeling that Lebron won’t let us lose. I get the feeling that on Friday he’ll pass out of a double team to a wide open Eric Snow.
May 17th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
This team is just so disappointing and boring to watch. I’m not sure LeBron is the “superstar” everyone seems to think he is. He is not even a top ten player in the NBA. He has no jump shot and plays very mediocre defense. Jefferson really abused him resulting in Eric Snow playing so much last night. LeBron does not and can’t take over a game because of his lack of outside shooting. I know that he is only 22, but it has been 4 years since he’s been in the NBA and his shooting has regressed. Why not post up more? His supporting cast is awful. Nobody steps up and in addition, our defensive specialist of a coach cannot even help this team defend the pick and roll which has been a problem for years. This team would have already been eliminated in the western conference. Chicago or Detroit will easily defeat the Cavs if they make it to the next round. I know that it will never happen, but Ferry and Gilbert should take a good hard look at the future and decide if LeBron is “the guy”. If not, trade him to Memphis for Oden, Gasol, another shooter, and draft picks for the future, and rebuild. You need a center in this league to win championships. Look at Duncan, O’neal, etc. Kobe is the best player in this league, but is unsuccessful due to O’neal’s departure. If LeBron is the man, then revamp the entire roster around him. They need shooters.
May 17th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
If around the time of the All-Star break, Jones didn’t make a move on Brown’s wife, then he most definitely played grab-ass with Ferry’s wife. There’s no other explanation for him being bolted to a chair since the All-Star break, let alone not seeing a second of time in blowouts. It’s become readily apparent we aren’t going to read the real scoop here or in any of the local papers.
May 17th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Guess LBJ really “doesn’t” have a point to prove, after being left off NBA 1st Team. Deservedly so, I guess. Larry Hughes is the biggest thief in America everytime he cashes a paycheck. No one, repeat, no one would take him in a trade. He’s been a whiney, weak, fragile, ineffective bust since the minute we signed him. And what a bench of losers this regime has assembled. If Sasha had not been given a chance (finally!), can you imagine the non-production from the bench brigade??
And they charge what, $200+ I imagine, for a playoff ticket. I would’ve rioted, much less booed.
May 17th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Cal, you hit the nail right on the head, Lebron is not the player that everyone thought he would be,and neither am I. I keep shooting because I want so bad to be that scotty pippen that everyone wants me to be, but in order to be a scotty pippen, I need a Michael Jordan.
May 17th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Cal, you are absolutely right. The cavs made a huge mistake when the Drafted James and then immediately tried to get to the playoffs during his rookie year. Management made horrible decisions by trading for garbage players and keeping garbage players and over paying them. They should have built the team around what James does best. James has been in the league four seasons and still doesn’t have a point guard or a real shooting guard. And on top of that Gilbert and ferry are foolish enough to believe that some 2nd rate affirmative action hire can develope James as a player. Lebron was cursed when he was drafted by the cavaliers. They really believed the myth that all it takes is one good player surrounded by cast offs will lead to success. Yes, James should demand a trade at the end of the season and go to a team with a real coach,a real general maneger and real basketball players. I think Lebron’s lack luster play all season long can be attributed to a lack of belief and hope in the Cavaliers “system” Again, he should get out while he’s healthy and somewhat optimistic.
May 17th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Why is anyone mystified about Damon Jones failing to get into the game(s)? The guy can’t play defense. Sure, you could’ve brought him into last night’s game in the 4th quarter when the team was down 15, but he would end up giving up 2 points for every three pointer he made. So, unless Jones was going to make 15 straight treys, I seriously doubt he would’ve done anything to level out “the diff.”
Speaking of which, can the Cavaliers PLEASE remove that ridiculous novelty from the scoreboard? NOTE TO GILBERT: Cleveland’s basketball fans aren’t this stupid. We can perform simple math.
Then again, maybe The Diff is for Larry Hughes. He apparently has a problem with mathematics, to the point where he thinks 3 divided by 17 equals 90 percent.
Keep shooting, Larry.
May 17th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
And one more thing: Mikki “Deadeye” Moore got his 5th foul in the 2nd half. On the ensuing possession, LBJ had the ball at the 3 point line while Z posted up on Moore. Did LBJ throw him the ball so that Z could try to foul out Moore? No. He watched Z post up for a few seconds, then inexplicably threw the ball to a less capable teammate. What the HELL? Soon after, Ilgauskus was removed from the game.
This is just one more example of LBJ not having the killer instinct and Mike Brown getting outcoached.
