Anderson Varejao

[Pioneer10]

Brooklyn front line is big: Lopez, Garnett, Evans. We will lose games like these if we have to play a lot of Zeller or Tristan at the C spot. Hopefully against these type of teams in a playoff situation Bynum can get you 15-20 minutes at the Center spot to keep Andy's minutes around 30.

Going forward however most frontlines aren't that huge and we'll likely see more of Tristan at C and Zeller to keep Andy's minutes down. (Even against smallish frontlines like Miami you could definitely get away with Tristan at the C going against Bosh so I think it is more of a matchup issue versus a quality issue)

 

[cavsfanclanman]

Also, I think it was an important step in our outlook to win last nights game. It was worth the minutes, I think, to have AV and AB play. Beating a team like that will help in the end.

 

[Ohio]

Just 2 games in, but Varejao does not look like the player he was last year. Maybe it has to do with TT stepping up, offensively and on the boards?

 

[Nathan S]

Hopefully he'll come around when we start getting some more structure in the offense.

 

[wuck]

Just 2 games in, but Varejao does not look like the player he was last year. Maybe it has to do with TT stepping up, offensively and on the boards?

He's also a year older and coming off an injury that pushed him off the court for a long time.

He and Tristan were putting on a collective defensive clinic about how to show, rotate, switch selectively, help others, and cover for each other on the defensive end at times in the 2nd half last night.

 

[Ohio]

He's also a year older and coming off an injury that pushed him off the court for a long time.

He and Tristan were putting on a collective defensive clinic about how to show, rotate, switch selectively, help others, and cover for each other on the defensive end at times in the 2nd half last night.

Oh I agree he's been himself defensively, I was more talking offensively and on the glass.

 

[Soar]

Just 2 games in, but Varejao does not look like the player he was last year. Maybe it has to do with TT stepping up, offensively and on the boards?

Varejao won't be able to do what he has done in the past anymore. He is older and his body is starting to break down due to the wear and tear over the years. Not that he won't be effective but he is going to have to start playing more with his mind as opposed to his body.

 

[wuck]

From Jason Lloyd's final thoughts blog after the Pacers game:

* Spoke to Anderson Varejao briefly after the game and he was encouraged by how well his legs felt despite the back-to-back. Varejao still isn't where he wants to be, but he was excited his legs felt so good. Now he needs to work on his timing and court awareness. He said there was a play Friday where he didn't realize where he was on the floor and how close he was to the rim. He took an entry pass and could've just turned around and flipped it in, but instead he kicked it back out. Brown showed him the play on film. Varejao likened it to Andrew Bynum. "I can't imagine how he feels after being out so long," Varejao said.

 

[TyGuy]

Whatever happened to playing this guy shorter minutes??? I hope we aren't running him into the ground. I would really like to see tt get some minutes at center and Bennett with the starters at 4 sometime. We are having a bit of success running the small three guard lineup. Andy looks good though, really hope he can stay healthy.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

I disagree that Andy looks good.

I mean, he's looking good on offense and on the boards. He looks downright terrible and overmatched on defense. Not quite at Zeller levels, but he's lost a step, maybe two, on defense.

 

[The Process God]

I disagree that Andy looks good.

I mean, he's looking good on offense and on the boards. He looks downright terrible and overmatched on defense. Not quite at Zeller levels, but he's lost a step, maybe two, on defense.

Did Andy ever have a step to begin with?

 

[Tornicade]

I disagree that Andy looks good.

I mean, he's looking good on offense and on the boards. He looks downright terrible and overmatched on defense. Not quite at Zeller levels, but he's lost a step, maybe two, on defense.

Anderson Varejao Matchups | Overall Games

Based on Efficiency Recap Difference on Games when Anderson Varejao and opponent play > 25 minutes

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Won Matchups : 3 <tbody> </tbody> Cavaliers Record : 2 W - 1 L <tbody> </tbody> Date Game Score Eff Oppeff Diffeff <tbody> </tbody> Nov 9 vs S. Hawes W 127-125 21 15 +6 <tbody> </tbody> Nov 4 vs N. Pekovic W 93-92 23 9 +14 <tbody> </tbody> Nov 2 vs R. Hibbert L 74-89 16 9 +7 <tbody> </tbody>

Lost Matchups : 4 Draw in 0 Matchups <tbody> </tbody> Cavaliers Record : 1 W - 3 L Games < 25 min : 0 <tbody> </tbody> Date Game Score Eff Oppeff Diffeff <tbody> </tbody> Nov 8 vs S. Hawes L 79-94 5 23 -18 <tbody> </tbody> Nov 6 vs Z. Pachulia L 104-109 23 25 -2 <tbody> </tbody> Nov 1 vs B. Biyombo L 84-90 5 20 -15 <tbody> </tbody> Oct 30 vs B. Lopez W 98-94 16 19 -3 <tbody> </tbody>

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I havent seen a better example of rust impacting a players game statistically than AV. this could be a case study.

When someone is slowing down from age or tired legs.. it impacts them most on the second night of a back to back. to which at this point andy doesnt seem to be having a problem with

Anderson came into the season opener at home with a solid performance against Lopez. He essentially matched what lopez did on the court.
Anderson then has a Day off and comes back on the nov 1st and plays horribly.
NOV 2 he bounces back with solid defense on hibbert and a decent offensive performance efficiency wise.

Anderson has another day off then plays at home with a good performance on both ends against Pekovic. Then another day off and has an effective night against Z pach mnearly matching his efficiency.

2 days off and on the road AV has a horrid performance against Hawes but then the next night bounces back and perfoms solidly.


theres 2 games out of 6 that Andy didnt really play at the level we expect from him. After nearly a year layoff im okay with that.

 

[mAo_mAo]

I love AV but I want a rim protector at the 5. AV is nowhere near of being that.

 

[rabman_gold]

I just don't know. Andy is good and all, as a short term center, but he's really shown age. He can't do the things he did 2-3 years ago even. He's best utilized as a game changer off the bench so he can fully utilize his ability. Plus, Tristan and him do things uncannily similar. And Tristan is better even now because of the athleticism he can use. Perhaps Bynum would fit in as a center for 15-20 minutes and Andy can sub for TT.

Just thinking...

 

[Sir John]

I just don't know. Andy is good and all, as a short term center, but he's really shown age. He can't do the things he did 2-3 years ago even. He's best utilized as a game changer off the bench so he can fully utilize his ability. Plus, Tristan and him do things uncannily similar. And Tristan is better even now because of the athleticism he can use. Perhaps Bynum would fit in as a center for 15-20 minutes and Andy can sub for TT.

Just thinking...

Too soon to know if it's age or just rust coming back from injury. In interviews, so far AV is attributing it to rust (I know, what else would he say? Still, might be the truth).

I'd like to see them keep Andy at center. Moving him to PF takes minutes from Bennett. Yes, fully realize Bennett has been horrible but that's the point--he needs developmental time. He'll never get better if he doesn't play. Do agree that Andy needs to play fewer minutes to keep him fresh and playing at high level when he's in. When Bynum isn't playing or his minutes are topped out for a game, can give those extra minutes to Sims and Zeller. Both are worth giving some minutes to, at least one of whom could emerge as a true long-term rotational piece.

The more we let these pieces develop in their appropriate roles now, the better served we'll be come playoff time or if we miss them, next year.