Cavs 09-10 Season (official thread)

[Merih]

I agree with this in general. I'll also add that Rondo is only shooting 28% from 3 point land in the Cavs series and only shot 21% from 3 point land in the regular season. Clearly, his taking jumpshots is not his strong suit and is in the Cavs' best interest.

I think you guys are selling short Rondo's mental capacity...he doesn't really take those jumpers even when given space because he knows that's not what he's on the floor for.

Look at the closeups of when he would see Parker playing off of him, he would immediately relay a play with multiple screening, giving him the options whether it be to Ray Allen, a backdoor screen, or dumping it into KG. The guys behind whoever is guarding Rondo are going to have to step their games up defensive working through screens.

Also, playing so far off of Rondo gives you less of a chance to box him out for boards. He has massive hops and a running start is all he needs to outjump everyone.

My solution is to put Lebron on Rondo, and then have Parker guard Pierce. It's clear to me that Pierce is not on the floor as a dominant scorer anymore. He is there for kick out jumpers, and the occasional mismatch against a smaller guard in transition. Mo and Delonte have to be ready to keep fighting through screens, and the bigs have to be smart in watching the screen and rolls from KG and Big Baby. Hickson was getting killed on those plays.

 

[buckeyesin07]

My solution is to put Lebron on Rondo, and then have Parker guard Pierce. It's clear to me that Pierce is not on the floor as a dominant scorer anymore. He is there for kick out jumpers, and the occasional mismatch against a smaller guard in transition. Mo and Delonte have to be ready to keep fighting through screens, and the bigs have to be smart in watching the screen and rolls from KG and Big Baby. Hickson was getting killed on those plays.

I'm ok with that, but then I'd put Moon on Pierce. I think Parker on Pierce is a matchup that the Celtics could exploit.

 

[y0yoyoin]

i think its critical that lebron guards rondo...besides garnett's occasional 20 pt game Pierce is having a terrible series and ray allen has been average...rondo has carried their team and Mo cannot stop him at all let alone slow him down...i want to see mike brown gets some balls and put mo on the bench and bring delonte in to start...now you have lebron on rondo, west on ray allen, shaq on perkins, twan on garnett, and parker on pierce...and to win lebron also has to score at least 35 pts...in both our wins he has scored over 35...look for lebron to get more aggressive at home...no way he lets us fall 2-3 against these guys

 

[jlb1705]

How is his outside the paint higher? Also, hate to nitpick, but I only have him as 1/1 in game 1..

I used ESPN's shot chart. You're right that one of those shots is open to interpretation at best. It was on the low right block. I counted it as outside the paint because it was outside the painted area on the chart.

He is actually shooting well from outside because he's selective. Mentally, he's good enough to not fall into traps that other teams try to set by inviting him to shoot jumpers. He does it when he needs to, and it appears that as the series has gone on his number of jumpers has increased incrementally, but he's taking them within the flow of their offense for the most part and he's able to convert at a rate that doesn't harm his team.

Like I mentioned, I don't think the real value of moving his shots outside is in his ability to convert - its in taking away the penetration that creates easy buckets for other players.

Also, about his rebounding... Rondo is a great rebounder - he always has been. It's one of the reasons I wanted him for the Cavs when he was drafted (the Cavs never had a chance - their pick was too low and outside the lottery). I don't think it's fair to attribute it totally to they way he's being defended or to lucky bounces. He was an excellent rebounder for a guard in high school and college.

 

[BigJim]

I used ESPN's shot chart. You're right that one of those shots is open to interpretation at best. It was on the low right block. I counted it as outside the paint because it was outside the painted area on the chart.

He is actually shooting well from outside because he's selective.

I meant the numbers that you showed don't add up to a higher percentage outside than inside, if the 0.517 overall is correct. I agree with your overall point though.

 

[jlb1705]

I meant the numbers that you showed don't add up to a higher percentage outside than inside, if the 0.517 overall is correct. I agree with your overall point though.

You're right. My bad on the math.

