Mike Brown - defensive genius?

[KI4MVP]

I thought I'd counter the offensively challenged thread.

Mike Brown is focusing on defense and the defense has made great progress. The first 20 games we were bad as players learned the system, the last 15 have been much, much better.

Over the first 20 games, we gave up 98.6 ppg on .469 shooting, .412 from 3
Over the last 15 games, we gave up 92.9 ppg on .445 shooting, .325 from 3

That's tremendous improvement. 5.7 fewer ppg, .023 improvement in FG% allowed, .087 improvement in 3 point FG% allowed. In the first 20 games we were the absolute worst team at defending the 3. Over the last 15 games, we've been one of the best.

The first 20 game numbers would rank us 18th in ppg, 27 in FG% shooting allowed, and 30th in 3 point % allowed. The last 15 games would rank us as 8th in ppg, 14th in FG% shooting allowed, and 3rd in 3 point % allowed.

 

[West Remy]

First off, great post. Secondly, while there have been occasional defensive lapses, I haven't really been that upset about our defense. If we were a little bit better offensively, got more points from the bench and the shooters were hitting the long ball, we would have won these past few games. So I'm encouraged by the fact we had a chance to win each of these games or were at least close, within striking distance.

 

[LyXo]

Great find LJ4MVP. Add some much needed optimism to this board.

I really didn't expect us to have the defense down until at least March, if not after this year even. It's not easy to teach offensive minded players a defensive system, and do nothing but defense in practice. But we have taken strides in the right direction.

Z has a vastly improved defensive mindset. He's not shading the picks as much as he used to. His interior defense anchored us through our win streak in December. In November, he averaged a paltry 1.21 blocks. In December, he improved that number, doubling it to 2.46. Unfortunately in January, where we continue to slump, he is back down to 1.29. Most likely a correlation with Hughes being out, allowing more dribble penetration with D.Jones in his place, leading to more fouling. A menacing 4.4 fpg in January.

 

[Coyote]

Great post LyXo. That turnaround was evidenced in our second winning streak, before Larry went down. With him gone, we're averaging about 10 pts less/game. The last three losses were close (well, Phoenix was close until the last 1:30). I don't think it's out of line to say the defense has been keeping us in these games, barring some glaring lapses at the end of quarters and halves. We could still step it up. But if we were playing defense like we did in the opening 20 games, we'd be losing by wide margins and REALLY be in trouble.

 

[Karma]

Coach Brown does need to be applauded for turning this team into a competitive defensive unit. I wouldn't go all out and say we are an elite, but what players we have for his system, he's doing well. At the end of the day Coach Brown can only do so much with the horses he has.

At center he has a slow footed Ilgauskas, but Z is a smart defender. At power forward he has a player who lacks awareness in Gooden, but can overcome this at times with athletisism. LeBron defends the 3 and has great mix of strength and speed, however rarely utilises it. At guard Hughes was doing a solid job chasing some elite scorers, but he has gone down and replaced by a weak and slow Damon Jones. Eric Snow may have occasional trouble against the quicker point guards, but he is heading our defensive effort strongly.

Its a bit of a mixed bag Brown has to work with, so for what he has, the job has been admirable.

 

[The George]

totally agree an great post karma....if our shooters were hitting thier WIDE-OPEN shots from 3 pt land we would have won every game hughes has been out

 

[PIP]

I would say the defense as a whole, has improved. However, in the 4th quarter is where it becomes apparent again that this team is indeed a long ways away from becoming an elite team on that end of the floor.

Althlough the Cavs get stops in the 4th, it seems as if their mental lapses come back into play, and the defense breaks down for easy buckets inside the paint, and back breaking 3 pointers. They miss the little things, and they don't execute.

Not sure the reason for this ? But it was quite evident in the New York game (new year, same result.) They also let Eddie House kill them from the outside in the PHX game. I think PHX went 12/12 during a stretch in the 4th.. That is what we call: "NO DEFENSE," my friends !

