Trouble in Cleveland

[hwangjini_1]

Lebron for Jeff Green + Gerald Wallace works. Throw in a 2nd rounder if we need to get it done.

no,no. THEY throw in the 2nd rounder. 

[sed522002]

I don't think the effort is okay at all.

Dion, Irving, LeBron, and Love all just watch a whole lot on defense.

I guess their defense stinks when they won 8 in a row not too long ago.  Also just when Varejao got injured it got worse on the defensive end.

They need a center.

Lebron said he was in "chill mode" when they were playing Orlando. In his words: He deactivated chill mode when Tobias told him to stop flopping. Any other player would get killed if they said they were in chill mode..while struggling against Orlando.

A lot of players go through moments in a game where it looks like they're on cruise control, but you don't ever want you best player to verbally say it.

[RJ87]

LeBron's leadership skills are terrible. I'm sorry. He's been their most indifferent defender this season, but he supposed to be the All-Historic, once in a generation talent but he's not even trying to lead by example.

For all the fuss about DWade taking a back seat in Miami, I think he was the real leader on that team.

[Roy H.]

I don't think the effort is okay at all.

Dion, Irving, LeBron, and Love all just watch a whole lot on defense.

I guess their defense stinks when they won 8 in a row not too long ago.  Also just when Varejao got injured it got worse on the defensive end.

They need a center.

You're both right.

The Varejao injury is going to hurt, and the team needs a rim protector.  He was an important piece for them.

And, at times, the team has looked legitimately good on defense.  However, the effort level has been inconsistent up and down the roster.  I'd say Love's defense has been the worst; I knew he was bad defensively, but I had no idea how bad until watching him consistently this year in Cleveland.

It's not just the defense, though.  The offense is a bit broken, too.  Lebron and Irving are still figuring things out, and Love is kind of the forgotten man, relegated to a jump shooter.

[Donoghus]

I don't think the effort is okay at all.

Dion, Irving, LeBron, and Love all just watch a whole lot on defense.

I guess their defense stinks when they won 8 in a row not too long ago.  Also just when Varejao got injured it got worse on the defensive end.

They need a center.

You're both right.

The Varejao injury is going to hurt, and the team needs a rim protector.  He was an important piece for them.

And, at times, the team has looked legitimately good on defense.  However, the effort level has been inconsistent up and down the roster.  I'd say Love's defense has been the worst; I knew he was bad defensively, but I had no idea how bad until watching him consistently this year in Cleveland.

It's not just the defense, though.  The offense is a bit broken, too.  Lebron and Irving are still figuring things out, and Love is kind of the forgotten man, relegated to a jump shooter.

Offense looks real clunky at times.  Like no cohesiveness.  It's most apparent in the half court when they're trying to "run" offensive sets.

[Roy H.]

LeBron's leadership skills are terrible. I'm sorry. He's been their most indifferent defender this season, but he supposed to be the All-Historic, once in a generation talent but he's not even trying to lead by example.

I disagree.  First, Love is the most indifferent defender on that team.  He looks checked out. 

Second, I think he's shown decent leadership.  He joined a roster full of guys who haven't won, and it's a learning experience.  Lebron's play has been up and down this year, but he's still far and away the best player on that team.

For all the fuss about DWade taking a back seat in Miami, I think he was the real leader on that team.

I originally thought that was the case, and would have agreed with you after Lebron's first year in Miami.  However, thereafter he consistently took over games, and was very vocal in leading the team.

[Fafnir]

I don't think the effort is okay at all.

Dion, Irving, LeBron, and Love all just watch a whole lot on defense.

I guess their defense stinks when they won 8 in a row not too long ago.  Also just when Varejao got injured it got worse on the defensive end.

They need a center.

You can win games while playing bad defense.

In fact the Cavs have done just that all season, 4th in ORTG and 22nd in DRTG.

The 8 game win streak came against largely bad offensive team, teams that are more limited in their ability to take advantage of the Cavs:
Orlando, Washington, Indiana, Milwaukee, New York, Toronto, Brooklyn, Toronto

The bold teams are bottom 10 offenses, though obviously beating Toronto/Wizards are good wins. The Cavs have had some good defensive games and some bad ones as any team will. But their overall defensive effort is just poor up and down their whole roster it seems.

[Fafnir]

I originally thought that was the case, and would have agreed with you after Lebron's first year in Miami.  However, thereafter he consistently took over games, and was very vocal in leading the team.

It became LBJ's team that second year, you could see it.

But perhaps most importantly it was also Spolestra's team, Blatt doesn't have that same buy in it seems. Wade always supported Spoelstra and that matters a lot.

LeBron is now giving pretty lukewarm comments about Blatt:
Q: "Is David Blatt the right coach for the Cavs?"
A: "Yeah, I mean he's our coach, what other coach do we have?"

You combine that with the total scrapping of Blatt's offense it sounds like there is some tension there.

[Fafnir]

I disagree.  First, Love is the most indifferent defender on that team.  He looks checked out. 

I thought Waiters was going to be the new Chalmers for LeBron, but it seems that they duty is split between Love and Waiters depending on which end of the court they are on at a given moment.

[tazzmaniac]

Trade sully for love.

