Game 73 | Cavaliers @ Spurs | March 26th, 2010 | 8:30 PM (EST)

[Andrew]

I know it wasn’t realistic to think this team could go undefeated the rest of the season, but this loss hurts because of three reasons and these reasons are why the Spurs beat the Cavs.

1) Mike Brown made no adjustments on the defense on Manu, he simply kept Delonte on him and AP on occasional switches. If Mike Brown made a conscious effort t put LeBron on Manu, it would have been a different outcome. Why the hell doesn’t he switch the defender? Manu had 14 in the fourth and the Spurs had 33 in the fourth.

2) LeBron James only had 11 in the fourth and was more passive in the fourth than usual. If he even remotely tried to create for himself, he would have had more and gave the Cavs a greater chance to win tonight.

3) AV’s absence hurt was in the paint. We had very little resistance in the paint and AV certainly was missed. He would have hustled and defended the paint like a mother does for a child.



• The only upside was seeing Jamison creating his own offense tonight, what a game by him until the fourth with 24 and 9.

• I also feel like shit right now because of this loss but I know the Spurs aren’t coming out of the West and I know we didn’t lose any ground with the Lakers getting their ass kicked in OKC tonight. The Magic won tonight, but they are clearly going to be stuck in the 2 seed.

 

[Clinton91]

LeBron's "lock-down" D is like the Loch Ness monster - you assume it exists cause everyone says it does, but no one really has any evidence of it.

I've seen it multiple times but he needs to show it "off" a little more. He did it against Wade at the end of the Miami game where he stole the pass went down the court and got fouled. Puts us in the lead then shuts Wades water off for the defensive game winner.

 

[Andrew]

im gonna be on the radio

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

LeBron's "lock-down" D is like the Loch Ness monster - you assume it exists cause everyone says it does, but no one really has any evidence of it.

I realize you were trying to make a joke, but LeBron plays shutdown defense when he wants to and we've seen it multiple times this season(even more-so last season)

 

[wuck]

I didn't like the 2nd half much. Cavs looked discombobulated playing a solid team on the road.

But I really loved that another game passed and the Lakers didn't gain any ground. A great night for the Cavs in that sense, even if it could have been better.

 

[malus]

I've seen it multiple times but he needs to show it "off" a little more. He did it against Wade at the end of the Miami game where he stole the pass went down the court and got fouled. Puts us in the lead then shuts Wades water off for the defensive game winner.

Quoting for odd use of quotation marks.

But no, Lebron actually does have some difficulty sometimes keeping his man in front of him.Especially against quicker opponents, I mean the guy is 6'9" 260 pounds, and we expect him to be a major perimeter defender.His massive advantage in athletecism is the only readon he's considered a really good defender. His lock down D is usually only when he gets really intense, as many players do in the final minutes.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

Quoting for odd use of quotation marks.

But no, Lebron actually does have some difficulty sometimes keeping his man in front of him.Especially against quicker opponents, I mean the guy is 6'9" 260 pounds, and we expect him to be a major perimeter defender.His massive advantage in athletecism is the only readon he's considered a really good defender. His lock down D is usually only when he gets really intense, as many players do in the final minutes.

He has no difficulty whatsoever when he is locked in. None. He can guard anyone in the NBA on the perimeter when locked in.

 

[Pioneer10]

Strange enough I think we missed AV as much on offense as defense. Lebron looked all out of sorts on offense w/o his usual big man setting the picks. Can't underestimate how much chemistry those guys have developed and it looked like w/o him Lebron didn't quite know where he others should have been.

 

[Clinton91]

Quoting for odd use of quotation marks.

But no, Lebron actually does have some difficulty sometimes keeping his man in front of him.Especially against quicker opponents, I mean the guy is 6'9" 260 pounds, and we expect him to be a major perimeter defender.His massive advantage in athletecism is the only readon he's considered a really good defender. His lock down D is usually only when he gets really intense, as many players do in the final minutes.

He locks down anyone he wants if he's focused and determined. Have you wathced him that recent home game where he had like 3 blocks in the last 2 min of the game. When he turns it on he's the best defender in the NBA bar none.

 

[wremy]

LBJ says he can lead the league in scoring every year if he wants...which I agree with....but not sure why he would come out after a statement like that and be so passive and basically get controlled by SA as he played on the perimeter the whole game....why LBJ isn't posted up late in games is beyond me

 

[malus]

He locks down anyone he wants if he's focused and determined. Have you wathced him that recent home game where he had like 3 blocks in the last 2 min of the game. When he turns it on he's the best defender in the NBA bar none.

Blocking falls under being more athletic than his opponents.

I'm talking about man to man, keeping his opponent in front of him and stopping dribble penetration.He's not a bad defender by any means, but he isn't a revolutionary on the defensive end.Having to block someone sometimes means that you let them get by you.

Anyways, Cavs at home vs Kings on Sunday. Lets finish the season 66-16.

 

[malus]

He has no difficulty whatsoever when he is locked in. None. He can guard anyone in the NBA on the perimeter when locked in.

"locked in"

You mean when its the last few minutes in the game during crunch time? It's noticeable that anyone whos decent at defending will "lock in" in the final minutes. Lebron's length and size will make him able to shut down most if not all sf's, but put him in a situation with a quick 2 guard or pg and he will get crossed over. I'm not trying to bring him down, but I've seen him get beaten off the dribble plenty.

 

[BA_CavsFan]

LeBron is by no means a defensive stopper imo, but I think in small stretches he can make things very difficult for his matchup. But only when he wants to, which isn't as often as we would like. I agree with the fact that some of LeBron's blocks are usually because he lets people get by him and he's so athletic.

 

[Clinton91]

Blocking falls under being more athletic than his opponents.

I'm talking about man to man, keeping his opponent in front of him and stopping dribble penetration.He's not a bad defender by any means, but he isn't a revolutionary on the defensive end.Having to block someone sometimes means that you let them get by you.

Anyways, Cavs at home vs Kings on Sunday. Lets finish the season 66-16.

LeBron lauls his opponent to sleep by letting them get by him just so he can block there shot. He wants to do it, but when he really wants to keep an opponent from getting by him he's really succesful at it. LeBron allows dribble penetration when he's not trying....he would wear out if he excerted the energy it took to keep his opponent out of the lane for a whole game.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

"locked in"

You mean when its the last few minutes in the game during crunch time? It's noticeable that anyone whos decent at defending will "lock in" in the final minutes. Lebron's length and size will make him able to shut down most if not all sf's, but put him in a situation with a quick 2 guard or pg and he will get crossed over. I'm not trying to bring him down, but I've seen him get beaten off the dribble plenty.

I've seen him, over the last 2 years, bottle up Tyreke Evans, Dwayne Wade, Rajon Rondo, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Paul Pierce, Danny Granger, Joe Johnson, Iguodala, Durant, and Brandon Roy to name a few in crunch time. LeBron is physically able to guard every perimeter player in the NBA.