Animated: Josh Gordon pulls in a touchdown, gets upended by TJ Ward
January 27, 2014Making the case for the Cleveland Browns and Johnny Manziel
January 27, 2014We were told things were supposed to be different. In a way, they were. Rather than having nothing in the way of a defensive philosophy, tightening up and allowing an opponent to slowly climb back into a game in which they have no business being, it was—this time, anyway—the offense. The Cavaliers turned an 18-point halftime lead against the Phoenix Suns into a nine-point loss, at home, falling by as many as 11 midway through the fourth quarter (a difficult feat in any professional sport) by not being able to execute on one of the game’s integral activities—projecting the basketball in such a way that it goes over and through the orange cyllander which happens to be suspended 10 feet above the hardwood floor.
They would score just six points in the third quarter, just two points more than the team’s record for lowest point total in a quarter, but easily the lowest single-quarter point total for any team in the NBA this season. It was, by all accounts, difficult to watch. Those witnessing the game from their homes blared 140 characters of frustration. Those in attendance festooned the team with boos. Naturally, when these types of events happen, we attempt to apply some sort of rationale to what was ultimately a complete implosion.
The loss reminded many of Byron Scott’s tenure as head coach of the Cavaliers, an era that provided much in the way of squandered leads. It was the Phoenix Suns who, just a season ago, provided the Cavaliers with a bit of history, coming back from a 26-point deficit and handing the Cavaliers a loss. Later that year, it would be the New York Knicks and Miami Heat who would each fall by a substantial margin, only to come back and win their respective games. This issue, the one of complete unraveling in the wake of an early lead, was something that was to have been rectified with the firing of Scott and the hiring of the defensive-minded Mike Brown.
It’s then Brown who takes much of the heat from fans looking for someone to blame—he is by no means aided by perception and the lack of an offensive philosophy both now and during his first tenure with the team. It’s Brown’s team who nearly lost a 20-point lead to the Minnesota Timberwolves, at home, earlier this very season. And, in this case, it’s Brown’s team who went from all but securing a much-needed win to leaving an entire fan base reeling. But rather than the defense letting opposing teams chip away while the offense attempts to play a game of clock control, it was the offense which was, well, offensive.
“It was hard to watch,” Brown said of the collapse. “Very disappointing. Our guys should be embarrassed by the way we played in the second half.”
The Suns shot 39 percent in the third quarter, making just nine shots. They went scoreless for the first three minutes. The Cavaliers, however, shot 2-for-22, missing their first seven shots —a 16-foot jump shot by Anderson Varejao; a seven-footer by Luol Deng, a running, eight-foot hook shot by Varejao; a 15-footer by Deng; a three-pointer from CJ Miles; a 14-foot fadeaway jumper by Kyrie Irving; a missed lay-up by Varejao and another missed three-pointer by Miles all would come before a timeout would be called with just under nine minutes left in the quarter, completely squandering any and all opportunity to extend their lead. They would score just six points in the quarter, just two points more than the team’s record for lowest point total in a quarter, but easily the lowest single-quarter point total for any team in the NBA this season.
The Cavs would claw back, as they have many times this season after giving up substantial leads, only to fall just short. This time, it was a three-point defcict with 90 seconds remaining before Suns center Channing Frye would drain a three-pointer as All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving failed to close in. Anderson Varejao was 1-for-9 from the floor; Irving needed 23 shots to record 24 points.
“At halftime, we addressed our team,” said Brown. “We talked about the job we were doing in transition. We talked about the job we were doing contesting shots in the first half. We had four uncontested shots that we gave Phoenix in the first half. We talked about the ball movement that we had in the first half, and we came out and we did the opposite of everything we talked about at halftime and what we did in the first half which was very disappointing.”
It’s easy to point the finger at Brown as his team—despite an additional year of experience and a defensive-minded philosophy—is not progressing. It can be characterized as players not “buying in.” It can be construed as a head coach who cannot get the job done without an All-World small forward. Given Cleveland’s NFL counterpart, it’s even easy for some fans to say that Brown needs to be fired after (or during) his first year as the team’s head coach—after all, it’s Cavs owner Dan Gilbert who said that his expectations were the NBA Playoffs.
The common denominator in both eras is Kyrie Irving, the team’s impending two-time All-Star. To the point guard’s defense, while he has been criticized for a lack of accountability in many of the Cavaliers’ struggles, he took full responsibility for what happened at the end of Sunday evening’s game. ” I just have to be better,” he would say.
