NFL Draft: Is The Combine Really *That* Important?
February 23, 2010The 5-Hole: Blue Jackets News and Notes – 2/23/10 – Olympic Break Edition
February 23, 2010
Mike Brown is juggling his line-up. He has said he will start Antawn Jamison at the 4 spot. It is not out of the ordinary for Brown to say something like Jamison will start and then change his mind. (For what it’s worth Brian Windhorst tweeted that Jamison will start tonight, whether that was because Hickson had to miss shoot around with an illness or because Brown had previously decided to start Jamison is moot.) Perhaps the game which will give an indication as to Brown’s intentions will be the Celtics on Thursday.
No matter who gets the start, the real question is who gets the minutes? Hickson has been starting for some time, but that doesn’t mean he plays starter’s minutes. For now, the Cavaliers are forced to use a 2 man rotation at Center. There are line-up possibilities in which a guy like Hickson or Powe or even LeBron could steal a few minutes at the 5, but those are match-up games that we really wouldn’t count on. There are 48 minutes available for Shaq and Andy at the center. Shaq is averaging 23.5 minutes per game for the season, but that number has gone up since the calendar turned. Without Zydrunas, figure Shaq to get 30 minutes unless severe foul trouble sits him sooner. Andy averages 29 minutes a game as well. If Shaq and Andy play their current averages, that means all 48 center minutes are taken as well as say 10 power forward minutes. (Both men on the floor at the same time.)
Jamison is a 30 minute a game player. Technically he was a 36 minute a game player in Washington. Cutting his minutes to match his team role is appropriate. That leaves around 8 minutes at the 4 spot open. Hickson averages 19 a game. Leon Powe has been cleared by team doctors to return.He has not yet been active for a game, although if Hickson is sick enough to miss shoot around, it would not surprise me if Powe was on the bench and available for his first action tonight.
I said before the trade happened that I wouldn’t worry about who gets what minutes. I stand by that. Sort of.
To me, the most important thing isn’t who starts, or even if Hickson’s minutes are dropped to 10, or even 5. To me the most important thing is that our core ‘bigs’ line-up (meaning Jamison, Shaq and Varejao) are the ones getting the job done in crunch time. For this to happen, they first must be available which means no 5 fouls early in the fourth quarter. Jamison and Shaq both were in foul trouble against the Magic and it cost the Cavaliers. Varejao has been in foul trouble more this season than I remember in recent years. If the Cavs are playing in a tight game they need these three to play the bulk of the fourth quarter minutes.
Mike Brown tried some offensive and defensive subbing at the end of the game while free throws were being shot. That makes sense to me, at least until Jamison picks up on the defensive schemes. I like that Jamison gives us a second post option in case we can’t play Shaq because of foul trouble or free throw shooting.
I know that Hickson probably is going to get his minutes sliced, and I also know that everytime the Cavs lose we will probably hear “Why didn’t Brown go with Hickson, they were winning with him as a starter?” Fine. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I choose to be of the opinion that Jamison is a significant upgrade over Hickson. There are things that Hickson can do better than Antawn, but no way is he the better player. I’ll take my chances with the best 5 we can throw on the floor. Come playoff time if we need Hickson, we can all be thankful that he had the opportunity to play some extended minutes this season. It most certainly helped his development. But right now is the time for Jamison to play and get ready for the stretch run with the team.
30 Comments
I’m pretty inclined to the starting your best 5 argument, especially when it comes to getting off to explosive starts in the first quarter. Even coming in at the 7 or 8 minute mark isn’t the same. Better to let the best scorers warm up from the get-go rather than have it be 3 or 4 minutes left in the first before they’re really in a groove.
I was torn between Jamison / Hickson starting. I liked the start the Cavs would get off to with Hickson cutting and dunking for the first 5-6 minutes of the game. Thats what he was good for. Early, fast, and energetic offense to start the game.
At the same time, I saw Hickson stand wide open from 15 feet, clueless as to what he should do. Jamison’s instinct is to shoot that ball, Hickson looks for Lebron to defer the ball to.
