Who steps up?
The Cleveland Cavaliers lost the first two games of their series against the Detroit Pistons with same final score (79-76). And other than the score, those games had many things in common. Both times, LeBron James had the ball in his hands in the final seconds with the Cavs trailing by a point. Both times, James went to the rim. Both times, nothing good happened for the inexperienced Cavs. The Cavs had the lead with less than two minutes and they went 0-5 down the stretch in both games. Both times, they committed several turnovers and couldn’t stop Rasheed Wallace.
In Game 1, LeBron dribbled at the top of the key. He drove to the basket. He seemed to get by Pistons defender Tayshaun Prince for a layup. Then James kicked it out to Donyell Marshall for a wide-open three-pointer. Marshall missed the shot and James took most of the blame. They said a superstar wouldn’t have passed the ball in a game-tying or winning situation. I think James made the correct decision because Marshall is capable of hitting big shots and James had made that pass several times to teammates during his NBA career.
So what did James tried to do in Game 2? He dribbled at the top of the key. He made his move with the smaller Richard Hamilton guarding or hanging all, took some contact during the play and missed the shot. Game Over! Cavs lose 79-76.
Now the debate starts over again. Did he make the correct play in Game 2? He took a tough shot against a defense that knew he was going to shoot it in this situation and not defer to a teammate. Again he made the best play for the team. The Cavs lost and are in a 0-2 hole.
OK, let’s step away from the obvious and talk about the two players that will dictate how the rest of this series is played out and determined – Larry Hughes and Tayshaun Prince.
Let’s start with Prince. He is arguably Detroit’s best on-ball defender and that’s why he has been given the task to guard LeBron James, similar to what Dennis Rodman did in the late 80s and early 90s versus Michael Jordan. He’s making James work hard for every shot, but it’s taking a big toll on his offensive game. Prince was 1-11 in Game 1 and 0-8 in Game 2. The Pistons need Prince to score the basketball and make James also work on the defensive end. This is the main reason why the Pistons are struggling to score. He needs to find his stroke in Game 3 or it could get ugly in Cleveland.
As for Larry Hughes, he also has been given the assignment of slowing down the opponent’s most important player (Chauncey Billups). He has frustrated Billups during the series so far. Billups uncharacteristically had a total of 9 turnovers in two games and had trouble throughout the series in getting his shot off. He can’t bully Hughes in the low post. Granted, Billups has hit big shots in the fourth quarter in Game 1 and 2, but he’s not as dominant during the series as you would expect.
The problem for Cleveland is that all that work on defense is also taking a toll on Hughes’ offensive game. Remember he had a chance to tie the game after James’ missed shot in Game 2, but missed badly on an easy shot. He had played well during the playoffs and had become that second scorer the Cavs needed while taking over some of the ballhandling duties from James so he didn’t have to make every play for the team. But now Hughes is 6-22 from the field against Detroit. He hasn’t hit a three-pointer and has made some crucial turnovers in the fourth quarter. Not the sidekick LeBron wants in the Conference finals.
This series could be easily 1-1 or even 2-0 for the Cavs with one or even just two made shots in crunch time. Everybody wants to focus on James because he is the marquee name in this series, but the determining factor for both teams will be which player will step up to the challenge and make a huge difference on the offensive end. (Because if I see 79-76 again in Game 3, I’m tempted to lace them up again cause I know I can hit a wide-open jump shot. OK, I’m serious about the jumpshot. Not about lacing them up).
Michael Bennett Said,
May 26, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
Dee!!!
What’s “obvious” is that Larry Hughes needs to step up!!! (”OK, let’s step away from the obvious and talk about the two players that will dictate how the rest of this series is played out and determined – Larry Hughes and Tayshaun Prince.”)
Seriously, man. Everyone is pissing and moaning about LeBron and his pass… and LeBron not making the GW on Thursday. Right from the start they should have been talking about Larry Hughes and HOW HORRIBLE OF A PLAYER HE IS!!! He doesn’t shoot in rhythm. He shoots horrible shots. He doesn’t make shots (6-22 in this series). He’s Mr. Turnover. Last year, when his brother died and he sat a few games, THE CAVS BEAT THE PISTONS!!! THAT is obvious. It’s obvious that Larry Hughes doesn’t just need to step up… the Cavs should bench him and start Eric Snow… a guy who can play defense and, at the very least, distribute the ball.
Adjustments!!! Now, the Cavs are against the ropes. Mike Brown must have a short term memory. Last year, the lineup that beat the Pistons had Anderson Varejao in it… NOT Zydrunas “Slow As Molasses” Ilgauskus. They NEED Varejao to frustrate Rasheed and scrap.
The starting five needs to be:
PG - Eric Snow
SG - Sasha Pavlovic
SF - LeBron James
PF - Drew Gooden
C - Anderson Varejao
With a steady dose of Donyell Marshall, Damon Jones and Daniel Gibson. They need to rotate the small guards in and keep everyone fresh, and move Gooden to C when Varejao needs rest. Come on, Mike Brown!!! Just watch last year’s tape!!!
When are people going to realize the Larry Hughes is mediocre, at best? When are people going to realize that Z’s stats DO NOT reflect how actually bad (SLOOOOOW) he really is? When are people going to realize that Detroit has three or four major faults that teams need to expose in 4 games, not 1, 2, or 3?
