Last night's game being the closest we've had to a blowout at all in the Conference Finals, I don't have much to say that hasn't already been said. However, I wish to submit to you a list of things that should not and cannot continue to happen if our Horsemen of the Basketball Apocalypse are to ride on into the Finals.
- Mo Williams, Delonte West and Z continue to miss open looks: While no one here is stupid enough to argue that LeBron is a one-man team, we're all well aware that shot creation from people not named James is not our strong suit. It's all about drive and kick, and we've done a fine job of that so far in this series. Problem is, our shooters aren't knocking anything down. As far as I'm concerned, however, the game plan is working. As long as we keep getting guys open looks, good things will start happening. If Mo, Delonte and Z hit their averages, we're up 3-0 having won by 15 each game.
- Dwight Howard continues to do his best Mark Price impression from the free throw line: No way this is sustainable. If Orlando beats us by virtue of DH's free throw shooting, then so be it. But it's not going to happen.
- LeBron James doing his best Shaq impression at the line: LeBron James is the best player in the NBA. After last night's performance, no doubt he's at the gym practicing FT's for hours today. He knows that regardless of the team around him, he's got the biggest burden to carry, and The King is not one to take that sort of thing lightly.
- Our defense continues to fail to get fourth-quarter stops: This has been the key to the series so far, really. Our defensive scheme has completely broken down in the fourth, allowing the Disney Darlings' already deadly shooters to get open looks which, of course, spell doom. Adjustments need to be made and rotations reconsidered. These guys can kill us even when we're playing good defense, so we can't settle for non-existent D. Let Howard get his. Do whatever is necessary to take their assassins off their game.
- The Cavs continue to play as if they're the underdogs in the series: I don't care if we're down 2-1. We are the best team in the NBA, without question. And we need to start playing that way. We come to battle every night led by the Coach of the Year and the league MVP. No one can stop us, and that's a truth we collectively have to believe in. No more chucking up ill-advised jumpers early in the shot clock like nervous school children in a pickup game. No more LeBron dribbling for 20 seconds while looking like a deer in the headlights. No more collapsing around a third-tier backup center and leaving shooters wide open. Amway Arena was quieter than Walt Disney's tomb for most of last night. We need to take advantage of it. And can we really be scared of a team called the Magic? In their majestic blue pinstriped uniforms adorned with delightful stars? Nonsense.
This is our series, and this is our year. On Tuesday, we will come out and go face to face with these things that should not be. By defeating our own lingering demons, we clear a path to certain victory... and our Horsemen will ride on.
Bang-on right when you say the game plan is working. I know it’s hard for results-oriented fans to understand, but when you get your shooters wide-open looks time after time, the plan is working. When they catch a pass and have enough time to tie their shoes before firing off a shot, the plan is working. Mike Brown is not the one clanging the iron out there. That ignominy belongs to Mo, Z, and Delonte.
tabler84 - May 25, 2009
Exactly right. That’s what bothers me about fans talking about how the Magic are “dominating” the series. If Mo Williams hits his wide-open three at the end of Game 1 which he usually makes then the Cavs win that game. I’m not taking credit away from Orlando because they are playing well but the Cavs are not playing up to their abilities. That’s what people are missing.
The one thing I do wonder is if Mike Brown should try playing Wally instead of Sasha and hope that he can start hitting jumpers. And if he doesn’t work then try Boobie — I know he hasn’t been shooting well all year but he’s streaky and he might be able to catch fire. If Mo and Delonte keep shooting like this then we need to try something different.
Buckeye Brad - May 25, 2009
I don’t think it’s a good idea to put Boobie in there and hope he gets hot.
That’s like Lou Brown at the end of Major League:
That kinda stuff makes for a great movie moment. Not so much for coaching in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Turkmenbashi - May 25, 2009
I agree with that point. But I’m saying that if guys aren’t making shots then you have to try someone else after a while.
Buckeye Brad - May 25, 2009
that’s true, but boobie is a nightmare for the cavs on the defensive end…he’s just as small as west/mo, and less good on the ball. unless sasha and LeBron are in the game with him, i think it’s tough to justify many minutes for boob.
