Cavs 08-09 Season - Central Div Champs (official thread)

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Brown: Cavaliers still must improve Coach is not content with fast start, says team isn't where it needs to be
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Monday, Dec 15, 2008
ATLANTA: No one's about to complain about the Cavaliers' 20-4 record, but it might raise an eyebrow, or both of them.
The Cavs are 13-0 at home and 7-4 on the road. It's unrealistic to expect that they will go undefeated at home, and any team that wins nearly twice as many road games as it loses usually can find itself contending for a championship.
''We're by no means where we want to be in May or June,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said after Saturday's 97-92 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. ''We're definitely not going undefeated or having a season where we might lose a couple of games the rest of the way.''
The four road losses have one thing in common: They have all come against teams with winning records.
The Hawks, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons and New Orleans Hornets are a combined 62-27, a winning clip of close to 70 percent.


Some might suggest that the Cavs dominate the league's also-rans but don't live up to their potential when facing stiffer competition.
Brown isn't ready to go there.
''There are some good teams out there,'' he said. ''I thought Atlanta was ready for [us]. It was a tough environment. We had our chances down the stretch. We just didn't get it done.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

With inside info from a legend, Cavs' Szczerbiak found success with his inside game

by Mary Schmitt Boyer/Plain Dealer Reporter Monday December 15, 2008, 6:53 PM

Roadell Hickman/Plain Dealer file photoAveraging nearly seven points and 2.5 rebounds a game this season, Wally Szczerbiak is averaging about 18 minutes of playing time per appearance this season.

Next game: Wednesday, at Minnesota, 8 p.m.


Maybe the Cavaliers should send a thank you note to Timberwolves coach Kevin McHale. McHale, who moved from the Wolves' front office to the bench after the firing of Randy Wittman last week, was instrumental in helping a young Wally Szczerbiak develop his post game, a talent the Cavs are taking advantage of this season.
"He really helped me become the player I am," Szczerbiak said after practice on Monday. "He drafted me, kind of molded me, schooled me, taught me a lot about the game -- on and off the court."
Although Minnesota didn't use the sharp-shooting Szczerbiak in the post much -- not with a guy by the name of Kevin Garnett on the roster -- the lessons were not wasted. McHale will get to see that for himself when the Cavs visit the Wolves on Wednesday night.
The Cavs have been using Szczerbiak in the post more and more when they've gone to a smaller lineup.
"He has an effective post game," coach Mike Brown said. "We have a post play we go to with him quite a bit, especially if he hits his first shot. If he hits his first one -- he's already a confident person -- but [his confidence] is off the charts when he hits one or two.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Cavaliers are obviously off to a tremendous start, but...

by Brian Windhorst Monday December 15, 2008, 6:49 AM

AP PhotoThe Cavs are now just 1-4 this season on the road against teams with winning records.


Atlanta- Because of their superstar, their record and some incredible team statistics early in the season, the Cavaliers have had the "elite" tag slapped on them in the NBA's pecking order. Thus far they have earned it, but to keep it up they are going to have to address the only blemish on their 20-4 record. After Saturday night's loss to the Atlanta Hawks, which snapped an 11-game win streak, the Cavs are now just 1-4 this season on the road against teams with winning records.
On one hand it can be said the team doesn't have a bad loss yet. During the winning streak, when the Cavs only played one team with the winning record (the Hawks), they vanquished the sub-.500 opponents nightly.
On the other, watching the road performance of East rivals Boston and Orlando - the Magic won in Portland and Utah last week and lost by a single point in Phoenix - the Cavs still have some work to do.
The Cavs are 7-4 on the road so far, and a disproportionate six of those 11 games have been on the second night of a back-to-back. Nonetheless, the Cavs are now to be judged by the highest standard, and losses in Boston, New Orleans, Detroit and Atlanta don't brighten their resume much.
November's victory in Dallas, which kicked off the just halted run of 19 wins in 20 games, is so far the Cavs' only quality win away from The Q. And the Mavericks, who are now 13-9 after winning nine of their past 11, are just a pedestrian 6-5 at home this season.
"Our road record isn't great, but it isn't bad," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "We're by no means where we want to be in May or June. There are some good teams out there."
Cont...

 

[buchtelgrad04]

Yahoo Sports and ESPN are reporting that the Cavs are inquiring about trading Wally and Andy for Shawn Marion. Not sure I like this one, I do like his defensive versatility though. I just don't know how he'll mesh with 'Bron. Although, him and Mo would be great together, because Shawn is at his best when he's running in transition. What do the people with a little more basketball knowledge think about this trade?