And, I’m not even a Cavs fan…
Michael Bennett Said,
May 26, 2007 @ 12:05 pm
And if the Cavs start the game by throwing it in to Zydrunas Ilgauskus on the first possession again, I think I might lose it…
Wrath Said,
May 26, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
There is no way the Cavs were going to win either of those games. Detroit has a huge advantage in any close game, home or away, because they execute better and have several players who have no fear of taking big shots. The Cavs haven’t even bothered to run sets for the majority of the playoffs because of the ridiculous lack of offensive creativity of this coaching staff. As a native Clevelander I can only hope that the Cavs get swept because I don’t think anything else will make Danny Ferry realize how badly they need a new coach.
Michael Bennett Said,
May 26, 2007 @ 12:18 pm
And, to answer your question of “Who Steps Up?”…
Mike Brown. To lose two games in a row with the exact same outcome is unforgivable… unless they sweep the rest of the series.
DJ Quest Said,
May 26, 2007 @ 12:31 pm
Bottom line. Marshall makes the shot and nobody is saying James should have taken the final shot in game one. The only other people who would have had the basketball IQ to make that pass are Magic and Stockton. Both played unselfish and believed in their teamates to come through when put in the right spots. The game 2 drive to the hoop was clearly a foul and everybody watching the game thought so. The announcers commented on the obvious no-call, Coach Brown had a kitten and even mild-mannered James had a few choice words for the officials. The Detroit fans who I was watching the game with all looked relieved that the whistle hadn’t blown but not one of them would cop to the “Hamilton played great D” theory. All they would say was that no foul was called but not that one did not occur.
eddiesucks Said,
May 27, 2007 @ 5:42 am
stop talkin bennett. Z is slow as hell, but he’s their best shot blocker, and he can board it up on O. Snow is a better defender, but he gives almost NOTHING on O. Hughes can at least shoot it a bit and slash to the hoop. they just dont got good enough players right now.
as for that game 1 pass and game 2 shot, great decision by bron, esp in that game 1. james isn’t a good ft shooter, marshall is their best 3 pt shooter. and tired and in a road game, going for the win was a good idea.
PistonsFan24 Said,
May 27, 2007 @ 9:52 am
hey michael
why would you start varejao when he provides such a spark off the bench and have z come off the bench when he had one bad game?
bare in mind that in game one, z dominated and lebron struggled.
Michael Bennett Said,
May 27, 2007 @ 10:41 pm
PistonsFan24 - LeBron struggled in Game 1… with his SHOT. He was fantastic in every other facet of the game (10 rbs, 9 asts, 4 stls, 1 blk). And, I would start Varejao because I think he offers more than just a “spark off the bench”. I think, given 30-35 mpg, he could be close to a double-double guy. Plus, he’s a crafty defender. Cleveland is my 2nd favorite team (Bulls = #1), but I watch EVERY game of theirs (thank you, NBA League Pass). Z didn’t just have one bad game. He’s the Cavs albatross. Doesn’t anyone remember that the Cavs were the worst team in the NBA before LeBron got there? They had Z then…
eddiesucks - Z isn’t the “BEST shot blocker” on the Cavs… He might average the most. But, he’s a slow defender who doesn’t follow out to play defense on Webber or Rasheed when they pull out to 15 feet and beyond. He’s ONLY useful in the half-circle. That’s it. And, he gets a lot of offensive boards because HE MISSES SO MANY EASY LAYUPS!!! Then, he gets his own miss. Did you ever watch Moses Malone? Similar…
I love LeBron. I think him and Tim Duncan are the two best players in the NBA. I think he, most of the time, makes the right decision. I definitely think his pass to Donyell in G1 was the right thing, and RIP fouled him in G2. What’s the argument?
Michael Bennett Said,
May 28, 2007 @ 11:29 am
I hate to say it, but… I TOLD YOU SO.
Cleveland wins… Larry Hughes plays 22 minutes. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
Daniel Gibson - Thank you for stepping up and playing like a champ.
eddiesucks Said,
May 29, 2007 @ 3:55 am
bennett, i’m pretty sure Z is their shotblocker. i don’t think slashers would hesitate taking it to the hole with donyell varejao or gooden guarding it.
as for the O boards, you have a point. but he’s still a good board guy.
Carpe Diem Said,
May 31, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
Eddiesucks, I agree. Z may not be the prettiest center in the league, but he gets the job done by clogging up the middle, and forcing Detroits bigs to come out and play him 18 feet away from the basket.
As far as Michael Bennett goes, you have some good comments on the game, definitely shows you do your homework. But….. seems to me some of your comments about “how you would coach”, and “what you would do, are starting to make me sick! O.K so you’re a fan, and so are millions of others out there. It’s one thing to be opinionated, and one thing to sound like you know damn near everything about basketball. TONE IT DOWN A BIT.
By the way, what the hell do you do for a job???
Carpe Diem Said,
May 31, 2007 @ 4:17 pm
Oh yeah, Detroit in 7. And San Antonio in 6.
Eric Ginsberg Said,
June 1, 2007 @ 10:06 am
I can say with no personal bias, that Cleveland is way overrated. Except for LeBron, the rest of the team is sub-par. They have no point guard (Snow and Jones aren’t NBA caliber starters). Hughes had one great year (his contract year). Their power forwards are mediocare at best. Lastly, I am a big fan of Z’s, but he is getting “long in the tooth” and has always been injury prone. While they may beat Detroit and advance to the finals, I think LeBron will have to carry them on his bad. That is unless Detroit chokes.
Matt Said,
June 2, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
Remember what happened last year in the conference semi’s? Repeat of last years detroit comeback? You think the cavs would learn from their mistakes. I guarantee that detroit wins the series in seven, mark my word. If I am wrong may you please talk as much crap to me as you feel necessary. I just have a gut feeling that the pistons are going to go on one of their pattented runs that they always seem to put together at the last moment.
Sooooo, lets hope the cavs atleast make it an interesting last two games.
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