Charting preseason progress
Posted October 12th, 2007 by bwindhorst
Sorry I have not been more active here over the last week, I am coming off a nasty illness that really zapped me. I will not give details for all of your sake.
I will be back over the weekend later following tonight’s game with the Sonics, but let me just go over a few things from the first two preseason games. You can also read about the Pistons game.
–I am withholding most commentary about the new offense — Mike Brown doesn’t call it a new offense but, really, it is — because it is too early to make conclusions. Mike got a lot of it from Ettore Messina, the CSKA Moscow coach that I wrote about for ESPN this week. I will go into more detail later, but for now, know that he is trying to get the players to drive the ball and move more. In short, he is trying to avoid “the stand around and watch LeBron” offense. That includes the Larry Hughes “wait for an open jumper” on the wing option, too. Understand, this relies on LeBron’s willingness to drive and kick himself, and part of the reason the ball always stopped before is because LeBron stopped it. So we’ll see and I’ll write more about it.
–One more thing, if you thought last year’s offense eliminated Zydrunas Ilgauskas, just wait. Since Z isn’t a driver and isn’t a kicker, I don’t see where he fits unless it’s the old fashioned side pick-and-roll or the occasional iso play in the post. Again, it is still in infant stages, so I reserve judgment.
–As I also wrote about for ESPN, LeBron is in great shape and working harder than ever. I am not sure his jumper has improved technically but he’s worked on it and it seems to be better. The difference between this training camp and last, when I am convinced he was tired, is dramatic and I am expecting a fast start.
–Daniel Gibson’s jumper is working nicely and he’s showing more willingness in going to the basket. However, his ball handling still needs work. He is the starting point guard for now, Larry Hughes is playing the 2. The Cavs players and coaches all like to say they don’t have a point guard, that the 1, 2, and 3 are interchangeable. That’s fine, but it is sort of like having a two-quarterback system, you do it because you don’t have one.
–Devin Brown is a junk player, he doesn’t do anything all that well but he’ll surprise you every now and then. He’ll sneak up on you and get to the hoop and hit an open jumper. Plus he is versatile on the defense. Overall, he’s looking like a nice pickup, but don’t expect anything great. He’s also not in great shape, Mike Brown is hoping he’ll be better when drops a few pounds.
–Drew Gooden’s jumper was working nicely in the playoffs last year. He’s going to it way too much in the preseason, which is why he’s 3-for-17. He is at his best scoring with his back to the basket and off offensive rebounds.
–I am hearing nothing about the Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao holdouts. This is a very key time for the franchise, how this plays out will very likely affect the roster management over the next two seasons. There is a lot at stake, not just from a basketball perspective but also from a perception perspective. I wrote about this earlier this week. There are a lot of factors in play here, which is why this is so complicated.
October 12th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
How about Dwayne Jones? He looked halfway decent last night, picking up 13 boards, 5 or 6 blocked shots and those two free throws at the end of regulation to send it to OT.
He and Devin Brown both looked pretty good, but it’s still the preseason and Detroit was playing their scrubs (as we were).
October 12th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Barring another deal, Jones certainly looks like the backup center… I couldn’t watch the game last night, I’ve only seen him get extended minutes in the summer league. There he looked good defensively, and very good on the boards, but very foul prone and lousy offensively. He’s a much better shot blocker than Varejao, but doesn’t have that irrantant factor that Andy has, that’s so hard to quantify.
October 12th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Dwayne Jones. Well, I suppose it’s better than Marion Jones.
October 12th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Brian,
Congrats on being named Best Beat Writer in Cleveland.
http://bestof.clevescene.com/bestof/section.php?year=2007§ion=19128
October 12th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Hahahahaha…good one comaguy!
By the way, what does that comment have to do with the topic at hand?? If you are going to needle people to stick to the current topic when they say something to you, you should have the common sense to do the same, lest you be called out as a hypocrit.
Marion Jones! Seriously, gonna be chuckling about that one for a long time to come!!
