Game 16 | Cleveland @ Charlotte | November 27, 2009 | 7:00 PM EST

[Chris]

I sensed the Cavs would fall from the start, so I stopped watching at half time to go spend time with the fam. For once, it was a wise decision. I can't comment on what happened because I only watched half...but what I saw was some of the most lackadaisical defensive play I've seen from us.

 

[Jezzar]

I sensed the Cavs would fall from the start, so I stopped watching at half time to go spend time with the fam. For once, it was a wise decision. I can't comment on what happened because I only watched half...but what I saw was some of the most lackadaisical defensive play I've seen from us.

We actually played very good defense after the 8 min mark of the 4th quarter but we managed to complement it with the most fucked up offense I've seen this year.

 

[Balleration]

If we truly want to win a championship then every game should be considered a must win.

That's not what Phil Jackson says. :chuckles:

It's still early. The Cavs are still learning.

 

[GoGetta]

lol, it's his first game back after we got use to Z again, and we still don't have Delonte back yet. Wait at least until late January to gauge where this team really is. Even then, I wouldn't wait until March to judge the trade, cause then the trade deadline will have passed and hopefully we will have Powe and Delonte (or whoever we may acquire in a trade).

Yeah, because this season would be going SO MUCH BETTER without Shaq....

No but we would be SO MUCH BETTER with kaman, or whoever we couldve got from our expirings.
shaq cant play d, mb doesnt involve him in offense, were better without him..

 

[Obawan12]

He's in the dog house for good reason. He has been given much more rope than pretty much anybody in the league would be given considering the circumstances but now the distraction is overtaking the sympathy and it's time to crack down and demand certain things. If he is not living up to his responsibilities as a professional then there won't be a consistent spot for him on this team. It's sad but true and unfortunately, I see no way we win a Championship as currently constructed without a 100% Delonte contributing to it.

I definitely agree with the bold part, as much I love Delonte if we can swing a trade for a true starting 2 guard or a really good starting PF, we need to do it. However, I honestly believe that if Delonte can get back to last year's status and JJ becomes a consistent scorer, we can it all. However, I think I would be even more confident if we swung a trade involving JJ/Z for a true starting 4, and Powe came back in time to contribute come playoff time.

Mo/Gibson
Delonte/AP
LBJ/Moon
(starting 4)/Powe
Shaq/AV

 

[Backstage]

No but we would be SO MUCH BETTER with kaman, or whoever we couldve got from our expirings.
shaq cant play d, mb doesnt involve him in offense, were better without him..

And now I know not to take your postings seriously. Yikes.

 

[nime]

Jackson was an upgrade. Too bad we didn't get him.

Guy plays shut defense and has a post game.
That alone offsets LBJ not going to the post at all.

We could run our offense through Jax and Shaq in the post. LeIso would be almost eliminated to 10-12 mins a game.

Parker's inability to drive or create his own shot limits the team. He plays good enough defense to be in a bench role.
But when his shot isn't falling, he really shouldn't be on the floor. Gibson is another guy that shouldn't play at all when the shot isn't falling.
Z can be added to the Parker and Gibson group. If we were are playing a small team, he shouldn't play if Shaq is healthy.
Hickson joins the group for his awful defense and rebounding.

AV and Moon are above average. Both help in multiple ways, neither can score on their own.

So we have Mo, LBJ, and Shaq who can create and score on their own.

Delonte would join the group above if he played. We really miss his defense and ability to score in the post, from 3, and off dribble drives.

The team really needs to make a decision soon on Delonte. I agree with the people above, this team won't win a championship without a better starting 2 guard than Parker.
When LBJ decides to not get to the FT and score in the paint, this team lives and dies by the 3.

 

[GoGetta]

And now I know not to take your postings seriously. Yikes.

okay you can stay in denial all you want.

 

[Wine and Gold]

Doesn't take too much analyzing and deep thought to figure out the issues with the Cavs tonight, and really the entire season so far.

