The other day this site talked about the lack of effectiveness of the Cleveland Cavaliers bench.  If you assume that GM Danny Ferry is trying to swing a deal to bring more talent to the team, that move would be made to deepen the roster.  However, what can Coach Mike Brown do until then?  Here is one solution to alleviate the problem at least a little bit. 

 

The basic concept is not to have similar styles on the floor at the same time.  You don’t want to have periods of the game when you don’t have any inside presence, or no one willing to take a shot, or no one who can create his own shot.  This can be done by adjusting who starts the game, and adjusting the substitution pattern.  Currently, Brown starts two inconsistent players:  Drew Gooden and Eric Snow.  These type of players should come off the bench.  They should be replaced in the starting line up by Anderson Varajao and Sasha Pavlovic.  Brown stresses defense and Varajao is a better defender than Gooden.  Why Sasha?  It would move Larry Hughes to the point at the beginning of the game which keeps a defensive player at guard, and Pavlovic is a more complete offensive player than either Damon Jones (shoots only threes) or Daniel Gibson (not as strong on D).

 

This would bring Snow off the bench, reducing his minutes, making him more effective when you need a defender down the stretch of close games.  Also, Gooden would be free to be more of an offensive threat when he comes into the game.  If either player isn’t productive that night, their time could be adjusted easier.  Next, it’s time to sit Donyell Marshall down.  I would suggest actually using Scott Pollard as the other back up big man, and Daniel Gibson should be made part of the rotation as well.  He should be given steady time as a reverse guard. 

 

This would make the primary bench guys Gooden, Snow, Pollard, and Gibson.  Being able to go nine deep would allow the starters to get more rest, which not only would help in the 4th quarter, but also later in the season.  What about Damon Jones, who has played much better than last season?  He’s a specialist.  Period.  His game is too limited to get a regular spot in the rotation.  If the Cavs fall behind, Jones can get in to see if he can hit some threes to get the wine and gold back in the game.  Otherwise, he would be anchored to the bench. 

 

Marshall and Shannon Brown would be the 11th and 12th men.  If Marshall is going to be upset with his role, then the front office should approach him about buying out his contract.  I would like to see what Dwayne Jones could bring to the table, but there currently is no spot for him.  David Wesley and Ira Newble should be offered around to see if anyone is willing to pick up their contracts.  If Marshall can be moved, Newble isn’t a bad guy to have on the end of the bench.  It’s that he’s grossly overpaid. 

 

This set up allows the coach to use his preferred style of play, defensive oriented basketball.  Starting Varajao provides better defense and rebounding early in games which should allow for some fast break opportuinities.  Bringing Eric Snow off the bench will give the team some grittiness when they do go to the subs.  Regardless, this team needs a wake up call.  The loss to Philly brought that very much into focus.  Going 3-4 on a west coast trip isn’t bad.  Dropping a home game after one day off following that trip can be excused.  Losing to the worst team in the East at home can’t be tolerated. 

 

Mike Brown needs to get some players’ attention.  A change in playing time would provide a splash of cold water in the team’s face.

 

JK

 

 

 

 

 

Our fickle city’s relationship with the Cavaliers is in the sour mode once again since the wine and gold has lost four of their last five games.  Monday’s loss to Orlando was due to the NBA schedule, whether fans want to admit it or not.  It was really a continuation of the road trip since the Cavs played on the west coast just two days earlier.  This is not an excuse, it’s reality.  The NBA is telling you they want you to pay big bucks to watch a jet lagged team.

 

Of course, the usual suspects are to blame for the Cavs’ struggles.  Whenever the team loses a few games, the criticism of Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Eric Snow heats up.  No one ever mentions when they play well, only when they struggle.  Snow was a key contributor in two of Cleveland’s west coast wins, the games against the Clippers and Warriors.  Ilgauskas played well against Sacramento and LA, and did well in the loss to the Sonics. 