May 17th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Ok, sorry to keep ranting, but the more I think about it, the more pissed I get.
Why don’t the Cavs ever run pick & rolls with Andy and Lebron at the top of the key anymore? They kicked Detroit’s ass with that in the playoffs. Is it because the opposition is running a zone? If so, why don’t the stupid Cavs run a zone when THEY’RE the ones getting burned by pick and roll plays?
And finally, has it ever occurred to Mike Brown to run a pick and roll with Lebron setting the pick? It would confuse the defense AND if you get James the ball in motion within 10 feet of the basket, he’s going to either dunk, get a foul, or both.
Dammit. I hate being the guy that just keeps angrily posting to a blog site.
Thanks, Cavs. You’ve ruined me.
Jerks.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Eric, you made some excellent comments in your post, and i could not agree with you more, accept one thing, I do not think Paul Silas was a 2nd rate affirmitive action, hire, I really thought they thought he was the man for the job, actually he should still be the coach, now Mike Brown on the other hand is a different story.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Everyone, my previous comments were not due to me being a fair weather fan. I was just trying to be realistic with what we are “witnessing.” Any intelligent basketball fan can see that until LeBron a)develops an outside shot, b)gets some shooters around him, and c)begins to plays defense, this team is just above average when compared to other eastern conference teams. Deep down Brian Windhorst knows that this is not a championship team. We have no inside presence except for Z who scores most of his points from the outside anyways. If he shoots another one of those stupid hook shots, we are guaranteed to lose. Larry Hughes is severely overrated and tends to shoot all too often. We need to make some serious moves this summer or LeBron may leave anyways. What’s wrong with exploring a trade with LeBron for the first pick and other players and picks? This game is won inside, and we need a big man such as Oden. Even Michael had Cartwright, but LeBron will never be as good as Michael was. Face it fans, LeBron has a long ways to go to be a complete player such as Kobe, Wade, Nowitzki, Duncan, Nash, baron Davis, etc. LeBron is just living on hype. He doesn’t have a smooth stroke at all, and that is something that isn’t easily developed at this stage of his career. Michael always had a smooth stroke and it just got better in clutch situations. I hope LeBron proves me wrong next year, but I’m afraid Cleveland fans are setting themselves up for a big letdown.
May 18th, 2007 at 3:06 am
Cal, what you just wrote about Lebron is what I have been saying along, He is nothing but hype, mind you he did live up to the hype coming out of Hi school, but he has not done anything since, his game as not gone to the next level. Granted, he would of been in his last year in college, so then next year I am looking for a complete player, NO MORE DAMN EXCUSES!!!!
May 18th, 2007 at 5:59 am
If I’m not mistaken, Lebron has surpassed Jordans stats when you look back to where Jordan was at 4 years into his career. And didn’t it take Jordan several years….AND a guy named Scottie Pippen, before he started winning championships?
You LeBron haters are expecting way too much of this guy. He cannot win a championship by himself….nobody can. Look at Jordan, Kobe, Shaq, Wade, etc…. they all had another superstar that helped them them a ring. Right now, Lebron DOES NOT HAVE THIS LUXURY. I was hoping Larry Hughes might be the guy, but it doesn’t look to be the case.
So, STFU!
May 18th, 2007 at 6:02 am
You people are complete idiots. LBJ is
probably pound for pound the best player
in the NBA. The only thing Nowitzki does
better than him is shoot outside and Nash
is obviously a better passer and outside
shooter. But LBJ is an excellent passer
rebounder and all around scorer. For Terry
Plutos hair sake he should be a senior in
college. Even Tucker wouldn’t trade him
straight up for Oden. And yes Alan their is
something else to the Damona story. Otherwise he would be shooting over these
zones. He is on what they call probation
for mussing wit da kitties. One meowed
very loud at his antics. Chalk one up for
the character section on the Cavs employment
applications. If Troit plays like they did
last night it don’t matter what we do this
weekend. Prince and those guards are unstoppable. They can easily beat any team
from the West in the finals. When Prince
posts up with that hook Bill Russell couldn’t block it. Wait till next year!
May 18th, 2007 at 6:26 am
I’ve never been a fan of Amaechi (and I have no idea why this journeyman bum of a player would write a book, or more importantly, who his fans are that would actually buy it), but I was just reading an article where he addressed one of LeBron’s stupidest quotes (to date):
Amaechi: The only person who has contacted me is Scott Brooks. Grant Hill said nice things to the media. Barkley, Wade and Shaq said nice things to the media. A lot of guys said dumb stuff to the media. But no current, active player has been in touch with me.