I think teams are honing in on Hickson more, and he is not getting as many easy shots, so that tells me its time to start Jamison, and get JJ working on that jumper.
Agree… that’s why I want Delonte to start over Parker. I’m not going to bash him like normal, but I think AP’s game is better suited for us off the bench. Personally would rather have West guarding the other team’s best player than Parker.
I think Hickson would be a good fit off the bench with his athleticism. Some dunks could be what the 2nd team needs to get some energy sometimes.
well written people just need to relax and realize jamsion is what we need now to go all way and finally win a damn ship put the best five on the floor from tip off and blow teams out like we did last year
@ Jake – Yeah, Hickson won’t be starting games off with a flurry of dunks in the playoffs, no way. Plus, he’s just too much of a liability with those passes bouncing off his fingertips
@Lyon – I’d love to see Delonte start. Other than his height, it completely befuddles me that Parker is still starting over Delonte, who appears to be ok mentally now.
Excellent point Jake
Varejao’s been getting less of the calls on the charges he’s been taking, as well as playing a little more out of position now that he’s been a center more than a power forward… I hope the ref’s don’t screw him over this much come playoff time…
Matt… you hit it on the head, height. Brown loves him some tall SG. see Pavlovic, Sasha
after the three games we’ve seen, i’m now worried about the effect this trade has on the rotation of our bigs.
it used to be: shaq –> Z; hickson –> AV
it’s now: shaq –> AV; AJ –> hickson
what seems to be a problem is that the net loss in production when AV and hickson are on the floor at the same time. AV was grooving in his role as 6th man 4… he works hard, but simply doesn’t matchup as well at the 5. in addition to Z’s underrated defense, we now have no kickout threat in among our secondary bigs. (possible solution is continue to start hickson, but i’m really growing into wanting have as much AJ on the floor as possible.)
ironically, from strictly a 2010 rotation point of view, it looks as though the better deal wouldve been to trade hickson for AJ and keep Z.
hopefully we’ll be able to get Z back and hopefully the statement i’m about to make will be incorrect but: i think if we get Z back, we just plop AJ into hickson’s spot in the rotation and reduce jj’s minutes.
I actually do think it matters who starts and what the rotations are and who plays what position. Jamison has been starting and has been starting at the 4 for years. He is accustomed to it. he is also accustomed to playing with the first unit. I think Brown should go with that.
This isn’t San An.
Start your best five Mike Brown. West and Jamison need to play 30+ minutes.
I think Hickson plays, way too much and is way too overvalued.
There I said it. That felt good.
*I meant to say “shouldn’t start, plays way too much and is overvalued.”
And I think West plays better starting than off the bench. He hasn’t been as productive this season as last. And I think that can be attributed to his not starting. Some people just play better as a starter.
@14… no bigger delonte fan than me. but i don’t want to get used to him with 38 min/gm and then have him go to jail right before the ORL series. knowwhutimean? better to get comfy with him in a smaller role, at least this year.
Hickson should be starting. Jamison doesn’t know the offense nor the defense well enough.
Swallow the pride and let what has been working continue to work.
@15. David Stern is not letting DeLonte go to jail. At least not until after the NBA Playoffs.
I totally agree with the majority here. Start West and AJ. Parker is not showing much to prove he’s a starter, with this team. Whoever said he’s a taller Boobie is about right, in my eyes. Sub those 2 when Mo is having an off night, and we need 3-point shooting. Someone’s bound to find the net. I hope, anyway.
I would make the ‘best 5’ argument. But I’m worried about the ramifications that will have on our bench, which cost us the ECF last year. We’re not talking about Delonte starting, he’s productive on the bench and he has embraced that role.
Mo- Dwest
AP– Boobie
LBJ- MOOOOOON!
JJ- Antawn
Shaq- Andy
With that bench 5 you have a point guard in Delonte, and a pure shooter in Boobie. You have the slasher/defender with MOOOOOON! and the athletic big in Antawn. Then you have Andy just eating up minutes for Shaq daddy.
If you put JJ and AP on the bench then you have Boobie playing out of position, as ball handler. He is better off of the ball than he is on the ball.