 

What people fail to recognize is that the wine and gold get almost nothing off of their bench on a nightly basis.  The only consistent contributors off the bench are Anderson Varajao and even I’m shocked to write this, Damon Jones.  Donyell Marshall has lost it quicker than anyone could have imagined, and the others rarely get opportunities to play.  If you want to criticize Mike Brown, start with his failure to develop anyone into a reliable substitute.  Daniel Gibson has shown flashes of talent, and Sasha Pavlovic has more ups and downs than an elevator.  He tried David Wesley early in the campaign, and despite his decent performance against Golden State, he has showed that he is ready to retire.  Scott Pollard, Ira Newble, Shannon Brown, and Dwayne Jones have played just slightly more than I have.

 

The Cavaliers really need to improve their bench to make a run deep into the playoffs.  You have to remember what type of team Brown and Ferry want to have when you discuss the type of player they need.  They stress defense!  I can assure you that any player who isn’t a good defensive player will get no interest from the Cavs.  That said, what they need is not a point guard who can score, it’s another combo guard who can defend and can make an open shot.  They also need a player to replace Marshall as a fourth big man in the rotation.  They are not going to be interested in the Steve Francis’ or Zack Randolphs of the world.  They aren’t good fits for the direction the team is taking.

 

It’s too late for the younger guys to develop into acceptable options off the bench this season.  That should have been addressed earlier.  They need to fit in a veteran to fill these spots, and will probably have to deal a youngster to get him.  Getting more players who can contribute on a nightly basis will ease the minutes the starters are logging, which will keep them fresher for the end of the season, and also in situations where they are playing a lot of games in a short stretch. 

 

Fans who pick on Ilgauskas and Snow are criticizing guys who can and do contribute to the success of the team.  Ferry needs to add more players who can make a difference every night.  At the beginning of the season, Ferry and Brown thought he had nine Cavaliers who could play.  Marshall’s slide and Wesley’s performance have left them two men short.

 

JK

 

The Cleveland Indians surprised everyone on Friday with the signing of free agent outfielder Trot Nixon to a one year contract.  It says here that it’s a good signing since the Tribe added an experienced hitter at a very low cost.  Although Nixon appears to be superfluous because he’s a left handed hitter, which it didn’t appear the Indians needed, he has put together very good numbers against right handers and is a much better hitter away from Fenway Park.

 

Nixon is a patient hitter and is slated to bat in the #2 slot against righties.  He’s also a grinder which GM Mark Shapiro and skipper Eric Wedge love.  He has battled injuries the past few years, but since he won’t play every day, it should be easier for him to make it through an entire season.  It looks like he will take the spot of Shin-Soo Choo, who will be insurance at Class AAA Buffalo.

 

Unless a bigger move is coming?

 

I think every Tribe fan is aware the team has three key players eligible for free agency by the end of the 2008 season:  Jake Westbrook after this season, and C.C. Sabathia and Travis Hafner following the ’08 season.  With the current market conditions, we can assume that the big lefty is going to command at least $15 million per year on the open market.  The Tribe’s best bet is to minimize the years on this type of deal, seeing if C.C. will do a 4 year deal.  Hafner’s value is somewhat limited because he’s a DH, meaning 16 teams (the National League) have no interest.  Still, Pronk will get over $10 million a season based on David Ortiz’ extension last season.  The only way the Indians can do these deal is to not keep Westbrook.  It would be better to get something before he leaves as a free agent in a trade than to let him walk away for nothing.

 

It’s possible that the Nixon acquisition means Choo could be included in a trade with Westbrook to bring back another starter who is a few years away from free agency.  If Shapiro could get a Dan Haren or Erik Bedard for those two players, it would help with the cost certainty that the front office is always talking about.  Again, I’m not saying the Indians should be trading for a prospect.  If they make a deal, it should be for a young starter, who has been in a major league rotation for a couple of years.  The pitcher they get ideally would have two or three years remaining before they can file for free agency.  I think Choo will become a pretty good everyday player, but if dealing him would help keep Sabathia and Hafner, you have to make the deal.

