Cavs Defense

[Wine and Gold]

One thing that I've wanted to mention, and haven't until now ...is basically everyone's evaluation of how we will perform defensively based primarily on the players and individuals on the team. Our most important acquisition this offseason to help our defense was Mike Brown. Good defense is 99% team cohesion, and 1% individual skill level. Mike Brown is here because he is a master technician at formulating defensive strategy, and implementing the plan on the court. From having coached teams from summer rec leagues, to high school ball, and into the college level, one thing that always pertained to the quality defensive units was an infection of energy and caring about that side of the ballgame within the coaching staff, and into the player ranks. That concentration and focus comes first and foremost from the coaching staff, but from a Cavs standpoint everything on the players level will stem from Lebron James, because even at this young age...he is the leader...if he cares the team will care. Lebron James lack of a quality defensive game last year was more based on the enormous number of minutes he played every game. NO PLAYER ...NONE, in history could go out and play 45-48 minutes a game and have the sustainability to play the defensive game 100%. When Lebron James focuses on his defense and doesn't take that part of the game as his point to catch a blow ...he's NOT a bad defender at all. I've seen flashes of where he plays defense hard and he can d up with anyone. If you look at Jeff Van Gundy's teams ...he's a defensive specialist in the same mold as Mike Brown ...he had a team last year in Houston that didn't have great individual defensive performers ..as a matter of fact, if you look at Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming ..you have two players that embody what Z and Lebron are characterized as. But, he was able to transform that team and those players attitudes towards defense greatly to the positive. I expect the same thing to happen here, because that is the focus this coaching staff has for our eventual improvement.

Defense is recognition of game situations, and an understanding of where to go and who to assist at the appropriate time. It's never more about footspeed, or jumping ability, or bulk. When you are a proven teacher of that aspect of the game, you're players will understand what they are to do and do it on the court. In summary, good dfense is good coaching, and I expect to see it this season based on Mike Brown's track record. I also love the fact that Brian Windhorst has stated that Brown is leaving the remaining spots on his coaching staff open for Larry Brown's assistants. Because they are the best coached team in the league, and it had to do with those assistants and their undertsanding of defensive schemes, and the ability to teach sound defensive philosophy and skills to those players. Paul Silas was lacking in most forms of proper coaching philosophy ...and it showed. I think we're in extremely good shape with these new guys, and feel confodent that they will get the players motivated on that end of the court. We actually have decent guys who can play that game ...Ira Newble, Larry Hughes, Eric Snow, Anderson Varajao will be a diamond when he is actually developed by this coaching staff ...he could eventaully be all-defense 1st team for years and years... and I'll tell ya ...Z knows where and what to do defensively ...he just needs proper help from his teammates ..which he never got last year. If we keep Gooden, which I don't advocate, but if we do ...it will be interesting if this coaching staff can develop his on-court undertsanding of his defensive reposibilities. Because, IF ...IF ...he ever gets that aspect. He will turn into one of the best PF in the entire game. All his game really needs is an injection of defensive IQ into his brain, and he's everything any coach could ask for in a PF. Possibly even worth the risk of starting the season with, just to see if these new coaches can get him developed and disciplined in the art of team defense. Lord knows he's got lots of tools, more than the guys we'd be getting back in return for in any trade ...just food for thought..

thoughts ?

 

[Glen Infante]

Drew Gooden has the tools to be a decent defender. He has long arms and he is pretty quick in the paint. His help side defense should be much better than he is showing us.

Drew just doesn't get it. And it has been said by past coaches also, he just can't get that defensive attitude stuck in his brain. He wants to watch and wait for the miss, run down the court and create a fast break opportunity. Mike Brown is going to have one hell of a time teaching that guy how to play defense.

One thing that Silas did was help Drew become more of a rebounder. Drew thinks "rebound" and I thank Silas for that.

 

[E-Light]

Considering outside of snow, ira and varejao, we have no defensive players, if mike brown can teach these guys how to D-up, it will be amazing.