SI.com: One of those “dumb comments” may have been that you weren’t a good teammate because you weren’t honest with your teammates about your sexuality.
Amaechi: That’s LeBron James. That’s utter nonsense. It’s absolutely the spoutings of someone who has never traveled, who has never looked at the world beyond the bubble he lives in. It’s a classic double bind. He is the most powerful basketball player on the planet right now, and when he says stuff, [people listen], so what he’s saying is that, “If you don’t tell me, you’re lying, and I can’t trust you,” but where’s the other side? You know, “If you told me, I’d embrace you.” Where’s the Shaquille O’Neal side of the comment? “I would protect you, embrace you, and treat you as my teammate and my brother.” Where is that part? When he does that part, then he has a right to criticize. Until then, silence.
May 18th, 2007 at 6:27 am
Cal, I wasn’t talking about Paul Silas, I was talking about Mike Brown.
And I gotta disagree with on some points. Dwayne Wade is a complete player? You gotta be kidding. As much as I criticize James, he’s much more impressive than Wade. Wade ascendency is hype. As far as Dirk and Nash are concerned, Lebron’s first four seasons have been far more impressive than those two. If James had the type of players surrounding him that Dirk or Nash have, then the Cavaliers would have a ring. Hell if James had a point guard like Tony Parker the Cavs would be a major threat. And Michael Jordan did not always have a smooth or outside shot. James should get out now. He’ll never continue to develope as a player as long as he stays in Cleveland. The team ruined him by giving him bad coaching and talent. He’d be perfect for any team other than the Cavs.
May 18th, 2007 at 6:45 am
Why was Lebron’s quote stupid? Asking for honesty from people you spend major amounts of time with about divisive and sensitive social issues is stupid? Naw, I’ll tell you what is stupid. Stupid is believing that you have a right to “embraced”. No one has a right to be liked or loved. And simply because someone doesn’t want to promote or celebrate your life style does not make them ignorant and sheltered. Amaechi wants to be applauded for being gay, as if that’s an accomplishment of the highest order. Amaechi is simply an arrogant,desperate and delusional pig.
May 18th, 2007 at 7:02 am
Eric, in my opinion, Dwayne Wade is a much more polished player. Did you watch the playoffs last year? His outside shot was unstoppable. He gets to the hoop much more often and is much more effective in completing three point plays when fouled. He is more experienced though which may be a factor. Wade does have a better supporting cast, but he is a better ball handler and has a much better outside shot. Plus he did lead his team to a championship. If LeBron was that type of offensive threat, they would be much more of a threat to beat Detroit. Read the experts’ opinions. Dwayne Wade is just a better player at this point. Charles Barkley has repeatedly stated that Wade is better until LeBron develops a consistent outside shot. LeBron needs to work harder this offseason and get a better supporting cast. He can’t carry this team all the way. Dwayne Wade did it last year in the playoffs repeatedly. He also needs to get tougher and meaner. This team is so soft. LeBron’s stay in Cleveland could be ending soon after this contract is up. That said, GO CAVS!!
May 18th, 2007 at 7:46 am
Cal, I don’t care what that buffon Charles Barkely has said. If Wade shoots from outside better than James, then that didn’t happen until this year. Dwayne Wade can get to the hoop because he’s got Shaq on the floor with him. As well players who can shoot. Shaq may not be what he was 5 years ago, but he still demands attention. It’s whole lot easier charging recklessly to the hoop when you don’t have 2 or 3 people hanging on your back. The Whole Dwayne Wade carried his team on his back and yada yada yada is myth making by the media. Wade was drafted by a team that had better players. You do remember that Cleveland got the no 1 draft pick for a reason in 2003?
And it’s not James responsibility to get better teammates, that’s Danny ferry’s Job. Of course ferry can’t pull it off, so James shouldn’t wait for his contract to expire, he should demand a trade now. GO NETS!
May 18th, 2007 at 8:56 am
HERE IS THE BOTTOM LINE PEOPLE….
LEBRON JAMES CANNOT WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP WITH THE CAVALIERS WITHOUT ANOTHER STAR PLAYER!!!
If somebody can show me another team that has won a ring without atleast 2 great players, please post it here. I am sure it has happened, but it is definitely the exception to the rule.
Last year the Heat would not have won without Wade AND Shaq, and the Laker teams would not have won without Kobe AND Shaq. And the mighty Bulls teams would not have won without Jordan AND Pippen.
