The NBA has a 10-minute rule when it comes to coaches addressing the media following the completion of a game. This is done for a few reasons as it is not only courteous to those writing on deadline, but television networks that choose to cut to live feeds of said postgame discussion can fit the address inside of their block of air time.
While Byron Scott has typically gone well past the 10-minute window (of which I’m unsure of any potential ramifications), the 103-94 loss to the Detroit Pistons found the media horde waiting. And waiting. And waiting. Until roughly one half an hour after the final whistle, members of the local and national media stood near the draped Cleveland Clinc banner outside of the Cavaliers locker room, looking at the final box score in relative awe (thanks, Ryan Hollins) cracking whatever jokes seemed fresh for the present point in time.
What exactly was going on on the other side of the closed door to the team’s locker room is unknown but Cavaliers head coach Byron Scott was not a happy man. He said that he laid into his team during halftime – a move which seemingly worked given the apparent sense of urgency – and then once again after the contest. He called this game a giant step back, which says an awful lot for a team in the midst of a 26-game losing streak.
When I asked Byron what his next step is from here – after all, how many times can you yell at professionals without response? – and he seemed distraught. He told me that the only thing he can do as a coach is take minutes away from those who are not giving full effort. In a Utopian scenario, this seems just fine; the Cavaliers, however, are not in such as they’re missing two starters and a reserve post player to injury.
“Thebiggest thing right ow is that we have to challenge their pride,” he said. “We have pall professional basketball players [in the locker room] and at some point, you have to have some pride in what you are doing.
“The biggest thing is that everyone has to go home and take a good long look in the mirror.”
Today’s practice will undoubtedly be full of some Scott-style running. The Cavs host Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.
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(AP Photo)
