Playoffs Show Cavs Need Help!

[Karma]

Did you watch any of the last two games of the NBA's Eastern Conference finals?

If you're a Cavaliers fan, these games should be sobering. These games tell you that the Cavaliers need so much more than they have now.

Please, don't start by saying the Cavaliers need to dump Zydrunas Ilgauskas and find another center.

The trouble with the Cavaliers is they have so few good players, and Ilgauskas is one of the good ones. Take ``Z'' away, and who would the Cavaliers have in the middle?

``Tractor'' Traylor?

The poor guy will be dragging on four flat tires and badly in need of a valve job by January if you ask him to start. The Cavaliers have only two playoff-caliber athletes: Ilgauskas and You Know Who.

Know why the Detroit Pistons will be trying to repeat as champs when they open the NBA Finals tonight in San Antonio?

Sorry about that Larry Brown, it is not just because of you.

The reasons are guards Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton.

They'll face the Spurs, who have a superb point guard in Tony Parker and a defensive stopper in Bruce Bowen.

The Cavaliers have...

Ira Newble and Eric Snow?

Combined, those guys averaged 9.9 points, and that's against defenses just daring them to shoot!

It's easy to whine about Ilgauskas' slow-footed defense, but it's silly to dismiss the 17 points and nearly nine rebounds he delivered each night. Some fans use the argument that the Cavaliers missed the playoffs with Z, so they can't be any worse without him.

That thinking takes a mediocre team and makes it even worse.

Role models

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert is right in one respect -- the Pistons are good role models -- but it goes much deeper than Larry Brown. Watch how they move without the ball, how they help each other on defense, and how they have experienced, strong character players.

You know they must have good guys in the dressing room because they have ignored the rumors about Brown leaving, and they also have created an environment where Rasheed Wallace has become a decent basketball citizen.

It's called peer pressure.

These are not your father's Bad Boy Pistons, who also had great guards but lacked the grace and class of the current team. They are a wonderful team to watch if you're a basketball purist.

Hamilton and Billups combined to score 41 points a game in the series against the Miami Heat. Consider that Hamilton averaged 19 points in the regular season, 20 points in the first two rounds and 24 in the Miami series.

How did the Pistons put together this backcourt?

Hamilton was part of a big deal with the Washington Wizards. The key player sent to the Wizards was the defensively challenged Jerry Stackhouse. While Stackhouse can be a brilliant scorer, he also can grind the offense to a skidding stop as he holds the ball.

Hamilton runs around picks and runs around picks and then runs some more before he catches a pass and swishes a mid-range jumper. This is almost a lost skill in the NBA.

Billups is a gritty Joe Dumars-type of guard, which is why the general manager named Joe Dumars signed Billups as a free agent in 2002 after Billups had already been with five teams in five years. Dumars gave Billups a 5-year, $33 million contract, which now is an NBA bargain.

Dumars saw something in Billups that others did not, which brings us back to the Cavaliers.

Good decision-making

The most important person in any organization is the one who picks the players. The Cavaliers still don't have that guy in place.

Remember that it wasn't Larry Brown who built the Pistons, it's Dumars. The key players (except Rasheed Wallace) were all in place before Brown arrived. Dumars also engineered the trade for Wallace.

Dumars also selected two winning coaches in Rick Carlisle and Larry Brown. It would make more sense for the Cavaliers to be pursuing Dumars than Brown for their opening as team president and general manager. Of course, Dumars isn't going anywhere.

Brown might not be either, as he's on the verge of his second NBA title.

The Cavaliers need someone to sort through free-agent guards such as Joe Johnson, Larry Hughes, Bobby Simmons, Ray Allen and Michael Redd.

They need to find someone who not only shoots, but can handle the ball and defend -- which is why adding players like Hughes or Johnson makes sense. They need to find the next Billups, a guy who has been around for a few years but hasn't developed and found a home.

They need to realize if they are going to lose Ilgauskas, then at least work out a sign-and-trade deal that significantly upgrades the roster.

They need a better defensive power forward than Drew Gooden, regardless of who the center is next season. They need two guards.

They need a real general manager who understands how the league works and can be an asset to rookie head coach Mike Brown. That's why Denver's Kiki Vandeweghe is worth pursuing because he has put the Nuggets in position to contend.

They need to remember these are not Larry Brown's Pistons. He's been a great coaching closer, but the real work was done early by Dumars.

And the Cavaliers need to remember that as they look for their general manager.

Terry Pluto

Thank God for Terry Pluto. One guy who actually thinks before he writes.

 

[The Disector]

Writers can post what they like because that is thier job but that doesn't mean they are right or wrong.

If the Cavs are smart and creative they can go from having 2 playoff caliber players up to 4 or 5.

Z can be traded for 1 or 2 playoff caliber players and the Cavs have the money to grab 1 or 2 more.

Another thing this points out is the Cavs can't go out sign Redd or Allen and keep Z and expect to be a championship contender because then we'd only have 3 playoff caliber players(Same team as last year with Redd or Allen added) and that's just not enough to win a championship.

 

[Karma]

I hear you Disector, but the reason some of our role players haven't become key like a Bruce Bowen, or Nazr Mohammed, or Robert Horry or Brent Barry, is because we haven't been coached for so long. We are pieces short, but one of those was coaching. We all have our fingers crossed for Mike Brown. There is no reason why we will not win with Eric Snow as our point guard. Place him with a scoring shooting guard and we are upgraded massively. Remember we had a winning record with thre worst scoring backcourt. Improved offense whilst upgrading defense (no McInnis) is an immediate step into the playoffs. We are likely to go into the season with a piece or two short of a contender. But hopefully we develop some comodities valuable enough to make moves to fill those voids (Sasha, Drew, Jackson).

