Anthony Parker talked about the team being disappointed by their performance in Dallas. He said that was not a mistake they wanted to repeat against the Suns. Good. We like that attitude. The Cavaliers played their most complete game in some time last night. It may have been the most impressive win since the last time these two teams met in Cleveland, a 107-90 Cavs win.
A few things stood out in this one, but perhaps most important was a return of defensive intensity. Particularly in the second half. The Cavaliers held Phoenix to 38 points in the second half, and they did it by limiting drives to the basket, fast break opportunities and wide open looks. They jumped in passing lanes and kept Steve Nash in front of them. Offensively, they kept the ball moving. The Suns aren’t the team you study when you want to see good defense, especially from Amare Stoudemire (who was absolutely terrible) but the Cavs sure looked sharp cutting to the basket time and time again.
It was a good sign that the Cavs didn’t fall in love with the jump shot late in the game, as they have a tendency to do. LeBron hoisted a fall away three that found the bottom of the net, but we really didn’t see the one on five isolation play that we have grown so accustomed to when the Cavs are nursing a lead.
ESPN’s Bill Simmons finally caught on last night to what we fans have seen all season. When the Cavs go to their small line-up with LeBron at the 4, Varejao at the 5 with Mo Delonte and Gibson they are a scary team that can move the ball around at will and attack the basket from many angles. Delonte and LeBron break down defenses with the dribble setting up Mo and Daniel for threes and Varejao cutting to the hoop. Call it the anti-twin towers if you want. It has worked against several teams this year, including teams like Phoenix that play that way all the time. Jamario and Hickson can also be inserted in this rotation, giving the Cavs a little depth should they choose to go small for longer stretches.Will that work in the playoffs against Orlando and Boston? I’m not so sure. But it is a great second look, and can get the team back into a game if needed.
The Cavs travel to California to play the Kings on Wednesday, who I’m sure you heard came back from 35 down to beat the Bulls last night. That should give the Kings some confidence going into this one.
(Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
Author: Rick
Rick is a co-founder and editor of WFNY. His love of Cleveland sports is surpassed only by his faith and love of his family. Follow him on Twitter- @rickwfny.Rick has written 887 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
Seeing Delonte wave off LeBron and set up the offense was a victory in itself. Having Delonte coming off the bench while letting Mo and LeBron rest is a great coaching move by Brown. Once they re-enter West is basically a starter for the rest of the game with a little AP sprinkled in.
It seems we match up well v the Suns.
Apart from West, Mo, LBJ, and Andy, I think I would deal anyone, anytwo, …, for another athletic and s-c-o-r-i-n-g 4-5.
e-m-p-h-a-s-i-s
I’ll remember this game in part for the shot the TV crew got of Delonte as he lay on his back behind the Suns’ basket on the completion of an “and-one” and reportedly said, “I love this game” to the player that had come to pull him to his feet. That deserves a commercial all its own.
I enjoyed watching the speedy line-up Rick talks about. AV is a beehive on wheels. I am beginning to like this team more and more with Shaq seated. I think this question has already been raised at WFNY, but would the Cavs likely get anyone to trade for him?
Why does Andy tug on his jersey so much?
@ Phil M – The beauty of this roster is that they can beat anybody on any terms. This lineup looks great against Phoenix (Let’s face it, Phoenix games in general are real pretty) and against other teams with established big men, they can break out The Big Change of Pace to out-big them.
Delonte setting the many of plays down the stretch instead of LeBron was great to see. See, sharing is good. Small lineup: a strong coaching decision (for once). Probably the most solid effort all season, at least out of the games I’ve seen. Bring on the comeback Kings and the LA Fakers
Did anyone notice when Delonte stole the ball and went coast to coast for the And 1? He fell on the floor and looked right into the camera and said “I luv dis game” and then started giggling as Lebron helped him to his feet. Damn, I love Brotha Red. Go Cavs.
I feel like when Coach Mike goes small, he does it as a reaction to the other team rather than initiating the change and having the opponent react to his coaching moves. If Coach Mike can dictate the matchups rather than react to what the other team is doing, the small ball line up will be much more effective.
Phil,
I’m sure the NBA is dying to get Delonte into a commercial.
@Clown Baby – Right on. Delonte keeps the offense functioning. I don’t know why LeBron is so obsessed with initiating everything. But they look so much better when he doesn’t.
WindyCityWahoo – Truth and a half.
Still, we are going to need Shaq against LA and ORL. If we could pick up a stretch forward for Z, that will replace Z’s ability to space the floor, so Z becomes a non-factor. I like being able to replace F-150s like Hickson with the Diesel when we need to. This team becomes a soft team again as soon as Shaq is gone. We need his muscle and edge. Hickson still lacks confidence and Andy is a Brazilian Ballerina (though to great effect).
It would be nice to be able to bang with Powe and Shaq though. Banging is important. If you bang against Sheed-Garnett they will get frustrated. If you bang against Dwight he will get frustrated and he can’t shoot FTs. If you bang against Gasol and Bynum they will start to defer to Kobe, and that’s when the Lakers (like the Cavs) are at their worst.
Is Shaq “My Bodyguard”?
Sad but true; the smaller lineup can win games in the regular season – Shaq will keep us in games in the playoffs.
See if you can figure the odd man out.
@Jack – Banging is good.
Indeed it is my friend; indeed it is. And I can think of no better way to bang than by Shaqing up.
We need to trade for Kobe.
There, I said it.
Did LeBron and Mo’s hair look longer than normal? Think it’s a thing?
@ Roosevelt: yeah, that’s the idea, I guess. Let’s hope it works.
@jto : do you read others’ comments?
@The Other Tim: good point. Delonte’s not exactly role model material at this juncture.
@phil yes, perhaps your comment was in limbo land before I wrote mine.. thus I didn’t see it.
@jto : OK, gotcha. That was a great sequence, even if it has no value for marketing the league!