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Do IT this week: Layering
Team starts hot, then sinks into funk as games progress
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Friday, Nov 20, 2009
WASHINGTON: The Cavaliers losing a 17-point lead against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night isn't a surprise with the way games have gone during the course of what became a five-game winning streak.
In recent games, the Cavs have gone out and grabbed huge leads to start games only to give up significant runs to an opponent and have them make a game of it.
Against the Utah Jazz, a 16-point lead eventually turned into a one-point deficit before the Cavs regrouped. In the game Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors, the Cavs led by 15 in the third quarter only to see coach Don Nelson's
group make a furious run at a comeback. So far, the Wizards have been the only team to make them pay for it, beating the Cavs 108-91.
''I've been in this business a long time. Very seldom do you put another NBA team, on the road, away in the first quarter,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said Wednesday.
What has been common in most of the Cavs games so far this season is that they come out playing patiently, crisp and in harmony. But then it's as if they sink into a funk offensively and defensively believing that they have the game won. Brown said it could be one of a number of issues, including complacency.
But after the Washington game, it's evident he wants it resolved.
''It's a 48-minute game and that's what we preach,'' he said. ''We have to keep the sense of urgency at the beginning of the game and maintain it throughout.''
One-on-one?
It was observed that after the Wizards' DeShawn Stevenson and Earl Boykins entered the game Wednesday that LeBron James and Mo Williams looked to be playing one-on-one with those players rather than working as a team.
''It could have been, 'You've got me, so I'm coming back to get you.' It also could have been that we have guys who are capable scorers,'' Brown said. ''And these guys who are capable scorers may feel that a couple buckets by them will get the team going.''
Brown said both James and Williams are too team oriented to allow their egos to hurt their team.
James agreed: ''Me and Mo don't do that. We just try to win basketball games.''
Buzzer beaters
The Cavs will face the Indiana Pacers (5-4) tonight at Canseco Fieldhouse. The Pacers are coming off a 110-103 loss to the New York Knicks, a game in which forward Danny Granger scored 33 points before fouling out.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas. Follow Cavs coverage on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cavsabj and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CavsABJ
WASHINGTON: The Cavaliers losing a 17-point lead against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night isn't a surprise with the way games have gone during the course of what became a five-game winning streak.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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uniontown, oh
Posted 10:19 AM, 11/20/2009
I'm feeling the darkness is coming to another Cleveland Sports team. To those that say "its to early to panic" I say "is it?".
Akron, OH
Posted 10:37 AM, 11/20/2009
Yes, it is too early to panic, citizen. This is a team that has had roughly a 40% change in its starting 5, and the bench unit. It's game conditions that baptize by fire. The complacency after large leads is something that is a holdover from the past 3 or 4 years, though, and Mike Brown HAS to do something to remediate it. ASAP!
