Links to the Present: Trouble in the Paint Edition
2014-01-04
“This season, the Cleveland Cavaliers are shooting a horrific 51.1% from the restricted area. If it lasts, that mark would be the worst in at least 17 years per that site’s data. The Bulls are second-worst this year at 56.0%. If you want a single telling sign of this Cleveland team’s terrible offense, this might be it.” [Jacob Rosen (The Diff) – WFNY]
I participated in a Cavs Blogger Roundtable Podcast with friends from FearTheSword, DefendClevelandShow, and RealCavsFans. A decent portion of the conversations included the Cavaliers troubles finishing at the rim. [RealCavsFans]
“Cleveland’s desire to make the playoffs and demonstrate progress to its fans, potential free agents and star guard Irving (eligible for an extension next fall) is understandable. If the Cavaliers could guarantee that a Gasol trade would translate into a playoff spot, it might justify the hit to their draft pick and benching their young big men. But acquiring Gasol offers no such certainty, and dropping three or four spots without even making the playoffs would be a lose-lose situation.” [Kevin Pelton – ESPN Insider]
““It’s hard to explain his importance,” Brown said. “He’s like a right guard on the offensive line. He does grunt work, grunt work, grunt work, then the running back busts through the hole and gets a touchdown and does a little dance. Andy goes to the sideline, gets his rest and then goes back in and does it again. His importance to us is huge.”” [Jason Lloyd – Akron Beacon Journal]
@ Raoul – It matters who starts, because, in Dion’s words, “you want to punch them in the mouth first.” You want to set the tone. Of course, it matters more who finishes.
But I think that Dion not starting when Kyrie is out – is a loud and clear statement made by management. It’s not the words people (mgmt) say – it’s their actions.
Also Zeller and Dion are victimized but consistent terrible treatment from the refs. Dion before he got Teed up has blatantly fouled 3 times on the same play. The initial contest clearly got him. When he got the ball back he was stripped cleanly but then pushed from behind with 2 hands and bulldozed into but the guy who had just stripped him. He then gets called for a lose ball foul for merely landing in the path of the guy who stripped him. He calls Bull Shit and gets Teed up. Some of Zellers 5 fouls were the weakest… Read more »
KJ I didn’t like it. I didn’t blast it because I was being optimistic but I was skeptical. I didn’t think he was even that good on Golden State and remembered him being terrible on the Pacers
Its not complicated in the least. WE have no shooters so teams pack the paint. The only shooters we have outside of CJ Miles (who’s struggling) are Dion Waiters and Kyrie Irving who don’t play together and are the people most likely to penetrate. So when they are penetrating they are penetrating against 5 guys. Are post guys are regularly facing double and triple teams once they start there move because at best there are only 2 shooters spreading the floor. Delladova and Jack even thought they shot a decent percentage because they don’t trust there shot enough to pull… Read more »
As I feared, the more minutes Zeller gets, the worse he looks. The bigger problem in the short term however, is Jack. He shot wat? One for nine tonight? Doesn’t get any of the bigs easy shots. Ugh. EVERYONE loved the signing in the off-season including me but he has been terrible. Awful.
It is perplexing on their shooting %. Idk There doesn’t seem to be much accountability for that.
Underdog, IMO you overrating starting. Total minutes, and who is in at the end, are what counts. I think Gasol is signed longer, but it is still a bad idea, particularly if we give up any picks. Agree about Bynum. Also agree about TT. I also would play AB some games. Of course, I am totally in favor of tanking. If the Cavs get a couple top picks this year, they can be a force starting next year. Otherwise (say be riding Gasol, Jefferson, or some other late career player), they are going off half cocked, and will be stuck… Read more »
I don’t understand why Dion doesn’t start with Kyrie out. Isn’t that a strong indication of what the front office feels about him? I was excited about acquirign Gasol, but after the last two games I agree with what Kevin Pelton writes above. How does having him for 1/2 a season help us? I’m disappointed in Zeller’s offensive production. For all the ambivalence about Bynum – on those nights he was effective the other team knew they had a fight on their hands. A lot of Cavs fans are going to laugh at this, but occasionally Tristan gets throttled offensively.… Read more »