DontCallMeJoey - May 25, 2009
i thought you were going to nail a point home, but only hinted at it:
The Magic fans who are insisting that their defense is what’s making Mo and Delonte shoot poorly are only half-correct; if you watch last night’s game again, those two were missing wide-open shots that had nothing to do with how the Magic was playing them defensively. I’ll give credit to the Magic’s defense; maybe they aren’t who we thought we were, so i won’t let ’em off the hook. But on the other side, you have to expect your two starting guards to hit uncontested jump shots, be it from 23 feet or from 17.
rolub - May 25, 2009
Far more than the Magic’s defense taking them out of their game is OUR defense taking them out of their game. I can’t think of anything else to explain why all three of them are in such a slump together (Z, Delonte, and Mo); maybe it has to do with how hard they’re working on the defensive end.
I definitely agree that we need to start acting like we’re supposed to win. Come out and play like we did early in the first two games; I’m not suggesting that we’d suddenly win by 30 points or anything, but for crying out loud. Run. Force turnovers. Stop overreacting to every single pass they make.
CU Adam - May 25, 2009
Brad – I share your exasperation, but it’s hard to know where the points will come from. Wally can get hot, but he can’t defend like Sasha. But Sasha was invisible last night and missed a wide-open 3.
I love Boobie just as much as the plural form of his name, but it’s not working with him either. Last night, toward the end of the first half, LeBron drove and dished back to Boobie who teed one up with no one within about 10 feet of him. Clang. Just unbelievable.
Can’t get away from Mo and Delonte. It’s on them; they’re two of the strongest supporting guards in the league, and we have to trust that we’ll perform as such.
tabler84 - May 25, 2009
Nice
Turkmenbashi - May 25, 2009
Yeah, yeah, I know. I guess I’m just grasping for straws here.
And I was very upset that Boobie missed that open 3 in the first half. It was his chance to get some more playing time if he makes that, and he blew it. I don’t know what happened to him — I keep remember the ’07 playoffs against the Pistons.
Buckeye Brad - May 25, 2009
Yep. It’s rare to see such drastic regression for a young player; I’m holding to hope that he was terribly bothered by that nagging injury, which affected him in many ways. His trademark was his willingness to be a killer and step into the big shot. Now it just looks like tentative bleh.
tabler84 - May 25, 2009
I really think his lack of playing time has effected his shooting. Having played basketball at a moderately high level, I can attest that it is very, very difficult to come into a game cold, knowing that you have to knock down shots or you are heading right back to the bench. Usually, that manifests itself in hesitation and nervousness and leads to short-arming shots.
That is what Boobie has looked like to me since he came back. I am guessing he is still pretty confident in his shot but Mike Brown’s lack of confidence in him has him looking over his shoulder rather than just playing. That’s not an indictment of Brown at all, just my opinion on the problem.
Brad D - May 25, 2009
i don’t think this is crazy. problem is, boobie isn’t playing much defense, either, so brown definitely won’t leave him on the floor for long if he’s not hitting right out of the gate.
DontCallMeJoey - May 25, 2009
Right, it really is hard for a guy who makes his living playing offense to get on the floor when defense is what is needed. I think that throws Boobie off even more because he knows he can’t miss or he is done. It’s self perpetuating.
Brad D - May 25, 2009
The case for Wally improves because it seems like Sasha hasn’t been defending well. I don’t know how to prove that statically, but Turkoglu and Lewis seem to do what they want whether Sasha or West or whoever besides Lebron is on him. In any event, Wally couldn’t do that much worse.
For all the talk of Mo, Delonte, and Z, the Cavs need more production from that bench spot. The 3 starters are going to have to get it going on their own, but Mike Brown has different options for that bench spot. I think he should try and find a hot hand.
SanD - May 25, 2009
84
Exactly with some on Z. They need his 12, at least, Anderson’s 8.
Holmes Co - 56 - May 25, 2009
Mo Williams and Delonte West used to be able create shots at will (as NBA PGs) but they have been used differently all year
WhaHuh - May 25, 2009
Wrong, and stop yelling
tabler84 - May 25, 2009
Turk – I wonder if Cavs fans would get off the ledge if they thought about the series in these terms:
We’re not going to lose again at home. Thus, we have two chances to win this series. Just need one of them.
tabler84 - May 25, 2009
Exactly right. I mean sure, woulda been nice if we could have gotten that one last night, but I’ll take it on Tuesday. Fine with me.