(Excuse any misspellings here. Don’t want to be ridiculed by the grammar police, aka comaguy)
October 12th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
with Jones’ performance, i think he will be the big man that can “hold down the fort” during varejao’s absence. he seems to be a very poor man’s tyson chandler, a good defensive player, physical, aggressive on the boards, but poor when it comes to putting the ball in the basket
October 12th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
Remember, Rick. I’m a “schmuck.” Spell it right next time.
And with respect to the topic at hand, the topic appeared to be Dwayne Jones, Rick. And various other Cavaliers and sports-related stuff. The topic does not appear to be me, you cute little stalker you. Doesn’t seem Dwayne Jones is the guy to rely upon when you’re trying to beat the Western Conference, but that’s just my opinion.
By the way, doesn’t Brian have *somebody* in the organization who can tell him exactly what Ferry is supposedly doing these three days of mysterious “offsite meetings” he just wrote about? Given the inference of this revelation, you’d think Ferry was hidden in a deep underground bunker underneath the Pentagon discussing if the Cavs should assist Israel the next time they bomb Syria.
October 12th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Frank, you *are* aware that you’re contratulating a beat guy that was in the exact same column next to “Best Naked Yoga” and “Best Surfer,” aren’t you? I don’t believe I ever saw Hall of Famer Peter Gammons win one award alongside best beat yoga and best naked beating. Or was that best beat yoga and best naked surfing. Whatever. Though I really did get a kick out of seeing Bruce Drennan bring home the bacon for “Best Career Move.” I guess it was either appear on a TV show with $4.99 production values, or get a job surfing Lake Erie in the nude.
October 12th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Oops. Forgot a g in congratulate. Sorry, Rick.
October 12th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
Oh, by the way, Brian, I would read your ESPN thing about this Russkie guy, but there’s this thing known as “pay to play.” Yes, I know those kind folks at ESPN are doing some gimmick whereby there’s temporary access to their “premium” online stuff (whatever the hell “premium” is supposed to mean), but you have to register, and if you forgot to cancel within a relatively short time-frame, then they nail you for a million bucks on your credit card, plus they take your daughters. But I like the money I’ve earned, and I like my daughter. I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to cancel anything online before, but it’s easier for most people to put a strange rabid pit bull in their lap and give it a caesarean section. So unless somebody would be kind enough to cut and paste it here or elsewhere, I’m going to pass. I’ll just have to assume the man’s offense is absolutely brilliant and is a testament to the greatness of Stalin.
October 12th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
If what I’ve read on these pages recently is true, Ferry might be visiting some fancy-schmancy dermatologist out in L.A.
The Cavs sure seem to need a big man or two, especially if Big Z is finally getting phased out of the offense and Varejao sticks to his guns. Maybe Simmons and Jones will defy the odds and turn into solid contributors.
It could be that Ferry’s holed up in some chapel praying it will happen that way.
October 12th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Alan, if you hate Brian so much why don’t you just read Branson Wright for your Cavs info?
October 12th, 2007 at 11:08 pm
I like Brian, Harry. As ridiculously biased as he is, and he genuinely doesn’t seem to realize it, I still like him and his writing. Really, Harry. I swear on my father’s grave. Scout’s honor. But don’t you find it pretty funny that he’s listed in the same group of an alternative magazine’s awards as nude yoga and best surfer? Well, who cares if you find it funny, I do. I mean, it’s not like Cleveland is exactly the hot new Mecca for nude yoga and surfing. Or is it? I hear they’re doing really wonderful things with that town.
October 12th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
Oh, I neglected to mention, Harry. I also think it’s funny that they presented the Brian Windhorst accolades in the very same awards column as their category for “Best Gay Sports Club.” Yes, Cleveland is now a veritable Malibu and Berkeley all rolled into one. Let the record show that my old hometown has transformed itself into a nudie yoga, surfing and gay paradise. Here is my very favorite line: “But the three-year-old Shooters Pool League has mushroomed into the area’s top haven for homo-athletes.”
