too much complaining

[NarlCavs]

No, they don't. Why do we need a better PG? We don't need more points from our PG - we have plenty of scorers. We don't need more assists from our PG - we have LeBron and Hughes to initiate the offense. Snow's defense just shut down the leading MVP candidate. This team is put together very well right now. Extremely well actually - very, very close to the first bulls 3peat. What this team needs is time.

And look at my post again - our defense has gotten much better lately. Today only continues that trend. Our 8 game averages are

92.1 ppg allowed on .439 shooting, .326 from 3. Those are the numbers of a top 10 defense. We've gone from the absolute worst at defending the 3 point shot in the first 20 games to one of the absolute best in the league the past 8 games.

I agree. The defense is getting better but it's still inconsistent. So is the effort on D by certain players like LeBron and Gooden. There has been improvement but to win in May and June you can't have repeated breakdowns. As time goes on I am hopeful it will continue to improve.

Sorry, I'll never feel the Cavs will be a legitimate title contender with Snow and Jones as their PG's. Snow doesn't have to be a big time scorer but his lack of providing any real offensive threat does hurt this team at times. Opponents many times basically ignore him and use his man to double or rotate to other Cavs players. I also don't see Snow as a PG who puts pressure on opposing defenses through either quickly getting the ball upcourt or breaking down the D to create offense for himself or teammates.
It seems scoring gets confused with being able to at least provide some type of threat and to help spread the floor. It's more than just stats. Hughes is a scorer but he's not a great shooter. A Snow/Hughes backcourt doesn't provide a championship caliber perimeter shooting combo.
Snow did a solid job on Billups yesterday. It also should be recognized the although the Cavs did a solid job defensively against Detroit that the Pistons missed a lot of wide open shots which they wouldn't normally.

We all know Jones is more of a combo G and is a below average defensive player.

The Cavs are a team on the rise and a definite playoff team but this is still a building process. Changes will continue to be made to become a real legitimate contender over the next few years.

 

[CleveRocks]

Maybe Jones is not known for his defense, but in the pistons game somebody did a heck of a job on Billups. I did not see the game, perhaps someone who did could explain the defensive effectiveness.

Anyway, I think the Cavs will contend when they bring the game they played at home against the pistons to every game home and on the road.

 

[Coyote]

I thought Billups missed some easy, open looks he would normally make. So in that we were lucky (especially on a few open look 3s with all the time in the world). But at least 60% of the time he looked rushed and out of place. The team defense looked at its best against him. Snow was a pest, but it seemed like we drew to him as 4-5 guys, then sagged back, or whatever the f it's called. So excellent effort, a bit of luck.

btw, I agree there's been too much complaining, but I guess it's natural. I just think of the '02-'03 starting line up and say thank you jeebus! The team's starting to play D and find different options in a halfcourt offense. (I like to see Z with those little handoffs to Larry. More of that.) Coach is solid, but has room to learn. Everyone in management seems content. No ownership change. No group of journeymen playing starting or near-starting roles. AV's coming back. Drew, while still inconsistent, is less consistantly inconsistant. A little stability is a good thing.

 

[PIP]

I just think of the '02-'03 starting line up and say thank you jeebus! .

Funny thing is, some wish we still had Wagner and Diop....

 

[BlueFalcon189]

I can't complain about the performance. Here are a few reasons why:

1. The team has been totally revamped
2. Management has been totally revamped
3. Last years starting 2 guard is just now starting his season
4. Last years best bench player has yet to play
5. There is a brand new coah
6. I dont have to worry about how horrible our GM is anymore
7. I dont have to worry about a second half collapse
8. We have a team full of guys with good character
9. Dan Gilbert is a freaking genius of an owner
10. We have more upside than any team in the NBA

I mean really, think about it. Maybe a call for some patience is a good idea.

 

[Karma]

I can't complain about the performance. Here are a few reasons why:

1. The team has been totally revamped
2. Management has been totally revamped
3. Last years starting 2 guard is just now starting his season
4. Last years best bench player has yet to play
5. There is a brand new coah
6. I dont have to worry about how horrible our GM is anymore
7. I dont have to worry about a second half collapse
8. We have a team full of guys with good character
9. Dan Gilbert is a freaking genius of an owner
10. We have more upside than any team in the NBA

I mean really, think about it. Maybe a call for some patience is a good idea.