This isn’t to take away from the Suns, who have managed to be one of the league’s most surprising teams, winning their 25th game in a talented Western Conference and doing so without star guard Eric Bledsoe. But this is to take away from the Cavaliers who appear to be complacent in beating teams like the Utah Jazz and Milwaukee Bucks, only to fall flat on their collective face against the Sacramento Kings and, on Sunday, the Phoenix Suns. Just two games out of the playoffs, this Cavaliers team could very well be playing basketball beyond their 82 regular season games. To say they deserve it, however, would be an entirely different discussion.
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(AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
26 Comments
It’s really difficult trying to remain optimistic with this team!
I hate to keep bangin’ this drum but Mike Brown isn’t any better the second time around. Heck, I’d rather have Jeff Hornacek as the Cavaliers head coach. Sorry Dan Gilbert but you blew it, again! Enjoy the lottery, again.
Vinnie Del Negro, maybe?
In the Titanic struggle to claim Most Dysfunctional Team in Cleveland honors (and I do mean Titanic), the Cavs yesterday showed what they’re made of and landed a hellacious girl slap to the face of little Brownie. Brownie was momentarily staggered and needed an 8-count to recover. But recover he did, and it’s still anybody’s debacle.
What Kyrie says post-game to reporters means little. He’s smart and increasingly media-savvy and carefully crafting a nice responsible, commercial image for himself. But he’s the one with the consistent flat-line attitude after halftime, the one letting guys like this year’s D-Leaguer DJ Augustin get off for a ridiculous 27.
Yes, the offense is horrible. But the defense is a bigger problem, because that’s what they supposedly drilled all training camp. In the third quarter the Cavs (including Kyrie) gave up wide open 3 after 3, with no rotation, no hustle, and then went into panicky, clue-less bad-shot mode on offense. Actually, you can’t put it all on the 21 year old, because exactly who has been here to show him the way? Byron Scott scoffed at the notion of keeping Baron Davis as his role model but at least Baron has some competitive dog in him, and the result of that couldn’t have been worse than this, right?
No. You wash your dirty mouth with talk like that.
If memory serves me correctly, Mike Brown’s Cavs (both iterations) always look like crap in the 3rd quarter, as if he puts them to sleep at halftime. Is it too soon to say this team is dead in the water?
Avery Johnson?
Problem is Chris Grant’s boy/buddy Mike Brown has to be fired a second time and I just don’t see it happening. Dan Gilbert laughs at Jimmy Haslam!
I think Byron Scott was trying to be Kyrie Irving’s role model unfortunately that didn’t work either. But this is the problem with trying to build a team around emotionally and physically immature players. Almost all of these Cavalier first round draft picks other then possibly Irving needed more time in college. The fact that Mike Brown is once again the head coach and hasn’t had a great history with rookies doesn’t help either.
John Gase, Dan Quinn…oh wait, my bad!
“This guys here is dead.”
“Cross him off, then.”
I wish I could say you misremembered unfortunately you didn’t!
they would have to reach the water. I don’t think they have even made it that far. given Bennett, perhaps we can call the team a beached whale?
Immature teens is the new NBA reality. The most talented college players now come out after just a year or two, ready or not. All things considered LeBron did great for a high schooler who was immediately targeted by NBA opponents. On the other hand 4 years in college doesn’t seem to be helping Tyler Zeller much. This is the problem with staying in extended tank mode like so many people want: by definition you’ve rid the organization of an infrastructure of good veterans with the right attitude to school these young kids. We just scream “OKC Model” and act like that didn’t require both excellent talent evaluation and an unusual confluence of events.
As the fight dragged on Paul Dolan happened to stroll by on his daily walk scouring the cities few remaining pay phones for forgotten change. He paused briefly, not to watch his two fellow sports organizations wallow in their own crapulence, but because the newspaper box in front of him had been left open. As one hand reached in for a free read the other hand -almost subconsciously – began pressing the coin return button, to no avail. He looked down at the box score from the Cavs tilt with the Suns last night. 17,000 people showed up. He looked up to the ongoing Cavs/Browns battle. Cavvy The Cavalier had plunged his sword into his own crotch, Brownie failed to capitalize as he had somehow tied his own shoelaces together. Paul’s eyes gazed back to the number; 17,000.
A single tear streaked down his face and he kicked at the dirt on the ground. A penny flipped up and landed in a nearby pile of dog poop. As Paul reached down to sift through fecal matter to retrieve his little copper nugget, a thought crossed his mind. What was Manny Acta’s number again?
Absolutely agree on your first statement and I think it’s directly impacting the product of the NBA. It has been for awhile now.