Frankly, if mike brown can teach these guys how to allow 92-94 points a night, we'll be in good shape.

Mike Brown is a rookie coach, he's not going to be a miracle worker.

 

[Coyote]

Great post, Wine and Gold. I think you're dead-on about LBJ's defense this past year. Plus, considering how much he improved last year, I'd expect to see him put in a little more effort on that aspect of his game for the upcoming season. With a better system in place, I think he'll be helped on both sides of the ball by team defense and more scoring options.

While I'm not entirely against trading Gooden, I'd be interested to see what Mike Brown can do with him. As you said, Infante, Drew at least learned to think rebound. If he could learn to keep his head in the game when the other team has the rock, I think he could be a pretty good defender. Not everyone has to have the same individual defensive skills in a team defense system; the point of it is to cover up individual weaknesses. For instance, I think Rasheed Wallace is not that great of a 1-on-1 defender, not very 'smart' (Finals, Game 5), but he's usually made better by the way the Pistons approach the team D thing.

 

[PIP]

cavs defense is one funny phrase. :chuckles:

man, that is what really pisses me off about drew, the guy would be a perfect defender, he's quick, long, and athletic.

you look at my boy tayshaun, and how good of defender he is.. and drew has him on height, strength, and skill- you just wonder why some guys can't get it?
if drew would apply just a fraction of his brain to the defensive side-- the cavs would have one of the best power forwards in the nba-- and probably be up there in the east with a rasheed wallace..

that's what is great about sheed- his defensive mind set.

 

[Glen Infante]

With the lack of quality backup bigmen around the league, you would have to start thinking... "What can Mike Brown do for DeSegana Diop?"

Diop is a defense/rebound 1st kinda guy. If Diop just concentrates on blocking shots and playing decent man to man defense, I don't see what the problem would be with bringing him back for a couple million dollars.

I know most of you hate Diop with a passion, but hey, who else is out there that can play defense at a cheap ass price?

 

[cdt]

If we can explain to Drew that his defense to us is more important than his offense and individually work with him on drills and break down the fundamentals of playing good defense, show him some film of KG TD Big Ben and some other guys, explain to him that his defense and rebounding are the best assets he could bring to this team, and just try to have him spend some time with Mike Brown doing drills, knowing where to be, when to help out when to rotate, better communication. Communication on defense is key, you can all try really hard, but the defender can only see so much at 1 time. If he has 4 other pairs of eyes on the court letting him know whats going on around him that is half the battle. Hopefully LeBron and Mike are vocal enough to get everyone doing the right things, I think Hughes can help Mike during explaining how important good D is..we will have to wait and see.

 

[PIP]

With the lack of quality backup bigmen around the league, you would have to start thinking... "What can Mike Brown do for DeSegana Diop?"

Diop is a defense/rebound 1st kinda guy. If Diop just concentrates on blocking shots and playing decent man to man defense, I don't see what the problem would be with bringing him back for a couple million dollars.

I know most of you hate Diop with a passion, but hey, who else is out there that can play defense at a cheap ass price?

well i am in the minority on this one, but i remember the real progress he was making during the 1st half of the 03-04 season.. he was hitting a nice 12-14 foot jumper. and he was boarding..

if he would get his lazy ass in shape, he could be a defensive force.. much like the reggie evans (that i brought up first :gap: ) but the only problem with it is, how can you play him and AV in the second unit together ?defensivley it would work (if diop didn't have a foul per 9 seconds like usual) if he could stay on the court the defense would not miss a beat, and might be better in the middle..

but where would any low post offense come from ?

now if drew would accept a role off the bench, (AV STARTS) then that's a sexy option- where drew is your scorer, and diop is the interior defender. but that most likley won't happen.. also, AV doesn't seem to play well for long periods of time so that might prevent him from starting, at least until he shows he can be productive for the whole time he is out there..

