TrueHoop: “Don’t Fire Mike Brown”
While the feelings here have been mixed, ESPN’s Henry Abbott is doing his best to go to bat for Mike Brown. In a day of age that is fixated on the highlight reels and “exciting” play of teams like the Golden State Warriors (who didn’t even make the playoffs, mind you), Abbott stands up for the other side of things: Defense.
Quoting Cleveland’s own Terry Pluto and Brian Windhorst, Abbott has a few bits of his own as well:
The Cleveland Cavaliers have pretty bad players but have nevertheless played extremely well in the playoffs. Last year they went to the NBA Finals, this year they took the regular season’s best team down to the wire in Game 7.
They’re using players other teams have rejected more than once, and hanging among the elite. The story of this team has been missed shots by James’ teammates (Delonte West’s 3 last night, Donyell Marshall’s last year, and a thousand others) or that long stretch in a crucial Game 5 against the Pistons when no one but LeBron scored for ages. Give all the credit in the world to LeBron James succeeding despite that. But give a little to Mike Brown, too — because it’s simply impossible to believe that mediocre players could win this much when it matters in a system where the coach was the problem.
There’s no denying that this team isn’t going to win any Championships. We’ve pointed that out here countless times, that until we get our Manu and Tony to go with our Tim, we’re not going to make it. Whether this is done via acquisitions, trades (Lakers/Celtics) or drafting (San Antonio) remains to be seen. But one piece that Abbott argues needs to stay in place is the guy calling the in-game shots.
Don’t Fire Mike Brown [TrueHoop]
May 20th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I’m not jumping on the Fire-Mike-Brown-Bandwagon. Remember that choke Donyell threw up last year in the playoffs? Remarkable that with players like that, we still went to the finals. I notice a split in fans when it comes to coaches who are questionable in their genius/stupidity. Fans either believe that problems can be solved by hiring a gifted coach who is on fire RIGHT NOW, and that will be the key. I don’t think that works. I think championships are won through consistency, tradition, stability, staying at it. Firing Brown will make everyone feel better, it might even improve the Cavs’ offense. But I think we’ll be enjoying our new surge of offense on the wrong side of the playoffs next year…at home.
May 20th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Apparently this guy has never watched a Cavs game. All you have to do is watch the offense to know that it’s trash. Anyone that knows anything about basketball can see that.
I think that Lebron is just THAT good that he’s carrying the whole team and the coach.
May 20th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I actually met Henry when he was in Cleveland during last year’s Finals. He’s definitely been to a game…
I just think he’s playing the ‘player deficiency’ card more than the ‘coach deficiency’ one…
May 20th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I think to an extent both cards are legit. The problem is that there’s not a veteran coach out there who could take control of this team from day one and make it better. Instead, it would have to be another young coach whose system would take time to implement. At this point, I think what’s best for the team is to force Mike Brown to hire a coach who can handle the offense.
May 20th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Jeremy, everyone is entitled to their opinion but Abbott is one smart dude. I wouldn’t really call him out.
Also, if you read the article he talks about how terrible the offense is, but that doesn’t take into account what excellent defense this mediocre team plays
May 20th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
i think the bottom line is this: we have an average coach, one that’s at least towards the middle of the NBA pack. we DO need a new one, however right now it doesn’t seem like there’s anyone available that’s better (disclaimer: my knowledge of available coaches is nothing to nil). and given the opportunity i would rather spend $ on a player who can be lebron’s #2 then buying out mike brown’s contract and ponying up the cash for a “superstar” offensive coach. i agree with rock that the best thing we can do for the short term (at least until 2010 *shudder*), is bring in a great offensive minded assistant.
May 20th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
You took the words right out of my mouth RockKing.
May 20th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
There’s an adage in professional sports that in any league there are about 5 coaches that make a positive difference, 5 coaches who make a negative difference, and everyone else is pretty much neutral…it’s just a matter of what the players get out of their own talents. I’d say Mike Brown falls firmly into the “everyone else” group, and unless there’s a top-5′er in the mix, then it’s probably not worth disrupting the whole organization (and potentially upsetting LeBron) to bring in someone else who is average.
May 20th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
I strongly foresee Mike Brown’s tenure outlasting Lebron’s in Cleveland, with the horrible contracts we took on (Wally, Ben, Damon, Resigning Andy), there isn’t a way to bring in a viable Pippen type sidekick. So that leaves the draft as the option, which with the exception of Gibson hasn’t worked out, I only hope we’ve stopped drafting on potential ( see 17yr old Martynas Andru……) in recent years. Hopefully we get guys who are either a) proven defender so LBJ doesn’t have to guard the opponents best every night or b) a lights out no doubt slasher/shooter to be option #2. But given the position where we are going to be drafting in the near future, finding either of those may be problematic
May 20th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
So ridiculously untrue, McFad. 3 of those 4 horrible contracts you mentioned are expiring contracts and will be used to try to trade for a legit player. There are plenty of options at Ferry’s disposal this off-season. Just remember, last year Boston had no good players on their team and still managed to trade for Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. In the NBA, trades are all about contracts, not players. The Cavaliers will have some assets to offer a team looking to rebuild (Milwaukee) that features a high priced vet they may no longer want (Redd).