AP isn’t anything to get excited about as a starter or a benchman. I see his spot as a push where ever he plays.
MOOOOOON! needs to be in the rotation. Period.
JJ’s inefficiencies will show when he doesn’t have LBJ and Shaq taking the double teams, leaving him open for the easy looks.
Andy, again just eating up minutes for Shaq. He makes some good plays in the paint with tip ins and charges, but he’s nothing special.
I hear ya Jim. But I’d still take that chance. Don’t think it would be too difficult for the team to adjust to having Parker start again if West gets suspended. He’s started the whole year. So I’d take that risk and hope we never have to find out.
WHEN (not if) Z comes back JJ and Powe are going to be sitting on the bench most of the game and everything will go back to an improved normal.
Shaq(inside) and Jamison (outside)
Z(outside) and Andy (inside)
JJ and Powe will play in garbage/foul trouble times
I like MattyFos’ general idea at 19 (I like Andy more than MattyFos likes Andy, though).
The rotations can’t boil down to Varsity and JV, because we would lose more with the JV squad than we would gain with the Varsity squad.
@Matty,
I’d like to see Moon make his way back into the rotation as well. Jawad is still too raw to really count on.
I know Varejao is undersized for a center, but how many teams have guys a lot bigger than him? We aren’t facing Howard, Gasol, Duncan and Bynum every night.
ESPN reports Jamison will be starting tonight. Therefore, Mike Brown must be comfortable with him in the lineup.
Whatever coach Brown’s decision is (other than playing Parker over West and or Moon in defensive situations) I’m with it.
Im psyched up about tonight, let’s get back to winning!
Mmmmm, marginal statistics, yummy
Jamison starting is a no brainer but I’m in favor of Delonte West returning to the lineup as well. I think you’d see more out of West starting just like Jamison as opposed to Parker and Hickson who are definitely role playing bench players. I’ve seen enough of Parker passing on shots that are at best stand still wide open three pointers.
If you really want to realize how rough this is just try and crunch the numbers!
MY Projected April Minutes:
38 LeBron
35 Mo
27 Jamison
25 Parker
23 Delonte
23 Andy
20 Shaq
15 Boobie
14 Z
10 JJ
10 Powe
0 Jawad
0 Moon
I’ll probably get called at idiot for some reason, but I got the minutes to equal 240 at the cost of Jamario. And tinkering with Parker and Delonte doesn’t do much because the real issue is the minutes for the bigs.
I think Jamison has to start. He needs to be involved in the offense from the get go. He also compliments Shaq well with his inside-outside game. While I think West would be better off starting, I don’t think the Cavs should do it. I think his situation is way too unstable and it’s quite possible that the Cavs would have to adjust to not having their starting SG right as the playoffs rolled around. Plus, Delonte is more valuable as a backup PG than a starting SG anyway. Parker gets dogged a lot on this board, but I actually think he plays fairly solid defense and hits most of the open shots that come his way. He’s the fifth option on the starting unit now with Jamison moving into it, so I don’t think you plug in West to start because you don’t need him to create offense with the other four players out there at that time. I would support going with West at the end of games over Parker as long as West appears mentally locked in for that game.
@ Fern – First of all, you can’t have a 12 man rotation in the playoffs. It’s not realistic for that many players to be able to get in and make a positive impact on the game. I think 9 is the max. With that in mind, I think JJ and Boobie drop out of your theoretical rotation. Whether Powe, Jawad or Moon sees the floor depends on Delonte’s legal situation and matchups.
Very simply, Cavs are not going to land a great player still in his prime and not start him. He is supposed to be the difference maker.
The biggest problem right now is simply lack of practice time. They may even temporarily lose the top spot in the east, but just watch them adjust and go roaring into the playoffs. It’s going to be all right, even if they lose 6 of 8 or something now. This is about to be the best, deepest and most exciting basketball team we’ve ever had. We are going to remember this roster for decades, like we do the ’95 Indians. Buckle up.
@MP34 , 23
I think we will play those teams for 4-7 games in a row come playoff time.