Game 6 | Cavaliers vs Bulls | November 5, 2009 | 8:00 PM EST

[abuC]

I really hope there's no doubt that Z has to be traded, whether he's bought out or not, the Cavs need more talent.

 

[Randolphkeys]

At least our defense has grown by leaps and bounds since last week. We need to dedicate more time to Big Z with starters he is comfortable playing along side. He is an under-utilized asset at this point.

 

[theSTEREO.]

Good analysis from Windy:

Please file the memory of the ending of the Cavs' 86-85 loss to the Bulls for later reference. Most specifically when people complain about LeBron James passing too often with a chance to take the last shot. Also, please put it in the opposing view file when it is suggested that Mr. James gets all calls. This goes next to the games are rigged, David Stern tells the officials to protect stars, etc., etc. (*edit* So cool it wiz fans ) Sometimes it is better to pass and sometimes the officials make the correct call regardless of the player involved.

After watching the replay, it seems pretty clear that Joakim Noah went straight up and did foul LeBron under the rules. The photo above seems to back this up, LeBron is creating the contact going into Noah's airspace. It did appear Luol Deng put his hands on James going to the basket, which is a foul in most circumstances. But not there and nor should it be. The Cavs' protests after the game were tepid, they had seen the replays after all. They also knew that allowing 86 points on your home floor should be enough to win.

* In the locker room after the game, both LeBron and Shaquille O'Neal were pretty much at peace. They both feel like the Cavs are hurting themselves and that they'll work things out in time. Neither of them showed the slightest bit of distress whatsoever. In fact, both were in perky moods. Shaq did play reasonably well tonight with 14 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks. He's getting burned at times on rebounds because of his lack of lateral speed but this isn't breaking news and it isn't fatal. But in many of the halfcourt sets the Cavs ran for him, he was ineffective. He turned the ball over and didn't set up his teammates well. In other words, the exact opposite from what happened Tuesday.

* There are a lot of issues to be discussed with Mike Brown's rotation tonight, however, start with this. On a night when the offense was poor and no one could hit a shot, why does Anthiny Parker get 35 minutes and a struggling Delonte West get 27 minutes while Daniel Gibson (hit 3-of-4 shots and 2-of-3 3s) only got 16. Jamario Moon didn't play at all. Now, sure it could be the Bulls matchups but this didn't seem to bother Mike Brown when he was putting Shaq and Zydrunas Ilgauskas out together against the Bulls athletic bigs.

Vinny Del Negro couldn't get his good-shooting bigs out there fast enough in the fourth quarter when he saw Shaq and Z out there. I'm not saying the match won't work against certain teams like, say, Washington and the Lakers. But it doesn't seem like it can work against teams like, say, Toronto and Chicago. And, for that matter, New York either. Perhaps I'll be proven incorrect on this. If Z had one 1-of-9 instead of 0-of-9 in theory the Cavs would have won. Obviously it creates problems for the other team but Mike Brown thinks defense first and defensively, this is often a bad idea. I think it is a mistake to try it every night.

* J.J. Hickson is going the wrong direction. This game may rank up there with one of the worst of his career. He played three minutes, took three bad shots and then was swatted at the rim on his fourth. With Anderson Varejao playing so well -- though, as an aside here is there a sale on reverse layups or something, even the Bulls where throwing them up there -- I can't see how Hickson earns more time. Three straight double doubles for Varejao. Not that anyone gets a pass for him taking a jumper in the final two minutes of a close game.

* The Cavs used some sets tonight I haven't seen them use much before or at all. One had LeBron in the corner with Shaq on the block and Mo Williams on the wing. Then they can operate out of it with movement depending on where a double team to Shaq might come from. But tonight they didn't run it well and Shaq didn't make the right decisions or execute several passes. Then Williams had a terrible shooting night, going 4-of-13.