 

[King]

I still like the idea of trading Drew for a better defensive pf. But it would be interesting to see what Mike Brown and his coaching staff could make out of him. Maybe in a good defensive system and with good coaching on the importance of good D, Gooden could become a better defender. I wouldnt count on it though.

IMO if Drew doesnt improve his D, AV should start. AV puts in good defensive effort and has a chance to develop into a defensive force. Drew can be our sixth man and still see more minutes than Varejao.

I hope Lebron's minutes get cut down to about 38 minutes a night. Playing less minutes should allow him to use more energy on the defensive end. In the Olympics Lebron showed that he can be a really good defender. I think part of the reason why he defended so well there was because he came off the bench and didnt play a lot of minutes. He didnt have to worry about getting tired if he put too much energy on D since he saw a lot of rest on the bench. Having more players to carry the offensive load with him should allow him to focus more on D too.

 

[CleveRocks]

Speaking of Diop, has anyone shown interest in him ? Or is he out on the back porch eating oreo's at this point??

 

[cdt]

I haven't seen one team give any interest on him, not on hoopshype sportsline or anywhere else, can we option him to the nbdl if we resign him?

 

[Wine and Gold]

How many times were people saying the same things we're saying about Drew Gooden and Zydrunas Ilgauskas ... about Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming before Jeff Van Gundy came into Houston ? I know good defense can be taught, and especially young players like Gooden and Lebron ...who never had to use anything but their physical gifts to get by defensively pre-NBA, they need to have the time and effort in coaching put in to get them there. Jordan was right where Lebron is now defensively when he came into the league ...for those too young, or don't remember. He was developed ....same goes for Gooden, Sasha, Lebron, Luke ...they need the quality, defense first, coaching philosophy ...You can't just say,.,well Gooden is just brain dead defensively. He's 23 ...his first two years in the league were in horrible team and coaching situations ...last year, even as rocky as it was ...was the most stable environment he has been in since turning pro. Give the guy the OPPORTUNITY in a full season of consistent, strong, defense first prioritized coaching, and see where he goes. We may look back and say, man ...we had this guy and didn't give him his chance to blossom into his full potential. Maybe we should see what we got , for sure, b4 we move in another direction. His value won't depriciate at all ...he's worth the look. Someone in a previous post mentioned Rasheed Wallace ....he was a joke defensively until he found the Pistons ....look what happened. He's a PERFECT example of what the right team and coaching environment can do for a player that has great abilities, that hadn't been fully tapped.

 

[cdt]

Hmm that may be true, but only if brown can get in his head and drew will buckle down and take in his teaching and try to improve defensively. If he thinks because that his coach is mike brown that poof he will be a good defender he is wrong. He has to put the time and effort into it which i'm not sure he will do but hopefully he can..

 

[Wine and Gold]

As for Diop ...This guy, to me, lacks commitment to his craft. We're talking about a guy, in Diop, that's developed NOTHING. He has no instict for the game at all, no toughness, no work ethic. In this case, he's alot different than Gooden. Gooden has basketball skills ....I don't think Diop even has a player's mentality. On his own ..in his four years in Cleveland ....he never developed one offensive move ...not one. His forte' ....defense? His leading stat in his lines every game were fouls. He's not an NBA player ....don;t think he has the requisite skills, work ethic, competitive nature, or instinct to ever be a player in this league. To me ....he's a complete ZERO. You can't get something from nothing ....he can't be developed is my estimation of 'gana.

 

[Troy Wingate]

It's just surprising that if just a couple of more guys even bothered playing defense, we would've been in the playoffs last season, and probably the 4th-7th seed.

Now we add Larry Hughes, a great defender, and we have a head coach who's a defensive minded coach. I really hope he can straighten Drew's head on properly, and LeBron will be a better man on man defender next year. If we can add the likes of Reggie Evans, this Cavs team is a much improved defensive team, and we should see them play some very good defense next year.