Turkmenbashi - May 25, 2009
Well said. We’re probably looking at 7 close games, and the home team has a natural advantage in those games. So we have to hold serve in our two remaining home games and steal one.
All is not lost.
SanD - May 25, 2009
Wow
Laker fan here i come in piece! Well sorta…LBJ is guna have to play out his mind to get the team back on track.
Regardless of wether or not yall been missing wide open J’s or not game 4 is a must win. It felt good running through the 1st 2rds huh? Now i see why Lebron wanted Boston instead of Orlando. Take care guys…
Kobe Won Kenobi - May 25, 2009
You come in piece, or pieces?
Game 4 is not must-win. The world of sports will be better off when people stop abusing the English language in this manner. Best of luck against Denver, and cheers.
tabler84 - May 25, 2009
You’re on fire today.
Brad D - May 25, 2009
From little skits during the intoruductions to this?
Once again, LeBron is searching for LeHelp.
“There’s only one of me,” James said in the locker room shortly before Game 3. “… If I could clone myself, we’d be all right.”
WOW.
I blocked Patrick Chewing - May 25, 2009
All we had to do was aviod Pistons and All you had to do was aviod Orlando
Match ups.
I blocked Patrick Chewing - May 25, 2009
So now LeBron doesnt have a team around him???
LOL, howd they win 66 games then?
please
ohc - May 25, 2009
Eastern Conference stinks
Cavs win about 48 wins if they played in the West.
“Big Z” D.West A.Verajo and would’ve been exposed a lot sooner.
Mo williams isn’t an allstar in the west or the NBA imo.
This is the Western Conf. Point Gaurds. He would’ve been abused by
Steve Nash,Baron Davis,Chris Paul,Deron Willaims,Tony Parker,Monte Ellis and Chauncey Billups.
dodgers2009 - May 25, 2009
No.
The Cavs were 26-4 against the west this year. Would you like me to repeat that? Because it’s the best win percentage of any team in basketball. I realize it makes you feel smart to say the East sucks, and you probably assumed the Cavs dropped most of their 16 losses to the west. Wrong. Road wins (and season sweeps) at Denver, Portland, Utah, San Antonio, Dallas, Phoenix.
Anything else?
tabler84 - May 25, 2009
half of those game were home games!
dodgers2009 - May 25, 2009
plus
how many games did the cavs play against the crappy east!
6. x-Philadelphia 25.0
7. x-Chicago 25.0
8. x-Detroit 27.0
9. Indiana 30.0
10. Charlotte 31.0
11. New Jersey 32.0
12. Milwaukee 32.0
13. Toronto 33.0
14. New York 34.0
15. Washington
dodgers2009 - May 25, 2009
the numbers were games behind your
1 game better than the lakers cavs
dodgers2009 - May 25, 2009
One more time, in English.
Brad D - May 25, 2009
Right, because we all know there weren’t any crappy teams in the West.
Buckeye Brad - May 25, 2009
It’s true. The Cavs had the rare benefit of playing half their games at home.
12-3 on the road against the west.
tabler84 - May 25, 2009
Hahaha, well said.
betterthanburke - May 25, 2009
how is it helping you know?
in the reg. season the cavs have yet to beat an elite team on the road
la orl bos
dodgers2009 - May 25, 2009
Trust me, we’re aware of that deficiency. We just happen to think that over a couple of 7-game series, we’ll get one. If not, we’ll go home. That’s fine. We can deal with it.
tabler84 - May 25, 2009
just false. the east had a better record against the west this year than the west did against the east.
what’s more, the eastern conference had the league’s best record, and 2 teams that finished within 4 and 7 games of the cavs. the closest contender to the lakers in the west was 11 games back.
what other nonsense can you make up?
DontCallMeJoey - May 25, 2009
Could this article be any more biased? #1 team #1 coach #1 player in world..etc etc..LOL They cant even beat the Magic at home…Cavs will never win a title with James because its all about “James” and nobody else. As soon as James realizes its a 5 man team maybe he will win a ring.
lakerg0d - May 25, 2009
Mods,
Ban this cleveland.com stuff. Seriously. I don’t desire to feed the trolls, but this site will die if trolls are permitted to stay. Instead of having intelligent conversation, we waste our breath reminding trolls like this that LeBron is known as the best passer in the league, that he regularly passes to teammates with the game on the line, etc. It’s a tired discussion. I mean, even Jerry West acknowledges LeBron is the “more complete” (read: better passer) and better player.
tabler84 - May 25, 2009
Can't even beat the Magic at home?
