Chris Parker/Cleveland Scene answers your questions

[Chris Parker]

I don’t think they are, and I’m pretty sure unless you’re a Lakers fan, every fanbase has a “why doesn’t the national media give us any respect” attitude. I guarantee you on the other side of the fence, Atlanta has the same attitude about their team.

Chicago has a lot of media connections; Cleveland less so. I've not heard a national broadcast like that since Tim McCarver used to do Yankees-Red Sox games.

Suits don't care. As long as the commentators aren't anti-LA or NYC like they could give a flying rat's ass

 

[David.]

What about officiating?

Chicago has a lot of media connections; Cleveland less so. I've not heard a national broadcast like that since Tim McCarver used to do Yankees-Red Sox games.

Suits don't care. As long as the commentators aren't anti-LA or NYC like they could give a flying rat's ass

 

[gaitano]

Chris, what about trolling? Is there more trolling?

 

[Tornicade]

I was going through some of the different lineups we seen and correlating them with NBAwowy. Usually you just see guys operating at different levels of effectiveness when groups with other guys.. This season I am looking and it seems clear that different lineups have different base offenses and statistically you can see different patterns amongst lineups where players roles distinctly change.

Wouldnt this be more a product of Coaching (Blatt) than Lebron's on the floor leadership. as these patterns arent so distinct with lineups used by the heat.

for instance theres lineups that Lebron doesnt take three pointers and others he does.

If the Cavs do have these specialized lineups they trot out to play a specific style nand the team so readily executes it. Thats an impressive job for a team that is in essentially year 1.

It seems like alot of attention to detail for lineups that might be out there for no more than 3-4 minutes a game or reserved when specific players not be available (injury, Foul Trouble, matchups).

so @Chris Parker has Blatt coached these players to assume different roles throughout the game based on whose on the court with them or are these lineups production a natural outcome of the lineups put on the floor
I ask this primarily because the Shup,delly Jr ,Thompson james lineup demonstrated distinct roles that echoed their regular season usage even though it was only used for about 34 minutes and operates different from when smith is the second option as opposed to kyrie along with James not being used from the perimeter or to drive the ball

 

[Chris Parker]

my new column is up... and as a bonus it bumps Windhorst to the 2nd page....

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and...-doubts-steal-hawks-homecourt-in-game-one-win

 

[Pick6]

my new column is up... and as a bonus it bumps Windhorst to the 2nd page....

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and...-doubts-steal-hawks-homecourt-in-game-one-win

I knew I liked you for a reason...

 

[Helium filament]

my new column is up... and as a bonus it bumps Windhorst to the 2nd page....

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and...-doubts-steal-hawks-homecourt-in-game-one-win

Great article, really liked this bit about Lebron:
He was apologetic about it in the postgame presser showing the kind of awareness you’d wish he demonstrated during the game. This stalling, rock pounding, movement-killing type of play has been a staple of James’ play particularly in the fourth quarter, and he acknowledged it’s not good basketball.

“It starts with me. I take all the responsibility for it,” James said. “In the fourth quarter, I played way too much isolation basketball, one-on-one basketball, let the defenses set, and I was letting the clock run down way too much. I just had to take the shot or I was giving it to my guys late in the shot clock, and they couldn't do nothing with it besides shoot it or turn the ball over. “

Jason Lloyd followed up asking if LeBron was aware of it when it is happening.

“I sense it during the game a little bit, and it's tough sometimes with our main ball handler not being on the floor,” he said referring to Kyrie. “I don't like to play that much isolation basketball late in the game. I'd much rather get the ball moving from side to side and get a good look after that. So like I said, I'll be more conscious about that in Game 2, if that opportunity presents itself, where at least I can get the ball moving to start and then maybe at the back side, or like the third option I can get it back at the end. At least we got the defense moving instead of them just watching me pound the ball for 24 seconds. That's not good basketball.”

Whether LeBron actually does this is an open question, but admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery.


And this made me happy, too:

This is a fine fine team. The fact that they could suffer the injuries they have and still be as dominant as they’ve looked is not a testament ONLY to LeBron James. We feel the team – who’s defense is now #1 in the playoffs in efficiency – and the coaches that put them in this position despite being overmatched talent-wise (at least according to the bloviators), are constantly being underrated.
We’re sure they don’t care.

 

[brownsbuck6]

Great article again, and I am so thankful we have you to publicly shame folks like Lloyd.. he deserves every bit of it. Getting IT's take before game 1 was utterly shameful and ludicrous - there was just no reason to do it aside from seeking out negative vibes, as Shump would say.

