Cavaliers have no defense for foes' longball

[MarkPrice25]

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."

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bgraeff@plaind.com, 216-999-4479

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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.

 

[Karma]

"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."

How about a 3rd reason Damon. You are not playing very good defense on the backup point guards.

This has been an ongoing issue for many a year with the Cavaliers. We are hurt badly when teams rotate the ball.

 

[ootbttnlagitnbasf]

let teams shoot up all kinds of three pointers. when they do a lot of the misses will spring long and lead to fast break baskets for us going in the other direction. eventually we will shore up our perimeter defense. in the meantime they can go after those foolish long shots if they want, confused by the supposed high percentage that our opponents make from downtown.

you never saw the celtics shooting a lot of threes when they won about ten nba titles in a row.

 

[Karma]

let teams shoot up all kinds of three pointers. when they do a lot of the misses will spring long and lead to fast break baskets for us going in the other direction. eventually we will shore up our perimeter defense. in the meantime they can go after those foolish long shots if they want, confused by the supposed high percentage that our opponents make from downtown.

Teams with good 3 point shooters will eat us alive at present with our defense. They will continue to do so until we make adjustments. For he time being I will cross my fingers and hope for a poor shooting night. Tonight we have the Clippers who do struggle from downtown.

you never saw the celtics shooting a lot of threes when they won about ten nba titles in a row

It was tough without a 3 point line to shoot a 3 pointer.

 

[ootbttnlagitnbasf]

the good teams don't back up to shoot threes. they work the ball in closer for easier shots. that's why the teams that specialize in threes tend to drop out before the later rounds of the playoffs. they give up too many long rebounds that lead to fast break points the other way.

somehow, the celtics used players like satch sanders and loscutoff and heinsohn to win all those titles. and they did it without chukking threes.

one would expect that scoring would go up with the addition of the bad shot premium, which is what a three point shot is. an extra point for making a bad desperation basket. but no, scoring has gone down. the three point shot is a fan favorite. it is flashy. it gets on sportscenter. but it is a bad strategy that i hope our opponents continue to pursue.

 

[Karma]

So Horry, Bowen, Ginobili, Barry, Parker, Udrih firing 3's away for the championship winning Spurs was a bad tactic.

Again Boston titles were won without a 3 point line. There were no such things as 3's.

 

[RichOne]

So Horry, Bowen, Ginobili, Barry, Parker, Udrih firing 3's away for the championship winning Spurs was a bad tactic.

Again Boston titles were won without a 3 point line. There were no such things as 3's.

Can't forget Paxson, Kerr, and Harper. How about Billups, Hamilton, and Rasheeeed. Or even Fisher, Horry (a second time), and Fox.... The point is, that is a good point Karma. Defending the three is huge in this league. If we can't do it then we can't win big games...

 

[Pioneer10]

Last year the PG would kill us with the drive and finish or pass for point blank layup.

This year the penetrator gets cut off but with one swing of the ball an open shot is there. Our rotations on defense just stinks.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Mike Brown's specialty is teaching the team-approach to defense. Assistant Hank Egan coached Popovich on team defense strategies. Lebron and Gooden are in good hands, we just need more time.

 

[ootbttnlagitnbasf]

threes can become drug-like. damon jones does not have a special hand signal for a well placed pass that leads to an easy hoop. he only has the three finger waggle for a bomb from downtown. many teams have used threes as part of their success. but some of the most prolific offenses of all time were good because they were expert at working the ball inside for easy shots. inside shots wear out the defense, rest the offense, reduce the chances of long rebounds heading the other way, and encourage the big men to work for position.

an outside shot is a good capability to have. it is better to threaten to shoot from the arc than to actually shoot from there.

 

[Karma]

Cleveland and Sacramento combined for 5-31 3 pointers.