Let's talk defense!

[fujikuro]

We were supposedly simplifying things again. At least a recent report seemed to indicate it. But, once again, the guys look confused and constantly out of place. It can't just be Miami's schemes. Part of it is effort, with Kyrie and Shump looking like wild west saloon doors out there. The Heat going nuts from 3 didn't help, and again, we probably wound up losing another game because of poor free throw shooting. Still, better effort from the get-go and this game is over and our starters are resting for the 4th. Things can change in the playoffs, but the team habits are very poor and it's hard to imagine this team will have much of a chance in the finals without a major change to their intensity quarter by quarter.

 

[JMoneyYourHoney]

Cavs:

2014-2015 - 20th (Skewed after Moz)
2015-2016- 8th (Champs)
2016-2017 - 20th

Ah hah! So while we indeed "flipped a switch" in the playoffs, we at least demonstrated an ability to be a top-caliber defensive team throughout the year.

That's not very promising. There's a reason no team with a 20th-ranked defensive ranking ever sniffed a title. It's one thing to turn it on after having shown you can do it. It's quite another to try to find defensive consistency after a full season's worth of incompetence at that end.

People who insist that they're not worried are kidding themselves.

 

[LeeBuckeye]

Ah hah! So while we indeed "flipped a switch" in the playoffs, we at least demonstrated an ability to be a top-caliber defensive team throughout the year.

That's not very promising. There's a reason no team with a 20th-ranked defensive ranking ever sniffed a title. It's one thing to turn it on after having shown you can do it. It's quite another to try to find defensive consistency after a full season's worth of incompetence at that end.

People who insist that they're not worried are kidding themselves.

Would you like me to depress you even further? David Blatt was fired on Jan. 24th. If I move the dial back to that date for the 2015-2016 season then we were ranked 4th overall. We dropped to 9th overall by the end of the year LOL. Ty Lue was the defensive coach and we had although limited offensively, a defensive oriented bench lineup (Shump, Delly and Moz ,who was not himself all year but still showed up to games 7'1" ). Longabardi had this versatile lineup for half a season and our defense tanked.

Now our bench is worse than our starters which is inexcusable (you have one job). Let's be honest

Deron
Korver
Frye
Derrick
Does it matter?

Deep down inside we all know that lineup will not be good enough. Here is to hoping a full roster brings a new surge of energy going into the playoffs.

 

[Real Deal]

Cavs are playing a lazy style of defense, pretty close to All star game level. The laziness starts by not putting any effort into stopping dribble penetration which then lingers to not contesting open catch and shoot 3 pointers.

That's the Cavs regular season defense for you. They'll be 100x time better come playoffs because the effort level will be there.

Miami making 30+ 3's in 2 games, I bet they make that in 4 games if they face us in the 1st round.

 

[Gimme Some Mo]

I can't take it anymore. Effort is piss poor and even when it isn't, you have to seriously question Ty Lue's gameplan.

 

[Chris Parker]

Ah hah! So while we indeed "flipped a switch" in the playoffs, we at least demonstrated an ability to be a top-caliber defensive team throughout the year.

That's not very promising. There's a reason no team with a 20th-ranked defensive ranking ever sniffed a title. It's one thing to turn it on after having shown you can do it. It's quite another to try to find defensive consistency after a full season's worth of incompetence at that end.

People who insist that they're not worried are kidding themselves.

Worth noting that playoff D is 8th out of 16 teams. Not exactly "lockdown" D. Sadly, this team yearns to even reach a mediocre middle-of-the-road rating

 

[mhi]

Woof.

Record: 42-21, 1st in NBA Eastern Conference
Last Game: L 101-106 at DET
Next Game: Saturday, Mar. 11 at ORL
Coach: Tyronn Lue (42-21)
PTS/G: 110.6 (4th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 106.5 (22nd of 30)
SRS: 3.71 (5th of 30) Pace: 96.5 (14th of 30)
Off Rtg: 113.9 (3rd of 30) Def Rtg: 109.6 (22nd of 30)
Expected W-L: 40-23 (5th of 30)

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

SRS of 3.71 is pathetic for this team tbh.

 

[Adam]

We should lock this thread until the cavs actually play some sort of defense. At the moment its like discussing condoms at an Abstinence America meeting

 

[needmorecowbell]

It's just disgusting watching them on the defensive end.
I don't have numbers but it seems like we just cannot rebound. Drummond had no problem getting offensive rebounds and the pistons just shoot until they finally made one.

I am holding out hope that when everyone finally returns the effort will improve.
Love will bring the rebounding back, JR will play solid wing D and the team will feed off that to more respectable D.

Does anyone know with numbers or even just the eye test, has our D been good in national TV games? Do we play better when the lights are brighter?

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

It's just disgusting watching them on the defensive end.
I don't have numbers but it seems like we just cannot rebound. Drummond had no problem getting offensive rebounds and the pistons just shoot until they finally made one.

I am holding out hope that when everyone finally returns the effort will improve.
Love will bring the rebounding back, JR will play solid wing D and the team will feed off that to more respectable D.

Does anyone know with numbers or even just the eye test, has our D been good in national TV games? Do we play better when the lights are brighter?

Nope, defense sucks regardless. What's concerning is that it's the worst in the 4th quarter when it should be best if our excuse is effort.

 

[BigJ]

For once i liked our Defense. We ran them off the 3pt Line and got some stops when needed. It was still not great.. still gave up 104. But it was better.

I hope this is not a fluke but a sign of the Team slowly getting into Playoff mode.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

For once i liked our Defense. We ran them off the 3pt Line and got some stops when needed. It was still not great.. still gave up 104. But it was better.

I hope this is not a fluke but a sign of the Team slowly getting into Playoff mode.

I don't know man. I saw the Magic miss a lot of easy shots inside and from mid range.
They are a bad shooting team, especially from 3 and we struggle to defend the 3ptl ine so it might seem like we defended better but it didn't feel like it to me.

 

[BigJ]

I don't know man. I saw the Magic miss a lot of easy shots inside and from mid range.
They are a bad shooting team, especially from 3 and we struggle to defend the 3ptl ine so it might seem like we defended better but it didn't feel like it to me.

I am sceptical as well at least until after the next few games.

I am sure our defense will be decent enough come Playoff time... but it would be so nice to already see it starting to get better now and not in a month. Build the good habbits now

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

I am sceptical as well at least until after the next few games.

I am sure our defense will be decent enough come Playoff time... but it would be so nice to already see it starting to get better now and not in a month. Build the good habbits now

I think the most improvement I expect to see his a big uptick in reb% come playoffs time.