 

Getting another younger starter to replace Westbrook would allow the ownership to keep the ace of the staff, and still would allow the team to contend in ’07.  The sinker balling Westbrook is a solid starter, but is really a #3 or #4 slot in the rotation guy.  He’s an innings eater, which is a great thing to have, but he’s not a top of the rotation guy.  If Cliff Lee pitches like he did in 2005, he’s the #2.  The Wahoos also have Jeremy Sowers, who could be a #2 or #3 starter, and Adam Miller at Buffalo projects (a key word) as another potential ace.  So, there is depth in the organization’s starting pitching.

 

Then again, maybe Choo is going back to the minors to work on hitting lefties, and if a regular struggles early in the season, or Nixon has a re-occurance of his injuries, he’ll be back to make a major contribution to the 2007 Tribe.  However, it feels like another move is coming, and it won’t be a minor deal. 

 

MW 

 

 

 

The first question about new Browns’ offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski is his sanity.  Don’t you have to question a guy who has a chance to run the San Diego Chargers’ offense to come and work for the Browns?  Why work with LaDanian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates, and Philip Rivers, when you can work with Reuben Droughns, Kellen Winslow Jr., and Charlie Frye?  Seriously, this is spin by the Browns.  No one can be sure if Chudzinski would have been offered the San Diego job, especially since he was the team’s tight end coach.

 

Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage probably didn’t have people beating down their doors to take the gig, since the overwhelming theory around the NFL is that another bad season for Cleveland next season will mean Crennel and his staff will be looking for employment.  However, running the offense here is really a no lose situation for anyone, because you can hardly do a worse job than those who proceeded you.  That’s why the hire is greeted with a yawn here.

 

We really can’t judge the hiring until the games start in September.  We can speculate however, that if Chudzinski runs the offense like the Chargers’ attack, the Browns will try to draft Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson with its first pick in this April’s draft to be their version of Tomlinson.  And although the squad needs offensive linemen, I would concur the team needs a big time back like the former Sooner.  He would give the Browns a chance to have a playmaker behind the quarterback, and a good running game can make a QB look better.  Just ask Ben Roethlisberger.

 

Although some have questionned the fact that Chudzinski has never had this job in the professional ranks, I don’t think that’s a negative unless you can get a guy like Tom Moore from the Colts to take the position.  Tony Grossi mentionned Dan Henning, who really hasn’t had any success since the 1980’s, and to me he has his system and is unwilling to change according to the personnel he has.  Chudzinski is a young, up and coming coach, much like defensive coordinator Todd Grantham.  I think everyone would agree Grantham has done a good job with the defense.

 

It’s a foregone conclusion that offensive line coach Jeff Davidson will leave the organization, and that’s okay as well.  The line was among the team’s bigger disappointments, and the fact that a guy like Jeff Faine went somewhere else and did very well does not speak well of Davidson’s tutelage. 

 

We can’t judge the new man until the season starts as I said before.  Certainly there will be personnel changes on the offense as well.  The Browns needed an entirely new direction when they have the ball.  That they will have.  Hopefully, the direction is forward, not backward.

 

JD

 

 

 

ESPN’s Peter Gammons is reporting the Tribe has signed former Red Sox outfielder Trot Nixon to a one year deal worth $3 million.  Nixon has battled injuries of late, but kills right handed pitching and has hit better away from Fenway Park the past three years.  Considering the low cost, this is another good move by GM Mark Shapiro.  More details to follow…

 

KM

 

I was reading a piece on the Detroit Pistons discussing their playing rotation and the lack of 2nd year man Jason Maxiell’s involvement in it.  The writer made the point that the media and the Pistons’ coaching staff were appalled that some people think the former Cincinnati Bearcat should be given an opportunity to play instead of a veteran like Nazr Mohammed.  The writer commented that this has been a pattern with Detroit.  His example was current Jazz center Mehmet Okur. 

 

The coaches and front office had a thousand and one reasons why Okur couldn’t play.  He couldn’t defend.  He wasn’t an inside player.  He wasn’t a shot blocker.  So, Okur signed a free agent deal with Utah and now starts on one of the better teams in the NBA.  He’s averaging over 16 points per game.  Obviously, there are some things he can do well.

