DE-FENSE! Cavs / Jazz recap

Cavs 99 – Jazz 94

Looks like the rest and comfort afforded by a homestand is starting to bring things together for the Cavs. It was only the fourth time in 10 games that the Cavs held an opponent under 100.

Lebron James is the unquestioned player of the game. 40 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists in 40 minutes? Those sound like some season averages to me. Lebron is 20-24 from the line in the past 2 games, raising his season average to 67%

The highlight of the game came in the 4th, when Lebron leaped over the baseline to tap a ball he’d lost control of to Damon Jones, behind the 3 point line.
-”When I lost the ball, I knew exactly where D. Jones was and it was great because he knocked down the shot,” James said.

The quote, to me, is as meaningful as the play. It shows some combination of Lebron’s supernatural awareness and ability to execute on that in a split second and the Cavs offensive system. DJ was in a spot by design, and the Cavs offense, in an orthodox manner, capitalized on proper positioning.

With a strong defense, an offensive system, and Lebron, this team has the talent to beat anybody.

Who else played well?
Z continues to be a beast. With all-star balloting open, Z should be getting a lot of attention. I’d be hard pressed to vote for Z over Dwight Howard, but there is certainly nobody else more deserving. Last night he turned in an efficient 17 points on 12 shots, 12 boards – 5 offensive, and 6 big blocks.

Daniel Gibson did not play like the Daniel Gibson we know. He was moving, looking to penetrate and kick, going for long rebounds and trying to apply some pressure to the Jazz. He didn’t seem quite comfortable, as his 1-9 attests, but it was a demonstration that he can be the all around player he needs to be to start next to Lebron for years to come.

Plus, Gibson has to get some credit for tripping up Deron Williams. Williams made a point of attacking Gibson, but did so to a fault. Thanks to our interior defense and quick rotations, we frustrated Williams into taking ill-advised shots and prevented him from dishing for easy layups.

Sasha Pavlovic continues his streaky shooting, on this time, for 6-9, all inside the arc.

Ira Newble really shouldn’t be playing PF against real power forwards, but Coach Mike wants to see what he can do, and the effort was certainly there.

Cavs / Jazz Preview

Rematch time. Tonight the Cavs can avenge their last second loss to Deron Williams and the Jazz.

Of course, as is the theme on this young season, they’ll have to do it very shorthanded.
Larry Hughes and Donyell Marshall are out. Damon Jones and Sasha Pavlovic are listed as day-to-day, though Pavs is expected to start. Eric Snow was activated, but that may only be so that the Cavs have a full roster.

If you look at the Cavs stats on the year, it’s tough to see why we’re below .500. We’re averaging nearly 100 PPG, outrebounding our opponents by 5/night, and staying below 15 turnovers/game.

Of course, our defense has been awful. We can’t get a stop to save our lives. Our opponents are getting and hitting lots of open jumpers and getting to the rim with ease. Tonight looks to be more of the same. Kirilenko has been playing out of his mind of late, averaging nearly 10 assists the last few games, while Deron Williams production hasn’t dwindled at all. What that amounts to is great ball movement and lots of open shots. In other words, their strength collides with our weakness.

Since there isn’t much else to say than effort begets defense, begets victory, let’s check out some fun stats.

Lebron James’s PER: 29.7. Think of this number while you ponder how amazing Lebron has been each and every game this year.
The PER of the player Boobie is charged with guarding: 28.4. That’s right, Boobie has turned just about every PG into Lebron. I’ll give him the benefit of noting that he’s matched up against Nash, Baron Davis, Allen Iverson, and tonight’s foe, Deron Williams, but he needs to step it up – and quick – or it becomes urgent that we make a move to find a competent defensive PG.

#1 in PP48: Lebron, naturally. 33, 9 and 9 is just a tick above his 32, 8 and 8 career marks.
#2? How about Shannon Brown, notching over 26 points per 48? He’s nearly averaging a triple double per 48, at 26 points, 13 PFs, and 8.7 turnovers.

#1 in rebounds per 48? Z, as expected, at over 17. But who is just .7 behind? Gooden? Nope, 13.9. Lebron? 7th on the team with 8.9 (behind Devin Brown!). Ira Newble is hauling in 16.5 boards per 48. Either he’s playing out of his mind this year, or just about anybody could pull down big boards playing the 4. No doubt in my mind Lebron could average 10 this year if we’re stuck without Donyell for long.

