camakazee
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Last night, we witnessed a road collapse. In fact, it was the ninth road loss this season. While the Cavs have been absolutely killing teams at home, it seems that they struggle on the road, especially against .500 ball teams. However, I wouldn't get too worked up, because this happens often in the NBA, as the home team undoubtedly has an edge. But, I think acquiring someone who puts up big games away from home, a true road warrior, would be a large step in fixing up the play on the road.
For instance, while 6 out of the 7 games where Mo Williams has scored 25 or more points have come on the road (the 43 point outburst being the lone exception), his road numbers aren't as consistent as his home numbers. At home Mo puts up 18.2 points a game with 4.5 assists on 49.4% shooting. On the road, however, Mo's points drop to 16.0, his assists go down to 3.7, and he only shoots 44.3% from the field. While I do believe that Mo can be LeBron's sidekick and will only get better with the return of Delonte and Z, I feel as though the team needs a player to stick it to the other team's 20,000 fans. During his 11 seasons as a Chicago Bull, Scottie Pippen managed to average more points on the road than at home in 7 of them. While I believe LeBron doesn't need a "Scottie," having another legitimate second option similar to or better than Mo and Z (both of whom score more points and shoot a higher percentage at home than away this season), but with a knack for having big road games would be huge.
Here is a breakdown of current NBA players popping up on the Cavs' radar and how their home numbers compare to their road numbers:
Gerald Wallace -
Home: 18.4 points on 47.9% shooting.
Away: 13.4 points on 43.9% shooting.
John Salmons -
Home: 19.0 points on 47.9% shooting.
Away: 18.6 points on 47.9% shooting.
Stephen Jackson -
Home: 22.1 points on 38.5% shooting.
Away: 17.2 points on 40.7% shooting.
While some of these figures vary, it's obvious that none of the above players truly play better on the road. Jackson may shoot a better percentage and Salmons may put up similar numbers, but neither has a road edge and both appear to be more comfortable at home. Wallace, on the other hand, appears downright awful when he's playing on the road. Here are some other players on the radar that seemingly play better on the road:
Mike Miller -
Home: 8.7 points, 5.1 rebounds on 41.0% shooting, 27.6% from three.
Away: 8.9 points, 6.6 rebounds on 48.8% shooting, 38.2% from three.
Brad Miller -
Home: 11.2 points on 44.5% shooting.
Away: 12.4 points on 50.5% shooting.
Marcus Camby -
Home: 11.4 points, 12.6 rebounds on 48.4% shooting.
Away: 12.7 points, 14.6 rebounds on 52.8% shooting.
Vince Carter -
Home: 20.4 points on 42.3% shooting, 38.8% from three.
Away: 22.6 points on 46.3% shooting, 41.3% from three.
While the output on the road by the Millers may seem marginal at best (Mike's numbers this year are hard to go by since his recent decline in minutes), it looks as though both Camby and Carter are true road warriors. For Carter you need not go any further than his game earlier this season at Toronto, where he willed his team back by scoring 12 points in the final minute, including the game tying three to send it to overtime, where he won the game on a last second dunk.
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Granted, Vince has history with Toronto, but he also has a history shutting up fans on the road. Similarly, Marcus Camby has a recent history of playing his best games on the road, often shooting much higher percentages than at home (+10.9% on the road last season and +5.0% on the road the season before that). I like both of these players for the complications they would clear up with their arrival in Cleveland. Camby would obviously provide a great defensive player, the team's best rebounder, and a post threat. Carter, on the other hand, would provide a long perimeter defender that can do it all on the offensive end. However, I also like the road mentality each of them carries. If either one of these players is acquired, I truly believe they will toughen up the Cleveland Cavaliers' road mentality. One could only hope.
For instance, while 6 out of the 7 games where Mo Williams has scored 25 or more points have come on the road (the 43 point outburst being the lone exception), his road numbers aren't as consistent as his home numbers. At home Mo puts up 18.2 points a game with 4.5 assists on 49.4% shooting. On the road, however, Mo's points drop to 16.0, his assists go down to 3.7, and he only shoots 44.3% from the field. While I do believe that Mo can be LeBron's sidekick and will only get better with the return of Delonte and Z, I feel as though the team needs a player to stick it to the other team's 20,000 fans. During his 11 seasons as a Chicago Bull, Scottie Pippen managed to average more points on the road than at home in 7 of them. While I believe LeBron doesn't need a "Scottie," having another legitimate second option similar to or better than Mo and Z (both of whom score more points and shoot a higher percentage at home than away this season), but with a knack for having big road games would be huge.
Here is a breakdown of current NBA players popping up on the Cavs' radar and how their home numbers compare to their road numbers:
Gerald Wallace -
Home: 18.4 points on 47.9% shooting.
Away: 13.4 points on 43.9% shooting.
John Salmons -
Home: 19.0 points on 47.9% shooting.
Away: 18.6 points on 47.9% shooting.
Stephen Jackson -
Home: 22.1 points on 38.5% shooting.
Away: 17.2 points on 40.7% shooting.
While some of these figures vary, it's obvious that none of the above players truly play better on the road. Jackson may shoot a better percentage and Salmons may put up similar numbers, but neither has a road edge and both appear to be more comfortable at home. Wallace, on the other hand, appears downright awful when he's playing on the road. Here are some other players on the radar that seemingly play better on the road:
Mike Miller -
Home: 8.7 points, 5.1 rebounds on 41.0% shooting, 27.6% from three.
Away: 8.9 points, 6.6 rebounds on 48.8% shooting, 38.2% from three.
Brad Miller -
Home: 11.2 points on 44.5% shooting.
Away: 12.4 points on 50.5% shooting.
Marcus Camby -
Home: 11.4 points, 12.6 rebounds on 48.4% shooting.
Away: 12.7 points, 14.6 rebounds on 52.8% shooting.
Vince Carter -
Home: 20.4 points on 42.3% shooting, 38.8% from three.
Away: 22.6 points on 46.3% shooting, 41.3% from three.
While the output on the road by the Millers may seem marginal at best (Mike's numbers this year are hard to go by since his recent decline in minutes), it looks as though both Camby and Carter are true road warriors. For Carter you need not go any further than his game earlier this season at Toronto, where he willed his team back by scoring 12 points in the final minute, including the game tying three to send it to overtime, where he won the game on a last second dunk.
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Granted, Vince has history with Toronto, but he also has a history shutting up fans on the road. Similarly, Marcus Camby has a recent history of playing his best games on the road, often shooting much higher percentages than at home (+10.9% on the road last season and +5.0% on the road the season before that). I like both of these players for the complications they would clear up with their arrival in Cleveland. Camby would obviously provide a great defensive player, the team's best rebounder, and a post threat. Carter, on the other hand, would provide a long perimeter defender that can do it all on the offensive end. However, I also like the road mentality each of them carries. If either one of these players is acquired, I truly believe they will toughen up the Cleveland Cavaliers' road mentality. One could only hope.
. But If we don't care about 2010 (I think we do...alot), Camby's our best option right now. Really though, Brad Miller wouldn't be a bad pickup if all else fails.
