Links To The Present: Offense and Hair Edition
2014-09-30
Mike Miller and LeBron James have spoken about David Blatt’s offense, and they think it is going to be one of the best in the league. Chris Fedor of The Northeast Ohio media group talked to Miller and LeBron on Sunday.
“His offensive stuff is borderline genius,” wing Mike Miller said following Monday’s practice. “It takes a little time, but you see why he’s done such a good job leading teams to championships. He’s a good coach.”
“It’s very free flowing and it’s going to be challenging for guys,” James said. “I can see it. Guys are kind of thinking through it a little too much, but I think when we get it there are so many different options. It’s live at every position and there’s a counter to everything a defense can do.”
James also believes that no other team in the league is running an offense that is similar to Blatt’s system. Both Miller and James tempered expectations about the team’s offensive success in their statements, which was the smart thing to do. The players that have been on the Cavs the whole LeBron-Less period are coming into the season with little to no experience playing in an offensive system that didn’t involve isolation plays every other possession.
Brendan Haywood is adamant that he will be a rim protector and make an impact for the Cavs this season. Bob Finnan is reporting this after an interview with the big man.
“I can play physical inside, block shots, rebound, be an inside presence and finish at the rim,” Haywood said. “I can play against the Roy Hibberts and Dwight Howards in the NBA.”
He is also nearing NBA ready form again after missing all of last season.
“The medical staff is probably going to hold me back on some back-to-back days to make sure there’s not a re-injury. I can take part in most of the drills and most of the scrimmages.”
Haywood defines himself as a rim protector; however, I’m skeptical that he will bring that skill to the team. He averaged less than a block (.9) in the 17 minutes a game he played for Charlotte during the 2012-2013 season. He’s still six fouls and 268 pounds though, so he can at least actively be in the way of people driving to the hoop.
Trevor Magnotti talked about the Cavs rebounding prowess yesterday. He noted that the Cavs have an amazing rebounding front court with Anderson Varejao and Kevin Love and that the Cavs possess above average rebounding at the wing position. He mentioned a great comparison for the Cavs defensively this season.
We obviously have no idea what system David Blatt wants to run for the Cavs’ defense, but the personnel is here for them to run a system that operates similarly to Steve Clifford’s unit in Charlotte, which finished fifth in defensive efficiency last year without overwhelming defensive talent, in part because they were the 2nd-most efficient defensive rebounding team ever.Taking advantage of the personnel present to destroy everyone on the defensive glass would help alleviate some of the concerns surrounding the Cavs’ defense, because even if they allow good looks a little too often, no team is ever going to hit all of their shots, and a team that can end possessions at one shot efficiently is going to have at least some success on defense.
LeBron James is having a hair crisis. The first photo shown below is from mid-Septemeber, and the second photo is from September 27. LeBron is either losing his real hair at an insane rate or losing fake hair at an insane rate. Either way, I’m worried and wish he would admit that his head is meant to be shaved Walter White style. He can become evil LeBron again like during his first year in Miami, just looks wise of course.
The photo below was taken the other day. @KingJames, we don’t know what happened to your hair, just cut it off bro. pic.twitter.com/AZ9OKepgCL
— ShowMeKicks (@ShowMeKicks) September 29, 2014
Here is a man that has awesome hair not only on his head but also on his face.
Steven Adams decided to grow a mustache for the Thunder’s media guide to make mustache-free players jealous and to make me laugh. I’ve been inspried by this and am seriously considering growing a win-streak or playoff mustache this season. Make sure to follow the Ball Don’t Lie blog for all NBA hair related news.
Over at the AllBall blog, Lang Whittaker has a long piece about all the muscle gained and lost in the NBA during the offseason. LeBron makes an appearence because of his weight loss. Former Cavalier Tyler Zeller is also mentioned because he has apparently put on around 15 pounds of muscle this summer. The baby boy is growing up, and it’s sad that he didn’t get to do it with the Cavs. The Cavs could use a legitimate big man that’s healthy.
Longtime Princeton watcher here. Almost every Carril team started slow because it takes a while to absorb the offense and get everybody reading and reacting the same way to the defense. The lack of practice time once the season starts won’t help.
So expect some hiccups early on (the Cavs will have their share of Shanahan’s-play-calls-are-too-long stories), decent play by around the holidays, and a smooth-running machine come playoff time.
Nobody freak out early. It will be worth the wait.
Totally hear you, and even agree. But telling people on this board not to freak out early is like telling the sun not to rise in the East.
Nah. Not with this team. I don’t think anyone will freak out. There’s really no one in the East that’s remotely as talented.
