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posted by Anthony, 11/10/2009 10:41:02 AM
Kaman to the Cavs would be better insurance for Shaq given every knows he will miss time. Z retires after this season, Shaq walks, Cavs of the future would be Williams/Parker/James/Hickson/Kaman with West/Gibson/Moon/Powe/Varejao off the bench.
posted by Biff, 11/10/2009 11:41:41 AM
Lebron posting up (after developing a post game) Would free up shooters due to the double teams it would inevitably create. It would be a lot better than what he does now which is usually pounding the ball in a 1-4 until the clock is low and jacking up a hurried shot.
posted by alex, 11/10/2009 11:44:32 AM
What about Otis Smith? He drafted Dwight, Jameer, and Courtney Lee, traded for Vince and Ryan Anderson, and signed Bass, Barnes, Pietrus, JWill.
posted by Anthony, 11/10/2009 11:44:55 AM
@Biff, I agree to an extent. I think getting LeBron to play off the ball a bit more, roughly half of Cleveland's possessions, would help their offense a lot. I just don't understand how letting a defense dig in is the most effective way to utilize your best player.
posted by Alex Raskin, 11/10/2009 11:48:38 AM
@Alex: Obviously Otis Smith should be named as well. Again, I just shot a few off the top of my head... I particularly like how Smith has acquired the right players to create decent spacing for Howard.
posted by Alex Raskin, 11/10/2009 11:51:35 AM
Concerning LeBron's post game: James could very well have a great post game, but we just wouldn't know. The team has really no need for him to post up. What is he going to do, kick Shaq or Varejao off the block? The problems with the Cavs (and there aren't ton of them) have little to do with James.
posted by Jason, 11/10/2009 12:02:57 PM
Raskin, what do you mean there aren't tons of problems with the Cavs? Have you ever watched the Cavs? Most overrated team in the league. Magic beats them by 30, and it won't even be that close for most of the game.
posted by Alex Raskin, 11/10/2009 12:17:52 PM
@Jason: The Nets have tons of problems. The Knicks have tons of problems. The Cavs aren't playing to their potential. I think that is a major distinction. We're not out of November yet, so there is still plenty of time to get it right in Cleveland.
posted by Rob, 11/10/2009 12:27:07 PM
Horrid analysis. As a coach, myself, it kills me to read an "expert" with access to countless young players coming up who may read this stuff, and have that "expert" praise the wrong things. As for Lebron, his on the ball defense is average at best, and his ball denial defense is non-existent. His shot blocking is terrific and exciting to watch, but that is not what great defense is all about. It's about the dirty work of denial and man to man. As for a post up game, is this fellow serious in asking why Lebron should need a post up game? Watch Kobe Bryant and how he picks apart opposing teams not just for himself, but for his entire team, by owning the block, promoting player movement and making lesser guys harder to guard. I constantly battle sporscenter in teaching young people the game, and guys like this Kennedy fellow truly make it harder.
posted by Josh, 11/10/2009 12:34:18 PM
"The problems with the Cavs have little to do with James"? Wrong, wrong, wrong. A huge problem with them is that he tends to pound the ball for far too long nearly every time down the court. What happens then is that his teammates stand around waiting to see what he will do, resulting in little player movement and far easier teammates to guard. That is absolutely on Lebron and does not make his teammates better, despite having high assist numbers. I've been saying for eons that his dimes are too often not of the good variety. They don't come from promoting player movement ala Steve Nash, they come from standing there waiting for Lebron to drive and kick out. That's why you see guys like Parker and Moon suddenly look far worse this season than last. Their talents are being wasted standing around the perimeter while Lebron holds onto the ball far too long. Does the King even know how to play without the ball? As for Kennedy, apparently, he's another guy in love with stats who doesn't grasp the concept and nuances of the entirety of what it is to be a complete basketball player. That's evident by some of his ridiculous statements read here today. I feel dumber for having participated. Wow.
posted by Alex Raskin, 11/10/2009 12:34:27 PM
@Rob: First off, I'm Alex Raskin, not Kennedy. Secondly, I really question what you're watching when you see LeBron's defense. His on-ball defense isn't suffocating, but is subtly effective. He has tremendous recovery speed and is great at waiting for the right moment to double-team an opponent... As for you "battling sportscenter" I might suggest you find better ways to spend your time. Declaring war on a cable tv show seems a little counter-productive. Do your players know you've declared war on a cable show? How do they feel that you've spent so much time on this?... It might please you to know that I haven't come to this verdict by myself. I've spoken to several NBA coaches this year that are all floored by how good LeBron's defense has been. D'Antoni and Rivers each marveled at how much he keeps improving in that area.