 

What struck me is the same thing is going on here with the Cavaliers.  Can anyone explain why rookies Daniel Gibson and Shannon Brown cannot get any playing time.  I’m sure Mike Brown will tell you they don’t play defense well, they don’t take good shots, or they don’t understand what the Cavs are doing offensively.  My question is:  What makes them any different from Damon Jones or David Wesley?  Jones and Wesley are veterans, and coaches love experience.

 

The problem with this mentality is the young players might be able to do better if given the chance.  We all know what we are getting from Jones.  He’s a good three point shooter.  If he’s not making shots from behind the arc, he’s giving the team nothing.  We don’t know what Brown and Gibson can give us.  The latter has looked good in spurts, but the other night in Seattle, he didn’t get off the bench.  The following night in Portland, he jump started a lethargic offense in the second quarter, but didn’t get in the game in the second half until after the Trail Blazers were on a roll. 

 

Why wouldn’t coaches start the season giving the younger player an opportunity, and if it doesn’t work out, then he could go to the veteran.  It just makes sense.  You know the performance level the veteran will give you.  The rookie just might turn out to be a very good player, an upgrade over the veteran.  However, with the attitude of most coaches, you will never find out.  I know, I know, the veteran is outplaying the rookie in practice.  That’s because the older player knows the tricks of the trade, how to grab without being caught, etc.  But, how will be younger player learn these things if they can’t play in games.

 

It’s too late for the Cavs this season.  Let’s hope if Danny Ferry has to include Brown or Gibson in a trade to get an experienced player, they don’t turn out to be the next Mehmet Okur.  Maybe the so called missing piece for the Cavs is already on the roster.  It might just be a case of a coach focusing on what a player can’t do, rather than what he can.

 

KM

 

 

When Chris Webber received his buyout from the Philadelphia 76ers recently, there were several calls into the local talk shows voicing the opinion that the Cavaliers should pick up the former Fab Fiver from Michigan.  This shows me that these fans either don’t follow the NBA very closely, even though the wine and gold is doing quite well, or they haven’t seen the Sixers play this year. 

 

The Chris Webber who signed with the Pistons yesterday bares no resemblence to the C-Webb who played for the Sacramento Kings five or six years ago.  The guy who played for Philly earlier this year can’t jump, nor can he move.  This makes him a less effective rebounder, and a non factor on defense.  With the Cavs and Coach Mike Brown putting a great emphasis on the defensive end of the floor, Webber is not a good fit.  He may be able to help Detroit as a role player, but if he is going to play 25-30 minutes per night, the Pistons won’t be the force on defense they are accustomed to being. 

 

Then you have the question of Webber being happy if he’s not playing extended minutes.  My guess would be that he wouldn’t.  And where would C-Webb get minutes with the Cavs?  My guess is he would take playing time away from Drew Gooden and Anderson Varajao.  Fans don’t think about that option when they call talk shows.

 

Another guy who keeps coming up in conversations if he becomes available is Knicks guard Steve Francis.  Danny Ferry shouldn’t touch him with the proverbial ten foot pole.  The reason the public is interested in the former Maryland standout is, of course, the play of Eric Snow.  However, Francis is a shoot first point guard who also plays no defense.  Also, he has had injury problems of late, and couldn’t guard a stone.  Other than that, he’d be a perfect fit for the Cavs. 

 

At this point, Cleveland has the best record in the East.  Why is everyone looking to change the make up and chemistry of this team.  Adding all star type players who no longer play at an all star level isn’t the solution.  It quite possibly cause problems.  What GM Danny Ferry should be looking for is a role player, preferably a combo guard, who can come in and play 15-20 minutes per night at a high level.  That would be the piece that could get the Cavs to the Finals.  An aging or injured star won’t help the situation.

