| Fine Tuning the Cavs Authored by Chris Kreider - January 29, 2009 - 2:13 pm
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The first area that is a definite concern is offensive production in the frontcourt. Zydrunas Ilgauskas is slow but solid when he’s healthy, and as of late that hasn’t been often. Cavs fans can only hope that Big Z bounces back strong after the fracture in his foot heals. Ilgauskas has been expected to return as soon as the Thursday night showdown in Orlando (1/29), but Coach Mike Brown has admitted that Z has looked a bit rusty in practice, and given his age and career history of ankle and foot injuries, that is definitely a cause for concern.
Aside from the 33-year-old 7-footer, the Cavs frontcourt is supported by rookies J.J. Hickson and Darnell Jackson, as well as Anderson Varejao, Ben Wallace and Lorenzen Wright. Remove Varejao from that equation and the remaining big men average approximately 10 points combined. Anderson has shown flashes of productivity and has been solid in Zydrunas’ absence, but even with the improved jump-shot, he’s not the guy you want to rely on in the playoffs. Ben Wallace has never been an offensive force, as it’s practically a gift from above when he can rattle home a single free throw. Lorenzen Wright redefines the term “over the hill” and the rookies are, well… rookies. General Manager Danny Ferry must recognize this Achilles heel and attempt to somehow address it prior to the February trade deadline.
Another potential cause for concern is the defensive abilities of the Cavaliers’ undersized backcourt. Where the frontcourt occasionally lacks on offense, the backcourt is sometimes weak on the defensive end. When healthy, the Cavs starting guards are Delonte West (6’3”) and Mo Williams (6’1”). While both are feisty and active on defense, neither can muscle up with some of the larger guards in the league. This may be a cause for concern as some of the bigger guards reside on contending playoff teams that the Cavaliers will face in a few months. Off the bench, the Cavs only relatively big guard is Sasha Pavlovic (6’7”), who is ultimately a downgrade on offense, though productive as of late. Daniel “Boobie” Gibson can be a terrific on-ball defender, but is also sometimes dwarfed by the bigger 2-guards he is matched up against in the East. This weakness was exploited by the oversized backcourt of the Los Angeles Lakers in a matchup on January 19 in LA. The Cavs backcourt definitely caters more to the fast-paced run-and-gun game, while the aforementioned frontcourt is better suited for the half-court offense. This is a discrepancy that I’m sure is no secret in the Cavs’ front office.
A final observation of the Cleveland Cavaliers that may need attention prior to the playoffs has nothing to do with the roster at all. It is neither a lineup problem nor a depth issue. It is an issue of offensive flow and efficiency down the stretch. Given the Cavalier’s franchise record-setting start, this obviously has not been a problem that occurs frequently. However at times, dating back to the 2008 playoffs, the Cavs have had recurring miscues on the offensive end when the game is in the balance. Specifically speaking, Cleveland needs to not fall into the same one-dimensional tendencies that they have at times on offense. LeBron holds the ball at the top of the key and the rest of the team watches. As great as LeBron is individually, he will not beat the Boston Celtics or the Orlando Magic by himself. The best offensive flow is often seen early in games where the Cavs are freely moving off-the-ball and passing several times before finding an open shot. This shouldn’t change when there’s little time on the game clock and the game is up for grabs. King James currently has a better supporting cast than ever surrounding him. Mike Brown and his offensive-minded assistant, John Kuester need to understand the depth of this cast and not allow LeBron to play the one-on-five game. That is if they intend to make the chant a reality. “1-2-3 Championship!” |