We are playing with this cocky, lazy, carefree attitude that we can coast defensively for 3 1/2 quarters, and then turn it on when we feels like it and beat up on people comng down the stretch and ultimately beat them.

We keep this thought pattern up, we will pay for it by losing a good many of games like these that if we had come to play our best for 48 minutes it wouldn't have been much of a contest.

Mike Brown needs to make a statement and get this thought process nipped in the bud. He needs to begin with his superstar, who is leading by example with this pattern of play.

The way the team is taking on thier opponents collectively mirrors Lebron's.

Hard to come down on the guy, but, it is what it is. It's not like it's hard to see ..it's right there hitting us between the eyes the 1st three quarters of every game just about.

 

[MDLT]

Gotta agree with W & G. Its kinda of staring you right in the face when you're watching these games. We're good enough to overcome of it against many teams (though we've played a pretty weak sched so far, which will change) but it won't keep up.

 

[nime]

Doesn't take too much analyzing and deep thought to figure out the issues with the Cavs tonight, and really the entire season so far.

We are playing with this cocky, lazy, carefree attitude that we can coast defensively for 3 1/2 quarters, and then turn it on when we feels like it and beat up on people comng down the stretch and ultimately beat them.

We keep this thought pattern up, we will pay for it by losing a good many of games like these that if we had come to play our best for 48 minutes it wouldn't have been much of a contest.

Mike Brown needs to make a statement and get this thought process nipped in the bud. He needs to begin with his superstar, who is leading by example with this pattern of play.

The way the team is taking on thier opponents collectively mirrors Lebron's.

Hard to come down on the guy, but, it is what it is. It's not like it's hard to see ..it's right there hitting us between the eyes the 1st three quarters of every game just about.

Its not just the effort. The team is going through a revolving door of rotations.
The one thing that was great last year was health and consistency.

Everyone knew their role and the starting lineup got to play a good stretch together before a major injury. Shaq's return hurt the team offensively and defensively. Mike Brown still is messing with the subs. I couldn't tell you what 5 we have started the last 5 games in the 2nd quarter.

Team needs to make a decision on Delonte. It obvious he needs to start or they need to get a guy in here to start over him. The rotations that follow need to be solidified.

Going to Danny Green tonight made no sense. The team stuggled with the move despite the one shot he made. They struggled offensively and didn't recover from that after a nice strong finish to the 3rd quarter.

 

[StoneColdLeBronSkywalker5]

It may just be me, but it looks like LBJ detests playing with Shaq. And from the looks of things, except for Moon, and occassionally Boobie, and JJ, he doesn't seem to enjoy the team. I would say not like last season, when they seemed so tight, but it seems he is distant, and acts like he is above everyone else.

 

[The_L_Train]

Way too much inconsistency. Cavs are being too complacent. They need to learn that they can't just turn it on in the fourth and expect to win games like these.

Oh, and...

Gerald Wallace straight up outplayed LBJ's ass tonight.

 

[Obawan12]

It may just be me, but it looks like LBJ detests playing with Shaq. And from the looks of things, except for Moon, and occassionally Boobie, and JJ, he doesn't seem to enjoy the team. I would say not like last season, when they seemed so tight, but it seems he is distant, and acts like he is above everyone else.

While I disagree, you can't say he doesn't enjoy playing with Mo. Really the only other (somewhat) consistent player on the team besides LBJ.

 

[Sinorda]

Time for the FO to make a move. I know their will be more people available after Dec 15th, but there will be more teams available to trade too!

Like one of the above posters said: This team isn't winning a championship as currently constructed!

As for what Wine & Gold said: There isn't a whole lot MB can do with LeBron right now. If he were to make a statement by benching him for part of a game, then he runs the risk of the Cavs losing LeBron to free-agency...even if it is unlikely that he leaves. The fact that he has the option puts MB in a precarious position, as he could follow the pattern of past COY winners, and lose his job _Gilbert & Ferry want LeBron a lot more than they want MB. So that means that MB has to try and convince LBJ to play harder w/o taking the chance of pissing him off.

Glad I'm not in his shoes.