BTW, this is the best interview with Bron I have seen this offseason. Great stuff on Kyrie and Dion.
http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/video/2014/09/30/140930camplebronmov-3392727/
I think and hope that Blatt tries a lot of unconventional stuff. And, bringing LeBron off the bench might work. If another starting five can play the opponent even for about the first six to ten minutes, then LeBron comes in and blows the game apart. Also, if you need to rest LeBron, he can stay on the bench until needed. The other team would have a sense of dread, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
That would be absolutely hilarious to see the other opponents’ reaction after slugging it out against Kyrie and Love only to have Bron come barging in off the bench. Teams would just give up right then LOL
Has it only been a year since the discussion was about who should start at SF, Earl Clark or Alonzo Gee? And if/when Andrew Bynum would get on the court to see if he had anything left. What a difference a year makes.
It really is incredible. Our starting five now looks like this
PG – Irving
SG – Waiters
SF – Lebron
PF – Love
C – Andy
That’s just incredible. The first three guys off the bench are now
Marion
Miller
Thompson
Also incredible. Just an amazing turnaround.
We might argue about who starts, but I am with Cols 100% on “Just an amazing turnaround.”.
I think the Cavs should start Delly at SF. Bring LeBron off the bench – those second units won’t know what hit them.
Irving – Delly – Marion – Love – TT
Waiters – Jones (until Ray signs) Miller – Lebron – Varejao bench unit
Irving, Love and Delly can still shoot. TT will be a pest in PnR situations. Marion will too.
Then we bring in our bench unit… (I know how much Cols714 loves Delly, that’s why I bring this up.)
I think the Cav’s were 33-49 last year. They have chance for 66-16 this year. Anyone have any stats on how many teams have doubled the previous year’s win total?
Spurs went from 20 to 56 wins the year they drafted Duncan. That is the closest I can think of.
I don’t know how many have doubled…but you have to look at teams like Toronto and Charlotte from last year…and compare them to the before. Might want to see how Boston did the year before they brougth in KG and Allen. I can’t imagine there have been too many teams…and for good reason.
That beign said, I seriously doubt that a team with so many new/key players (and an entirely new Coaching Staff) is going to win 66 games this year.
When those new players are the best player in the NBA and a top 5 player in the NBA, I think 60 games is the minimum this team will win and 66 is easily within reach.
Cavs went from 17 to 35 wins the first time they got LBJ (aka the original John Lucas Tankapalooza).
The Heat went from 15 wins to 43 wins from ’08 – ’09 season.
The 2008 Champ Celtics had a 42 game turnaround finishing at 66-16.
Also, Business LeBron should recognize that if he starts shaving his head he could add another million dollar sponsor in Shick, Gillette or the Dollar Shave Club. Alternately, he could just sign on as the spokesman for Hair Club For Men or Rogaine and do just as well. Make HairGate work for you Bron!
If I was an alien who just landed and started reading C:tb for the first time, I would have to assume that this Tyler Zeller person was maybe the greatest young big man in the NBA. The Cavs may be forced to put up a Tyler Zeller statue at some point (if for no other reason than to commemorate his part in bringing LBJ home). Now, Cols, put yourself in Ray Allen’s size 13s. You’re 39 years old. You really, really want to spend time with your family. You’ve got a half dozen contending teams calling, texting and banging on… Read more »
Good points EvilGenius. I agree with both.
Your hypothetical alien would think Tyler Zeller, John Leur, Omri Caspi, Karasev, and Delly were the All NBA first team.
And that Jonas Valanciunas is a future MVP of the league.
Over Dellavedova?
I love reading these thinly-veiled jabs.
When the Cavs sucked ass, we were all negative ninnies that ruined everyone’s fun, because, you know, we didn’t see Tristan Thompson as the second coming of Charles Barkley.
Now, it turns out, we were too positive in our coverage of young players.
LOL. I only give you guys grief about a few specific players. I just can’t resist.
BTW, I checked NBARank by ESPN (which I acknowledge is majorly flawed) – Delly is 312.
No I’m with you. I make fun of these guys all the time for their pet players.
Nate’s is easily (EASILY) Thaddeus Young.
Kevin’s was Jon Leur.
Mine is Delly.
Colin liked Karasev for some reason.
I like a healthy Varejao.
So I only like 1/3rd of an NBA season. :(
I loved Karasev myself. Still think he may be great.
I never minded the criticism of the younger players. I just prefer to hear about who is actually on the team, as opposed to guys who are not on the team, and their supposed lost potential. The Cavs didn’t pick Jonas. The Cavs traded Zeller to allow enough cap room to sign LeBron. These decisions have been made and now the Cavs (at least on paper) have one of, if not the most formidable line-ups in the league (at least according to the new Vegas odds). Maybe Zeller turns into a great big man off the bench, but wouldn’t you… Read more »
The Cavs can sign Zeller in a few years if they really want him (joking). Seriously though, the C’s have 4 Centers and a PF at 6-10. They have team options on Olynyk, Sullinger, Faverani, and Zeller. Hard to imagine them moving forward with all those guys.
