Chris Parker/Cleveland Scene answers your questions

[enigmatic]

@Chris Parker The biggest issue I have with NEOMG is the influence they carry, and how little they respect it.

To control the media is to control the mind. And for them to be focused on how close of friends LBJ/Love are rather than our PnR coverages, rotations, offensive sets etc. is doing their readers a disservice.

But in the TMZ era where the majority of the population thrives on inconsequential drama, what can you expect....

EDIT: But that's assuming they COULD analyze the game at an average level...which I seriously doubt.

This right here is the problem: they aren't smart enough for the X and O BBall questions, so they go for the gossip mongering. They are essentially gossip columnists masquerading as sports reporters, and they do no one in their profession any favors when they consistently go for the lowest common denominator is their articles and questions.

We don't need anymore Skip Bayless/Screamin A Smith/Booms/Goldhammers in sports journalism; we need much, much less. But conflict/rumour mongering gets $$$ for these guys and their companies, so here we are.

I've got no problems w/ guys like Jason Lloyd or even Chris Haynes (who I think is still finding his way as a Cavs beat reporter)because even when I don't agree w/ their takes it's at least coming from a sound basketball background and especially in Lloyd's case, a solid explanation where they're coming from in their takes.

The ESPN/TMZ styled garbage has done much more harm than anything else regarding good journalism.

 

[wuck]

This is the best thread in months. My goodness.

Have to appreciate a reporter who actually knows basketball and asks real questions. My favorite was when you (should I use 2nd person or 3rd person): "Is it good for your team to have more or fewer fouls?", and Blatt caught on and said "More is fine if it means they're playing tougher defense." Love the banter too.

 

[Chris Parker]

@Chris Parker The biggest issue I have with NEOMG is the influence they carry, and how little they respect it.

To control the media is to control the mind. And for them to be focused on how close of friends LBJ/Love are rather than our PnR coverages, rotations, offensive sets etc. is doing their readers a disservice.

But in the TMZ era where the majority of the population thrives on inconsequential drama, what can you expect....

EDIT: But that's assuming they COULD analyze the game at an average level...which I seriously doubt.

I think you have to make an exception for Chris Haynes who I think is very good, and honestly I don't think his backups know basketball well enough to think of good things to analyze and focus on, but I could be wrong I don't want to act like I know , maybe that;s what their editors want

 

[Chris Parker]

This right here is the problem: they aren't smart enough for the X and O BBall questions, so they go for the gossip mongering. They are essentially gossip columnists masquerading as sports reporters, and they do no one in their profession any favors when they consistently go for the lowest common denominator is their articles and questions.

We don't need anymore Skip Bayless/Screamin A Smith/Booms/Goldhammers in sports journalism; we need much, much less. But conflict/rumour mongering gets $$$ for these guys and their companies, so here we are.

I've got no problems w/ guys like Jason Lloyd or even Chris Haynes (who I think is still finding his way as a Cavs beat reporter)because even when I don't agree w/ their takes it's at least coming from a sound basketball background and especially in Lloyd's case, a solid explanation where they're coming from in their takes.

The ESPN/TMZ styled garbage has done much more harm than anything else regarding good journalism.

Spot on. Absolutely. And that's obviously why I'm trying to do what I'm doing. Trying to fill a hole I saw. I'm just like you, I just thought, why isn't anybody talking about this.

To tell the truth, I wonder why they don't talk to Chones and Russell more. I'm going to run some quotes from them at some point. They're great resources and super fun to talk about how the game has changed. Sad that nobody ever writes that stuff. But since I'm (mostly) daily now I'll have a chance to hit that....

 

[wuck]

The only reporter who asked Blatt especially interesting questions this year, without doing so just for the sake of sensationalism, was the 20-year old woman reporter from China. She was happy to grill Blatt with good cheer or without intention. That was great. What does that say...

Chris, you deserve a bigger platform. We have been griping about some journalists for months here.

 

[Chris Parker]

This is the best thread in months. My goodness.

Have to appreciate a reporter who actually knows basketball and asks real questions. My favorite was when you (should I use 2nd person or 3rd person): "Is it good for your team to have more or fewer fouls?", and Blatt caught on and said "More is fine if it means they're playing tougher defense." Love the banter too.

Thanks a lot. I can't tell you how great it feels to know other people are into this. As I said earlier, in the press room you wonder why nobody wants to know these things. Some days I'll hang back hoping someone will ask one of these so I can ask one of my other basketball-related questions. (Isn't it sad to make that distinction?)

 

[LeShaq]

I think you have to make an exception for Chris Haynes

Haynes does good work, I agree. He also seems to have a/some contact(s) with LeBron's circle from what I can tell.

 

[Chris Parker]

@Chris Parker thanks for all the insight, really helpful stuff. Can you stay with us a while? It's really fun here after a loss.

I feel bad to say I didn't realize there was a forum like this. It reminds me of the Sons of Sam Horn, a red sox forum that is filled with super sharp people who share the Cleveland mania for hopeful fatalism

 

[Ohio]

@Chris Parker , do you anticipate Blatt shortening the rotation come playoff time? It seemed like no accident to me that only 8 guys were used against Chicago. Do you see those as the 8 guys moving forward? Shawn Marion has hardly played in months, James Jones was getting fairly consistent minutes but hasn't seen the floor much at all the last 2 weeks (save the Miami game). Part of it is match-ups I'd assume.

 

[Chris Parker]

Haynes does good work, I agree. He also seems to have a/some contact(s) with LeBron's circle from what I can tell.

I think Damien has it nailed. Haynes was in Portland for four years so he knows ball, but he is still cultivating the relationships. Plus he has to write for a broad audience not just the hoops headz -- but he at least he "understands" and as Damien says about Lloyd, has a reason for his take...

 

[wuck]

Thanks a lot. I can't tell you how great it feels to know other people are into this. As I said earlier, in the press room you wonder why nobody wants to know these things. Some days I'll hang back hoping someone will ask one of these so I can ask one of my other basketball-related questions. (Isn't it sad to make that distinction?)

I can only hope that the national reporters during the playoffs focus in on basketball plays -- why did you play X against Y? or why are you having trouble with the pick-and-roll against Z? It is not rocket science exactly. Fans here are dying for good basketball commentary, and it seems like Blatt most likes talking basketball, even if he doesn't like saying "this is how we win". Maybe he'll open up in the post-season.

I sent you a PM in case you'd like cruise RCF without the following you're going to get.

 

[FiveThous]

This thread has me giddy, thanks so much for answering our questions Chris! Your articles and basketball knowledge have been a refreshing change of pace to the sad state of CLE sports media.

 

[Paul]

Chris if you're still around, I was wondering what you thought about that Cavs/Atlanta game where the Hawks seemed to be double-teaming LeBron and Kyrie at the perimeter and shutting down the offense and forcing turnovers. It seemed like we were totally unprepared for it and it's one of our only losses recently. Do you think Blatt/LeBron/Kyrie have a solution to what we saw working against the Cavs in that game?

 

[Damien O'Connel]

Chris, you deserve a bigger platform. We have been griping about some journalists for months here.

What can we do to expedite this?

 

[jlegg21]

How great is this thread? Welcome aboard @Chris Parker . As many have said, your voice is a needed one. Keep fighting the good fight.