Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Man robbed at Tallmadge Avenue eatery
Four teens restrain man, take items from his Akron home
Another winter punch heading toward Ohio
Police: Ohio girl dies after fall into snow bank
Complaints against officer keep coming
Cuyahoga Falls residents come home to find burning couch on balcony
Cleveland named worst U.S. city for winter weather; Columbus is No. 8
Blogs:
First Bell - On Education:
No City of Akron basketball tonight
Pets:
Pet telethon re-airs
The Heldenfiles:
Chipmunks "Squeakquel" on DVD/BD March 30
Akron Zips:
Late surge gives Zips ugly road win
Tribe Matters:
Blogmail response on Hafner
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth's contract terminated
Balanced Ledger:
QB in Browns future: another mock draft
Kent State Sports:
KSU Notes – February 9
Cleveland Cavaliers:
NBA Power Rankings from Around the Internet
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeyes grab 18 players on signing day
Varsity Letters:
Garfield at Buchtel basketball
All Da King's Men:
Palin At The Tea Party Convention
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Republican Pre-Conditions
Akron Law Café:
Citizens United v. F.E.C. (Part 4): Kennedy's and O'Connor's Basic Approaches to Constitutional Decisionmaking – Top Down and Bottom Up
Car Chase:
Collector Car Hobby Loses One of the Best—Jim Roll
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Decisions Decisions: Credit Cards or Your Mortgage?
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Loucile is looking for a Lake Erie getaway in June for three kids, ages 1, 3, and 5.
Sound Check:
Talk of the Town – Top entertainment picks for the weekend
HRLite House:
Track HR Research
Akron Gamer:
'Tecmo Bowl' recreation of Super Bowl XLIV
See Jane Style:
Do IT this week: Layering
Playoffs seem to bring out best in Cavaliers coach Mike Brown
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Wednesday, Apr 23, 2008
INDEPENDENCE: In his three years as coach of the Cavaliers, Mike Brown has shouldered his share of criticism.
But his finest hours always have come in the postseason.
Last year, he became the franchise's winningest postseason coach as he led the Cavs to the NBA Finals for the first time. In January, the organization gave him a contract extension and roughly doubled his salary, even though the Cavs barely stood above .500 at the time. One of the major reasons was his ability to maximize his team in the postseason.
Now, after struggling to find a rhythm with his rotations and offense, along with inconsistency on defense in the weeks leading up to the playoffs, Brown's game plans and in-game decision-making are making a major difference in the Cavs' series against the Washington Wizards.
His matchup decisions have been nearly perfect as the Cavs have jumped out to a 2-0 series lead. Brown put Wally Szczerbiak into the starting lineup, trusting him to deal with Caron Butler in a move that so far has worked. His adjustment of putting LeBron James on Gilbert Arenas neutralized the Wizards' star in Game 2. Add in late-game plays that freed up James for key baskets in Game 1, and Brown's batting average has jumped during money time.
''Coach Brown has put us in a comfortable position with the game plan,'' James said. ''We just went out and executed it.''
Not only that, but Brown has been successful on the political front, too. After hearing Wizards coach Eddie Jordan say to the media he wanted his team to be physical with James, Brown launched an offensive before Game 2 in using Jordan's words against him in an effort to get James more calls and more protection from the officials.
Jordan acknowledged that the 30-point blowout in Monday's Game 2 extended to the sidelines.
''Their coach kept them disciplined,'' Jordan said. ''This coach couldn't keep our guys disciplined enough to stay competitive. They did what they are supposed to do.''
Brown has a 21-14 career playoff record with four series wins, and he's halfway to a fifth, but he's not looking to get noticed.
As is his style, Brown often has deferred to others in this series. He credited Eric Snow with helping to design plays, said a halftime speech by James was crucial in sustaining the Cavs' intensity Monday and credited his assistant coaches with their advance work preparing for the Wizards.
But Brown is drawing praise whether he wants it or not.
''Our coaches are phenomenal. They have a great game plan and won't let us relax,'' Szczerbiak said. ''They have been open-minded in listening to input from players and put us in a position to be successful.''
No suspension
An NBA spokesman said Tuesday that league Vice President Stu Jackson will not take any further action against Wizards center Brendan Haywood following his flagrant foul on James in Game 2.
Jackson had the option of suspending Haywood, who was ejected by crew chief Dan Crawford, after reviewing video of the play. James and Brown both campaigned for Haywood to be suspended.
Haywood, meanwhile, started his own campaign against Brown. He didn't like the way the Cavs coach came out on the floor in both Games 1 and 2. Brown stepped in between Haywood and James after their confrontation in Game 1 and then also came out to check on James after the flagrant foul in Game 2.
''You know, any time LeBron gets touched, Mike runs out there like LeBron got shot or something. Calm down Mike. It's not that serious. We're not trying to take him out. It's all within the confines of the game,'' Haywood told reporters in Washington. ''I don't see how coaches should be running out on the court like that anyway. Isn't there a coach's box? Since we're talking about the confines of the league rules, he shouldn't be out of the box.''
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.
INDEPENDENCE: In his three years as coach of the Cavaliers, Mike Brown has shouldered his share of criticism.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