1. Is a little overated. 4 of our starting 5 were our core last season.
2. There definately is a little more trust in the air.
3. Ira Newble is now in his rightful position.
4. Maybe not our best bench player, but most loved.
5. Coach Brown gets a grade B thus far from me.
6. GM Ferry is off to a solid start. Yet to be tested.
7. This remains unknown.
8. Close to the mark with only Damon Jones a potential ticking bomb.
9. Dan Gilbert is a freaking rich owner.
10. I hate the word upside.

 

[Pioneer10]

For right now I'm OK with where we are (Solid Playoff team) and definitely where we are heading with the improvements in defense. Our halfcourt offense still is way too predictable or stagnant at times (need to use Hughes more effectively as a slasher and run the pick and roll more with Lebron and Z: Lebron seems to be the only one Z feels comfortable passing to from the post and Lebron will actually repost to Z when he gets the ball).

As Narl has pointed out though if we are too take the next and dare say final step to be a title contender we will need a significant upgrade at the PG position. Eric Sn w ain't getting younger and amon Jones ain't going to find a new game. Ideally if we can add somebody like Terry w/o losing either our 2 PG's it would be nice. Snow can defend SG's still pretty well and Jones has decent size: I would rather have these guys gets minutes off the bench then Newble, Luke, or Sasha at this point

 

[BlueFalcon189]

1. Is a little overated. 4 of our starting 5 were our core last season.
2. There definately is a little more trust in the air.
3. Ira Newble is now in his rightful position.
4. Maybe not our best bench player, but most loved.
5. Coach Brown gets a grade B thus far from me.
6. GM Ferry is off to a solid start. Yet to be tested.
7. This remains unknown.
8. Close to the mark with only Damon Jones a potential ticking bomb.
9. Dan Gilbert is a freaking rich owner.
10. I hate the word upside.

1. not overrated. am i the only that thinks lebron is having a harder time dishing them out this year?
3. indeed
4. I remember games where the bench was putting up like 4 points a game last year. AV was the only bright spot coming off that bench.
6. Even if Ferry was an average GM thats exponentially better than having the poor mans Isiah Thomas
7. Thats true but I feel much more confident this year.
8. Damon Jones is chemistry in a bottle. Probably a below average PG, but good for chemistry

 

[Karma]

8. Damon Jones is chemistry in a bottle. Probably a below average PG, but good for chemistry

I understand Jones has a good relationship with the players off the court. The lovable larakin. I have never denied this fact. However my issue is within the coaching staff. They are the ones who are getting bad mouthed to when they pull Jones from the lineup. To me this is an issue, and if it continues will spread to other players.

 

[PIP]

If the coaches and players are not making an issue of it... I don't think you need to put so much energy into it..

I've seen much worse bickering between players and coaches on other teams, that inevitably it lead to nothing coming to a head.. DJ is a good character and is a team player... But, he is a smartass, and speaks what's on his mind...So I understand where that rubs some wrong...

He doesn't seem like the type of individual who is going to hurt a team by his antics...More like a Sam Cassell type then a J-Mac type...

 

[ootbttnlagitnbasf]

great original post, lj4mvp. right on the bullseye.

we would be complaining if we had wilt chamberlain because he was a poor free throw shooter.

we are a solid playoff team in the second best conference in the nba. we have one of the best superstars in the game. we have an allstar center and multiple exciting role players including hughes, marshall and jones. this could definitely maybe be one of our most successful years ever. we might even win a playoff series which is something that we have not accomplished in a dozen years.

the really optimistic fans will recognize that we might even win two playoff series, which is something that we have only done once in our history.

the true fans will hope that we might win three playoff series in a single season which is something that we have never accomplished.

with our history bereft of nba success what room is there for any cav's fan to complain? this is one of our best years ever!

 

[ootbttnlagitnbasf]

maybe the complaining fans are from new york, or chicago or phildelphia or boston or miami or orlando or detroit or new jersey or sacramento or milwauke or any of those nba cities that have had playoff success. those towns have had some experience with winning teams that have gone deep in the playoffs. the playoffs for us are something that we can only imagine about.

this is shaping up to be one of our best years ever.

 

[KI4MVP]

hey LePip, I told you that tonight's game was a lock. Does that count as a quality road win?

 

[Pioneer10]

hey LePip, I told you that tonight's game was a lock. Does that count as a quality road win?

Even with Hughes out we still got a major break with Ford being out. With him we likely would have lost with or without a healthy Hughes

 

[KI4MVP]

doesn't matter - we won with defense - over the last 5 games, the cavs are giving up just 88.8 ppg on .403 shooting, .298 from 3.