MarkPrice25
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Cavaliers have no defense for foes' long ball
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Burt Graeff
Plain Dealer Reporter
Defending the 3-point shot gets little fanfare among those who digest NBA statistics. In the case of the Cavaliers, it should.
The Cavaliers are the NBA's worst team in defending the 3-point shot, and it has played a significant role in the team's 9-4 record.
In four losses, the opponents -- San Antonio, Memphis, Indiana, Minnesota -- shot a staggering 56.7 percent (38-of-67) from 3-point range. They outscored the Cavaliers, 114-66, from beyond the arc in those games.
In nine victories, the opponents -- Charlotte, Toronto, Seattle, Memphis, Orlando (twice), Washington, Philadelphia, Boston -- were held to a more respectable 35.3 percent (46-of-130) shooting from 3-point territory. The Cavaliers held the upper hand from long distance in those games, 195-138.
The 3-point shot played a role in the Cavaliers' consecutive losses last week to Indiana and Minnesota. Guard Sarunas Jasikevicius came off the bench to hit 5 of 6 3-pointers in the Pacers' 98-76 victory. Another backup guard, Troy Hudson, nailed 3 of 4 from 3-point range in the Timberwolves' 89-85 triumph.
Overall, the Cavaliers are allowing opponents to shoot 42.6 percent (84-of-197) from long range; Seattle's 41.7 percent (93-of-223) is second worst.
"I think there are a couple of reasons for this," said Cavaliers guard Damon Jones. "First of all, coach [Mike Brown] has a new system here and it is taking time to learn it.
"It takes time to learn the rotations. And, second of all, some of these teams have just shot well against us. So, it is a combination."
In the losses to San Antonio, Memphis and Indiana, the Spurs, Grizzlies and Pacers combined to shoot 60 percent (32-of-53) from 3-point range - outscoring the Cavaliers, 96-45, with the long ball.
First-year coach Brown is aware of the difference in opponents' 3-point shooting in the nine victories and four losses. After practice on Monday, he pulled a piece of paper from his pocket with the numbers written on it.
"Effort plays a big role in defending the 3-pointer," he said. "And, you've got to cover for one another out there.
"Also, part of all this has to do with the fact that the teams we've lost to are pretty good clubs. In the halfcourt, they have done a better job of executing."
The halfcourt game is where the Cavaliers have not been doing a good job of executing lately and, if it does not improve, more and more opposing teams will slow the game to a crawl. "I want to be able to play at any pace," Brown said. "I want to win some of those 85-78 games."
The Cavaliers led the NBA in scoring, racking up 105.4 points a game before the losses to Indiana and Minnesota. The Pacers and Timberwolves turned the games into half- court slugfests - winning, 98-76 and 89-85, respectively.
The Cavaliers, forced to take jumpers when the open-court fast-break layups were taken away, shot a combined 34 percent (54-of-157) from the field.
Donyell Marshall shrugged off missing 16 of 19 shots in the two losses. "Everyone has shooting slumps at some point in his career," he said. [Former Utah/Golden State teammate] John Starks said it best . . . the only way to break a shooting slump is to keep shooting.
"I plan to keep shooting."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
bgraeff@plaind.com, 216-999-4479
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/plain...sports/1133265455108760.xml&coll=2&thispage=1
This has become a bit of a problem, and it is one of the things that killed us last season down the stretch. We definitely need to get out there and challenge shots.....it's not like we are closing down the driving lanes lately either.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Burt Graeff
Plain Dealer Reporter
Defending the 3-point shot gets little fanfare among those who digest NBA statistics. In the case of the Cavaliers, it should.
The Cavaliers are the NBA's worst team in defending the 3-point shot, and it has played a significant role in the team's 9-4 record.
In four losses, the opponents -- San Antonio, Memphis, Indiana, Minnesota -- shot a staggering 56.7 percent (38-of-67) from 3-point range. They outscored the Cavaliers, 114-66, from beyond the arc in those games.
In nine victories, the opponents -- Charlotte, Toronto, Seattle, Memphis, Orlando (twice), Washington, Philadelphia, Boston -- were held to a more respectable 35.3 percent (46-of-130) shooting from 3-point territory. The Cavaliers held the upper hand from long distance in those games, 195-138.
The 3-point shot played a role in the Cavaliers' consecutive losses last week to Indiana and Minnesota. Guard Sarunas Jasikevicius came off the bench to hit 5 of 6 3-pointers in the Pacers' 98-76 victory. Another backup guard, Troy Hudson, nailed 3 of 4 from 3-point range in the Timberwolves' 89-85 triumph.
Overall, the Cavaliers are allowing opponents to shoot 42.6 percent (84-of-197) from long range; Seattle's 41.7 percent (93-of-223) is second worst.
"I think there are a couple of reasons for this," said Cavaliers guard Damon Jones. "First of all, coach [Mike Brown] has a new system here and it is taking time to learn it.
"It takes time to learn the rotations. And, second of all, some of these teams have just shot well against us. So, it is a combination."
In the losses to San Antonio, Memphis and Indiana, the Spurs, Grizzlies and Pacers combined to shoot 60 percent (32-of-53) from 3-point range - outscoring the Cavaliers, 96-45, with the long ball.
First-year coach Brown is aware of the difference in opponents' 3-point shooting in the nine victories and four losses. After practice on Monday, he pulled a piece of paper from his pocket with the numbers written on it.
"Effort plays a big role in defending the 3-pointer," he said. "And, you've got to cover for one another out there.
"Also, part of all this has to do with the fact that the teams we've lost to are pretty good clubs. In the halfcourt, they have done a better job of executing."
The halfcourt game is where the Cavaliers have not been doing a good job of executing lately and, if it does not improve, more and more opposing teams will slow the game to a crawl. "I want to be able to play at any pace," Brown said. "I want to win some of those 85-78 games."
The Cavaliers led the NBA in scoring, racking up 105.4 points a game before the losses to Indiana and Minnesota. The Pacers and Timberwolves turned the games into half- court slugfests - winning, 98-76 and 89-85, respectively.
The Cavaliers, forced to take jumpers when the open-court fast-break layups were taken away, shot a combined 34 percent (54-of-157) from the field.
Donyell Marshall shrugged off missing 16 of 19 shots in the two losses. "Everyone has shooting slumps at some point in his career," he said. [Former Utah/Golden State teammate] John Starks said it best . . . the only way to break a shooting slump is to keep shooting.
"I plan to keep shooting."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
bgraeff@plaind.com, 216-999-4479
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/plain...sports/1133265455108760.xml&coll=2&thispage=1
This has become a bit of a problem, and it is one of the things that killed us last season down the stretch. We definitely need to get out there and challenge shots.....it's not like we are closing down the driving lanes lately either.