October 12th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
Windhorst gets “ill” and disappears, then Ferry disappears for “offsite meetings.” All right before that Pluto/Windhorst fawning tome about the Cavs organization is about to hit the market. Something smells fishy here. Something evil. Perhaps they are planning to invade Canada?
October 13th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
I detect a meanspirited edge in that last post.
October 13th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Does anyone know where on the “interents” there might be some intelligent Cavaliers talk that concentrates on the topic at hand, i.e. Cavaliers basketball? Please don’t mention the Cavs.com site as the posters there make you lot seem like the Algonquin Roundtable.
Oh, wait, i just realized that 45 seconds have gone by without someone uttering some variance of “Ferry sucks!” So, by all means, allow me to pick up the slack and yell “Ferry is an idiot! He should bid against himself to get Varejao back!” Wheww! Thank God i got that out in time! What would this blog do without that? The mind boggles…
So, to the few, if any, good faith posters left, please be so kind as to direct me to someplace on the “web” where i can discuss the Cavs with other intelligent fans. I will be in your debt.
The Genius has…spoken!
October 13th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
I am somewhat confused here. You desire to engage in an intelligent discussion regarding the Cavs. OK, fine. In my opinion, I believe doc made some extraordinarily powerful points regarding Ferry’s serious pimple problem. After all, he is a doc, so I trust his medical judgment implicitly. But different strokes for different folks, a cerebral discussion of pimples located on the face of a 41-year-old NBA general manager is not your cup of tea. That’s fine, your preference is duly respected by one and all. But after asking your question, you then opted to sign-off with your signature, “The Genius has…spoken!” I’m sorry, pal, but I believe I’m speaking for Planet Earth when I say you really can’t be taken seriously until Katie Couric decides to start signing-off her newscasts with, “Katie says kiss…my grits!”
October 14th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Alan heres Brian’s latest entry on insider from the big 4 unspoken letters, however I have seen no reference to any such “Russkie” unless you count me watching drago on rocky last night
Also getting espn the mag and all insider for maybe 20 bucks a year.. not a horrible thing especially compared to the 12 page SI now
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Five observations from Cavs camp …
1. Larry Hughes is dunking
While it may seem like a common sight at the NBA level, seeing Hughes get up and throw it down has been a signal to his teammates that his legs are finally healed. For the moment, at least. Three weeks into last season, Hughes suffered a high right ankle sprain that dogged him all year.
He played on one leg for months, eventually causing him to develop tendinitis in his left leg. In the playoffs, when the ankle was finally getting back to normal, he tore tissue in his foot. Shutting things down for two months in June and July got him back to 100 percent. But his long injury history still leaves most Cavs fans skeptical he’ll remain that way.
LeBron James
AP Photo/Amy Sancetta
Unwise LeBron? James, a Yankees fan, took heat from Cleveland fans for showing his true colors at Jacobs Field.
2. Mike Brown’s Italian influence
The Cavs’ coach said he felt like he was back in college over the summer. Determined to rework his oft-criticized offense, the defensive specialist immersed himself in learning more about offense. His professor was famous Italian coach Ettore Messina, who led CSKA Moscow to the Euroleague title in 2006 and a runner-up finish last season.
It included a trip to Italy and CSKA’s training camp so Brown could observe the way Messina, who befriended Brown over the past several years, coaches offense. Brown said he read and re-read a translated version of Messina’s book “Basket” like he was studying for a mid-term. Not all the concepts translate, of course, but Brown is hoping to teach the Cavs to move more like a European team.
CSKA has several players who can start the offense, which feeds off multiple drive-and-kicks in the same possession. Brown is making that a priority — an effort to reduce all the standing around when LeBron James is just dribbling — with plans to employ a different kind of stat to entice his players to continue moving. It’s sometimes called a “hockey assist,” when a drive or a pass leads indirectly to a basket. His assistant coaches will keep it and, just like with charges, there figures to be a monthly bonus to the player who piles up the most.
