Game 38 | Cleveland @ Denver | January 8, 2010 | 10:30 EST

[zoomlebron]

The only problem with that is that we've seen repeatedly that Lebron is the catalyst for team effort. When he plays lazily, the entire team follows suit. Ditto when he plays with energy.

For someone who takes great pains to constantly refer to himself as leader of the team, accountability for effort (his own and the team as a whole) has to fall on his shoulders. He didn't have the world's most inefficient game tonight (although he didn't shoot well from the field and turned the ball over like a fiend), but he certainly didn't lead the team tonight either, which is where I have a big problem.

Sorry but I just can't honestly say that LeBron was to blame for Mike Brown's inept choice of rotations to start the 4th or the fact that our bigs were getting constantly abused on pick and rolls. I'm in no way saying LeBron played his best, I'm simply saying that those thinking LeBron is the reason we lost need to get a dose of reality. Leader or not this team still has issues, some of which are the same as last year. We still don't have an answer for the pick and roll and more importantly, we still don't have enough consistent scoring options.

 

[Kongo Time]

Its concerning we cant finish a fucking game to save our life any more.

fuck this. its either a blowout or we lose in a close one. we should have 5 fucking losses MAX right now, not fucking 10.

Regualr season means nothing right now. We have the second best winning percentage and have beat most of the top teams.

 

[imshakheisshaq]

Look man he should have played more but really doubt it would have helped that much. Denver runs an up tempo game and it's hard to get an old shaq playing time when facing a team that runs. Nene, Birdman and K Mart are all twice as fast as Shaq so he did not play much. When Powe gets back that will give us two post players that can keep up with faster teams. Also when Moon is back that will give us a guy that can play the four when facing a faster team.

i sent a thanks 4 powe coming back soon. BTW, I think Nene scored maybe twice with shaq on him! MB left Z to give up like 6 in a row to Nene in the 4th when shaq had one more to give!

 

[imshakheisshaq]

I hope Mo doesn't look like this in the playoffs when he runs into another good pg! Foul some1 at the least!!!

 

[blazenmp]

We need to stop playing to just defend - sometimes, a game calls for making the other team try to play our game. Without a coach who is capable of making adjustments, this will never happen.

 

[daytripper]

The Nuggets frontcourt is so much more athletic than the Cavs. I don't see how Jamison solves that issue although it would've been nice to have another player create his own shot out there tonight.

Mo's attempt at defense was just flat out disgusting yet again. Mo and Parker just don't have the chemistry in the backcourt. Why is Parker getting 32 minutes of PT? He looked just as unathletic as our frontcourt trying to defend Afflalo and JR. I feel bad for Boobie..he's really getting shafted here. Why can't Gibson get a few minutes when West is running the point?

The Cavs need to make 2 trades. They seriously need an upgrade in the frontcourt and a starting SG.

 

[Brandname]

Sorry but I just can't honestly say that LeBron was to blame for Mike Brown's inept choice of rotations to start the 4th or the fact that our bigs were getting constantly abused on pick and rolls. I'm in no way saying LeBron played his best, I'm simply saying that those thinking LeBron is the reason we lost need to get a dose of reality. Leader or not this team still has issues, some of which are the same as last year. We still don't have an answer for the pick and roll and more importantly, we still don't have enough consistent scoring options.

Don't get me wrong, Lebron isn't the only one to blame here. There's way more than enough blame to go around. But if the team plays lazy it's often because they're following his lead. That's where I think he's at fault.

 

[blazenmp]

The Cavs need to make 2 trades. They seriously need an upgrade in the frontcourt and a starting SG.

I'd prefer a dynamic coach or a dependable SG from the bench.

 

[blazenmp]

I'd prefer a dynamic coach or a dependable SG from the bench.

Even at SG, I still think he plays more of a PG....

 

[Frank Reynolds]

Plain and simple Mo could not deal with Billups size and strength.

Lack of Ball Movement in this one too

 

[kookoo]

Don't get me wrong, Lebron isn't the only one to blame here. There's way more than enough blame to go around. But if the team plays lazy it's often because they're following his lead. That's where I think he's at fault.

I don't know. There were at least 4 bs calls on LeBron this game. The out of bound ones especially since he moved towards the rim in all of those possessions. If the wanted to call that, they should have done it when he received the ball. Same with the travelling. The refs were really one sided and without LeBron playing the way he did, we would have lost the game by 10 easily. He got hacked going to the rim,they gave them that clear path violation when Mo was also clearly ahead of JR and the Nugs got away with everything.

 

[GoGetta]

Regualr season means nothing right now. We have the second best winning percentage and have beat most of the top teams.

what a load of shit. have you seen the standings? 2 games on the road in the reg. season doesnt convince me were a dominant road team against the elites. were going for home court throughout the p.o's not just the 1st round.

dont give me the regular season means nothing

 

[Andrew]

I am extremely positive this outcome was determined by the following two aspects of the game tonight:
1) The lackadaisical effort to start the game because Denver was without their superstar, in which allowed lesser defended opponents light you up from the beginning in Martin, as well as expecting Billups to not come out swinging for the fences. How long has this guy been in the league? You hate him when he is on the opponent, but you love him if he suited up for your team.
2) The officiating. Yes, I said it. The officiating made it a point tonight to set up for a physical matchup and yet the only ones physical for a while were the Denver Nuggets. This allowed some bad calls (Andy straight up on the defender, etc) that set the tone for the rest of the night. When LeBron drived to the basket on numerous occasions and the announcers were star struck by his sheer ability to finish a play, he was hit. When Shaq fights for position with Anderson and the heavily tattooed man puts all his weight into Shaq and Shaq is called for trying to maintain his balance.

That is what made the Cleveland Cavaliers lose tonight.

 

[jlegg21]

At least Shaq plays physical at the rim. As soon as he went out, flood of paint points for the Nugs. Z showed the world (28mins, 5 rebs, and a whole lot of blown coverages) what he has left, and it isnt much.

Go get Jamison...

 

[Andrew]

double post, sorry.