Is it time to make a move ?

[PIP]

Raptors-America (aka Cavaliers) just lost to the Hawks, on their home floor nonetheless

The team is showing no heart, intensity, or a team that will make the playoffs...

We are a quarter of the games played through the season... IT'S NOT EARLY ANYMORE.

So, in the light of the Artest rumors, other then that deal, since there is a high probability that deal won't happen.. Is there another deal out there that could and more importantly SHOULD be made ?

Is it too early to start changing pieces, or should the Cavs be the aggressors and start to explore deals ?

Clearly, this paticular mix is not playing well enough to compete with average teams, much less teams that are in that upper tier...

We must improve the perimeter scoring (mainly from the PG spot)
Snow - is scared to shoot the rock in crucial times...
Jones - Has the defense of a traffic cone..
We need that Pg that can hit the mid range shot at the elbows and play some defense.. KEEP THE DRIBBLE ALIVE not just hit shots, but look to score.

The interior defense is terrible..Drew and Z in the middle is like Kleenex and a paper towel... Both are soft
I know we can't get rid of the Ivory Jabbar, so that makes Drew the odd man out..

The Bench needs a power bar... We need some energy, scoring, toughness, and rebounding off the bench...

The Cavs are rolling 7 deep, and since Snow scores as often as Mini Z, we only roll 6 deep offensively..

I'm all for it.... Change it up....

 

[Rimage]

I think it is. We have to trade to get some heart and hustle players in here. Snow, Gooden, Jones and Jackson are all viable options to get something in here we need.

 

[Ron Mexic]

Anyway we can get Earl Watson here? He's probably one of the more realistic acquisitions that are out there.

 

[LyXo]

No moves are necessary, no moves should be made.

I would do this though. Forfeit 10 games. Give them up. In that time, take the team on a dungeon training camp. Torture them to learn defense. Make them gel as a team of rotation. Yes, the horror.

That said, this team just needs to gel. Trades won't help. We need to get to know each other more and make sure we know where we need to be on defense. That's really the gist of it, gaining that defensive mentality that's being preached.

 

[Troy Wingate]

Sorry, I want Ron Artest in Cleveland ASAP. That guys plays with so much passion and pride it's incredible, and he's one of the Top 3 defenders in the league, plus he can score, pass and bring alot of toughness to this weak Cavalier team.

Sorry Larry Hughes, but it does seem as though you weren't a good pick-up as first thought. You played us well, put on a show in Washington last season, get paid, then play crap. You gotta go son.

 

[Glen Infante]

Mabey it's time to give Latrell Sprewell a look?

 

[Troy Wingate]

Hmm, tough choice, Ron Artest or Latrell Sprewell, Ron Artest or Latrell Sprewell.....hmmm. I pick...











Ron Artest.

 

[TyGuy]

Get larry Hughes out of here, i have already taken him off my myspace page..... Now its time to make it official.

 

[TJ_4_CV31]

Disclaimer: All kidding aside, this is a serious post for REAL Cavs fans that I have a lot of respect for: LePip, HPD, INFANTE, CDT, Lyxo, Ben, Karma, and those others that will take an objective opinion for what it's worth. Please do not turn this thread into a bash fest. We should be done with that now that that other game is over. I did my part but now I'm done. Back to good basketball talk.

To the question of what ills the Cavs, let's first look at what doesn't ill the Cavs. Take comfort in Lebron James, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Donyell Marshall, Drew Gooden, and eventually Larry Hughes. This team also will be bolstered by the return of defensive minded players like Varejao (who's still developing) and Newble. Although it pains me to admit it, Eric Snow can even be servicable if he's properly coached. He has a confidence problem on offense and something has to be done to get him to the point where he's at least comfortable ATTEMPTING 8 shots per game.

Here's a list, no particular order, of how I think Brown can start getting things turned around:

Lebron James: We're very aware of the positives that he brings to the table. The question is whether or not coach Brown has the credibility, power, or ability to address Lebron's issues (shot selection, game management, defensive committment...effort on Josh Smith's breakaway dunk = pathetic). Special players need special coaches (Kobe/Jackson, Shaq/Riley, Iverson/Brown) to help them reach their full potential. I don't think Brown alone can impact Lebron's development. He needs to go outside of the box. A special assistant is the order of the day. The cerebral Phil Jackson has already brought in the likes of Ron Harper and Scottie Pippen as players that could if necessary pull Kobe aside and give him tips on winning basketball games, while having the clout to get Kobe's ear. Would a guy like Karl Malone be interested???

