KI4MVP
formerly LJ4MVP
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2005
- Messages
- 31,244
- Reaction score
- 41,243
- Points
- 148
Last year after 44 games, we were 26-18, this year after 44 games we are 27-17. At first glance, that doesn't seem to be much improvement, but if you take a detailed look at things, you will see we are far ahead of where we were last year. Last year our record was deceptive because of a soft early schedule. This year our record is for real. There are multiple reasons.
We are better defensively.
Last year, we gave up 95.7 ppg, allowed .452 shooting, .376 from 3. This year we give up 95.0, allow .454 shooting, .363 from 3. At first glance, that doesn't look like much improvement. However, those numbers only tell part of the story. Mike Brown brought in a whole new defensive philosophy for this team. It took our guys about 20 games to learn the new system. The first 20 games, we allowed 98.6 ppg and gave up .469 shooting, .412 from 3, which was dismal. Since then we have given up 92.0 ppg on .443 shooting, .333 from 3, which is much, much better.
We are better offensively.
Last year we scored 96.5 ppg, shot .447, .332 from 3. This year we've scored 99.2 ppg, shot .454, .338 from 3. Improvement across the board.
We are better at beating top teams.
Last year we were 14-28 vs teams with winning records. That, as much as anything, was behind our late season collapse, we were losing these games early in the season when our schedule was soft, then, when the schedule got tougher, we kept on losing them. This year things are different. There are 15 teams with .500+ records right now, and at 14-10, the cavs are one of only 5 teams in the league with a winning record against teams with winning records.
We already have as many wins against winning teams as we had all season last year. Last year at this point in the season we had only played 19 games against teams with winning records and had 23 games left. This year our schedule has been more balanced, already having played 24 games against winning teams. We only have 15 games left against teams with winning records.
Last year the schedule had us set up to fall. This year the schedule has us poised to surge.
We are better defensively.
Last year, we gave up 95.7 ppg, allowed .452 shooting, .376 from 3. This year we give up 95.0, allow .454 shooting, .363 from 3. At first glance, that doesn't look like much improvement. However, those numbers only tell part of the story. Mike Brown brought in a whole new defensive philosophy for this team. It took our guys about 20 games to learn the new system. The first 20 games, we allowed 98.6 ppg and gave up .469 shooting, .412 from 3, which was dismal. Since then we have given up 92.0 ppg on .443 shooting, .333 from 3, which is much, much better.
We are better offensively.
Last year we scored 96.5 ppg, shot .447, .332 from 3. This year we've scored 99.2 ppg, shot .454, .338 from 3. Improvement across the board.
We are better at beating top teams.
Last year we were 14-28 vs teams with winning records. That, as much as anything, was behind our late season collapse, we were losing these games early in the season when our schedule was soft, then, when the schedule got tougher, we kept on losing them. This year things are different. There are 15 teams with .500+ records right now, and at 14-10, the cavs are one of only 5 teams in the league with a winning record against teams with winning records.
We already have as many wins against winning teams as we had all season last year. Last year at this point in the season we had only played 19 games against teams with winning records and had 23 games left. This year our schedule has been more balanced, already having played 24 games against winning teams. We only have 15 games left against teams with winning records.
Last year the schedule had us set up to fall. This year the schedule has us poised to surge.