I will defend Tyler Zeller here. He was drafted 17th not top 5 and even though he did stay in school all four years he was never ever projected to be an elite talent. That being said I truly believe he’s better then what he’s shown. I just think he needs a real head coach who can help him develop. It’s not Mike Brown.
As for the “OKC Model” again I agree completely. There’s a reason why it’s the lone model and that is because it can’t be duplicated. Unfortunately even it doesn’t equate to a championship. At least not yet anyways.
“It’s even easy for some fans to say that Brown needs to be fired after (or during) his first year as the team’s head coach.”
It’s probably easy to say because it’s correct. The question you must ask yourself as an analyst is do you expect this team to suddenly reverse course under the leadership of Mike Brown? Do you expect this team either this season or next to galvanize into anything resembling a championship (or even playoff) level team under the guidance of its current coach?
The answer to both questions is no. There is enough empirical evidence out there to demonstrate that Mike Brown is not a first rate coach. The Cavaliers have enough talent to be competitive in a talent impoverished Eastern Conference. They are playing beneath their talent level, much like the Browns did in 2013. This reflects poorly on leadership.
Also, saying that there is a perception that Brown lacks an offensive philosophy is putting it kindly. I think in this case the perception is a direct reflection of the reality.
I don’t think Shelby Stanga could save this team:
http://www.thecheapthriller.com/images/0111/sumbitch.jpg
It could also be “Chicago Bulls Model.” They didn’t have the luck/skill that the Thunder had in the draft, but they got good role players over a period of time and the one elite guy (Rose) put them over the top into contender status. Of course, he hasn’t been able to stay healthy undercutting them, but the model is exclusive of that occurrence (and the one we are closer to following at this point).
No words. Should have sent a poet…An angry, angry poet.
Chop, I LITERALLY laughed out loud. That’s hilarioius!
Mike Brown has his issues no doubt and I still do not think he is willing or able to develop young players. The fact that Anthony Bennett cannot even get on the floor most nights is a travesty.
I do think that over the next few weeks, Luol Deng’s leadership and veteran savvy should start to rub off on the likes of Kryie, Dion, etc. Yet, still believe that this team needs more veterans.
Look at the Cavs 1986-87 roster and you will see four rookies (Daugherty, Price, Harper, and Hot Rod). They went 31-51. In the middle of the 87-88 season, they traded for one, Larry Nance. Cavs record was 42-40. The following year they added more veterans (Tree Rollins) and had a full year with Larry Nance and finished 57-25.
It will be an interesting off-season to see how the Cavs roster end up shaking out. Bottom line is they need either Luol Deng or another free agent SF (who shall remain nameless for now) plus they need a dominate PF and/or C.
Lenny Wilkens would probably help too.
I was hoping you would mention Lenny Wilkens somewhere even if it was last. Mike Brown couldn’t carry Lenny’s white board!
Deng venting his frustrations. Can only be good for team at this point IMO:
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2014/01/luol_deng_on_cavaliers_youve_g.html
some highlights (most of his quotes):
There’s got to be more sense of urgency. We can’t keep waiting. This is not a waiting league, it’s not a waiting game. You’ve got to do your job. When I say that, I’m talking about everybody. I’ve got to do a better job of leading when things like that happen. That’s why I’m here. And I’ve got to get better than that.
“At some point, you’ve got to compete,” he said. “You’ve got to get upset and demand more of your guys.”
We knew when Derrick didn’t play defense. As good as he is, even his MVP year, if he didn’t play defense, we all said, ‘Yo, you’re not playing defense. You’ve got to step it up.’
I think guys here are young, but I think they’ll realize that you’re only as good as the guy next to you. It’s never personal.
One thing I always say is there’s a right way of saying things,” Deng said. “First, you’ve got to let the guys know what angle I’m coming in. I’m not trying to jump in here and scream at everybody thinking that I’m better. I’m just trying to help everyone to be better. And vise versa. They know some things that I don’t know.”
I think that’s what we’ve got to get to – that kind of mindset where it’s OK to scream at each other and not take it personal.
I would also say Thibodeau is just as important in that equation as a healthy Derrick Rose, if not more. The way he’s been able to plug in guys like Ben Gordon, Nate Rob, DJ Augustin, Marco Bellinelli, Nazr Mohammed, and not miss a step… seems like everyone plays their best years under Tibs.
Reasons why the NBA needs (much) more development with a minor league system. All they have to do is look at MLB for a good baseline. College players can go to (direct) roster (if at least 2 years college ball) or D-League (one and done); allow high school players back in draft but they must report (and spend at least one full season) to an instructional level below the D-League and spend most of another season at the D-League (obviously for development purposes). Expand rosters/options and of course the draft (3 rounds total).