This is a play that makes sense. LeBron loves the corner 3, Mo loves the wing 3 and you can't leave either of them. So if the countermeasure is for the defense to bring help from the weakside, Shaq would need to dump off to a cutting big man or other wing for spot-up jumper. This is prudent offense, heck this is the sort of stuff the Orlando Magic run all the time.

The Cavs just aren't executing much. I know they get ripped for having bad offense but this is a play that should work. The Cavs obviously just need more practice with it. Which goes back to my point that I'm not sure enough was done in the preseason with offense, not all the play designs themselves.

 

[QUI23]

Mike Brown is a fucking Potato Head. Dumb ass

 

[PIP]

This team looks old and slow... They remind me of the 2002 Jazz with Stock and Malone..

Not feeling this squad at all...

 

[QUI23]

Mike Brown will never learn

 

[theSTEREO.]

Coming to grips with reality.. This team as currently constructed will not be hoisting the Larry O'Brien..

Not exactly.

As currently constructed, it can be.

Not as currently coached by Mike Brown.

Something needs to change. Let's hope that it's a matter of philosophy adjustment and practice.

 

[kosis]

Mike Brown would be a great video coordinator.

 

[PIP]

Not exactly.

As currently constructed, it can be.

Not as currently coached by Mike Brown.

Something needs to change. Let's hope that it's a matter of philosophy adjustment and practice.

This isn't a championship caliber front court, Stereo.. I don't think it matters who's coaching this group.. When you don't have any athleticism up front, or a dominant post player, it's tough...

 

[Zog]

This isn't a championship caliber front court, Stereo.. I don't think it matters who's coaching this group.. When you don't have any athleticism up front, or a dominant post player, it's tough...

Shaq is not dominant enough? The last two games I thought he played pretty well. If we would have gotten him 5 more touches, we probably win the game. Noah had no chance most of the time.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Pip is baiting. Or doesn't know hoops. In other words, baiting.

Mike Malone: you are in charge of this offense. Make everything okay, and when Brown is fired, RCF will clamor for you to get the head job.

That is all.

 

[theSTEREO.]

This isn't a championship caliber front court, Stereo.. I don't think it matters who's coaching this group.. When you don't have any athleticism up front, or a dominant post player, it's tough...

I hope you're wrong, but I won't fault you for your opinion either. it's tough to watch right now.

But, it's just too early for me to say that adding Shaq to this team won't work, and that he won't play well for us and give us what we need.

I mean, it's not like we're just replacing our old post player... We're adding something completely and totally brand new. We have guys with really high basketball IQ's on this team, so I see no reason that this team can't get this thing humming soon.

It's been only 6 games, and it's looked darn good for 3 of 'em. I wish it was easier, but I'd say that's a decent start for adding something huge, crazy and new to a team that was finely in tune with each other last year.

I just can't make that kind of judgment this early.

 

[Andrew]

What is up with the turnovers? I mean seriously, its like turnovers galore for this team. They need more time to gel but this is getting scary.

I hope we destroy the Knicks and move on.


I want to forget tonight's game, how does a team that prides themselves on defense allow a point guard to go coast to coast for a layup in the weening moments?

 

[Randolphkeys]

I want to forget tonight's game, how does a team that prides themselves on defense allow a point guard to go coast to coast for a layup in the weening moments?

An absolutely poor lineup on the floor. That, and Rose is talented.

 

[PIP]

Shaq is not dominant enough? The last two games I thought he played pretty well. If we would have gotten him 5 more touches, we probably win the game. Noah had no chance most of the time.

Nope.. Not when you have to force feed him the ball.. Nor when you watch him turn his shoulder and turn the ball over all the damn time..

Numbers don't always mean dominance... Furthermore, lets not be fooled by performances against lower tier interior opponents...

Again, Shaq (in theory) is nice to have, but this isn't a dominant force... For fuck sakes, the last hook shot he took was 15 feet away from the damn rim...When does Shaquille O'neal have to take jump hooks by the FT line ?? Though, it's probably still better than LeBron taking another ill-advised 3 pointer when were down four with under two minutes to go... Bad habits...