Game 28 | Cleveland Cavaliers (17-10) @ Miami Heat (13-16) | December 25, 2014 | 5:00 pm EST

[KilgoreTrout]

This isn't just about tonight, it is symptomatic of a bigger issue. Who knows, perhaps being frozen out of the offense has the guy pissed off and frustrated. Saw it tonight, early, yelling at teammates when he had good position in the block or when wide open. But, by all means, overlook the real problem, which is that they have no offensive system. The Cavs need him to do well on offense to win in the long-term. That is simple. They can continue to ride out the "Love doesn't need shots to contribute, he must sacrifice, he'll understand" train night after night right into offseason, having not won shit, and with him packing his bags.

It's also bullshit to say because he was never going to be the primary weapon on offense that we should expect them to not use him effectively. They sure as fuck didn't trade Wiggins for Love's defense. That said, what sort of sense does it make not to integrate him into the offense?

Love is the canary in the coal-mine. Because he isn't a ball handler that can shoot whenever he pleases, he is a barometer for ball movement, spacing, match-up recognition, the effectiveness of sets and P&Rs. The past couple weeks the offense has been inconsistent. Right now, this team needs the coach to impose his will and his system or they aren't going anywhere and they will have traded away the farm for nothing.

Didn't Love, himself, say that the system was complicated and confusing? Perhaps Love isn't as involved as he should be, because he doesn't understand the system as well as he should...

 

[brownindian]

I know people are ranting about the defense but i feel that this game could have been won with just our offense clicking. The amount of bad shots we took and missed was just horrible. I understand that we are soft and not defensively great but that was expected and it was going to take time for this team to get it going defensively. But offense is what we are built on - and it is not excusable for our offense to put up this kind of putrid display. I mean it is our bread and butter and we botched it.

 

[KLove14]

My new Christmas wish is please blatt can u put lebron on blast

This can't happen. It's Lebron not KI or Love. He has to go along with him. The management will do everything they can to not displease LBJ this time around.

 

[David Blatt]

Some of the memes out there are hilarious. This loss is a good learning experience.

 

[Sebastian]

Didn't Love, himself, say that the system was complicated and confusing? Perhaps Love isn't as involved as he should be, because he doesn't understand the system as well as he should...

What system?

 

[David Blatt]

 

[Rich]

Is it not possible that one fixes the other? The offense would allow for others to get involved, and to not have Lebron expend a ton of energy every possession, hence he can focus a bit more on defense, which is sorely needed. I don't know if you noticed but the body language out there is horrible. I never thought I'd see the day that waiters would yell at Lebron.....and I actually agreed with him.....that says something.

You're dancing around the issue. Between the two, is the defense not a much bigger concern than the offense? We've seen how many quarters this season where our offense was cruising (particularly first quarters) but the other team still managed to shoot appalling percentages those same quarters. And no one was tired in those 1st quarters and the other team was taking the ball out of the basket over and over so they weren't getting easy run out baskets. And still we stopped no one.

Last week's Atlanta game is one good example. We scored at will in the first quarter, but couldn't stop Atlanta. They shot well over 50% in the first quarter and finished with 26 points. Or the game against Brooklyn. Scored 26 1st quarter points but gave up 34. Or the New Orleans game. Scored 33 and gave up 33. And these are just recent games. I could go on and on where, even in really good offensive quarters, we still can't defend. So no, I don't think improving the offense from where it is now (really good) will have a big impact on our defense. I'd say it's far more likely that improving our defense will have a greater impact on our offense, wherein we can stop taking the ball out of the basket so much and get out on the break more because of it.

Even when our offense has been at peak levels our defense is still letting us down. If I'm looking to fix an area it's defense first.

The offense would allow for others to get involved, and to not have Lebron expend a ton of energy every possession, hence he can focus a bit more on defense, which is sorely needed.

And for anyone who cares LeBron's usage is lower than last season, and the exact same as the season before. LeBron is playing like he's always played on offense. He will continue to do so.

 

[KLove14]

What system?

Exactly...

 

[Sebastian]

 

[Rich]

Willard said roughly what I was going to say. The way you run the offense has a significant impact on the effectiveness of the defense.

And this works both ways. When you're constantly taking the ball out of your own net, you severely limit your chances at pushing the pace and getting easy buckets. Considering we are one of the most efficient offenses in the league, it's hard for me to agree that our offense is severely limiting our defense. It's the other way around.

 

[ice cream man]

This is what happens when you don't show up for the majority of the game. I mean the Heat without Bosh are a really shitty team. I know Wade going off in the first half was partially because Miller was guarding him. That, and starting Marion were poor decisions by Blatt. But our offense is still mostly ISO pick and roll (not even with Love). We are not playing "with" each other on either end.

 

[crowned1]

The good thing I learned from this game is that waiters is playing team basketball if he gets the ball enough andn ot standing there while LeIso is working.
they need to set picks for waiters to penetrate and dish, I love waiters fo far and Kyrie the thing that sucks are the remaining pieces

 

[Rich]

The good thing I learned from this game is that waiters is playing team basketball if he gets the ball enough andn ot standing there while LeIso is working.
they need to set picks for waiters to penetrate and dish, I love waiters fo far and Kyrie the thing that sucks are the remaining pieces

You are such a prisoner of the moment.

 

[crowned1]

You are such a prisoner of the moment.

Perhaps, I just don't like Lebron playing hero ball and it's hard for me to watch..
I'm just gonna have to detach till they sort things out man.
Do you love what you see?

 

[Willard513]

And this works both ways. When you're constantly taking the ball out of your own net, you severely limit your chances at pushing the pace and getting easy buckets. Considering we are one of the most efficient offenses in the league, it's hard for me to agree that our offense is severely limiting our defense. It's the other way around.

If there is a semblance of a half court offense being used and a strong fast break offense then it makes it easier to bear the brunt of the issues the defense causes. I understand we are a very efficient offensive team, but defensive systems are much easier to learn than offense. Improving our offense now would hence make some of the issues defensively not appear on surface value as bad. Then targeting specific needs and people to fill needs can help both sides of the ball. Then an extremely efficient offense with a average to above average defense is much more feasible. Fact is, when an offense is efficient, and everyone is involved, typically team energy goes up on the defensive end. We can't teach size and strength, but effort is definitely fixable. With a team offense, team defense can become more contagious and can be more effective due to guys "buying in". Both need to be addressed, but fixing the offense may serve as a bandaid until the defense can be fixed via trade, FA, etc.