 

MW

 

Since the beginning of the new year, all of the talk around town has been complaining about football teams.  If it’s not the Browns needs and whether or not Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel are the people to lead the team out of the muck, then it’s what went wrong in the BCS Championship game for the Buckeyes.  Quietly, the Cleveland Cavaliers have put together an impressive stretch of basketball, winning six of seven, including four road victories.  They currently have the best record in the Eastern Conference. 

 

The Cavaliers started out their West Coast swing with wins over Sacramento and the LA Clippers sandwiching a blowout loss to the Phoenix Suns.  Once again, after five straight wins, the loss to the Suns was overblown.  First, Phoenix is a tough matchup for any team because they play a different style than almost every NBA team.  My biggest reaction to the game was disbelief that LeBron James scored 14 points in the 4th quarter.  Why?

 

The wine and gold was losing 91-59 going into the last period.  With the extended minutes James had been playing in the win streak, and the fact the Cavs are on a seven game road trip which spans two weeks and culminates with a four games in five nights stretch this week, why was he in the game?  Mike Brown should have sat LBJ for the entire quarter.  What’s the difference if you lose 109-91 (the final score) or 110-70?  There was no reason for James to play six extra minutes.

 

As for those who say the Cavs would have no chance against Phoenix if they met them in The Finals, I would say playoff basketball is much different than the regular season.  The coaching staff would pour through the tapes to see what the Cavs could do to combat the up and down style of the Suns.  In the regular season, coaches emphasize what their team does well.  In the playoffs, you try to take advantage of your opponents weaknesses more often.  I’m not predicting the Cavs would win in a series against Phoenix, but every game would not be a 30 point Phoenix blowout.

 

David Wesley has seen action in the last three games, and the only reason I can fathom is the Cavs are showcasing him.  He might be attractive as a throw in to balance salary in a bigger trade, since he has no value otherwise.  There was a rumor that the Cavs and Clippers were talking about a deal for Corey Maggette, with the wine and gold dealing Sasha Pavlovic (who started against the Clips Saturday, supposedly because Larry Hughes’ leg was bothering him) and Wesley and a future first round pick.  That has to be the only reason the team has knocked the rust off of the veteran Wesley.

 

A split in the final for games would mean a very successful 4-3 record on the trip, which would bring the club’s overall record to 25-15.  They would also have played four more road games than home games for the season.  Continued good play and a trade for a point guard (Steve Blake, perhaps?) would put the Cavaliers in an excellent position for a division title and home court advantage for the first round of the playoffs, at least.  Too bad everyone is concerned about the Browns to notice.

 

JK

 

 

 

 

 

Ohio State’s beating at the hands of Florida on Monday night brought out all of the old arguments about accomplishments.  Many people, including those in the media, feel that the season was not successful since the Buckeyes lost the BCS Championship Game.  Others, like myself feel that getting to the game is great feat in itself.  Are these people that pessimistic that they can only celebrate a title?

 

Getting the chance to play for a championship should not be overlooked.  Only two teams in any sport get that chance.  Perhaps it does get old if the team you support gets to the final round year after year and doesn’t win, but otherwise the losing team should be appreciated for getting that far.  As an Indians’ fan who grew up in the 1960’s and 1970’s, I never thought I would ever get to see a World Series game in Cleveland.  But, there I was in 1995, watching the Tribe against the Braves in two games in the Fall Classic.  Yes, I am still waiting for the day the Tribe claims its first World Series win since 1948, but it was still a thrill to be in that position. 

 

Over time, the memory of these teams grows fonder.  In restrospect, I look at the Indians of the late 90’s as a collection of great players.  The names still roll off the tongue, and many of them are still playing:  Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, Albert Belle, Kenny Lofton, Omar Vizquel, Sandy Alomar.  What Clevelander doesn’t have great memories of these guys?  They brought winning baseball back to this city after a very long drought.

 

If you are an Ohio State fan, this team was memorable.  They beat #2 Texas on the road.  They knocked off #2 Michigan in a classic at Columbus.  They were ranked #1 from the preseason to the last game of the season.  Only one team wins the championship, and although Ricky Bobby would say "if you ain’t first, you’re last", the truth is anyone would rather have their team in the championship game than have a losing season. 