posted by Jason, 11/10/2009 12:41:48 PM
People, quit confusing Alex Raskin with Alex Kennedy. Kennedy's the one writer who agrees with me that the Cavs stink right now and will stink this entire season. So he's already smarter than every other sportswriter. Besides John Hollinger at ESPN, who wrote an article that basically said everything I've been saying for awhile.
And Raskin, you're still wrong about the Cavs. Horrible management, horrible coach, horrible players, horrible city. Their one shining light is LeBron. He could come play for the Magic, but we don't need him.
posted by Is Rob really a coach?, 11/10/2009 12:41:48 PM
I'd love to know who Rob coaches... Why is everyone down on LeBron James? Take him off the Cavs and lets see where they are. James is the best player in the NBA and he very well could retire as the best player ever.
posted by money, 11/10/2009 12:49:18 PM
@Alex,
So Lebron is a better on the ball defender and better overall defender than Kobe? It's amazing how coaches and GMs disagree with you. Maybe you have more basketball knowledge than them...
posted by Johnathan, 11/10/2009 12:51:16 PM
In reading the comments, Rob sounds a lot more like a coach than a guy whose questioning it by saying Lebron is the best player in the NBA, even though he doesn't know how to play without the ball, has no post up game, has mediocre footwork, has no mid-range game, is average with his on the ball defense and is only streaky from outside. That's far too many holes in his game to be the best. But, hey! Who needs a post up game, mid-range game or superb footwork? And why let those facts get in the way? He has great stats and we know the game is only about the numbers. It's not about winning, nor titles, nor bringing out the best in your teammates. It's all about the STATS, man, the STATS!
posted by zack in san antonio, 11/10/2009 12:59:03 PM
im glad somebody mentioned RC Buford when i get a chance to make it to a game i usually stop by aand chat with RC buford hes not only one of the smartest people ive ever met but hes more humble than any GM out there,and i assure you if he wasnt a GM he'd be the the best at whatever he pursued. the man is a genius.
posted by Alex Raskin, 11/10/2009 1:01:01 PM
For a guy that supposedly has no mid-range game, 68% of James field goals have been jump shots. Only 25% of his shots have come in the paint... Maybe it's a bad example, but James hit eight two-point jump shots against the Knicks. Maybe New York isn't the best defensive team on earth, but he clearly trusts his mid-range game. It sounds like a lot of nit-picking going on right now.
posted by Biff, 11/10/2009 1:02:36 PM
I think everyone that has has seen the Cavs offense can agree that it is way too one dimensional. One of the reasons that the Lakers have been getting by without their second best player and recently their third best is the swiss army set of skills that Kobe has. He can post up and draw double teams, his perimeter game is formidable both mid and long range, and he can move without the ball. His footwork is up their with Duncan's and he picks his spots quite well. These are all things that Lebron needs to work on before he can truly be mentioned in the same sentence with Kobe. Don't even get me started on the defensive end.
posted by Hate to say it..., 11/10/2009 1:05:36 PM
But Raskin is right. LeBron's defense has been great. I think the complaints at Cleveland's offense might best be directed at shaq.
posted by Mark, 11/10/2009 1:20:59 PM
LeBron is light years ahead of Kobe on D. If so many GM's and Coaches in the NBA Feel differently how did he get voted Defensive 1st team All NBA? People need to give it a rest. Kobe is amazing and better at LeBron in a number of areas just like LeBron is better in other areas. Some experts, GM's and Coaches think Kobe is the best...others say its LeBron. It all comes down to what you like. Polish, Shot making, Basketball IQ you like Kobe....Ball Handling, Creating, penetrating hightlight reel dunks, Defense you like LeBron. Lets stop with the "YOUR STUPID" if you have a different opinion. If you think its clear cut that one is better than other GREAT! But as I said if 10 people who cover the NBA can be split on the decision than lets conceed the answer might not be cut and dry....