See you tonight at the Q! Death to the Jazz!

I hate the Jazz that much more

What a great game. What a horrible ending.

Much in the way the Cavs controlled last night’s game, never quite putting away the Warriors, tonight the Jazz maintained a slight lead throughout. Unlike last night, the contenders (Us) had the firepower (Lebron) to draw even.

It’s too shortsighted to cast blame for the entire loss on that last possession, but Devin Brown was far too aggressive on the inbounds – Deron Williams blew right past him – and Lebron for the 3rd or 4th time tonight displayed one weakness in his game – interior defense in traffic.

All in all, I give the boys credit for a great performance on the back end of the back to back; it’s just that much more gut wrenching that we couldn’t pull it out.

Lebron was clearly the greatest player in the building – though as I said after the 45-7-7, I truly believe he can do this every night. Coach Mike’s small lineup gives Lebron tons of rebounding opportunities, though it takes away one of the Cavs biggest strengths; notice that nearly every one of Lebron’s boards these last few games was defensive. Playing from the post against man and the top of the key against zone will provide him ample assists. And nobody questions his ability to score from anywhere at any time.

Trying to look ahead far enough to look back without the magnified remorse, there were 3 big keys to the loss:
1. Early turnovers: Both teams played sloppy throughout the first half, though the Cavs were the worse of the teams. Frankly, I was continually amazed we kept it as close as we did.
2. Interior defense: The Jazz bigs had too many dunks due to slow interior rotations. I’m willing to attribute that largely to tired big men slow in rotating, but also to our inability to challenge shots in the interior. A lesson in blocking shots without contact would go a long way with our best athletes. Lebron seem hesitant to contest.
3. FREE THROWS! As incredible as Lebron’s line is, 7 of 15 from the line is simply unacceptable. No matter how great he is – and continually exceeds expectations – fairly to take care of the freebies will haunt this team forever. A mediocre 67% from Lebron gives us the win. Beyond the box score, I’m convinced our lack of 2nd half free throws stemmed from Lebron’s lack of aggression – no posting, he either shot from the top of the key or made a (n admittedly great) pass, which developed from his lack of confidence from the line.

I really hate this feeling of uneasy, unresolved adrenaline, and I really hate Carlos Boozer.

See you tomorrow with a look at the King’s court and we’ll see you Friday in Sacramento.

Game 5 Preview: Utah Jazz

The Cavs finish up a road back-to-back with a visit to SLC tonight to take on the Utah Jazz and eternal nemesis, Carlos “The Blind Bandit” Boozer.

By my count, the Cavs went 2-5 in this situation last season – the second night of back to back road games – so it’s tough to be optimistic, despite last night’s stellar performance.

The Cavs will trot out an identical lineup:
PG: Daniel “A-Cup” Gibson
SG: Sasha “Stonemason” Pavlovic
SF: Lebron “Lord and Savior” James
PF: Drew “The Professor” Gooden
C: Zydrunas “All-star” Ilgauskas

Again, the Cavs are without Larry Hughes, Eric Snow and Donyell Marshall, and Devin”Larry Jr.” Hughes is a game time decision with a boo-boo on his pinky.

The Jazz roll out of bed completely healthy with:
PG: Deron Williams
SG: Ronnie Brewer
SF: Andrei Kirilenko
PF: Carlos Boozer
C: Mehmet Okur

Moreso than yesterday, the onus is on Lebron to carry the team, and tonight he’ll have a much tougher matchup going at Kirilenko. Gooden and Z will also have one of their biggest challenges of the early season, for the first time running into a team will equal size and comparable talent.

Defensively, we need to hope Deron Williams follows Baron Davis’s lead in trying to win singlehandedly. Davis recognized the mismatch he could create against any of our guards, and Williams has the same strengths, plus a playmakers mentality. With no Devin Brown, Coach Mike will be scrambling to cover for Williams’s penetration, as Boozer and Kirilenko are solid at rolling to the hoop creating passing lanes, while Okur is an expert marksman.

Unlike the past few games, we can’t lean on the idea that the Cavs need to establish their game to win. If anything, this is an opportunity to flex their versatility. With our thin front line, expect Lebron to log more time offensively at the 4, while also playing a lot of point.

If Sasha can hit a few shots, Boobie can come close to keeping up his pace, and the boys down low can win that battle, Lebron’s dominance will be plenty to put us over the top.

See you at Energy Solutions Arena!