Media need to stop comparing the cavs to the 2010-2011 Heat

[gordontrue]

Irving has the makings to be a solid defender, and will become one with the right accountability, imo.

Love , on the other hand, I doubt can ever be a great defender. But Varejao and Thompson (and LeBron) are great frontcourt partners for him.

It's not about the individual defense imo, it's about their team defense... which has been bad in all but one game.

 

[bksballer89]

Irving has the makings to be a solid defender, and will become one with the right accountability, imo.

Love , on the other hand, I doubt can ever be a great defender. But Varejao and Thompson (and LeBron) are great frontcourt partners for him.

It's not about the individual defense imo, it's about their team defense... which has been bad in all but one game.

Also doesn't help that they're not getting Lebron the ball in the right spots

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

If you go back and watch that 2010-11 HEAT team.
They were equally as clueless as well with rotations, minutes, and plays.


But, they were ferocious on defense.
Defense doesn't require as much coaching and experience.
Either you play defense or you don't.


Those HEAT teams scored so many easy baskets off turnovers from smothering defense.
It really hid some of their experience and cohesion issues.


This CAVS teams does not have that luxury.

 

[bksballer89]

If you go back and watch that 2010-11 HEAT team.
They were equally as clueless as well with rotations, minutes, and plays.


But, they were ferocious on defense.
Defense doesn't require as much coaching and experience.
Either you play defense or you don't.


Those HEAT teams scored so many easy baskets off turnovers from smothering defense.
It really hid some of their experience and cohesion issues.


This CAVS teams does not have that luxury.

I'm not surprised at how poor their defense is. What is shocking is that their offense isn't that good and also how poor their bench with even with Waiters & Tristan coming off the bench

 

[hockey878]

Also doesn't help that they're not getting Lebron the ball in the right spots

he was so deadly efficient in miami because EVERYONE (coaches, players) knew how and where to get him the ball. And when he got it in those spots no one can consistently stop him. They are really struggling to do that in Cle.

People just knew their roles better in MIA. Even early. It seemed like they wanted to play together, they wanted to defend. In Cleveland it seems like they were forced to play together. In particular Waiters, he really just doesn't fit on this team.

 

[RobToxin]

Browns 7-4.

Cavs 5-7.

 

[trojanfan12]

he was so deadly efficient in miami because EVERYONE (coaches, players) knew how and where to get him the ball. And when he got it in those spots no one can consistently stop him. They are really struggling to do that in Cle.

People just knew their roles better in MIA. Even early. It seemed like they wanted to play together, they wanted to defend. In Cleveland it seems like they were forced to play together. In particular Waiters, he really just doesn't fit on this team.

The bolded is a great point. Lebron, Wade and Bosh all wanted to play together and chose their situation. They planned for it and no doubt had some pretty extensive discussions as to what role each of them would play. For the most part, everything was worked out between them before free agency ever started.

In Cleveland, Kyrie and Love didn't choose the situation. The Cavs were Kyrie's team, then Lebron comes in as an FA and the Cavs were immediately Lebron's team. Love came to Cleveland via trade. Before the trade happened, he said he'd be willing to go to Cleveland, but I don't remember seeing anything where he said that he actually wanted to go.

The fact that Lebron, Wade and Bosh chose their situation likely made it a good bit easier for them to adjust.

 

[hockey878]

The bolded is a great point. Lebron, Wade and Bosh all wanted to play together and chose their situation. They planned for it and no doubt had some pretty extensive discussions as to what role each of them would play. For the most part, everything was worked out between them before free agency ever started.

In Cleveland, Kyrie and Love didn't choose the situation. The Cavs were Kyrie's team, then Lebron comes in as an FA and the Cavs were immediately Lebron's team. Love came to Cleveland via trade. Before the trade happened, he said he'd be willing to go to Cleveland, but I don't remember seeing anything where he said that he actually wanted to go.

The fact that Lebron, Wade and Bosh chose their situation likely made it a good bit easier for them to adjust.

it just feels like there is some tension and bitterness. And LeBron needs to stop giving so much insight into whats going on. I feel like every day we have another soundbyte from him, and its getting annoying. start being plain, media doesn't need to know everything.