It lives! Haywood speaking about playing means he’s going to at least try to play. I have no faith in him providing rotation minutes though.
I’ve been thinking that the Cavs’ ability to rebound might help offset whatever other deficiencies they might have on the defensive end. Love and Varajao are both prolific rebounders, TT is capable of a double-double every night, we all know what LeBron can do, and Kyrie has actually been one of the better rebounding PGs his whole career. This roster has the potential to be one of the all time greatest teams on the glass. Love and Varejao are two very good passing big men who will be playing catch with the most dangerous fast-break threat in the history of… Read more »
You also forgot to mention Mike Miller as another great rebounder at his position. And Shawn Marion…and probably Dion. So yeah they should be pretty solid in that department. “the Cavs’ ability to rebound might help offset whatever other deficiencies they might have on the defensive end” – we’re all hoping this to be true..and I don’t think it’s a stretch to think this way. The Heat were a GREAT defensive team…when they were locked in. The problem was when they gave less than full effort (quite often) it was a disaster and they had NO rebounding/size to hide their… Read more »
Honestly, Dion isn”t that great of a rebounder for his position…and I would expect to see him leak out a lot more (a la Corey Brewer last year) for a lot of transition dunks/points.
Mike Miller used to be one of the best rebounding small forwards in the entire NBA, but those days are behind him. Now he’s merely average. A defensive possession isn’t won until the rebound is secured, though. And in that respect this Cavs team looks REALLY good. I think they’ll be a lot better on defense than people expect just because teams won’t be getting many second chances. Miami could play great defense, but their inability to close with a defensive rebound would hurt them over and over again against big teams. They had to rely quite a bit on… Read more »
Mike Miller declined last year playing alongside Z-Bo and Gasol. It’s hard to look like a good wing rebounder in Memphis. Same probably applies here in Cleveland now.
Great rebounding teams can play decent defense, but I’ve often felt that defensive rebounding isn’t the end-all, especially in crunch time and in the playoffs. Sometimes, especially in single possession games, teams just need a stop, and to get that stop they need more than just good rebounders.
Totally agree – nothing can replace putting on the hard hats and shutting an opponent down when it matters most. But the rebounding could break the backs of teams the Cavs are able to otherwise run out of the building with an insane offense. Teams won’t be able to afford missing second-chance points against the offense these new Cavs are projected to have. More than anything I can’t wait to see the kind of defense that Blatt installs for this team. Despite the lack of rim protection, we could have quite a few pesky perimeter defenders to roll out with… Read more »
To wit-the Cavs were 10th last year in defensive rebound percentage. How did that turn out?
Obviously, we’d expect that the Cavs should be able to achieve a similar or better ranking this year….without leaving the three-point stripe wide open to do it.
One other note on Hairgate – every time he does an interview, he has something on his head. Yesterday he gave an interview after practice with a towel on his head THE WHOLE TIME. If you have been following Hairgate, it was hilarious to watch. He just had a towel on his head.
I think he should just shave it. He is in the public eye too much to pull off a fake hair move.
Yep. I shaved my head and I’m never in the public eye. Plus it feels nice to rub.
why would you be nervous? he hasnt signed with any other team. plus, how many minutes do you anticipate him earning?
We have 4 legitimate big men who are currently healthy. Love, Andy V., Thompson, and Haywood.
I agree that we could use another backup guy for when Andy/Haywood gets injured. But until that happens there’s really no minutes for an extra big guy right now.
I’m getting nervous about Ray Allen though. I thought he would have signed by now. Maybe he’s waiting until the start of the season?
I think signing Ray Allen at this point is unnecessary with James Jones on the roster. Although if we did sign Ray, I wish we would cut Jones because their skill sets are kind of redundant – not sure who would provide better D this late in their careers but Ray is clearly the superior shooter. I know you disagree, but it would be better to split minutes at guard between Ray/Jones-Delly rather than just Ray-Jones. Delly brings a different skillset the other two don’t have that is useful to a coach like Blatt whose teams are versatile, fluid and… Read more »
Jones and Miller were signed because the Cavs didn’t like their backup guards. Getting Ray Allen would help, but yeah it’s not totally necessary.
I’d say Miller is more of a sharpshooting wing that replaces CJ Miles, Alonzo Gee, etc, and will play more time at the 3 when LeBron slides to the 4. I don’t think Miller will impact the guards’ minutes that much.
Thank you, cwzagger. The days of Miller or Jones playing a legitimate 2 guard are long gone. The only way they get slotted there now is because LeBron can guard the 2 if need be. But, they are both shooting wings, end of story.