Chris Parker/Cleveland Scene answers your questions part 2

[Chris Parker]

New Column is Up

Cavaliers Blast Nuggets and Share the Booty
http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and...2/cavaliers-blast-nuggets-and-share-the-booty

"....before the shellacking in Miami, we suggested that the team is coming around, but because it’s more like a spiral staircase than an escalator, the improvement's more difficult to track. The perspective looking down doesn’t change much until you reach the top.

That could be the Cavaliers policy going forward. The team’s clearly still got some schizophrenia, given that second quarter, and it’s difficult to judge much from a game against the Nuggets. But we are encouraged that Lue chose to simplify the defense rather than keep denting his head on that wall.

Judging from his comments about their lack of focus against inferior opponents, he’s seeing the same thing we are.

“We get up and get cute,” said Lue. “You know, fancy passes. We take a couple bad and questionable shots. So we just need to continue to get better at that and continue to step on guys' throats when we have them down… when our backs are up against the wall we tend to step up and play hard. Most of the league is like that, just with this team and what we’re trying to do, we have to be better at that.”

We’re taking the attitude that any game they don't lose to a patently inferior team is a good game. There’s not much time left, why waste energy prognosticating a lack of accountability and subsequent doom, when not only is the jury out, but we know exactly when their lunch break’s over."

 

[Snarly]

New Column is Up

Cavaliers Blast Nuggets and Share the Booty
http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and...2/cavaliers-blast-nuggets-and-share-the-booty

"....before the shellacking in Miami, we suggested that the team is coming around, but because it’s more like a spiral staircase than an escalator, the improvement's more difficult to track. The perspective looking down doesn’t change much until you reach the top.

That could be the Cavaliers policy going forward. The team’s clearly still got some schizophrenia, given that second quarter, and it’s difficult to judge much from a game against the Nuggets. But we are encouraged that Lue chose to simplify the defense rather than keep denting his head on that wall.

Judging from his comments about their lack of focus against inferior opponents, he’s seeing the same thing we are.

“We get up and get cute,” said Lue. “You know, fancy passes. We take a couple bad and questionable shots. So we just need to continue to get better at that and continue to step on guys' throats when we have them down… when our backs are up against the wall we tend to step up and play hard. Most of the league is like that, just with this team and what we’re trying to do, we have to be better at that.”

We’re taking the attitude that any game they don't lose to a patently inferior team is a good game. There’s not much time left, why waste energy prognosticating a lack of accountability and subsequent doom, when not only is the jury out, but we know exactly when their lunch break’s over."

About time he called out Kyrie.

 

[Pierre Pan]

New Column is Up

Cavaliers Blast Nuggets and Share the Booty
http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and...2/cavaliers-blast-nuggets-and-share-the-booty

"....before the shellacking in Miami, we suggested that the team is coming around, but because it’s more like a spiral staircase than an escalator, the improvement's more difficult to track. The perspective looking down doesn’t change much until you reach the top.

That could be the Cavaliers policy going forward. The team’s clearly still got some schizophrenia, given that second quarter, and it’s difficult to judge much from a game against the Nuggets. But we are encouraged that Lue chose to simplify the defense rather than keep denting his head on that wall.

Judging from his comments about their lack of focus against inferior opponents, he’s seeing the same thing we are.

“We get up and get cute,” said Lue. “You know, fancy passes. We take a couple bad and questionable shots. So we just need to continue to get better at that and continue to step on guys' throats when we have them down… when our backs are up against the wall we tend to step up and play hard. Most of the league is like that, just with this team and what we’re trying to do, we have to be better at that.”

We’re taking the attitude that any game they don't lose to a patently inferior team is a good game. There’s not much time left, why waste energy prognosticating a lack of accountability and subsequent doom, when not only is the jury out, but we know exactly when their lunch break’s over."

Look forward to your articles every game, Chris; this being no exception. Your pop cultural references are a thing of beauty a la Dennis Miller. Not sure if you can make corrections or not, but it's Rita Hayworth. Cheers.

 

[TFIR]

Best. Coach. Ever.

"He (Chris) had his hand up the whole time!" Ty Lue

 

[TFIR]

Welcome to the preseason’s home stretch, a series of superficially important games that in truth pale next to hitting the playoffs healthy and with a good stride.