 

[trojanfan12]

it just feels like there is some tension and bitterness. And LeBron needs to stop giving so much insight into whats going on. I feel like every day we have another soundbyte from him, and its getting annoying. start being plain, media doesn't need to know everything.

Agree 100%. Plus, if there is tension there, Lebron talking about all of this in the media isn't going to help.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Excellent points, but Wiggy Russ doesn't approve.

 

[DJ Fieri]

But.. But.. According to wiggy Russ they're supposed to win 65 games!!

In fairness, on Fan Nation he said they'd challenge the Bulls for the all-time best record.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Ethan Skolnick column explains exactly why the misinformed media need to stop comparing the starts of both teams.

The Cavaliers are enduring the effects of a lack of cohesion and an absence of confidence in each other. And, at this point, it's officially more concerning than anything that long-ago Heat team went through.

For starters, that team actually started 7-4, not 5-6 as the Cavaliers have, even though everyone only remembers that Miami slipped to 9-8 on a deflating night in Dallas. That Miami team had three blowout victories in its first five games. This Cavaliers squad has had just one, in its eighth contest, against Atlanta. That Miami team didn't lose for a third time by double digits until its 41st outing, on Jan. 13, even though it was without two of its top five projected players, Mike Miller and Udonis Haslem, for most of that time. This Cavaliers squad, which has lost one rotation guy (Matthew Dellavedova) has already lost by 19, 13 and nine, with only a Dion Waiters garbage-time jumper saving it from a double-digit defeat against Denver.

That Miami team didn't look as lethargic, and its players didn't look like they loathed each other, as this team and these players appear to at times. Things were messy, for sure, especially as the three established stars, adjusting to redefined roles, tripped over one another, but that never seemed to be from a lack of earnest effort.

This is a decidedly different situation.

In Miami, he had a coach who had NBA experience—two playoff seasons as the head man—with the organization's full commitment. Pat Riley's unconditional support gave that coach an opportunity and the space to find his footing, even in the face of intense media pressure. And a 9-8 start turned into a 21-1 stretch.

Will Blatt, who acknowledged that some of his European teams have started slowly, get the backing he needs to make his way? And to make his team believe in him?

In Miami, James had proven championship partners, starting with Dwyane Wade, to help him chart the course, players who ultimately were more concerned with collective goals, even if those ambitions came at an individual cost.

In Miami, James had teammates who made it a mission to get him the ball in the proper spots, so he could lift his percentages, and by extension, the group as well.

Not even close if you ask me, because Irving is a good player but he is not equal to the veteran player Miami got when they got Bosh and no one is close to Wade who was a one time championship player and a gold in two international Olympics. On the other hand you might want to ask them for some of that stuff they have been smoking

 

[trojanfight]

its good think LeBron stayed in east. a start like this in the west would take a big winning streak to catch back up to even make playoffs. they would have to be pretty horrible on the season to not make playoffs in east

 

[HammerDown]

 

[bksballer89]

[MEDIA=twitter]540188514239774722[/MEDIA]

Defensive efficiency is surprising but everyone knew they would be great on offense. Their bench & the coach heavy minutes for their big 3 is still a concern.

 

[bksballer89]

We'll see how improved they really are over the next 6 games. 5 of their next 6 are on the road and their one home game is against Toronto

 

[DJ Fieri]

We'll see how improved they really are over the next 6 games. 5 of their next 6 are on the road and their one home game is against Toronto

Toronto isn't the same without DeRozan. They lost to the suck ass Lakers.

 

[DJ Fieri]

The big 3 had like 81 points last night. The rest of the team combined for around 30 or so.

That's a problem when you play the better teams.

 

[LogicMan]

As I told you guys, just relax. It will take time. But this is a younger version, albeit untested, of what he had in Miami. Father time impacted the Celtics and the Lakers, and now Lebron jumped ship for father time effects in Miami.

Those three in CLE should win at least two rings IMO

 

[bksballer89]

Toronto isn't the same without DeRozan. They lost to the suck ass Lakers.

They beat the kings last night. They play Toronto twice in their next 6 so I think they split those games