 

Yes, Jim Tressel had a bad game in the coaching department.  In his six years at Ohio State, you could probably count those games on one hand.  Yes, Troy Smith didn’t play well.  How many poor games did he have in his 2-1/2 seasons as the Buckeye starting quarterback?  Everybody has bad days.  To suggest Smith was too caught up in the banquet circuit is an insult to the prepared, studious player who worked his way up the QB depth chart to win the Heisman. 

 

Since Cleveland hasn’t won since 1964, the pressure to win from the fans is overwhelming.  Players think if it doesn’t happen this year, it will next season.  They have the better attitude.  It takes a combination of talent and getting some breaks along the way to win titles.  One year, it will break right for the fans of Cleveland.  Until then, don’t allow yourself to overlook great seasons because the title didn’t come.  You are just making yourself more miserable.  Going 12-1 isn’t a bad season.  It’s a great season that just wasn’t great enough.

 

KM

 

 

As everyone was celebrating Ohio State’s 2nd National Championship under Coach Jim Tressel, a funny thing happened…the game.  The Florida Gators dominated the Buckeyes in a 41-14 rout in the BCS title game.  It ended the OSU winning streak at 19 games, and it sent the Buckeye senior class out on a very sour note.

 

After Ted Ginn Jr. returned the opening kickoff for the touchdown, it was all Gators.  QB Chris Leak never made the mistakes he was prone to all season long, and he completed short pass after short pass and let the Florida receivers gain huge chunks of yardage after the catch.  It was surprising that the Bucks did not try to put more pressure on Leak early in the game to force him into some mistakes.  Ohio State appeared content to sit back and hope the Gators would turn the ball over rather than forcing the action.  Perhaps this strategy was the result of the great field position Florida had early in the game, the result of two personal foul penalties.

 

It is interesting to note that the OSU defense spent the first part of the season forcing a lot of turnovers, but didn’t force any in the last two games.  They allowed 80 points in those contests.

 

By the time the defense went into attack mode, it was too late.  Florida had already put 27 points on the board, and after a Troy Smith fumble, the Gators took a 34-14 lead into the locker room at halftime.  On offense, the line could not protect its Heisman Trophy quarterback, making Smith look like the various signal callers the Browns employed this season.  It is very difficult to be accurate when you are constantly running for your life.  In spite of the performance not being the fault of Smith totally, it should lay to rest the notion that the Browns should use the 3rd or 4th pick in the draft to take the former Glenville star.

 

Tressel also seemed to lose interest in the running game, probably because the Bucks fell behind early, but it was still early enough to not ignore the running game.  The only drive that ended in a touchdown featured running by both Antonio Pittman and Smith, but the Buckeyes seemed to abandon the strategy after that point.  Except for late in the second quarter, when Ohio State faced a 3rd and 1 on their own 29, didn’t convert on two running plays.  For a coach who talks a lot about field position, it was a curious decision to be sure. 

 

I also think since Ohio State rarely trailed this season, they did not know how to react when they fell behind last night.  The cameras showed Smith trying to exhort his teammates, but the offensive linemen appeared to be bewildered on the bench.  There is something to the theory of having done something before, and Ohio State never had to come from more than seven points down all season.  They never developed the grittiness the 2002 team found. 

 

We all know the seniors are leaving, but it says here that Ginn, Anthony Gonzalez, and Antonio Pittman should stay another year in Columbus.  Ginn’s hands are not consistent enough, although the NFL scouts will be enamored with the size and speed and will make him a top 10 pick in April.  He will move on for sure.  Gonzo probably wants to stay anyway, and I don’t think Pittman will be a 1st or 2nd round pick in the draft this spring.

 

In spite of last night’s debacle, this was a great season for the Buckeyes.  Getting to the National Championship isn’t something that happens every year.  Although they didn’t win a ring, they did get the chance to play for a title.

 

MW