Discount Terry Pluto's article as much as you want. But he is easily the best Cavalier's writer out there, and you will find very few who disagree.

 

[The Disector]

I'm not discounting Pluto Karma.

He makes it sound like if there is no Z we are thru as a franchise and that if the Cavs don't get Z back the Cavs would actually settle for Tractor as thier starting center next season.
We all know if Z is gone next season that there will be someone new manning the starting center spot and if the Cavs make smart moves and acquisitions they are far from being thru as a franchise and they could be contenders.

 

[Karma]

It will either be Traylor starting at center ore grossly overpaying a mediocre player in free agency. This is why Pluto states that we could be in trouble if he walks.

My two big issues last year were coaching and our guard play. We have hopefully solved the coaching problems. The guard situation has been partially fixed in that McInnis has left. We now need that scoring guard to play with Snow. Then we need to work out how to get a young point to groom under Snow. These are our major issues.

 

[E-Light]

'They need a real general manager who understands how the league works and can be an asset to rookie head coach Mike Brown. That's why Denver's Kiki Vandeweghe is worth pursuing because he has put the Nuggets in position to contend.'


Yes, exactly why larry brown should not have any power inside the organization. Be the figure head, stay the figurehead, and get out of our organization as soon as you get healthy.

 

[The Disector]

I really don't like, in fact I hate the idea of Snow as the starting PG.

He can't shoot and is a player who's man can constantly be used to double everyone else on our team.

If we pick up a scoring 2 guard I'd rather see Bron at the PG and play Newble at SF--yes Ira Newble.

 

[Karma]

I understand your theory there disector, but our big problem then becomes who defends the opposition point guard? It is the most important defensive position. I dont neccessarily disagree with you, but I have my concerns with someone like LeBron trying to stay in front of speedy 6'0 guys.

 

[E-Light]

If we went big like Disector says(though you should feel shame disector, starting ira newble another year.no.no.no.) we would have an advantage on our offensive end, as long as ira wasn't starting, and the opposing point couldn't just go guard him. What point guard can defend LeBron? Sheer size alone lebron has 5 inches, and 40-70 pounds on most of the leagues point guard. The over all advantage would go to us. also take into account lebron 7' 3/4 inch wingspan.

 

[The Disector]

If we went big like Disector says(though you should feel shame disector, starting ira newble another year.no.no.no.) we would have an advantage on our offensive end, as long as ira wasn't starting, and the opposing point couldn't just go guard him. What point guard can defend LeBron? Sheer size alone lebron has 5 inches, and 40-70 pounds on most of the leagues point guard. The over all advantage would go to us. also take into account lebron 7' 3/4 inch wingspan.

I do feel ashamed but anything beats watching Eric Snow consistently clank wide open jump shots and the other team daring him to shoot.

 

[NarlCavs]

Role players look better when there is an upgrade in the starting lineup and talent level. Pluto pretty much go it right. You resign Z and if not than you better get a hell of a lot that can help this team in a sign and trade. That is hard to do too. Teams rarely get equal value back when they sign and trade a player.

Pluto is also right again about Larry Brown. It's been written many times how LB isn't the best choice to take control of this organization and be given power over personnel decisions. I hope Gilbert wakes up and gets over his lust for L. Brown.

I wouldn't play LeBron at PG--limited minutes at the most. You always run the offense through him but he shouldn't have the responsibility of controlling tempo, knowing where and when to get the ball to players and being the primary ballhandler on offense. I think that takes away from his overall talent and impact. Keep LeBron at SF and try to upgrade at PG. Snow was a fairly effective PG on a quality 76er team.

 

[The Disector]

The 76er offense was alot easier then most NBA offenses.
Give the ball to Iverson and get out of the way and if you were a big man on that team then just go get the rebound.

 

[Glen Infante]

I really don't like, in fact I hate the idea of Snow as the starting PG.

It's not that Eric is a horrible starting PG, its that he's a pass first PG who needs offensive players around him. Having Ira Newble standing next to Eric makes his abilities worthless. Wait til we have that shoot 1st shooting guard that Eric can find open in the wing, Eric's play will pay off then.

 

[RuanuLaw]

How about a starting line up of :

PG: LeBron James
SG: FA Pickup (Redd, Johnson, etc...)
SF: Luke or Shasha
PF: Drew
C: Varejeo

Now that is if we dont sign Z or do anything with him? Or at least get some bench depth with from him.

 

[jason436]

I think we bring back Z if we can get a deal for about 10 mil a season. Now if we can bring in Redd I think Snow is a capable PG for that team. This doesn't mean that I think he's the answer or that I'd stop trying to bring in another PG. I do think we can win with a starting lineup of Snow, Redd, Lebron, Gooden, and Z. Redd's scoring ability will more then offset the loss of McInnis's scoring ability, especially considering McInnis's bad attitude.

The other thing to consider with a trio of Lebron, Redd and Z is that Brown could set up his rotation so that two of the three will almost always be on the court. If he does this he can get these guys rest and still have two very strong scoring options on the court. This might actually help them become more efficient because they can play harder and then get a break when their tired instead of playing the whole game and playing minutes where they're tired and not as productive. This type of impact is hard to measure but it could have a large impact in the end.

Also having two scorers out of those three takes the pressure off of our bench players. If we used this theory last year we could keep Lebron or Z on the court at all times, which ended up with Lebron playing almost the whole game.
It yielded the obvious line ups with Lebron playing 1 of 4 positions or Z playing C.

Now if we can add Redd to the mix we can have lineups of Redd and Lebron, Lebron and Z and Redd and Z.

Lebron, Z or Redd would be our two main options and it would set up the bench players or other starters to at worst be put in the position to be the third option on offense. This reduce the pressure on our bench and role players because our "star" players will draw the attention of the defense getting easier opportunities for the other guys.