As a Magic fan, I find your demeaning tone to be funny given that the Magic were perfect against the Lakers this season.
betterthanburke - May 25, 2009
betterthanburke,
Don’t mind the LA trolls.
You guys are so tough to match up against. We knew this would be a battle. I’d like to think it’s far from over. Either way, I think LeBron and Dwight will have many postseason battles for years to come. Cheers.
tabler84 - May 25, 2009
Definitely.
Rest of the East is starting to fall off. We’ll see you guys again next year I’m sure.
betterthanburke - May 25, 2009
Yeah, I’m thinking the same. Of course, we don’t know what will come in free agency.
I’m not convinced that Boston can stay in the top tier. Rondo has really impressed me, but Allen is fast eroding and KG will have to stay healthy. Pierce loses his shot for full games. We’ll see.
Chicago looked tough but they’re a long way from the top two. And I was frankly stunned to see Philly take a single game from Orlando, let alone two.
tabler84 - May 25, 2009
i picked
la vs orl
almost 2weeks ago on this site
http://www.fearthesword.com/2009/5/10/871004/the-cavs-are-in-trouble
dodgers2009 - May 25, 2009
Good for you.
Have a biscuit.
johnnyphoenix - May 25, 2009
i will
you can have some humble pie
dodgers2009 - May 25, 2009
Are the series over yet?
thought you had to win 4…
johnnyphoenix - May 25, 2009
Dodgers2009,
Why are you posting on this site? Just curious.
tabler84 - May 25, 2009
i love LBJ,
But the cavs as a team are flawed.
and you guys dont seem to get that.
i cant belive what you guys are posting. This is a 1 year shot for THIS collection of cavs.
This team reminds me of the Allen Iverson defensive eastern champ team, that had a 1 year window because of how they were constructed.
dodgers2009 - May 25, 2009
So what you’re saying is that you’ve come here to enlighten us all. You saw an opportunity to good-naturedly correct the thinking of an entire fan base. Is that right?
tabler84 - May 25, 2009
not really.
i like to try to post things that make sense.
and i cant believe that most of the people here are so tunnel-visioned about the cavs.
most of you are too deep in the forest to see the trees. the 8-0 start was an illusion and none of you seemed to see it, so i started posting
dodgers2009 - May 25, 2009
So, yes, in other words.
This is a waste of time to keep saying, but having the league’s best record matters. In every other part of the sporting world, it’s all that is required to be the champion. There are no small-sample playoffs.
People here love their team, but they are confronting the challenges. You can be sure of that.
tabler84 - May 25, 2009
Oh my god. Enough of this crap. Quit acting like you’re a god sent here from heaven to enlighten us all about our team.
You’re just here to talk trash and start fights with Cavs fans. Go away.
Buckeye Brad - May 25, 2009
The 66 win regular season seems to suggest that this team is pretty good. Eight consecutive playoff wins seem to back that. Losing two games to another very good team does nothing to change the fact that the Cavs are established among the league’s elite.
Thanks, though, your wonderfully insightful posts have certainly opened my eyes.
Brad D - May 25, 2009
LeBron James 2008-9 assists per game: 7.2
Kobe Bryant 2008-9 assists per game: 4.9
LeBron James career assists per game: 6.7
Kobe Bryant career assists per game: 4.6
so, you know, you’re talking out of your ass here.
DontCallMeJoey - May 25, 2009
Dodgers2009,
Why are you posting on this site? Just curious.
johnnyphoenix - May 25, 2009
Wow. Let’s get this site out from under the bridge.
CU Adam - May 25, 2009
I’m trying, man. I’m trying.
tabler84 - May 25, 2009
I would like to comment on some of these points.
“Mo Williams, Delonte West and Z continue to miss open looks.”
Yes, they did; but then, so did Orlando’s shooters. Obviously Turkoglu missed most of his, and although a good deal of them were contested, several were not. Also, the Magic missed many open threes as well, just like Cleveland did.