Of all the current teams left in the playoffs, the Cavs are the only team without atleast 2 really good players. Shit, even the Nets have 2 great players in Kidd and Carter.
Wake up white people.
May 18th, 2007 at 9:11 am
I’m not sure Wade is a better outside shooter–he just doesn’t shoot from that far out very often. He only hit about 27 percent in 3 pointers this past year. Either he has the natural mindset to drive first and take mid-range shots, or he’s been coached to play that way.
I wonder how many 3 pt. shots LeBron would take if he played for the Heat.
May 18th, 2007 at 9:51 am
It’s not going to happen, but this blog’s comments section is an unintentionally hilarious microcosm of why the Nets need to win the series. Fans with their heads up so far up their intestines, they can eat their polyps for lunch. One day the Cavaliers are the greatest pure team since the 1977 Trailblazers, the next day they’re worse than the bulldogs in the WNBA.
Who wants to bet that after they beat the Nets and go on the next round, these exact same people will be all atwitter again? Probably with the soundtrack of Queen’s “We Are the Champions” blaring in the background.
The fact that local sportswriters take the readers along for the ride doesn’t help, but you’d think some fans would have serious smarts and would be able to see through the BS. Who knows, maybe these people actually exist out there, but it’s simply because they don’t have the wide platform of fans like Windhorst, Pluto, et al., who evidently cut classes to lie in the sun on those days when their journalism professors lectured about objectivity.
At least George Thomas seems willing to occasionally write what’s been obvious to anybody with two semi-objective eyes. Maybe Bill Livingston could do the same if he can just find the time to get his two lips off of LeBron’s iconic behind.
With the Northeast Ohio media firmly behind Dan Gilbert and Danny Ferry, no wonder Gilbert is laughing all the way to the bank. P.T. Barnum had nothing on this guy.
May 18th, 2007 at 10:50 am
Hey, whatever happened to those Windhorst Podcasts? I kind of liked them. If nothing else, at least post a link to a replay of Reghi going on and on and on and on about Danny Ferry and how wonderful Larry Hughes is. I still remember that memorable line, “I can’t be more *effusive* about it.” Crisp audio and classic Reghi. What more can you ask from a Podcast? You could almost hear the starch coming off his shirt as he said it.
May 18th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
I can’t believe this but twice this week I find myself agreeing with Tucker. I too enjoyed those podcasts, not only from BW but the rest of the staff. Gave me something to listen on my iPod on the way home from work here in MN.
Hell hath frozen over, shoot my now!
May 18th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
OH, MY GOD, DID U SEE FERRY AND BROWN, HUGGING EACH OTHER AFTER THE GAME. WELL THAT IS IT, WE ARE STUCK WITH MIKE BROWN, AS THE COACH OF THE TEAM. Props to gibson for stepping up also marshall, bring it against the pistons and maybe we will have a chance, what the hell is wrong with sasha, he is so inconsitent.
May 18th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
The Cavs are on a roll!! They played great tonight. Definitely a championship ready team. Live is good as a Cavs fan! Bring on the Pistons…and then the Spurs!
HI ALAN!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 18th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
I would first like to start this comment with an apology to Donyell Marshall. I ripped him in my previous post above and I will in turn praise him for his absolutely clutch game tonight. Without his 3-ball tonight, Cavs loose, end of story. Donyell, in the off chance you read my post and it got you a little pissed, well, I will disavow my earlier comment. That being said, we still blew a 22 point lead which is, for a lack of a better term, pathetic. I have no idea what to fell about this team. We could get swept by detroit, we could beat them in 5. I simply have no clue anymore. LETS GO CAVS, F THE LASERS.
May 18th, 2007 at 8:10 pm
I would like to apologize for my pitiful play the last 2 games. I don’t know whats come over me. I mean, I really like to shoot and all, but it sucks when it doesn’t go in. I was happy with 5 pts tonight, but need to step it up if I wanna be like Pippen. I gotta decide if I wanna wear the head band…its not working lately. Oh well, gotta go practice my rapid fire 25 foot jumpers. Peace out.
May 18th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
Boy it was really good to get out there tonight and hear my name with the rest of the guys who held down the fort until the Icon was able to get back into the game. By the way do anyone knows a good proctologist because my ass is killing me, I have not sat on the bench this long since my days in Jr. High School. Any way I hope that the coach can see that I am now serious about playing and maybe I can get some playing time against the pistons. If you remember it was against the pistons a couple of years ago that I made a name for myself, which is why danny boy sign my to this Phat, stupid contract. well got to go, wish us look we are going to need it, chow.