The Laker game, what can you say ? Kobe is Kobe, what can you do ? I can't blame LeBron or anybody else there. Kobe hit tough shots...Great "elite" players do this down the stretch...

The Portland game was a disgrace to a Cavs fan... Early on, they let Steve Blake 'take-and-make' any shot he wanted. They left Dixon open at the top of the key, for a go-ahead 3 with minutes left in the game. They let Ruben Patterson get anything he wanted.

But the one that hurts is the Rockets game IMO.. That was terrible, and I believe that was the game that sent this team into a tailspin. Assignments were blown everywhere in that game. McGrady abused LeBron in the second quarter, and then resurfaced to step on his throat late in that game, in his house nontheless..

4th quarter breakdowns on both ends of the court, is what kills this team.

How bout' our go-to-guy, Eric Snow... Oh yeah !

 

[Karma]

You can also attribute breakdowns on offense for our at times missed assignments on defense. I am happy with Browns job on defense, but when the players are being frustrated with their offense, or watching another miscued three ball sail over their head, keeping their intensity and mind on defense may waver. This may be a little cliche like but its tougher to score inbounding after a made basket then off a rebound. This is only part of the problem, but making plays on offense, meaning taking shots within the offense leads to better transition defense in my opinion.

 

[PIP]

I agree... That is why I wish LeBron would take on more of a vocal leadership role... I wish he would light Donyell and Damon's ass up when they take those shots...

But, that's hard to do when he is also taking off balance shots from deep...

 

[KI4MVP]

usually LeBron is the guy passing them the ball to take those shots. If he doesn't want them to take them, he doesn't make that pass. LeBron has always been a player to get his teammates involved. He'll learn that sometimes he needs to be just a hair more selfish.

Of course, then there would be thread after thread on here complaining he didn't make the extra pass.

 

[ootbttnlagitnbasf]

pro teams lose games. the houston game was ok to lose. especially since we were going against a superstar. we'd be doing a whole lot better if we did not have to play so many tough road games. the friggin' nba has made us play sixteen road games already. they must think we like to travel.

 

[Maximus]

pro teams lose games. the houston game was ok to lose. especially since we were going against a superstar. we'd be doing a whole lot better if we did not have to play so many tough road games. the friggin' nba has made us play sixteen road games already. they must think we like to travel.

Houston was OK to lose? Are you joking???? Houston is the 2nd worst team in the NBA....and they were playing without Yao....AND IT WAS AT FREAKING HOME!!! That game was a disaster, no possible way to sugar coat it. There was nothing "OK" about it.

As for your complaints about how the league screwing us with 16 road games, please name me ONE other team that has played less road games in the East. I'll save you the time of looking it up - THERE AREN'T ANY!!! There is ONE TEAM IN THE WHOLE NBA that has played less road games then the Cavs(Suns-15). So if anything the Cavs have had it easy to this point. Take off your rose colored glasses, there is a lot to be concerned about. These guys better start beating the teams they are supposed to beat or they're going to find themselves on the outside looking in....again. The injury bug is hitting us and hitting us hard. Not hating, just being a realist.

 

[PIP]

Houston was OK to lose? Are you joking???? Houston is the 2nd worst team in the NBA....and they were playing without Yao....AND IT WAS AT FREAKING HOME!!! That game was a disaster, no possible way to sugar coat it. There was nothing "OK" about it.

As for your complaints about how the league screwing us with 16 road games, please name me ONE other team that has played less road games in the East. I'll save you the time of looking it up - THERE AREN'T ANY!!! There is ONE TEAM IN THE WHOLE NBA that has played less road games then the Cavs(Suns-15). So if anything the Cavs have had it easy to this point. Take off your rose colored glasses, there is a lot to be concerned about. These guys better start beating the teams they are supposed to beat or they're going to find themselves on the outside looking in....again. The injury bug is hitting us and hitting us hard. Not hating, just being a realist.