Truer words never spoken. On Sirius NBA channel they were talking about the Cavs dilemna. They come into a season pretty much granted getting to the NBA finals (unlike teams in the West). OK, motivate yourself now! Haha. Staying healthy, trying out different rotations, different defenses and integrating new players (Frye) becomes the regular season.

but he also must trust that Irving won’t use that responsibility to go Full Iverson out there.

Hahaha

If necessary, you could move him to off-guard, as the Cavs do in Delly lineups.

Think... Jamal Crawford. There's lots of guys who have no conscience, a la Crawford and Kyrie. Why do we try to put Kyrie into the Rondo mold? Kyrie "Microwave" Irving!

There’s not much time left, why waste energy prognosticating a lack of accountability and subsequent doom, when not only is the jury out, but we know exactly when their lunch break’s over.

Very wise. I'll point out again the Spurs lost last night to the Hornets. So they beat the Warriors, then lose to the Hornets.

Evidently they have no accountability either and are unmotivated against inferior opponents too! So we are in good company (that would be the entire NBA, indeed all of professional sports)

Watched pro tennis last weekend. Novak Djokovic ended up winning the tournament, playing his best tennis in the semis and finals. Guess what - his earlier efforts in the tournament's early rounds against inferior opponents were....inferior. But he got through. The guy dialed it up at the BUSINESS end of the tournament against top opponents, including Nadal.

These are human beings, not robots. You can't always be at the top notch. And the top athletes know when to dial it up a notch. And when not to.

 

[TFIR]

"According to a source close to James who discussed the matter with him Monday night, that's not why James unfollowed the Cavs. He did it as part of his process to prepare for the playoffs."

As comical as this is, IMO one thing can be taken from this. OK, perhaps now Lebron now considers NBA basketball games as escalating in importance. In other words, if social media is ok the rest of the year, what must he think of the vast majority of the regular season?

Why not have a policy of no social media the whole basketball season?

I think we know the answer to that question, like it or not. Because the rest of the regular season, is preseason. And it's like that for ALL the top teams, with occasional exception games. We all know the Spurs absolutely flaunt that preseason nature of the regular season by sitting stars regularly.

In addition, we can concluce that if Lebron now considers it "game on", we can guess as to how the rest of the Cavs feel.

 

[Chris Parker]

New Column Up:
Cavaliers Take the Bucks Get Invested For Playoffs
http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and...iers-take-the-bucks-get-invested-for-playoffs

"Drama was high in the Hall of Justice. You could cut the air with a Tweet.

Superman had been testy about people stepping on his cape, questioning the efficacy of his heat vision from a distance, and the never-ending media genuflection at the altar of the Avengers. Others speculated some of his ire was directed at Spiderman’s freelancing and hogging of the one-liners..."

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Great article, but I'm sort of still stuck in negative Nancy mode regarding our defense, so here goes....

I know there is the issue of the Cavs' defensive intensity switching on and off, and I understand that to some extent. And I know the theory of some is that they're going to turn that all around when the playoffs hit.

But is there anything you've seen that convinces you that is actually possible? I'm really concerned that we're getting into an offensive/game flow/rotational pattern that is dependent upon not expending much energy on the defensive side of the ball. And when that shock hits of trying to play the kind of defense the playoffs demand, the ripple effect on everything else we do is going to be significant. And we haven't prepared for that by playing that way.

I can assume at this point that the "we're going to get in much better shape" argument is dead and buried, because it hasn't shown up yet and it's pretty much too late. And generally, rotations get shorter, not longer, in the playoffs.

So is it really going to be possible for us to get our defense up to the required level the way things are going?

 

[TFIR]

But is there anything you've seen that convinces you that is actually possible?

Good post, well articulated!

My answer to your question is .....YES - last year!

There was nothing last year during the regular season to indicate that their defense would elevate like it did in the playoffs. Nothing at all. But, it happened.

So I would reverse the question. What makes you think they won't raise their level of defense in the playoffs? The only evidence of playoff basketball we've seen for this team is last year. And that ONLY evidence says, they did it.

The way I look at it is, defense mostly = effort. Players say it all the time - but we can watch the all star game if we doubt that.

As well, in the playoffs (as Lebron just said when interviewed) there is TIME to prepare for a team, to make a defensive plan. Also time to rest before your next game (sometimes an obnoxious amount of time actually)

But mostly, in the playoffs it is win or go home. What type of motivator even remotely like that exists in the regular season? NONE!

To conclude, I saw their defense go insane last year in the playoffs. Also, in general, you see defensive intensity for EVERY team go way up in the playoffs. That's why halfcourt offense in the playoffs goes front and center more often.
Defenses stop giving up easy baskets.

