Dr. Medialove: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the People Inside My TV
May 15, 2010While We’re Waiting: Strikeouts, Losses, Aging, Lighty, and Etcetera
May 16, 2010With another early exit from the playoffs, it seemed yesterday was the opportune moment for the firing of Mike Brown. Despite much regular season success, many claimed the Cavaliers head coach had not made enough consistent post-season adjustments to warrant returning for a sixth season.
Initially, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated reported that Brown already got the axe. His report came out around noon Friday and prompted a series of press conferences from owner Dan Gilbert and general manager Danny Ferry.
Brown’s two superiors both temporarily stood behind the coach who has 272 wins in five seasons with the Cavs. The team won at least 45 games and had homecourt advantage in the playoffs in each of these years, but only one conference title and no championship yet.
Some of the key issues related to Brown’s poor adjustments in the post-season this year are connected to the return of Shaquille O’Neal. He seemed to be out of gas in his first few games back and then was a bad match for either Kendrick Perkins or Kevin Garnett defensively in the conference semifinals.
The Cavs played well against the Celtics in the regular season, but Brown couldn’t find a consistent rotation in the entire series. Along with the usual bench players in Delonte West, Anderson Varejao and Jamario Moon, both Boobie Gibson and Zydrunas Ilgauskas found themselves in the patchwork rotation.
For those who prefer the video method of describing Brown’s poor adjustments against Boston, you should visit NBAPlaybook.com’s recent blog post. In this, they show many clips of how it was fairly obvious that Brown was helping the Celtics throughout the series.
That strategy didn’t work well for Cleveland as all four losses were by fairly large margins. In his report from the press conferences, local sage Brian Windhorst added this with quotes:
Saying it was a “very sad day” in Cleveland and that players and coaches “did not earn a passing grade” after being upset in the second round, team owner Dan Gilbert said he would evaluate the franchise in meetings over the next seven to 10 days before making any decisions.
“We’re going to regroup, and we’re going to dig deep like we always do and try to get better,” Gilbert said. “We’ve started the process, and we’re more determined than ever.”
Gilbert’s major off-season goal will not be to make a decision on the coach but to re-sign James. But that may go hand-in-hand because, if there is a coaching change, James likely would be heavily consulted on a new hire.
Most people are making assumptions that Brown will be out within the next 7-10 days as coach of the Cavaliers. John Krolik of Cavs: The Blog wrote recently and stated in a podcast yesterday with The Basketball Jones that he believes there is no situation in which both Brown and LeBron James return to the team next season.
What is likely is that the Cavs will make their free agent pitch to James while asking who he wants as head coach. If it’s anyone either than Mike Brown, then it’s the right decision to make that move even if it’s someone from college such as Coach K or John Calipari.
The fact that Brown may be fired in the next week is not necessarily an indictment on his ability to coach a playoff-caliber team. In my opinion, it’s simply the result of extreme expectations laid upon a decent coach with a very peculiar collection of NBA players.
The starting lineup of O’Neal/Jamison/James/Anthony Parker/Mo Williams was designed to face off against the Orlando Magic. Certainly Brown could have prepared better overall for the series and for the Magic last year as well, but he played the hand he was dealt and didn’t complain about that at all.
In the end, if James wants Mike Brown to stay, there is no doubt in my mind that he will be back next season. However, if James decides to leave or decides he wants someone else in charge, Gilbert and Ferry have to work together to make that decision as keeping James is the top priority.
(Image above via Doc Funk/Brain on Funk)
18 Comments
Couldn’t agree more. When I heard Gilbert saying he has to evaluate Brown’s job performance and will have a decision in 7-10 dyas.. I heard
“I’ll be meeting with Lebron James over the next 7-10 days and together we will decide on who it is LBJ would want to coach him next season if LBJ re-signs here in Cleveland.”
That quote is the most ridiculous thing I ever seen. So the star of the team picks his coach? For what? To not listen or follow instructions yet again?
Anyone not enthusiastic about someone like Calipari possibly coming aboard? I am. Seems he’s not accomplished a whole lot while having a whole ton of talent.