I was going to type all that, but I was afraid of being called a waffle again by that paticular poster.. :chuckles:

 

[Maximus]

Posted on Wed, Jan. 18, 2006
Pressure on Brown for adjustments
This is all new to Mike Brown.
The Cavaliers coach talks about having been through a chaotic season of suspensions with the Indiana Pacers when no one was sure who would be in the starting lineup.
But Brown was not the head coach. It was Rick Carlisle who had to make the adjustments. While Brown was Carlisle's top aide and had a lot of input on defensive strategy, the pressure was really on Carlisle.
Just as it is on Brown today.
No one should have expected the Cavaliers to stay on a roll after Larry Hughes was sidelined due to finger surgery on his shooting hand. The Cavs were 18-10 and coming off a stunning 97-84 victory over powerhouse Detroit when Hughes played his last game.
Since then, they are 2-5.
The Cavs are a different team without their versatile 6-foot-5 shooting guard. Hughes is a quick ball-handler, a determined defender, and he's fierce driving to the basket. Like LeBron James, Hughes doesn't need plays to find a shot, he just needs a little room to roam.
That was the heart of the Cavs' offense, allowing James and Hughes to create shots for themselves and others with their sheer athleticism. Hughes played 28 games with a broken index finger and an inflamed Achilles, yet he was still gifted enough to average 16 points.
Brown's early season emphasis was on defense, believing the offense could produce because the Cavs have so many natural scorers. When Hughes went down, the team was averaging more than 100 points and ranked third in the NBA is scoring. But in the last seven games, they're scoring 91 points.
Unless the Cavaliers change their approach to offense, they will continue to stumble as opposing defenses are swarming James. It's crucial that Brown find more ways to use center Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
It can't be all-LeBron, all the time.
James is averaging 34 points and nearly eight assists and eight rebounds in Hughes' absence. He's also shooting 52 percent. Please, stop this gnashing of teeth about him not hitting a game-winning shot. He's trying to carry this team on his back, but not even the broad shoulders of the most mature 21-year-old in NBA history can do it.
Veterans Damon Jones and Donyell Marshall have not been much help. Jones is averaging 4.3 points and shooting an embarrassing 24 percent in 28 minutes per game since Hughes was hurt. Marshall has been better, scoring 11 points and getting 6.6 rebounds, but he's shooting only 33 percent. Luke Jackson has averaged 10 minutes in this span, scoring only 3.8 points and shooting 33 percent.
This is a stagnant team that often seems to settle for one pass and a prayer of a 3-point shot. It desperately needs to create more movement for all its players on offense.
Ilgauskas is scoring nearly 19 points and shooting 55 percent in the last seven games. Lately, much of his scoring has come from the outside, as he's coming up near the foul line to catch passes and shoot jumpers.
The 7-foot-3 center can be effective inside, but the Cavs have to work at getting him the ball. It often requires more than one pass, one pick. Brown must demand that it be done, and give his team a couple of ways of doing it.
Some fans want to trade Ilgauskas for a better defender. Bill Russell is retired, and Ben Wallace is employed elsewhere. Just like when Brad Daugherty was here, some fans refuse to give Ilgauskas his due because he's not a physical presence. But he can supply 18 points and nearly nine rebounds per game, and most teams would love to have that in the middle.
The answer is to take more advantage of his offense, and rely on forwards Drew Gooden and Anderson Varejao to help on the boards. If they can't be more productive, then trade for a power forward who can. That's easier than finding a viable center.
Yes, Brown could see if Sasha Pavlovic could supply a spark. He also can use little Mike Wilks to bring some energy at point guard. But these are role players. Center stage must belong to Ilgauskas and James, and it's up to Brown to make that happen.

 

[KI4MVP]

except for two breakdowns in the final 33 seconds that cost us the game, that was another stellar defensive effort by the cavs against Denver. It never should have come down to that, but our foul shooting let us down.