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Do IT this week: Layering
By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 07:58 p.m. EDT, May 21, 2009
INDEPENDENCE: There were smiles and jokes and plenty of ''all is well'' statements at the Cavs' practice facility Thursday.
A one-point loss in the first game of a playoff series doesn't have to rock a world, but the Cavs acknowledged that some things have to change.
Better ball movement on offense is one thing, but defending the Orlando Magic might be a bigger one.
They say defense wins championships.
In this case, it's going to have to win the East.
The formula that the Magic like to use to win games was never more evident than in the last three quarters of Game 1.
Once the Magic got their legs, they started making shots that they missed in the first quarter. And when the Magic are making shots, they are very difficult to defend.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas went as far as saying, ''Sometimes there's not much you can do because they shoot the ball extremely well.''
Rashard Lewis made 9-of-13, including every big shot in the final quarter.
And Hedo Turkoglu had nine points and seven assists in the fourth quarter — meaning he was involved in 26 of the Magic's 29 fourth-quarter points.
This pair presents serious matchup problems, not just for the Cavs but for every team, because of their size.
Both are 6-foot-10.
Both can shoot over the defense.
Both can handle the ball.
That leaves the Cavs with some tough covers, such as asking Anderson Varejao to try to stay with Lewis. If the Cavs have LeBron James on Rafer Alston (which is how they started), it even forces Delonte West to guard Turkoglu.
In that matchup, West gives eight inches.
''I'm interested to see with our schemes if we're going to change anything.'' West said before practice.
''We've got the Coach of the Year,'' Williams said of Mike Brown. ''And that's no secret. I know that we'll make the right adjustment, and you'll see.''
The playoffs are a game of adjustments, but Brown said the Cavs do not need to make a ton of defensive adjustments. Brown, though, is not the kind of coach to reveal things ahead of time.
One adjustment would be to put James on either Lewis or Turkoglu and ask James to shut said player down. It would ask a lot, but he did finish second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Another could be to bring Sasha Pavlovic out of mothballs — James said, ''Sasha can be huge for us.''
''He can really help us on the defensive end,'' James said. ''Mentally, if Sasha is in tune, which I think he can be, he can be really good for us because we need that kind of active body on the defensive end and maybe take a load off myself and off Delonte and allow me to play against Rashard.''
Some factors worked against the Cavs. James was suffering from cramps, and he couldn't attack defensively as he usually does. On the offensive end, Williams and West combined to shoot 10-for-32.
But James won't score 49 points every game either.
When James had a huge game against the Atlanta Hawks, Brown said the Cavs let him go and focused on playing defense.
James started the East finals with another huge game, but the Cavs' defense let the other team shoot 55 percent — and 63 percent the final three quarters.
''We let a team come into our building and shoot like that,'' James said, ''It's going to be tough to win.''
The Cavs are a team built on defense, with a defensive coach.
They now are facing unique and difficult offensive challenges from a Magic team that has won nine out of 12 over the Cavs.
How the Cavs adjust to those challenges and how they defend will determine if they advance.
Patrick McManamon can be reached at pmcmanamon@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/. Follow Pat on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/patmcmanamon
INDEPENDENCE: There were smiles and jokes and plenty of ''all is well'' statements at the Cavs' practice facility Thursday.
A one-point loss in the first game of a playoff series doesn't have to rock a world, but the Cavs acknowledged that some things have to change.
Better ball movement on offense is one thing, but defending the Orlando Magic might be a bigger one.
They say defense wins championships.
In this case, it's going to have to win the East.
The formula that the Magic like to use to win games was never more evident than in the last three quarters of Game 1.
Once the Magic got their legs, they started making shots that they missed in the first quarter. And when the Magic are making shots, they are very difficult to defend.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas went as far as saying, ''Sometimes there's not much you can do because they shoot the ball extremely well.''
Rashard Lewis made 9-of-13, including every big shot in the final quarter.
And Hedo Turkoglu had nine points and seven assists in the fourth quarter — meaning he was involved in 26 of the Magic's 29 fourth-quarter points.
This pair presents serious matchup problems, not just for the Cavs but for every team, because of their size.
Both are 6-foot-10.
Both can shoot over the defense.
Both can handle the ball.
That leaves the Cavs with some tough covers, such as asking Anderson Varejao to try to stay with Lewis. If the Cavs have LeBron James on Rafer Alston (which is how they started), it even forces Delonte West to guard Turkoglu.
In that matchup, West gives eight inches.
''I'm interested to see with our schemes if we're going to change anything.'' West said before practice.
''We've got the Coach of the Year,'' Williams said of Mike Brown. ''And that's no secret. I know that we'll make the right adjustment, and you'll see.''
The playoffs are a game of adjustments, but Brown said the Cavs do not need to make a ton of defensive adjustments. Brown, though, is not the kind of coach to reveal things ahead of time.
One adjustment would be to put James on either Lewis or Turkoglu and ask James to shut said player down. It would ask a lot, but he did finish second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Another could be to bring Sasha Pavlovic out of mothballs — James said, ''Sasha can be huge for us.''
''He can really help us on the defensive end,'' James said. ''Mentally, if Sasha is in tune, which I think he can be, he can be really good for us because we need that kind of active body on the defensive end and maybe take a load off myself and off Delonte and allow me to play against Rashard.''
Some factors worked against the Cavs. James was suffering from cramps, and he couldn't attack defensively as he usually does. On the offensive end, Williams and West combined to shoot 10-for-32.
But James won't score 49 points every game either.
When James had a huge game against the Atlanta Hawks, Brown said the Cavs let him go and focused on playing defense.
James started the East finals with another huge game, but the Cavs' defense let the other team shoot 55 percent — and 63 percent the final three quarters.
''We let a team come into our building and shoot like that,'' James said, ''It's going to be tough to win.''
The Cavs are a team built on defense, with a defensive coach.
They now are facing unique and difficult offensive challenges from a Magic team that has won nine out of 12 over the Cavs.
How the Cavs adjust to those challenges and how they defend will determine if they advance.
Patrick McManamon can be reached at pmcmanamon@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/. Follow Pat on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/patmcmanamon
Comments
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cuyahoga falls, oh
Posted 09:40 PM, 05/21/2009
worst loss in Cavs history. Total choke.
Posted 10:00 PM, 05/21/2009
Cavs didn't have the biggest choke. It was the fans who sat on their hands and shut their mouths during the 4th quarter comeback by the Magic.
People. People! YELL and scream when the Cavs are on offense! Do not allow the Magic to hear each other on defense!
Naples, FL
Posted 06:39 AM, 05/22/2009
Defend the perimeter! Forget about Howard, he'll get his like he did in the first half yet the Cavs led by 15. Don't double him, bang him, bash him, foul him with Big Ben, Jackson, Z, Smith & Andy but don't double him, guard the 3! His points won't beat the Cavs anymore than LeBrons 49 beat the magic. Defend the perimeter!!
Posted 12:25 PM, 05/22/2009
Zydrunas Ilgauskas went as far as saying, ''Sometimes there's not much you can do because they shoot the ball extremely well.'' Z played like this also. I don't care how old or slow Z is his defensive performance was disgraceful. He looked disinterested and at times scared defensively. He needs to step up big time and show some pride. In addition, why not put Jackson out their to use up some fouls on Howard and bother him with his bulk? Brown needs to come up with some answers. And, by the way, biggest mistake of the game was sitting Lebron at the beginning of the 4th quarter. The cavs went from 4 up to 1 down in that stretch.
Canton, OH
Posted 01:15 PM, 05/22/2009
Man, I miss Pluto & Windhorst. . .