3. A Chinese hangover coming?
Just as teams are returning from Europe, Hawaii, Charleston and other training camp locales, the Cavs are getting ready to ship out. They are off to China for an eight-day trip and two exhibition games with the Orlando Magic this weekend.
But going in the middle of the preseason instead of the beginning — it was a scheduling issue — may create a downside to the historic trip. Ask travelers who have spent time in the Far East, and they’ll tell you it takes around five days to get the body clock back working again. When the Cavs land after coming home from Macao, they’ll have just 10 days before the start of the season.
4. Roster spots up for grabs
At the moment, the Cavs have only 12 players under contract. While spots have been saved for Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao, they are just waiting to pounce on players who might be released elsewhere as several teams have more bodies than roster space. More reason why the Cavs team currently assembled may not be the one seen opening night or shortly thereafter.
5. Capgate dominates headlines
With the Browns in full swing and the Indians making a playoff run, most northeast Ohio sports fans aren’t thinking much about the Cavs yet.
But they are certainly fired up over LeBron James’ headgear. He infuriated fans and set off a storm of criticism for showing up to Game 1 of the American League Division Series wearing a Yankees cap. The Akron native is a longtime Yanks fan, but Cleveland fans cut him no slack, ripping him on talk radio and constantly calling the Cavs’ offices to complain.
“It isn’t that I don’t like the Indians,” James said. “I’m just a fan supporting my team.”
In Cleveland, a self-loathing sports town, that explanation didn’t fly. James expects to hear about it for awhile, especially after the Indians beat the Yankees.
October 14th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Thanks for the cut and paste, Derek. I now know that Ferry cleverly moves like one of my cats. He is “waiting to pounce on players who might be released elsewhere.” Wow, that’s amazing. Now all he needs is water and a litterbox. But where’s the featured story about that commie coach guy?
October 14th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Oh, wait a minute, never mind. Sorry, I sorta cruised through your post the first time, I jumped over that part about the coach. And evidently he’s an Italian guy, not Russian.
October 15th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Tucker: How many times are you going to post?
Your redundant ramblings leave us speechless.
And an offense from Moscow? Does anybody on
that squad qualify for the mile high club? Because
Coach Brown this is the NBA not the RBA and your
offensive mentor Coach Vednovik plays European
basketball. The only place they drive is to potato
stand and the only place they kick is in the groin
to make up for their lack of rotation on defense.
For Gods sakes the NBA is an iso and one on one
league. You dont have the ballhandlers to drive and
kick 3 times. IDIOCY.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
I read in the New York Post that Ferry’s top-secret “off-site meetings” was actually a trip to Brazil to visit Sideshow Bob. You would think the local beat writers would be the very first to have solid sources and leap to report this important piece of information. But not a peep from Windhorst, not a peep from Wright, not a peep from Finnan, not a peep from anybody. No doubt we’ll now read something after the fact, but this is inexcusable and it’s a sad commentary on the quality of the local Cavs coverage.
October 16th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Don’t worry Alan, I am waiting for the day when Ferry resigns both Sasha and Andy then everyone praises him for what shrewd moves he made to wait till the choices came down to resigning those 2 or signing some other teams dead weight…
Welcome to the 2007-2008 Cavs!!!
October 17th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rumors/post/Pavlovic-Giricek-Davis-available-for-trade?urn=nba,49461
any thoughts on this? good, bad, other?
October 21st, 2007 at 5:46 pm
If Devin Brown is junk, then what is Larry Hughes?
There is a good chance that Brown will be a bigger contributor than Hughes, provided that he gets minutes. I am basing this on the metrics developed by the Wages of Wins (http://dberri.wordpress.com/).
October 22nd, 2007 at 12:06 am
Randolph Keys was a better defensive player than Michael Cooper, my metrics prove it.
October 31st, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Local Jobs Guide…
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting…
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