Game 2 | Cavaliers vs Raptors | October 28, 2009 | 7:00 PM EST

[IBleedWine&Gold]

I think that many people on this forum need to settle down. This is the second game of an 82 game season. While in these two games we have looked bad, all i can say is to look at the name of the website, Real Cavs Fans, if you were truly that, you would not make all of these outlandish claims to fire Mike Brown, and that we are not going to win the Finals. The Cavs as a team our hopefully embarrassed by their performances and will work to get better.

 

[rocky145]

so when delonte its coming back?

 

[GreenCup09]

You're a blind homer if you think there is no need to show concern. NOT FREAK OUT, but show genuine concern. Tonight's performance was unacceptable.

 

[dirtywax]

Most of us know that Mike Brown cannot lead us to the promise land. If you win 66 games, get home court throughout the playoffs, and still lose...it's time for a coaching change.

The thing is, we can't change coaches until the season ends.

Also, no need to get crazy until we do not gel after game 25. Then, we can start jumping off highway bridges.

 

[CardiacCavs]

Via Hollinger Twitter:http://twitter.com/johnhollinger/status/5247324712

Fact Cleveland fans should take to heart right now: Orlando lost its first two games last year to Atlanta and Memphis

 

[udilicious42584]

I think Ferry will now feel the pressure after this game on a few subjects... And he may have to man up on a couple of things.



- A decision needs to be made with Delonte. He is the difference right now, and he is nowhere to be found. He can practice with the team, travel with the team, warmup with the team, but isn't even on the bench? Bottom line is he is a professional who is making over $4 million a year and is sitting out when he's needed most. If you think about it, by the time he comes back it'll be time for his court date, and then after that Delonte might fall into another rutt after sentencing (whatever that happens to be). We're babying this situation with way too much on the line for the franchise.



- What will Ferry do with Z? It's nice to keep big loyal Z around, but his identity with the team has been lost. Coming over the bench he looks horrible. He has no offensive rhythm with his benchmates, and he cannot cover younger, more athletic PF and Cs. If GS wants Z, and we can get a quality starter like Stephen Jackson, the Cavs may have to pursue that. If a trade goes down, AP can move to the bench. I just don't like him as a starter, he is soft and too tentative.

 

[Chris]

If we lose against Minnesota it may be time to just bring West back, period. In fact, that time may have come already.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

Barn Yanni got 25 of his 28 points when Shaq was on the floor...

It's time for Brown to alter his damn defense.

 

[camakazee]

Don't want to interrupt the witch hunt or try and rationalize with the negative nancies, but I just got home from work a while ago (before server crashed) and want to know what happened. I was updating every two seconds on my phone at work so I saw we crawled back from 21 down to tie it, but then let it all slide away.

What's the biggest issue? Poor rotations? Flat out inability to stop their runs? Lack of defensive intensity?

I'm obviously a little upset, but no need to write us off as a championship contender after two games. That is ridiculous. The 2005-06 Miami Heat (a team with, you guessed it, Shaquille O'Neal) went 2-3 in their first five games before winning an NBA championship much later that season. To be honest, with the obstacle of reworking Delonte West into the rotation ahead of us, I expect it to get worse before it gets better. Right now we have so many players adjusting to new roles. Parker and Shaq ripped from their teams and transplanted as starters on a new team this season. Anderson Varejao, despite starting the second half of last season, entering his first season as the starter out of training camp. Jamario Moon on a new team in a guaranteed reserve role (he was able to compete for the job and start in both Toronto and Miami). And the biggest move, Zydrunas Ilgauskas to the bench for the first time since 2002.

In fact, outside of LeBron, our biggest contributor that doesn't have to adjust is Mo Williams, who is only entering only his second season as a Cavalier (Daniel Gibson's role is seemingly redefined every year ). So it's going to be sloppy--understandably so. But to write off the team after two games and immediately call for the coach's head, Shaquille O'Neal to be traded, and to chastise our front office is downright dumb. Give it time, let these guys get worked into the system, let's see how we look with our heart (West) back in the rotation, and then criticize. But damn, 2 games?