I haven’t watched many Cleveland games to know this, but I’m wondering how much more wide open were these shooters in their other regular season games. Their other opponents were worse defenders than Orlando, so maybe they were even more open than they are now. Perhaps they’re not used to being semi-wide open? This is just some speculation on my part, though, but I too am surprised at some of those shots they’re missing.
LeBron James doing his best Shaq impression at the line.
LeBron shot 75% in yesterday’s game, which is right at his playoff average and barely below his regular season average. Obviously, playing as many minutes as he does and needing to do everything in the game is going to tire him, which might explain why he shoots less than his regular season average, and also why he missed so many near the end of the game when he was so fatigued (after all, even Kobe missed some free throws at the end of the Lakers’ last game). In any case, it’s not like he hit only 14 of 24, which would actually be Shaq-like. The only reason you felt that he was shooting poorly was that he missed them at the end. I’m sure Magic fans were cursing the fact that he started out 12 of 13 at the line. He just happened to even out the percentages at the end of the game.
“Our defense continues to fail to get fourth-quarter stops.”
This is true. However, it’s even more true for the third quarter. Cleveland has been outscored by 11, 6, and 6 in the third quarters, as opposed to 5, 5, and 5 for the fourth quarters. And being outscored in the third quarter is usually a sign of halftime adjustments, whereas being outscored in the fourth is usually a sign of fatigue.
“Amway Arena was quieter than Walt Disney’s tomb for most of last night. We need to take advantage of it.”
How exactly does a team take advantage of a lack of crowd noise? I have to think that any number of other factors are more important than something professional players shouldn’t even be affected by at all.
“The Cavs continue to play as if they’re the underdogs in the series.”
Actually, I rather think this is something the Cavs should do. After all, if you give a team respect, you tend to play up to the level you perceive them to be at. You really want the players to think: “what a sissy name, the Magic, we should beat them easily”? The Magic are the underdogs in this series, at least in terms of perception, and they’re playing with a sense of being disrespected and it seems to be working for them.
“No one can stop us, and that’s a truth we collectively have to believe in.”
If you believe that no one can stop you, why would you try to play hard? After all, no one can stop you, right?
CAGyrologist - May 25, 2009
Well, i agree with most of your points BUT
Mo Williams, Delonte West and Z continue to miss open looks."
“Yes, they did; but then, so did Orlando’s shooters. Obviously Turkoglu missed most of his, and although a good deal of them were contested, several were not. Also, the Magic missed many open threes as well, just like Cleveland did.”
Yeah but look at the 3 Pt. stats…Cleveland took 9, count em, 9 more 3s than the Magic. Most of these were open looks (excluding the end of game desperation shot). And yet still made 1 fewer than the magic. .353 percentage is ALOT better than .192…
johnnyphoenix - May 25, 2009
ALOT?
I blocked Patrick Chewing - May 25, 2009
That being said...
Z has just been atrocious…aside from not being able to handle Howard in the paint (which I don’t necessarily blame him too much for…) it’s his ill advised long 2 pointers that are really doing damage to our offense.
BTW, Mo just guaranteed a series win. Feel two ways about this…I really don’t like ‘guarantees,’ it’s just talk, and gives extra ’we’ve been disrespected’ ammo to the magic. However, as lifeless as he and the rest of the cavs (aside from LeBron) maybe this will give them a little extra fire…
johnnyphoenix - May 25, 2009
Ugh, yeah, I don’t like the “guarantee” thing. Puts a lot of pressure on us.
Turkmenbashi - May 25, 2009
Well yeah but
there’s already so much pressure at this point it probably doesn’t really make a difference. Why does it feel like we’re down 3-0.?!?
johnnyphoenix - May 25, 2009
Uh Mo, This isn’t like the all-star game where you whine and complain and then after few people get injured you finally get what you want
I blocked Patrick Chewing - May 25, 2009
Just make a shot
Tabler and Johnny P good posts, thanks for keeping it on track.
This Chinese deal. Hope they bring the cash to keep “the pride of St V”. If he leaves for the Evil Empire, I’ll have rancid feelings.
Anybody like West’s out of control blown lay up last night?
I feel bad for the guys, especially Z. He’s getting torched.