Larry Hughes: The easiest thing to do would be for Hughes to find a jump shot. However, we know that he is what he is....a slasher, scorer. If the jumper doesn't come around, it may be in the Cavs best interest to give him a look at point gaurd upon the return of Ira Newble, who needs to start at 2 gaurd for defensive purposes (or the 3 if Bron plays 2).

Zydrunas Ilgauskas: Again I say, the Cavs most indispensible player. Keep on doing what your doing Z. Opponents understand the problems that you present inside in the paint. YOU are the one that we don't want to get off. Sure your not the swiftest big man in the league, but you'll soon have a changeup coming off of injured reserve. The Cavs offense needs to adjust to YOU not you to it.

Drew Gooden: Poor guy. A talented player afflicted with the Gadzuric virus...the uncanny ability to get in his own way. Still a very productive player on most nights. May have confidence issues due to lack of support and leadership from veterans and Lebron James who showed him up after HE made a bad pass against the Hawks. How about a "my bad" Bron, even if for the sake of keeping your young power forward's spirits up.

Damon Jones: I would only put this guy into the game when the Cavs are down by 10+ (offense) or up by 10+. Damon's positive impact is as a gamebreaker. He's the guy that you want to take shots from deep when the team is trying to stretch a 10 point lead into a 15+ point lead. When the game is floating between 8 points either way, Snow is the better option. Jones can also be used in an offense/defense sub in sub out situation late in a close game. Timeouts have to be preserved to use him this way.

Donyell Marshall: He's allright. Needs to give the Cavs more on the interior on offense and defense. Could be another coaching issue there. He shouldn't be allowed to have the mindset of a three point sniper. He should be coached to be a power forward that has the ABILITY to step out and shoot the 3 (Rasheed Wallace).

Eric Snow: Even a bad shooter (Ford) needs to put up shots to keep the defense honest. Brown must make sure that Snow attempts around 8 shots per night. Snow is to be commended for his committment to defense, constantly fighting the battles of higher profile players.

Coach Brown: Take control of this team. From the outside looking in, it looks like this team is Lebron's to do with what he will. Who's the leader and who's the follower?

 

[Cavs1]

good post tj

 

[TruBuckeye22]

last nights loss was horrible for sure but to me it is too start panic mode. however the one area that needs to be looked at very seriously is at PG.

i was not as big of a fan of the Damon Jones signing as a lot of people but i still see value in having a guy off the bench who can knock down a jumper. everyone should have known coming into this season that this is what Jones is, nothing more.

i have never been a fan of Eric Snow's game since he became a Cavalier. for all the talk about him being a leader or his good defense i just don't see that much value for this team. 1st off his defense isn't anything special it just looks great compared to the non-effort of McInnis last year and Jones this year. i remember when the 76ers were a finals team Snow would atleast step up and hit a foul line jumper every now and then but now all he does is bring the ball over half court pass it off and stand out of the way. he makes it way to easy for 5 to guard 4.

personally i think the Cavaliers need to get a PG who can be somewhat of an option on the offensive end or atleast have the ability to beat someone off the dribble and put preasure on the defense. i haven't put a whole lot of thought into it but a guy like Speedy Claxton would be nice.

 

[TruBuckeye22]

i have seen where people are talking about the Kings deciding it may be time to rebuild that team, too bad the Cavaliers don't have the pieces to give up for Bibby and make it worth their while.

 

[highplainsdrifter]

Nice post TJ, you put some thought into that.

I think it may be time to use Hughes as our starting point. His J is about as good as Snow's, both decent defenders, yet Hughes is a better ballhandler and can penetrate to the hoop. Play Hughes at the point and DJ or Ira at the 2.

I also have questions about Mike Brown. He has played with essentially the same rotations the whole season so far. Same starters, DJ and Marshall in halfway thru the first. Something obviously isnt working, so mix it up Coach! I dont think Brown is utilizing the talent on the roster to its potential.

 

[LyXo]

I don't think personnel moves are what we need right now. I think it's more damaging in the long run, only helping in the short run.

Our problem is that we're not maximizing talent. We're not using our talent at all, actually. We have a team that is capable of doing things, competing, and flourishing, but none of that is being used.