Anyway, keep up the good work sir!

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Great column, Chris.

What's especially sad about this anti-Blatt vendetta is that it basically prevents those writers from writing a bunch of really good stories that are actually out there to be written. As the article pointed out, this team has been doing it with the proverbial smoke and mirrors -- and especially improved defense - since Love went down. It really should be a great theme for the writers -- to look at everything that's happened since Love went down, and to get down into the trenches to explain how this team has managed to go 9-2 in the playoffs. A whole bunch of wonderful, feel-good stories for local fans that are actually based in fact, not fluff. This entire team, from the coaches on down, should be really easy to root for.

But to do that, they'd almost unavoidably have to give some credit to the coach, and they've dug in their heels so much on that they've avoided the larger analysis. So instead, we basically get stories crediting everything to wacky individual heroics and LBJ.

I suppose the benefit for guys like Chris, Pluto, and McMenamin, is that it amounts to the competition offing themselves, and leaving all those good stories to be written by those writers who aren't consumed by personal agendas.

Sad for us, though, because it means that us Cavs junkies get fed a whole lot of crap.

 

[Evgeni]

Though the Hawks saw more open shots (37 of 77 versus 29 of 84) they hit less, shooting only 35%, though they did make more than half their contested jumpers. The Cavs only made 47%, but thanks to offensive rebounds overall took more shots.

Doesn't this mean the Hawks played actually better defense?

 

[Adam]

@Chris Parker really thought you did well on that article and the presser. Great follow up on blatt. Thanks for representing cavs fans

 

[supermario21]

Doesn't this mean the Hawks played actually better defense?

Depends on who you let get the open shot. A lot of it was Schroder, and quite frankly his shot is terrible when he's not driving. The big adjustment we made was to go under the screens and dare Schroder (and Teague to a lesser extent) to beat us with pull up jumpers and it worked.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Doesn't this mean the Hawks played actually better defense?

I think that's at least partially a function of the emphasis the Cavs put on offensive rebounding. Going for those offensive boards does leave you a bit more vulnerable in transition, or at least let's the opponent go against a defense that is less than fully set. That is generally going to mean slightly better looks.

The question is whether the value of those offensive boards makes up for their effect on the defensive end, and the stats seem to suggest that was the case in this game.

@supermario21 made a good point as well. Sometimes, the key to a good defense is only giving open looks to the guys less likely to make them, and closing down the rest.

 

[Cratylus]

Speaks to the adage of that player who consistently finds himself open and complains that he never gets the ball in those circumstances. So the coach says,
"There's a reason you're open. Let's see if you can figure it out."

 

[cavsfever]

Great article, really liked this bit about Lebron:
He was apologetic about it in the postgame presser showing the kind of awareness you’d wish he demonstrated during the game. This stalling, rock pounding, movement-killing type of play has been a staple of James’ play particularly in the fourth quarter, and he acknowledged it’s not good basketball.

“It starts with me. I take all the responsibility for it,” James said. “In the fourth quarter, I played way too much isolation basketball, one-on-one basketball, let the defenses set, and I was letting the clock run down way too much. I just had to take the shot or I was giving it to my guys late in the shot clock, and they couldn't do nothing with it besides shoot it or turn the ball over. “

Jason Lloyd followed up asking if LeBron was aware of it when it is happening.

“I sense it during the game a little bit, and it's tough sometimes with our main ball handler not being on the floor,” he said referring to Kyrie. “I don't like to play that much isolation basketball late in the game. I'd much rather get the ball moving from side to side and get a good look after that. So like I said, I'll be more conscious about that in Game 2, if that opportunity presents itself, where at least I can get the ball moving to start and then maybe at the back side, or like the third option I can get it back at the end. At least we got the defense moving instead of them just watching me pound the ball for 24 seconds. That's not good basketball.”

Whether LeBron actually does this is an open question, but admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery.

I sympathize with lebron on this. It's hard when you're in the thick of the fight to consciously shift your style, without falling into the trap of overthinking. The truth is that we *do* need him to take over at times (and in previous years, when he was younger and springier, his teams needed this even more, so it became a habit). Even in 4th quarter of this game, you'll notice that with Lebron on the bench our lead dropped from 18 to 11 in less than 90 seconds of game time. Then when he came in he quickly stabilized things by scoring 6 quick points. It was only then that the offense started to disappear down the ISO black hole. Then at the end he was the guy who scored to ice it. It must be hard to switch gears on the fly between those positive stretchs of Lebron dominance and then the point where it becomes counterproductive.