Holmes Co - 56 - May 25, 2009
Sam Cassel, Steve Francis, Rik Smits, Anthony Mason, Wally Sczerbiak, Brad Miller, Juwan Howard, Tyrone Hill Jamaal Magliore and Now Mo Williams
Make what top 10 list?
I blocked Patrick Chewing - May 25, 2009
Chewing
You’re strange idiot. Scram.
You say you sit down to what?
Holmes Co - 56 - May 25, 2009
1. Stop yelling.
2. We get it, you are really, really clever. your signature is perhaps the single best witticism ever written. Can we stop the freak show now and talk basketball?
3. You are on the opponent’s territory, try and act like an adult. If you can’t do that there is really no reason to be here. You joined less than three weeks ago and have been nothing but pointlessly antagonistic without ever mentioning anything cogent.
4. It’s been three games, don’t buy your finals tickets just yet. Mo may yet surprise you, before that cheapshot elbow he took he was 3-6 with 10 points. Bloodying someone’s face is often a good way to slow them for one game, but it doesn’t guarantee anything for the next.
Brad D - May 25, 2009
A couple of comments on your comments:
Mo Williams, Delonte West and Z continue to miss open looks: This was definitely true in game 3. I did not see games 1 and 2 so I will take your word for those games. What was alarming to me was that on most of these shots all of the Cavs were at least 12 feet from the basket and no Cav was in position for any inside shot opportunities or more importantly a rebound. This does not matter if the Cavs are hitting the outside shot, but like in game 3 when they were not, Orlando was getting easy defensive rebounds. Also there is no guarantee that the Cavs will start hitting the outside shot so the Cavs must come up with a different way to score instead of just chucking it up there and hoping it goes in.
One method might be to post up Z, Varejou, and Wallace more, feed them the ball, and have them do some shooting from the post. For as little scoring as they did in game 3 this strategy would not hurt much pointwise, it will help put them in the better rebound position, and if nothing else it may force Howard to play post defense rather than just being a rovering center like he is now.
The Cavs continue to play as if they’re the underdogs in the series: If LeBron does not hit the last second jumper, the Cavs are down 0-3. Of course you can say if Williams hits the last second jumper in game 1 the Cavs are up 2-1. The reality is the Cavs are down 1-2 and are not playing up to their potential as you stated. The Cavs are not out the series, but they have to start playing better on a more consistent basis.
markclev2006 - May 25, 2009
Nice post. I take issue with one line that I’ve heard a bunch of times, and this truly needs to stop. Here it is:
If LeBron does not hit the last second jumper, the Cavs are down 0-3.
It doesn’t work that way. What happened is what happened, and we could spend hours going over hypotheticals from game one. Anyone want to guess how likely it was Orlando would win game one after the Cavs took the lead with 30 seconds to go? As long as the Cavs don’t give up a 3, they win the game ~75% of the time. And even when they give up a 3, they win the game ~40% of the time. We’re essentially taking game one 85% of the time, and we didn’t. But we don’t waste time breaking down those stats ad nauseum.
tabler84 - May 26, 2009
Excellent point.
Turkmenbashi - May 26, 2009
EXACTLY
Thank you. They could be up 2-1 very easily as well…whatever. They’re NOT. What happened happened.
johnnyphoenix - May 26, 2009
i like the idea of posting z more, both from an offensive rebounding perspective, and from a getting-him-going perspective. he’s shooting like shit from 15 feet, let’s try to get him the ball near the rim.
DontCallMeJoey - May 26, 2009
Yea, as I recall, Z made some good inside shots earlier in Game 3. It’s probably a good idea to go to him more.
On another topic, I think having some1 going for offensive rebound is important even for open 3’s. It really puts less pressure on the shooter when there are teammates on the inside fighting for rebound. Maybe Howard’s rebounds are getting to them mentally, even if only a little.
BTW, Magic fan here. Hope it’s gonna be a good game tonight. :)
CityShrimp - May 26, 2009
Lebron's scoring share spells trouble for Cavs.
Let’s hope they can beat history here. I dug up some numbers and threw them in a chart…. the outlook isn’t good. Lebron is scoring 37% of the cav’s points. Far too high a share compared to past NBA finalists.
www.infojocks.com
Infojocks - May 26, 2009
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