As for Mike Brown and LeBron, they both fell far short of expectations. I’m so sick and tired of hearing about matchup this, matchup that. At some point, you just have to put up and win… or shut up. There can’t always be an excuse. Last year we lost because Orlando was too long. This year we got beatdown by a tiny point guard. What’s next?
Yep^. That’s the way it goes in the NBA. Or maybe you don’t follow the sport…
My comment was @ #2, MattC quickposted me.
LeBron needs a motivator and someone who helps him improve his game. Brown helped his defense for sure, but I think LeBron’s at the point where he needs help developing a post game and motivation. He needs someone he’ll listen to when they tell him a play to run, or to not take a stupid contested 3 after eating a possession. That’s not Brown and I don’t think it’s Calipari, but I don’t know who the hire would be.
The right pitch to LeBron shouldn’t be “we’ll get whatever coach you want if it’ll keep you in Cleveland.” It should be “Do you want to win multiple championships? Do you want to continue improving your game so you go down as one of the top couple players of all time? If so, then you need a coach with [insert attributes] like [insert list of possible hires]. We will hire one, and we welcome input from you, but we’re going to hire a coach who gives us the best chance to win multiple championships. That will be the overriding criterion for our decision – our decision as an organization.”
@ Alex – Well put. I don’t know just who the right coach would be, but given LeBron’s penchant for basketball history, I think an old-school, traditional coach would have the best shot at reaching him and improving some of the parts of his game that could undoubtedly get better, like low post offense.
It would be really interesting if we could get Coach K. I’ve always been a fan of his, but I think it would be pretty impossible to actually hire him.
I would absolutely be on board with Coach K, and I hate Duke with a passion. He’s a phenomenal basketball coach, and I think the Cavs would have instant credibility with LeBron (or any other free agent) with Coach K in town.
There’s no way Coach K is leaving Duke.
1. He’s coming off a championship.
2. He IS Duke basketball – he built it to the highest level, and can you really picture anyone else coaching at Duke? His legacy right now is as one of the top couple college coaches of all time, building a program to sustained success over 3 decades so far.
3. He has most of the team returning from, again, winning a championship and will be in an excellent position to contend for another.
4. He has never coached in the NBA.
5. He already turned down the chance to coach AND be a part owner of the Lakers years ago, along with turning down all other offers over the past 20 years.
I think mike brown is a dead man walking at this point…personally I believe the best thing for Lebron (if he stays) would be someone who’s actually played at the NBA level. I think former-player coachs command more respect from star players than purely x and o guys.
How do you like Coach K but hate Duke with a “Passion” , theyre one in the same?
Id like to see Bob Knight brought in cause im pretty sure he would be Lebron in his place
I don’t want Calipari- just imagine all the recruiting violations he’ll bring here and all the scholarships we’d lose!
But seriously, someone with some sort of a positive track record in the NBA would be nice. Normally in Cleveland, we’re used to having to settle for an unproven coach/manager to rebuild a team, but for once, we actually have an attractive position (if LeBron stays). I don’t know who is available or who would be good. I just want it to work out for a change.
My dark horse candidate is Gregg Popovich.
1) San Antonio dynasty is running on fumes, getting swept by PHX
2) Duncan is slowing down & has dealt with numerous injuries the past few years. Even Parker and Ginobli have not luck with their health.
3 There is history & from what the public knows, a great working relationship with Danny Ferry.
Pop has the cred, rings, and experience to take this team to the next level. The only worry I have is his “system”, which Richard Jefferson could not acclimate himself to all year. I’m not really sure what the offensive system is that’s used in San Antonio, but I do know defense has delivered them their championships and can do the same here.
Didn’t Gilbert flirt with Larry Brown in ’05?
oh… @Billy!
that might could happen. even w.w.wes knows pop is log scale better coach the calipari.
Charles Barkely for head coach! The dude know basketball. Farfetched ideas aside, do you really think Popovich would feel right taking over his former assistants job?
[…] but Mike Brown received the brunt of the fan’s reactionary anger. But Gilbert did not instantly react to the failing grades by canning Brown. Instead, he engaged in, and continues to do so, a thorough […]