Why is Brown Stubborn

 

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ eight game winning streak ended Tuesday night with a loss at Charlotte to the non-playoff Bobcats.  They followed that up the next night with another defeat, this won at home against the NBA’s best team, the Dallas Mavericks.  What is curious (again) is the playing rotation of Coach Mike Brown.  After winning eight in a row, why would he change the playing time of the guys who contributed to the streak?

 

Rookie Daniel Gibson returned from his sprained toe, and Brown immediately shoe horned him back into the rotation.  That’s fine, Gibson played well before he was injured, and he deserves the time.  However, his minutes came at the expense of fellow rookie Shannon Brown, who did a good job when finally given the chance.  Brown provides athleticism and an overall game.  Meanwhile, one dimensional Donyell Marshall’s minutes stayed consistent.  Why Marshall over Brown?  Because if you’re a veteran, you get the benefit of the doubt from the head coach.

 

But there was the former UConn standout missing two three point shots (the only ones he takes) badly in overtime at Charlotte, as the wine and gold did not take the ball to the basket in the extra session.  The squad settles for the long range jumper more when Marshall and fellow three point bomber, Damon Jones are in the game. 

 

In the Mavericks loss, Marshall did hit a three to cut the lead to six in the fourth quarter.  However, he then lost Erick Dampier underneath for an easy two, and then compounded the poor defensive play by following the Dallas center, so he could complete a three point play.  As Rick Barry used to say, "if you score on one end, and give it up on the other end, you’re not contributing".  Marshall’s lack of defense cannot be used in a game where you are trying to catch up, especially against a good team. 

 

What’s worse is Marshall and Ira Newble smiling and laughing on the bench near the end of the game against Dallas, with the team nearing defeat.

 

As an aside, Eric Snow played 31 minutes against Charlotte, but only 5 against Dallas.  Huh??

 

Meanwhile, in the last week Bud Shaw of The Plain Dealer and Charley Rosen of Fox Sports both commented on how well the Cavs’ offense functioned when they work inside out.  That is to say, get the ball into Zydrunas Ilgauskas, let the defense collapse on him, and let him find people for open shots.  Yet, Z was not on the floor late in the game against Dallas.  Again, you have to wonder why?

 

Apparently, Brown does not believe in the "if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it" mantra.  His basketball team was playing like a team poised to make the NBA Finals.  I guess that wasn’t good enough.  Playing veterans had this team struggling.  Playing the younger guys got it going.  Please coach, don’t be stubborn.  Put Marshall in the same class as Damon Jones, that is, at the end of the bench.  Their specialized games should be brought out only for dire situations.  Get back to what brought you eight straight wins.

 

JK