The performance of the Cavaliers in their last two games leads me to ask this question: Was Danny Ferry fooled by the play of the Cavs before the NBA trading deadline? Either that or Sasha Pavlovic is far more valuable to the wine and gold than we ever thought possible. With Pavlovic out, the Cavaliers laid two gigantic eggs against the Bulls at home, and versus an undermanned Heat team on the road.
Once again, the familiar faces failed Coach Mike Brown. Of course, he deserves the blame for continuing to put the same guys out there. One of the definitions of insanity is doing something over and over again and expecting a different result. Therefore, if the coach thinks David Wesley is going to play well at some point in time, he is insane. Wesley’s good games (Golden State, for one) are the exception. Yesterday’s game is the rule. He gives the team absolutely NOTHING!
Which puts him in the same category as Damon Jones. Jones threw up a 1 for 6 from the floor yesterday, which means he gave the Cavaliers nothing. Jones doesn’t move the ball, doesn’t go to the hoop, and plays no defense. If he’s not making shots, he doesn’t contribute. Donyell Marshall hit a few shots (three), but at 6-9 had only one rebound. Yet these guys keep getting playing time, and since Pavlovic was out, they got even more minutes.
Just to prove that awful performances are not limited to the bench, when was the last time Drew Gooden played a good game. Perhaps someone should tell him the All Star break is over. Gooden gets outplayed by Anderson Varajao on a daily basis now. Prior to the last month, the former Jayhawk would play well about 50-60% of the time. That percentage is dropping faster than the team’s bench production. Gooden has to step it up, and soon.
The question remains. Why can’t Shannon Brown get some playing time? He has been hurt, but he’s given the team more than Wesley when he has been on the floor. I’m sure Brown will say he’s not up to par defensively, but how can he get better if he doesn’t play? He should have been getting some time from the first game of the season, but that ship has sailed. However, it’s not too late for him to start contributing. That’s also on the head coach.
Yesterday’s loss was disgusting. There is no reason the Cavaliers should have lost to the Heat, without their best player. Not if you expect to make a big playoff run. The ABC announcers were trying to tell us how the Heat have all this talent by trotting out statistics from seven or eight years ago. If this was 2000, the Heat might be the best team of all time, but it’s not, and all of those guys are in their mid to late 30’s. Miami is a below .500 with Wade. Losing that game makes me wish the trading deadline was this Thursday. Then, maybe Danny Ferry would have pulled the trigger on a deal.
JK
Cleveland Sports Perspective 