Guess where defense is lax? In the preseason. And for the Cavs, the regular season = preseason. No urgency. It's time to tinker with stuff, get injured guys and new guys integrated etc etc etc

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Good post, well articulated!

Honestly, I'm more disappointed/down about the Cavs than I've been in a really long time. I've been a fan since the 70's, and for the first time in a very long time, I'm not even watching most of the games. I turn them on, see the same crap, and turn it back off. Hate to admit that, but it's true.

I do trust Chris' basketball insight, so I just tried to phrase it in a way that didn't make me sound too much like the basketball-depressed dickhead I've become. So if it was well-articulated, it was mostly by accident. But thank you.

There was nothing last year during the regular season to indicate that their defense would elevate like it did in the playoffs. Nothing at all.

24-3.

So I would reverse the question. What makes you think they won't raise their level of defense in the playoffs? The only evidence of playoff basketball we've seen for this team is last year. And that ONLY evidence says, they did it.

I think the Cavs were playing better basketball this time last year. More focused, more intense, less bullshit all around. And, I felt that was more encouraging given how brief a period of time they'd actually been together -- since mid-Jan, really. So seeing essentially the same group of guys plus some extra talent play (to my eyes) an overall worse-looking game really bugs me.

The way I look at it is, defense mostly = effort. Players say it all the time - but we can watch the all star game if we doubt that.

As I've said before, the old "we'll turn on our defense in the playoffs" is what early-exit teams say to excuse crappy defense. If the Spurs and Warriors can play better defense, why can't we?

To conclude, I saw their defense go insane last year in the playoffs. Also, in general, you see defensive intensity for EVERY team go way up in the playoffs.

But here's the thing -- defense isn't just about effort. It is also about knowing how to respond on-court to what the other team does, trusting each other, knowing where other guys are going to be on the floor and how they will react to a given offensive play, etc.. Now, if you have a bunch of guys who've been together for a long time and know their system/assignments cold, then you can just turn it on and off with effort.

We are not at that point. Even when we up the intensity, there is still come confusion and blown assignments out there because we are not used to playing that way. That's why the "we'll just turn our defense on in the playoffs" teams usually still get blown out -- because players are unused to playing that way, and so are unused to how their teammates play defense that way. The defense gets out of sync because it can look like they're learning a whole new defensive system, and by the time they start catching on, it is too late.

That's why halfcourt offense in the playoffs goes front and center more often.

Which is exactly why you need to perfect that in a sustainable manner during the regular season. I am concerned that what we've been doing is perfecting a "regular season" offense.

 

[ACisKING]

Good post, well articulated!

My answer to your question is .....YES - last year!

There was nothing last year during the regular season to indicate that their defense would elevate like it did in the playoffs. Nothing at all. But, it happened.

So I would reverse the question. What makes you think they won't raise their level of defense in the playoffs? The only evidence of playoff basketball we've seen for this team is last year. And that ONLY evidence says, they did it.

The way I look at it is, defense mostly = effort. Players say it all the time - but we can watch the all star game if we doubt that.

As well, in the playoffs (as Lebron just said when interviewed) there is TIME to prepare for a team, to make a defensive plan. Also time to rest before your next game (sometimes an obnoxious amount of time actually)

But mostly, in the playoffs it is win or go home. What type of motivator even remotely like that exists in the regular season? NONE!

To conclude, I saw their defense go insane last year in the playoffs. Also, in general, you see defensive intensity for EVERY team go way up in the playoffs. That's why halfcourt offense in the playoffs goes front and center more often.
Defenses stop giving up easy baskets.

Guess where defense is lax? In the preseason. And for the Cavs, the regular season = preseason. No urgency. It's time to tinker with stuff, get injured guys and new guys integrated etc etc etc

There's definitely some truth to what you are saying, especially with regards to preparation before playoff games. But I wonder how much of the improved defense was just because the Cavs worst defenders were injured and their best defenders were playing heavy minutes (this is back when shumpert and mozgov were beasting too).

 

[Kbiz]

Great article, but I'm sort of still stuck in negative Nancy mode regarding our defense, so here goes....

I know there is the issue of the Cavs' defensive intensity switching on and off, and I understand that to some extent. And I know the theory of some is that they're going to turn that all around when the playoffs hit.