Mike Brown said he wanted to bring in shooters that he could teach defense, rather than defensive players that couldn't shoot. Yet he still prefers to play Eric Snow over Damon Jones. This is a flawed concept that I do not understand. Well I understand, but I completely disagree with how he handles the situation.

Damon Jones should start. Rash, yes, many would say that. His atrocious defense will hurt us. But, remember, he was the starting point guard for the team that won 59 games last season. Attribute it to Shaq, Wade, sure. The fact that their interior defense was more fearful than ours, with Shaq Daddy, Zo, and Haslem manning the paint. But they got it done. They had intensity on both ends of the floor. Damon Jones was not brought here to play defense or distribute the ball. He was brought here to stand on the perimeter and hit open shots. Instead, he's being brought off the bench to bail us out. Terrible use of talent. In addition, he's brought in with Donyell, so his shots get even more limited. Even worse. He was an asset because he could spread the floor, sticking the dagger into players that dared guard LeBron and Z, Shaq and Wade, etc. That is his mileage right there. But we do not use him to maximize his talent. Instead, we minimize his talent and criticize every other aspect of his game.

The main thing is, that Mike Brown should understand, is that you cannot teach anybody lateral quickness. You just can't, plain and simple. You cannot think that you can teach Damon Jones to guard the shot and the drive at the same time, overnight. Impossible. You can do drills and the like to increase that speed in the long run, but nothing for short term results. But what can you teach?

Defense rotations. Defensive rotations. Help defense. Rotations. Indeed.

You can teach the interior to toughen up. Drew Gooden is quick enough, but not smart enough. You can teach him to be smarter.
Z is slow, slow, slow, but his size makes up for it in the fact that his arms get there in time to contest the shot. But if we have constant missed rotations and nobody contesting shots, then there will be that wide open layup. Then people point fingers.

And to all you Z haters... (LePIP, Cleveland56) All you guys that point out that Z shading the pick and getting back slow. Imagine the world with Z not shading the pick. Imagine that world with the point guard getting stuck in the pick, and the opposition running up for an easy trey. Swish. Yeah, you don't really have to imagine it, just watch tapes with Jeff McInnis last year. We just chose to blame him. We would probably blame Z now. But the fact that he contests that 3 for a second, makes our defense better. Why does it becomes worse? Because he can't get back in time? That's not his assignment anymore. It should be a system where someone rotates to help. Everyone needs to rotate and help when there is a breakdown in the system. The fact that everyone stands around and looks is just pathetic. Then they point fingers. Sad. Someone needs to rotate to make up for the slowness of Z in getting back. Rotations, rotations, help defense...

Really, there are only 2 problems I see in this team, defensively.

1. Rotations. Help Defense. Rotations. All of our woes will be lifted, if defenders are where they should be. The interior will be tougher if people know where they're supposed to be instead of moping around.

2. Contesting shots. Yes. Yes. Absolutely. Get your damn hand up there. I hate how our team gives up on shots. I hate how we don't contest the shot. I hate how we get stuck in the mindset of: "Oh crap, he's shooting. Oh well, I'm too late, better get started on that fast break/get in position to rebound." Screw that. Contest a shot. Jump up and put a hand there. It's just sad that nobody on our team contests a shot unless they think that they'll get a block. That's not how you play defense. Defense is contesting each and every shot and getting a block here and there.

Ira Newble is the savior in both these areas. Woe be me.

Notice how I left perimeter defense out of there. I don't think it's that much of a problem. If our rotations are fixed, then our defense will be better. Penetration will happen, it's just a reality. With all the quick players out there, unless everyone is a Ron Artest, Bruce Bowen, etc., every team will be subject to penetration. It's how you handle it afterwards that is important. And good rotations will solve that.

Phoenix is no longer the worst defensive team... despite having a team of short players, and Steve Nash, Mr. Matador, defending the point. Minnesota does well despite having Troy Hudson on the helm most of the time, being the worst defending PG, ever.

 

[LyXo]

One more thing:

Eric Snow coming off the bench. He should be doing that. I like the concept of bring a guy off the bench to slow down the opposition, rather than trying to catch up to them. I think that Mike Brown should embrace this.

With Ira Newble back, we'll have two guys that will be defensively focused coming off the bench.

It really should be all about the system, and having faith that your starters should know it. And if they slip up, bring in the defensive ringleaders to set things straight.