rabman_gold
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Hello, fellow RealCavsFans.
There was about 5 days left until the Regular Season starts (on October 22nd, 2009), but with the last basketball pre-season game against the Boston Celtics, we were left with a sour taste in our mouths. That's not the only thing we were given.
Mike Brown attempted to play the game like a Regular Season contest and thus gave us our first true return on a "Player Rotation".
Here's some cold hard facts about rotations:
All of these things should be kept in mind when determining Mike Brown's Player Rotation. And it's also a reason why people should stay calm if we start to do poorly in a game for obvious reasons. Mike Brown has a very high IQ, but he also has a set way of doing things. He sticks to what he preaches, but will adjust it game to game.
Translation:
What we see against Boston on October 27th may very well change as early as the next game and will make us better as a result. And the fixes will continue to be made until we found what works, especially on a losing streak.
Historical Reference:
Mike Brown played this rotation for several minutes closer to the end of the 3rd quarter/beginning of the fourth quarter in the first game of the 2008-2009 Regular Season @ Boston:
Center|Power Forward|Small Forward|Shooting Guard|Point Guard
Lorenzen Wright|Anderson Varejao|Wally Szczerbiak|Sasha Pavlovic|Daniel Gibson
This resulted in a difference in the game score that cost them the game (what works the first time {second quarter rotation} may not work the second time). The Cavs lost by 5 or so points because of this. So how was the problem fixed:
Answer: Mike Brown adjusted his rotation so that Mo Williams would play every minute that LeBron did not. We saw this for a bit in this pre-season game, so that means Mike Brown intends to do it again.
Anyways, I will be attempting to edit this rotation as the season plays out, I will base this off a previous game seen.
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As of 10/31/09 (10:45 PM):
Main Rotation:
Center|Power Forward|Small Forward|Shooting Guard|Point Guard
Shaquille O'Neal|Anderson Varejao|LeBron James|Anthony Parker|Mo Williams
Zydrunas Ilgauskas|J.J. Hickson/ Zydrunas Ilgauskas | Anthony Parker /Jamario Moon|Daniel Gibson|Delonte West
Notes about current rotation:
Close Loss Vs. Boston Celtics (10/27/09):
I missed the Minnesota victory, but since this game and that are both blowouts, I'll combine the date into this rotation, since Delonte has been added to it.
Comeback Win Vs. Washington Wizards (11/3/09):
A new category has been added for when the team is playing from behind (even in the first and second quarters only). Despite it being a blowout, the team had to play differently, and this is the result of that.
I will update this rotation chart when I have a chance to do so.
The top 3 things that could be asked of the posters on RealCavsFans would be:
There was about 5 days left until the Regular Season starts (on October 22nd, 2009), but with the last basketball pre-season game against the Boston Celtics, we were left with a sour taste in our mouths. That's not the only thing we were given.
Mike Brown attempted to play the game like a Regular Season contest and thus gave us our first true return on a "Player Rotation".
Here's some cold hard facts about rotations:
- They are never ever set in stone throughout a season, due to many reasons (which are not limited to: injuries, suspensions, affect on a game, etc.).
- They sometimes impact how a game is played out (if a lineup is too slow, they will be run to death; if too small, they will be pounded in the post; balance is key).
- They have a number of players playing until the score is usually out of the opponent's reach (or until the opponent has separated itself by a wide margin).
- Certain players play at a specific time, which usually means that some players are always seen at the end of games (ex: LeBron will usually play close games and be in the game with the last 2 minutes of the game remaining).
- Minutes will add up each game so a player is not seen playing so much due to stamina.
- Never assume that a coach will stick to something every time, because it worked. Just because it worked against one team doesn't mean it'll work against the other. And if the coach doesn't realize it the first time, he'll surely realize it for next time. That's how a coach can continue to grow.
All of these things should be kept in mind when determining Mike Brown's Player Rotation. And it's also a reason why people should stay calm if we start to do poorly in a game for obvious reasons. Mike Brown has a very high IQ, but he also has a set way of doing things. He sticks to what he preaches, but will adjust it game to game.
Translation:
What we see against Boston on October 27th may very well change as early as the next game and will make us better as a result. And the fixes will continue to be made until we found what works, especially on a losing streak.
Historical Reference:
Mike Brown played this rotation for several minutes closer to the end of the 3rd quarter/beginning of the fourth quarter in the first game of the 2008-2009 Regular Season @ Boston:
Lorenzen Wright|Anderson Varejao|Wally Szczerbiak|Sasha Pavlovic|Daniel Gibson
This resulted in a difference in the game score that cost them the game (what works the first time {second quarter rotation} may not work the second time). The Cavs lost by 5 or so points because of this. So how was the problem fixed:
Answer: Mike Brown adjusted his rotation so that Mo Williams would play every minute that LeBron did not. We saw this for a bit in this pre-season game, so that means Mike Brown intends to do it again.
Anyways, I will be attempting to edit this rotation as the season plays out, I will base this off a previous game seen.
--------------------------------------------------
As of 10/31/09 (10:45 PM):
Main Rotation:
Shaquille O'Neal|Anderson Varejao|LeBron James|Anthony Parker|Mo Williams
Zydrunas Ilgauskas|J.J. Hickson/ Zydrunas Ilgauskas | Anthony Parker /Jamario Moon|Daniel Gibson|Delonte West
Notes about current rotation:
- Mike Brown has Delonte in the rotation. For how long is currently being figured out.
- Jamario Moon, while not part of the full rotation, is somewhat involved when foul trouble occurs with Anthony and while a team with swingman size is hard to deal with.
- Anthony Parker currently picks up the small forward position minutes that LeBron doesn't play instead.
- Zydrunas Ilgauskas is now being used against bigger frontcourts when the situation calls for it. He may not play with Shaq much, but will have an impact and playing time in such a situation.
Close Loss Vs. Boston Celtics (10/27/09):
Blowout Loss @ Toronto Raptors (10/28/09):
Blowout Win Vs. Charlotte Bobcats (10/31/09):
I missed the Minnesota victory, but since this game and that are both blowouts, I'll combine the date into this rotation, since Delonte has been added to it.
Comeback Win Vs. Washington Wizards (11/3/09):
A new category has been added for when the team is playing from behind (even in the first and second quarters only). Despite it being a blowout, the team had to play differently, and this is the result of that.
--------------------------------------------------
I will update this rotation chart when I have a chance to do so.
The top 3 things that could be asked of the posters on RealCavsFans would be:
- Stay true to yourself. Don't let such games get out of hand. You'll know the Cavs will get better as will Mike Brown. This is especially true when the going gets tough and DEMANDS changes. But don't get cocky from the wins either for that matter. We saw Twin Towers in Washington but not in Charlotte, that's the proof.
- Don't let the pressure of bad games get to you. They will be corrected and will happen occasionally, just not at the rate of winning games. But if a losing streak occurs, it's not the end. But they will happen on occasion, since nobody's perfect. In fact, if there's a problem in a single quarter, you'd expect things to be corrected as the games go on.
- Rotations have a big impact on the game, and don't expect Mike Brown to get complacent with how things roll. Expect some changes as early as the next game. Perhaps some players will get more time or less as a result of a certain set. Moon saw 1 minutes against Charlotte, but 8 against Washington, see what I mean?
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