But is there anything you've seen that convinces you that is actually possible? I'm really concerned that we're getting into an offensive/game flow/rotational pattern that is dependent upon not expending much energy on the defensive side of the ball. And when that shock hits of trying to play the kind of defense the playoffs demand, the ripple effect on everything else we do is going to be significant. And we haven't prepared for that by playing that way.

I can assume at this point that the "we're going to get in much better shape" argument is dead and buried, because it hasn't shown up yet and it's pretty much too late. And generally, rotations get shorter, not longer, in the playoffs.

So is it really going to be possible for us to get our defense up to the required level the way things are going?

Offensively, while Lue talked about increasing the pace of play, when comparing our team's performance under Blatt, very little has changed. possessions per game have actually decreased the past two months. We also averaged more fast break points per game when Irving was injured (surprised by that)

I think you throw those stats out once the playoffs arrive. Everything slows down, which benefits us defensively. Offensive typically operates in half-court sets, allowing us to be more disciplined vs. reactive. Communication will be key. We've rarely seen anyone communicate on PnR situations. That needs to be addressed in practice. Assuming our coaching staff can come up with effective game plans, it's all about execution.

It's obvious that injuries have played a huge part in our defensive regression this year. Timo hasn't been 100% all year. Shumpert is slowly coming along and Delly's hamstring has definitely slowed his lateral movement.

Irving's effort on D increased tremendously last year during the playoffs. He has started to give more effort in recent games as well. There is no reason this team can't defend at a high level. We have a ton of balance, assuming everyone is healthy.

It all comes down to communication, health, and effort.

 

[Chris Parker]

Honestly, I'm more disappointed/down about the Cavs than I've been in a really long time. I've been a fan since the 70's, and for the first time in a very long time, I'm not even watching most of the games. I turn them on, see the same crap, and turn it back off. Hate to admit that, but it's true.

The inconsistency is maddening and indeed it makes them less likable. I've found myself inwardly cheer for the opponents a couple times in a vengeful God manner like, "serves you guys right he made the shot for playing defense like a bored teenager." Feel guilty immediately. But I feel it's understandable; they're very damn frustrating to watch at times.

To me, that's just an outgrowth of change. If it were easy, we'd all do it. I still like my spiral staircase analogy because it seems we've been going around and around and around and not getting anywhere. Look down, and it looks just like it looked in February. But there is definitely improvement on the offense, and, more slowly, on defense. (Just simple fact Lue seems dedicated to starting game with Mozzy has helped, both the team's and recently, seemingly, Mozzy's confidence.)

Frankly, I just don't think they were ready to bear down before now, like any procrastinating person, but especially a frosh at college; thankfully the team's on scholarship....

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

There's definitely some truth to what you are saying, especially with regards to preparation before playoff games. But I wonder how much of the improved defense was just because the Cavs worst defenders were injured and their best defenders were playing heavy minutes (this is back when shumpert and mozgov were beasting too).

That may be entirely true, but then, that's all the more reason to get our crap together with this group of guys before the playoffs begin.

And that 24-3 mark while all our guys were healthy was still impressive.

 

[Chris Parker]

New Column up

Cavs Sleep Till Brooklyn, Awaken To Disappointment
http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and...-sleep-till-brooklyn-awaken-to-disappointment

“....Playoffs? Playoffs? You’ll be lucky to get out of the first round,” Cornfed shouted, hand hitting the table for emphasis. “Your intensity’s for shit. Paint dries with more urgency. Your defense is flimsier that a porn plot and twice as likely to involve bending over. Don’t even get me started on the offense. Crack addicts share the rock more willingly.”

He turned and paced while his partner put his hand on his shoulder and leaned in to talk to him, pretend to calm him down. The second cop was shorter, hairier with some overambitious facial hair more appropriate to an organ grinder. “Shouldn’t you be tying a damsel to rails somewhere,” the impertinent Cavs cracked.

Stachy McStacheFace just chuckled. “Hey, this is no fun for you. We get that. You think this is fun for us? Try to understand our perspective. Well-traveled gents with a love of leather troll an entire city with promises of riches in what from here only looks like a well-oiled Ponzi scheme. What are you really intending to do with the money? A battalion of Banana boats? Maybe a giant coin-changer with wings to drop deadly dimes from above? If you tell us, we can make it easier on you.”

“Easier?” At this Cornfed spun around at lunged that the Cavs. “Listen you lazy sacks of entitlement, if I don’t see you getting back in transition again we’re putting you in Converse All-Stars and to hell with your ankles....”