 

[Thunder]

I too noticed that Bargnani scored when Shaq played. It's obvious Shaq is meant to be in the lane, not guard a 3pt shooting center like Bargs. Which is why Sheed is gonna give us problems in Boston. But we need to make adjustments accordingly. Shaq on Bosh....Andy on Bargs...anything.

 

[elcheato]

I too noticed that Bargnani scored when Shaq played. It's obvious Shaq is meant to be in the lane, not guard a 3pt shooting center like Bargs. Which is why Sheed is gonna give us problems in Boston. But we need to make adjustments accordingly. Shaq on Bosh....Andy on Bargs...anything.

That's why when we play Boston, you put the PF on Sheed..

 

[Shakalu M.D.]

Don't want to interrupt the witch hunt or try and rationalize with the negative nancies, but I just got home from work a while ago (before server crashed) and want to know what happened. I was updating every two seconds on my phone at work so I saw we crawled back from 21 down to tie it, but then let it all slide away.

What's the biggest issue? Poor rotations? Flat out inability to stop their runs? Lack of defensive intensity?

I'm obviously a little upset, but no need to write us off as a championship contender after two games. That is ridiculous. The 2005-06 Miami Heat (a team with, you guessed it, Shaquille O'Neal) went 2-3 in their first five games before winning an NBA championship much later that season. To be honest, with the obstacle of reworking Delonte West into the rotation ahead of us, I expect it to get worse before it gets better. Right now we have so many players adjusting to new roles. Parker and Shaq ripped from their teams and transplanted as starters on a new team this season. Anderson Varejao, despite starting the second half of last season, entering his first season as the starter out of training camp. Jamario Moon on a new team in a guaranteed reserve role (he was able to compete for the job and start in both Toronto and Miami). And the biggest move, Zydrunas Ilgauskas to the bench for the first time since 2002.

In fact, outside of LeBron, our biggest contributor that doesn't have to adjust is Mo Williams, who is only entering only his second season as a Cavalier (Daniel Gibson's role is seemingly redefined every year ). So it's going to be sloppy--understandably so. But to write off the team after two games and immediately call for the coach's head, Shaquille O'Neal to be traded, and to chastise our front office is downright dumb. Give it time, let these guys get worked into the system, let's see how we look with our heart (West) back in the rotation, and then criticize. But damn, 2 games?

There was very little defensive intensity. We looked like the Cavs of old when we cut the lead down, playing good D. First half D was atrocious, 4th wasn't good either. Bargnani is the kinda center you don't want Shaq guarding, one who can step out and nail the jumper. Shaq had foul trouble early.

The refs called every ticky tack call for Bosh, it was disgusting. Couple poor defensive effort with ice cold shooting in the first half and that pretty much explains our problems. I think it will get sorted out, they showed they had the ability to be an elite defensive team that we're all used to, they just need to get out of pre-season mode.

 

[Mr. McTavish]

Via Hollinger Twitter:http://twitter.com/johnhollinger/status/5247324712

Fact Cleveland fans should take to heart right now: Orlando lost its first two games last year to Atlanta and Memphis

And they lost in the Finals. Don't make us bear another heartbreak like that.

 

[The Common Man]

[Deleted]

 

[chrisrich91]

What's the biggest issue? Poor rotations? Flat out inability to stop their runs? Lack of defensive intensity?

Poor rotations: check
Inability to stop their runs: check
Lack of intensity: double check

We looked very disinterested in the first half and we fell behind because of it. Shaq had to guard Bargnani/Bosh which was a matchup that was easily taken advantage of because of Shaq's lack of mobility.

Coming out of halftime we had loads of intensity and it showed. We cut the lead while playing small ball and inspired defense. What stalled the run? Shaq and Z for LeBron sub. Raptors instantly shot back ahead because of the shitty Shaq and Z combo and by the time LeBron came in, it was too late.

It can all be fixed. There's no reason to panic. Stuart Scott just mentioned on ESPN how the last time we started 0-2 we didn't make the playoffs. This is frustrating BULLSHIT. We'll be fine once we get our best guard back and once we get some time to refine the defense and rotations. It's gonna be tough and it'll probably cost us the 1st seed, but we'll be fine.