David Blatt is a former NBA coach

[KilgoreTrout]

So articulate.

I can't even believe this clip is real.

I get the shakes, when I see that.

 

[Omar The Horse]

Blatt is known not only for playing zone but also famous for disguising his defenses at the start of plays and the switching in the midst of defensive sets to something else. For example, starting out with a zone look, and then moving to man-to-man or a different zone as the play develops. Basically he likes to introduce variables on defense that force the other team to reset or lose time on the clock and have less time to produce a decent shot opportunity. They played some zone toward the end of the Maccabi game. I think the question is not if the Cavs will play zone, but when and how they will play it. I don't think they have advanced anywhere close to the level on defense to handle what he will want them to do eventually. It should be fun to see how well the Cavs take to it and whether it's effective against top teams.

I kinda wish that The Bullshit Whisperer would've followed up there but I guess we will see in the upcoming weeks.

I also saw some half trap attempts in the second half. I haven't seen that in the pros in years.

I like it because if done correctly could throw the opponent off.

 

[bobcat22]

Figured this would be the best place for this. Zach Lowe on Cleveland's title chances:

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/nba-windows-the-cavs-have-all-the-makings-of-a-title-contender/

 

[*L-Train*]

Figured this would be the best place for this. Zach Lowe on Cleveland's title chances:

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/nba-windows-the-cavs-have-all-the-makings-of-a-title-contender/

might be the best article about the Cavs i've read all offseason. one of the more interesting things Lowe brought up:

Cleveland will look as hard for a 3-and-D wing as it will for a rim protector. Hell, it might even get both — one via trade, and the other when buyout candidates start trickling in around January

he thinks the Cavs could benefit (mainly on defense) from bringing in a 3+D wing and move Waiters to the bench. while i kinda agree with him about that i want to see how Dion does on defense first, i still think when he tries he has all the tools to be a good defender, imo it's all about effort with him (on that end of the floor).

 

[Notorious]

Love this.

 

[Bnobli]

might be the best article about the Cavs i've read all offseason. one of the more interesting things Lowe brought up:



he thinks the Cavs could benefit (mainly on defense) from bringing in a 3+D wing and move Waiters to the bench. while i kinda agree with him about that i want to see how Dion does on defense first, i still think when he tries he has all the tools to be a good defender, imo it's all about effort with him (on that end of the floor).

Why do we assume Dion couldn't be this 3 & D guy? He shot over 40% on catch and shoot 3s last yr and 37% overall (nearly the same as love) and is an aggressively strong on ball defender who has proven he can guard all 3 wing positions in the past. I even remember him guarding Lebron in stretches against the Heat last year. Not to mention the added benefit of him being able to put the ball on the floor. If Blatt and Lebron can get him to stay focused and work on his help D and getting back, wouldn't he be the ultimate 3 & D guy? Its not too far fetched to think he could grow in those defensive areas of improvement.

 

[*L-Train*]

Why do we assume Dion couldn't be this 3 & D guy? He shot over 40% on catch and shoot 3s last yr and 37% overall (nearly the same as love) and is an aggressively strong on ball defender who has proven he can guard all 3 wing positions in the past. I even remember him guarding Lebron in stretches against the Heat last year. Not to mention the added benefit of him being able to put the ball on the floor. If Blatt and Lebron can get him to stay focused and work on his help D and getting back, wouldn't he be the ultimate 3 & D guy? Its not too far fetched to think he could grow in those defensive areas of improvement.

that's why i mentioned that we should give Dion some time to prove himself first, he definitely has the tools to become a good defender. his biggest problem was consistency, he was good when he tried (and let's be honest he didn't try very often, he wasn't as bad as Kyrie but not good either)

 

[Simmy]

Today's "David Blatt Quote of the Day" as per the Zach Lowe article:

“I don’t want to talk anymore about how we’re gonna play,” says the Cavaliers’ new coach. “That’s like giving away the store before you open it. I hope we’re gonna play good. How’s that?”

Keep 'em coming, big fella!

 

[breaking bad]

imo, the ideal 2 guard for this cavs team considering roster and coach - is avery bradley.

ball pressure, good open shooter from distance, no offensive ego.

unfortunately signed an extension this summer so won't be available till december (if he's available at all), but if I could chose one "non-allstar" guard for this team - bardley would be it.

 

[BimboColesHair]

imo, the ideal 2 guard for this cavs team considering roster and coach - is avery bradley.

ball pressure, good open shooter from distance, no offensive ego.

unfortunately signed an extension this summer so won't be available till december (if he's available at all), but if I could chose one "non-allstar" guard for this team - bardley would be it.

Would you believe me if I told you, according to 82games.com, Dion held his opposing PGs and SGs to a lower PER than Avery Bradley last season, while also being above average against SFs?

 

[breaking bad]

I obviously would, but for me that says more about PER than it does about the comparison between the two defensively.

imo anyway...

 

[BimboColesHair]

I obviously would, but for me that says more about PER than it does about the comparison between the two defensively.

imo anyway...

Well, if you don't like PER, he also held his opponent to a lower eFG%, iFG%, points per 48 minutes, rebounds per 48 minutes, and forced more turnovers per 48 minutes.

 

[bobcat22]

Defense in the NBA ever since handchecking was outlawed is all about a team's defensive scheme. One-on-one defense is not nearly as important as team defense, which is required by a coach's scheme. How else did San Antonio rank 3rd in the NBA in defense last year with an old and slow(but still effective Tim Duncan), Tony Parker, and Tiago Splitter in the starting lineup? How did Charlotte finish 5th in defense with Big Al anchoring the back line, Josh McRoberts on the wing, Kemba Walker trying to defend point guards, and Gerald Henderson guarding 2's? How about New Orleans, who finished 27th in defense last year despite having Anthony Davis anchoring the back line?

This isn't a league of pure iso-ball anymore. It's a pick and roll, drive and kick league. Rim protectors have disappeared because 5's can shoot threes now, which limits how many blocks a center can get in a game. Gone are the days of any player averaging 4 blocks a game because 3 pointers have increased so dramatically. With the complicated zone defenses now introduced by Thibodeau in Boston, spacing is at a premium. Without it, offenses will struggle. Centers who can't shoot better dominate on the low block or they won't play. This is why Cleveland is not in trouble defensively. David Blatt is a great coach and Tyronn Lue has learned from Doc and Thibs what makes a great D. The scheme will be fine and the Cavs will finish 4th in defensive rating this year. You can book it.

 

[breaking bad]

hold it against me if you like, but no stats are going to convince me that dion waiters is a better defender than avery bradley, or even close to his level.
somehow I got a feeling I'm not alone in this once you go outside a cavs forum.

but it's not just defense in general, and I couldn't care less about how waiters defends small forwards - it's about guard ball pressure.
that's what blatt loves more than anything from his backcourt, that's where bradley is elite, and that's where I think waiters falls short.

 

[Cavatt]

It's waiters off the ball d that is bad. He loses track of his man because he is a ball watcher. Same reason he stands around on O. He has shown himself to be a pretty good on ball defender. Him defending LBJ had to have an impact on how Lebron views him.