If Ainge actually ended up trading for Love now that would make his trade of Rondo look extremely stupid.

Not true. Who's to say they get love now, and rondo comes back during FA, maybe that was the plan lol

I thought I was the only one with that dream but my dream continues... Durant and Westbrook get in a massive blowup, OKC management stupidly takes Westbrook's side, Durant demands a trade and Ainge outbids everyone with all of our available draft picks.  Throw in a good defensive center and start counting the banners.  Of course, then I wake up and reality hits.   

[RJ87]

LeBron's leadership skills are terrible. I'm sorry. He's been their most indifferent defender this season, but he supposed to be the All-Historic, once in a generation talent but he's not even trying to lead by example.

I disagree.  First, Love is the most indifferent defender on that team.  He looks checked out. 

Second, I think he's shown decent leadership.  He joined a roster full of guys who haven't won, and it's a learning experience.  Lebron's play has been up and down this year, but he's still far and away the best player on that team.

For all the fuss about DWade taking a back seat in Miami, I think he was the real leader on that team.

I originally thought that was the case, and would have agreed with you after Lebron's first year in Miami.  However, thereafter he consistently took over games, and was very vocal in leading the team.

I think Kevin Love has put in more effort on the defense this season than at any point in his career - which honestly isn't saying much. Lebron will likely be voted to the All-Defensive team this season, but what he's done on the court to this point won't be deserving. I was watching a Cavs game this year and the announcers were actually saying he was playing with a lackluster effort because he was trying to encourage his teammates to take over. It was pretty ridiculous but that's the kind of built in excuse that he gets.

And taking over games is great, but I don't think that's the same as being a good leader. He always seems to challenge his coach's authority - he tried the same thing in Miami with Erik Spoelstra, but they have a more stable management group in place. Lebron is always good when his team is winning, but he doesn't always show leadership through adversity - it's not always the case, but it's enough to be noticeable. On a team with a younger core, shouldn't the elder statesman with championship experience not change the offense without consulting the coach?

[Who]

I don't like that LeBron wants everything on his terms.

He is the most talented and versatile player in the world. He is the most able player on the roster to adapt his game and still be dominant in order to allow the talent around him to prosper. Instead he forces others into lesser versions of themselves so that he can do what he wants to do.

[dreamgreen]

That team has a lot of talent, Veraejo going down was huge and as others said very predictable. The parts don't all fit together so they need to make moves to bring in players that compliment the Queen better.

I'd do AB for Waiters in a heartbeat, that trade could help both teams IMO. AB could go back to playing hard nose D and be a spot up shooter. We would get a guy that can score and take it to the basket, draw fouls.

[CFAN38]

This will be interesting to watch unfold.

Do they fire Blatt and promote Lue?

Do they trade waiter and or Thompson to get the center they need?



I personally think its to soon to fire Blatt but James will make that call. Lue is green as a coach but has alot more experience then Fisher or Kid and I do think he will excel at it.

Their roster will be interesting to fix because their 3 top players are a terrible match on D. Irving when really applying himself is an average NBA defender, Lebron is elite and Love is below average every day of the week. The fact that Love is poor defensive PF who cant play center eliminates what I thought was James biggest weapon. His ability to play PF at the end of games. Love isnt going anywhere this season so they just have to work with the pieces they can move.

My suggestions

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=och4832

costs them Thompson they get Sanders. At least this allows them to place two elite defenders (James and Sanders) on the court along side the current liabilities.

The other Piece that may need to fall will be Waiters. He doesnt seem to fit with Irving and James. He is a ball dominate attacking guard on a team in need of 3-D type players. I dont think their are many good trade options out their for him. AB would be a nice fit but I dont think the Cs would want to make that swap. Another option could be something like Stepelosha , Payne and a protected pick for Waiters.

That's a good trade for the Cavs and the Nets but why would the Bucks even consider it?  I just don't see them wanting an injury prone, poor defensive player like Lopez.  Also Lopez can opt so they risk losing him at the end of the season if they don't overpay him.  I doubt there is much market for Lopez or the Nets would have already traded him.  He's not even starting for the Nets anymore.

It depends on it the Bucks think Sanders is living up to his contract. He has been on a statistical decline since signing his deal. Went from a 10pt 10rb 2.5 blk guy to 7pt 6 rb 1.5 blk guy. He has also had off the court problems. They may view Lopez on a larger but shorter deal as a better fit moving forward.

[Roy H.]

On a team with a younger core, shouldn't the elder statesman with championship experience not change the offense without consulting the coach?

I think that's being blown way out of proportion.

Lebron and Kyrie were being too deferential to one another.  At one point, Kyrie asked Lebron to take over.  I can't remember what game that was, but the team won.  Since then, the team has played better with Lebron being the primary ball-handler.

It's an example of players figuring things out for themselves.  There haven't been any reports that Lebron openly defied Blatt (at least that I'm aware of).  Rather, offensively, he's just taken the ball into his own hands more.  While I agree that Lebron should be more open-minded and supportive of his coach, Blatt needs to take control of the team, and run a competent system.  Right now, he's running his starters into the ground, and there's no coherent offensive or defensive plan being executed.