 

[TRON 2.0]

I'm talking about his shooting percentage from jumpshot range which, much like your response, leaves a lot to be desired.

Stats don't lie.

Calling out Rondo for his shooting (outside) and then getting busted for it.

 

[OH10]

Stats don't lie.

Calling out Rondo for his shooting (outside) and then getting busted for it.

All of his outside shots have been wide open jumpers and he's still shooting around 50%. Those are like free throws. Jlb is right - Rondo's strength is in his decision making - meaning that even he knows he's not a good outside shooter.

But if you want to enter him into the 3-point shooting competition next year, I'll let him have 15-foot jumpers instead of 3s, and I'd still take anyone else to win.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

We all sit here and talk about defense, but too me it is offense...

We are not creating, moving the ball and knocking down looks...

And not in transition, we are clamping ourselves down...

We keep talking about who is matching up with Rando, but the problem is not Parker or Mo, it is the pick n roll where the big guy has to help or Parker or Mo have to recover and can't get back...

When we get LBJ on Garnett, he is standing and letting Garnett guard him and not attacking...When Mo switches to Ray or Pierce they immediately put the ball in the post...

LBJ should be in the paint posting up Ray Allen all night, and if they double kick it out...

The Celtics are keeping the game simple, we are making it harder on ourselves then it should...

This series could of went 4 or 5, give the Celtics credit they are playing good ball taking care of mismatches and knocking down looks...I think it goes 7 and I think we take them at home...

And for those worried about Orlando it will be a totally different series than this one, different matchups...Remember last year, we swept first two series Orlando went 7 and then they came in and took it to us...

 

[cjmik_75]

Orlando is looking very very good, albeit against a piece of shit worthless Hawks team, so make no mistake; unless the rust sets in BIG TIME for them the Bos/Cle winner will have their hands full.

 

[exhawg]

Orlando is looking very very good, albeit against a piece of [censored] worthless Hawks team, so make no mistake; unless the rust sets in BIG TIME for them the Bos/Cle winner will have their hands full.

Just to be devil's advocate the Cavs looked like world beaters in the first 2 rounds last year while the Magic went 7 with the Celtics.

 

[cjmik_75]

Just to be devil's advocate the Cavs looked like world beaters in the first 2 rounds last yearwhile the Magic went 7 with the Celtics.

As in, LAST year. So it doesn't mean jack right now.

I'd like to think it will happen to them too but...if the Cavs get by Boston they need to play like game 3 of this series every night. Period. Take a night or two off and they'll get buried.

 

[buckeyesin07]

Stats don't lie.

Calling out Rondo for his shooting (outside) and then getting busted for it.

. Stats don't lie--I agree. Check out post #2115, and you'll see who out of the two of us has a better idea as to Rondo's capabilities with respect to outside shooting.

 

[buckeyesin07]

Orlando is looking very very good, albeit against a piece of [censored] worthless Hawks team, so make no mistake; unless the rust sets in BIG TIME for them the Bos/Cle winner will have their hands full.

Don't buy too much into the fact that the Magic have looked good against (1) a Bobcats team that was probably the worst to make the NBA playoffs this year and (2) a Hawks team that had absolutely no one who can guard Howard on the inside. If that wasn't a recipe for back-to-back sweeps, I don't know what is.

 

[cjmik_75]

Let's see now, Magic players are stepping up making shots and playing solid D. While the player stepping up in the Cavs/Celts series is Rondo. This Cavs team was playing like a team during the regular season and at times throughout these playoffs it's been anything but team like. Somebody on the Cavs roster not named LeBron needs to step up.

One great game out of four so far against Boston. That won't cut it against Orlando. As far as not buying into Orlando because they "looked good" against some lesser competition...that's absurd. They haven't just looked good they've dominated like a championship team should. Oh BTW they just set an NBA record for ppg difference in a 4 series sweep. Hard to ignore the facts and decide to just stick my head in the sand and hope the Cavs can turn it back on.

Don't buy into the fact that the series is now a best of 3 and the Celtics are hungrier. Because we all know the Cavs can just turn it on whenever they want. Right?