posted by chad f, 11/10/2009 1:22:26 PM
Defense isn't steal and chase down block which is lebron and wade. Its on ball denial. Forcing people to pass ot take a tough shot. In that area kobe is also superior rookies
posted by chad f, 11/10/2009 1:35:11 PM
Also lebron is not a good ballhandler. He like chris paul dominate the ball, so they decide to pass or shoot. Giving them more assists. If kobe played on either of these offensive schemes he would obviously average more assists. If lebron were put in the triangle which is based on movement and shot making his assists would drop as well as scoring because he does not dominate the ball. Lebron does have more court vision and athletic ability, but in actual kobe is lightyears away. Both great players but know how to compare before you do. If lebron or dwight broke their leg and could not jump they would be mediocre. Kobe would adjust and still be an all star. That is why u take skill everytime. Nash baron davis or francis who all came after nash
posted by chad f, 11/10/2009 1:35:43 PM
Also lebron is not a good ballhandler. He like chris paul dominate the ball, so they decide to pass or shoot. Giving them more assists. If kobe played on either of these offensive schemes he would obviously average more assists. If lebron were put in the triangle which is based on movement and shot making his assists would drop as well as scoring because he does not dominate the ball. Lebron does have more court vision and athletic ability, but in actual kobe is lightyears away. Both great players but know how to compare before you do. If lebron or dwight broke their leg and could not jump they would be mediocre. Kobe would adjust and still be an all star. That is why u take skill everytime. Nash baron davis or francis who all came after nash
posted by Alex Raskin, 11/10/2009 1:45:21 PM
@Chad: How is anyone playing with a broken leg?... So, let me get this straight. If LeBron or Dwight Howard broke their leg, they would be mediocre? But Kobe could figure a way around this broken leg and still keep the Lakers competitive?
posted by chad f, 11/10/2009 1:53:30 PM
A broken leg is a injury. If u break a leg or knee more times than not you lose athletic ability. Jumping, running fast right? You can also lose it with age. What I'm saying is if either of those players lost some or a lot of their athletic ability. Hopefully not by injury but certainly with age lebron and dwight would b mediocre players. Kobe would not jordan would not gasol would not duncan would not. Shaq has. Get it? So that means that lebron is not dominating with skill which is the way kobe dominates or gasol dominates. Skill always lasts longer .
posted by @Chad F, 11/10/2009 2:04:34 PM
At no point in your rambling incoherency did you offer anything that even resembled an answer. I award you not points and may god have mercy on your soul.
posted by Basketball Guru, 11/10/2009 2:24:14 PM
@Chad
Lay off the drugs, you don't make any sense. As to the question of who's better between kobe and lebron, the answer is simple. If those two traded teams, meaning if lebron was a laker and kobe was a cav would those teams be just as good. I think the lakers would be better with lebron on their team instead of kobe, while the cavs would be worse with kobe on their team instead of lebron.
posted by chad, 11/10/2009 3:00:16 PM
What's so hard to understand. Skill is better than athleticism.
posted by dial up, 11/10/2009 3:36:01 PM
KENNEDY- As a cavs season ticket holder, no one should believe lebron is a good defender, he's one of the worst. Whoever he is guarding, he gets lost and SOMETIMES, sometimes he will get the "sportcenter highlight block" from behind. You must not play basketball much or you would know that its just recovering a mistake. Your garbage, forreal.
posted by Mike, 11/10/2009 4:36:33 PM
I think all of you Lebron Lovers and Alex Rasikin did not understanding what is considering as a great defensive player. It wasn't just like the way how Lebron James's blocks look so amazing, but a great defender like Kobe who know how to Forcing people to pass or take a bad shot. Have you Lebron Lovers ever seen these great defenders like Bruce Bowen or Shane Battier try to block someone's shots in order to consisdered a great defender. The reality is that you know how to block a few shots doesn't mean you are a great defender.
posted by The previous two comments..., 11/10/2009 4:47:22 PM
... are perhaps the greatest prose I have ever read. Clearly the HW fans are 1.) well-read and 2.) clear and concise thinkers.
posted by Basketball Guru, 11/10/2009 5:21:29 PM
If I - to -, does that make me gay?
posted by chad f, 11/12/2009 1:25:12 AM
just stating the facts man, people score on lebron with great consistency.
If he does not develop some sort of skill before he slows down ffrom age he will be a mediocre player, like shaq is now or shawn kemp or any other athletic freak who was good before they got old
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