Adjustment Time As Cavaliers Return Home

We were reminded of a few things after the recent road trip.

First of all, it put an exclamation point on exactly how impressive last season’s regular season run was, as the Cavaliers had a 66-16 record and were the top seed in the Eastern Conference heading into the 2009 playoffs. With the season a little over 25% complete, the Cavaliers have already lost 7 games. Project this record out for the rest of the season and the Cavs will finish 54-28. As the investment ads state, “past results are not an indication of future performance”, and 54-28 would be a welcome record in most cities, but here in the recently Shaq-ified land of Witnesses….not so much. Expectations are high this season and a serious, legitimate run and contention for an NBA title is assumed to be a necessary ingredient, if the Cavs are to enter next season hoping to cook up a title with LeBron James as head chef.

Secondly, it was a clear demonstration of why it’s important in the NBA that a team continues to develop and evolve through the grind of an 82 game season. What had worked for the Cavaliers as they were on a run just a week ago, is now seeming to work against them, thanks for the Memphis Grizzlies who beat the Cavaliers in overtime two games ago. The Cavaliers dominance on the boards and their size advantage over many teams suddenly became a disadvantage against a Memphis team who ran at the Cavaliers, dictating the pace for most of the game. The Cavaliers seemed ill-prepared to counter this strategy, and like a quick, 90 pound weakling running from big bully, instead of going toe-to-toe with the Cavs, the Grizzlies out-‘quicked’ them. Two nights later, against a far more talented Rockets team, the Cavaliers faced a similar style of play, only this time it was implemented by a well-rounded, multi-faceted Houston team, who in spite of missing two of their top players (Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming), jumped out early and pretty much didn’t look back in rolling to a double-digit win over the Cavaliers. The Rockets forced the highest number of turnovers the Cavaliers had all season, and continued their recent dominance of the Cavaliers in Houston. It seems the word is out on how to beat the Cavaliers and Mike Brown and his staff will now have the challenge of developing a game-plan that is able to handle a variety of styles of play from their opponents. The good thing is……it’s early in the season.

Finally, it proved that the Cavaliers STILL need a second, consistent threat on the floor to go with LeBron James. Shaquille O’Neal is still a good player, but he is what he is…..a pure low-post presence, with a couple shots he makes with regularity, who is not as fast as he once was (which is like saying Paris Hilton isn’t as bright as she once was), but a guy who struggles any further than five feet from the rim. Then you have Mo Williams who, as a point-guard, is more of a scorer than a facilitator, but as a scorer, is very streaky and still seems to get rattled when facing a hot-shooting team. Trying hard to do his part to help his team against Houston, Williams seemed to rush his shots, going just 2-of-10 from the field in 31 minutes. Aside from Williams and O’Neal, the rest of the Cavaliers are solid compliments to James, but none of them are really the level of player that forces opponents to game-plan against.

Chances are, the Cavaliers lineup is set for this season, and I am not saying it requires an overhaul by any means……there is plenty of talent there. The challenge will be for Mike Brown and his staff to make some adjustments to their strategy that will allow them to dictate the pace of a game and the style of play…..even when playing the more athletic Western Conference. The good news is that there are a lot of games yet to be played and there is plenty of time for that to happen. He was Coach Of The Year last season. Time for an encore performance.

Tags: LeBron James, Mike Brown, Mo Williams, Shaquille O'Neal