 

[tsteele316]

Yahoo Sports and ESPN are reporting that the Cavs are inquiring about trading Wally and Andy for Shawn Marion. Not sure I like this one, I do like his defensive versatility though. I just don't know how he'll mesh with 'Bron. Although, him and Mo would be great together, because Shawn is at his best when he's running in transition. What do the people with a little more basketball knowledge think about this trade?

windhorst already rebuked this assinine trade in his blog today.

 

[Unleded]

windhorst already rebuked this assinine trade in his blog today.

good. i do think its likely that the cavs will complete some deal that involves moving wally, but i hope whatever deal that is keeps andy in a cavs uniform.

 

[billmac91]

good. i do think its likely that the cavs will complete some deal that involves moving wally, but i hope whatever deal that is keeps andy in a cavs uniform.

andy is playing great this year. he may have elevated himself above Shawn Marion at this point in their careers. This trade would not be beneficial to Cleveland, IMO.

Unless the trade is for Michael Redd, I'm not sure I want any deals right now.

 

[Unleded]

andy is playing great this year. he may have elevated himself above Shawn Marion at this point in their careers. This trade would not be beneficial to Cleveland, IMO.

Unless the trade is for Michael Redd, I'm not sure I want any deals right now.

yeah i agree that this is a bad trade, and they if they are willing to give up andy it should only be for redd.

however, i would be okay with other trades for players like mike miller, antwan jamison, and even marion as long as andy is not in the deal.

if you can work some combination of eric snow, wally, and pavs for one of those three guys that would be a beneficial trade imo.

 

[billmac91]

yeah i agree that this is a bad trade, and they if they are willing to give up andy it should only be for redd.

however, i would be okay with other trades for players like mike miller, antwan jamison, and even marion as long as andy is not in the deal.

if you can work some combination of eric snow, wally, and pavs for one of those three guys that would be a beneficial trade imo.

I agree with that as well. Only thing that is huge in those scenarios is that the contract is off the books in 2010. The Cavs need to make sure they can resign LeBron and sell pairing him with a Bosh, Amare, Wade, etc..

 

[crazybuckfan40]

IF we make a trade it needs to be for a big that can replace Andy and a top tier sg...

No other reason to make a trade...

 

[exhawg]

I would have to get one hell of a PF to give up Andy. Now if the Raptors realize that they won't be able to resign Bosh I would give them Andy, Sasha, Snow, and at least one first round pick.
I'd trade Wally for any piece that I think will help, but I wouldn't mess with the top 7 unless it's a starter at the 2 or 4.

 

[billmac91]

I would have to get one hell of a PF to give up Andy. Now if the Raptors realize that they won't be able to resign Bosh I would give them Andy, Sasha, Snow, and at least one first round pick.
I'd trade Wally for any piece that I think will help, but I wouldn't mess with the top 7 unless it's a starter at the 2 or 4.

thats an interesting scenario exhawg. If they know they won't be able to resign Bosh, why not unload him now for expiring contracts and a good young player in Anderson Varejao?

A pipe dream, b/c I can't see Toronto admitting to their fans that they aren't a player for Bosh in 2010.

The funny thing is, Knicks fans will probably having the same discussion regarding LeBron next year. Just trade for him next year, and get rid of their expiring contracts a year early since they'll just be getting him in 2010 in their eyes.

 

[Brutus1]

I would trade Andy only if the return included Bosh. Not for Redd or anyone else currently on the speculation list. Andy is the replacement for Z. He's developing a decent offensive game, busts his ass every time he's on the floor, is a great rebounder (particularly on the offensive end), won't take shit like the Euros and plays very well with LeBron. He's just turned 26. I think they'll be able to resign him for a decent contract when he opts out.

Unless someone gets hurt, the only trade I'm making this year is Wally and a first for the right player. I like Marion, but he's 4 years older than Andy and would rather invest long term in Andy.

 

[exhawg]

I would love if the Cavs could get their hands on Mike Miller. He's a lot more athletic than I thought he was. Trade Snow and the first round pick this year. Cash in the insurance on Snow and clear $15-20 million on the cap.

 

[Unleded]

i had to laugh at that last fast break. delonte and lbj two one none break, west tries to throw it off the backboard, and it ends up going over lebron's head.