Is Mike Brown in trouble?
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Jun 11, 2009 7:06 AM CDT
16 comments
Could Mike Brown's job in Cleveland be in jeopardy? If you believe what one web site has to say, then the answer is a resounding "Yes!".
ProBasketballNews is reporting that the Cavaliers Front Office is divided over the status of Brown and specifically Owner Dan Gilbert is determined to bring in a big name coach.
According to the report, the Cavaliers' brass was none-to-pleased with the Cavaliers exit from the playoffs, a 6-game defeat at the hands of the Orlando Magic. Perhaps more disappointing to the suits was the way Orlando beat the Cavaliers. Cleveland blew big leads in all 3 home games, and the team seemed to struggle in making adjustments to what was happening on the court.
Below is an excerpt from the report --
None of the sources would allow their names to be used, and only one agreed to be quoted. The latter referred to Brown's game plan as "junk," and used that word several times to describe the offensive philosophy in Game 5 of the East finals -- a 112-102 Cavs victory. Another source who refused to be quoted implied Brown doesn't know how or simply is not willing to open up his offense despite having weapons like James and Mo Williams, and to a lesser degree, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Delonte West. Three sources contacted by Pro Basketball News agreed that the Cavs' offense ran smoothly at the beginning of the season, but too often lacked ball movement and cohesiveness against elite teams such as Orlando, Boston and the L.A. Lakers. The Cavs finished a combined 5-9 against those three (including the playoffs). They went 3-6 against the Magic -- with all three wins coming down to the final minute, or in the case of Game 3 of the East finals, the final shot. Brown's forte has always been defense, "but when the defense wasn't working against Orlando, he had no idea how to put pressure on them (with offense)," one source said. It is clear that someone thinks the Cavaliers are unhappy with Brown, but would a knee-jerk reaction really be beneficial, considering the importance of the upcoming off-season?
Is it Brown's fault that the Cavs are extremely thin in the front court, with starters that prefer to work away from the basket instead of in the post?
Is it Brown's fault that the team is undersized in the back-court, with two starters that are both under 6-3?
More than anything, those two vulnerabilites on the Cavaliers roster had alot to do with how the Magic were able to push the Cavaliers around. Even as dominating as the Magic looked to be, the two teams were seperated by only 15 points over 6 games. Much of that was the greatness of LeBron, the other part, the Cavaliers playing with alot of guts and grit.
Credit the Magic for hitting the big shots in Game 1 and Game 4, both long threes from Rashard Lewis. Not much more Mike Brown could have done in either occassion.
I know that nerves are a bit frayed. The best thing the Cavaliers can do is to go out and improve the talent on the court, not in the coach's chair. LeBron needs some size and length in the front and back court. Once that happens, the 2009 NBA Coach of the Year may just look like a genius again.
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What?.......Wow!
Come on now! Are we to believe Gilbert is considering replacing the reigning NBA Coach of the Year due to one bad (unlucky) series?
I think this team played at or above it’s potential much of the season and, for the most part, the playoffs. Orlando simply had better personel and better match-ups. The Cavs were a great team but, unfortunately, not a dominating team. We still have holes to fill and that appears to be Ferry’s problem and not Mike Brown’s!
Still the series could have swung the other way! Brown tried different looks and strategies but in the end he needed more talent. I hope this is just a knee jerk reaction to unexpectively missing the finals. It would be a mistake to get rid of Brown for what appears to be a drop-off in talent and not the play on the court.
So I told her," I'll be nicer if you try to be smarter!'..That was a mistake.
by Juannieboy on Jun 11, 2009 7:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Agree 100%
FTS
SBNation's Cleveland Cavaliers Blogger
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Jun 11, 2009 7:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I also totally agree. I’d go as far to question the motives of these so called “sources.”
They refuse to not only be named, but even refuse to be quoted…. that pretty much tells us they have no credibility whatsoever.
by Simmsinns on Jun 11, 2009 8:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The question is
“Should the Cavs THINK ABOUT replacing Mike Brown?” I say yes, they should think about it, and not do it. Yes this is Danny Ferry’s deal, and he needs to improve it. Yes they now know all about having all weaknesses exposed. So it should be a fairly easy (I understand finding the guys won’t be easy, but they know what holes they have) fix. My problem with Mike Brown, wan he reverted to 2 years ago when Lebron had no one really capable around him. It was Lebron on 5 almost every 4th quarter, argh! He kept Andy and Z in at the same time, getting torched for 3 after 3, not realizing they are both too slow to recover from the double team. he ran the offense onstead of the assistants that ran it all season. Basically, they got away from everything they did good all season long, and went back to the “oh shit” looks on their faces. That is coaching, not front office. They shouldn’t replace him, but they should make him think they might.
by sether1 on Jun 11, 2009 8:13 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I understand what you are saying.......
about the offense “reverting” to all LeBron all of the time. But, what recourse did Brown have? Mo and Delonte were missing shots and open ones at that. Z ? Ditto…especially late in the games. Who could come in off the bench? Wally? Joe Smith had little to offer, etc.
If all you really have offensively is LeBron, what else can you do?
So I told her," I'll be nicer if you try to be smarter!'..That was a mistake.
by Juannieboy on Jun 11, 2009 8:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Owner Dan Gilbert is determined to bring in a big name coach.
yeah this sounds made up. I mean look at the wonders that Larry Brown did in NY.
by hans on Jun 11, 2009 10:03 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
i am shocked at the poll results right now (40% Yes). shocked.
by DontCallMeJoey on Jun 11, 2009 10:57 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
One Bad Series?
I don’t think so. He was totally out coached this year during the playoffs and Lebron playing in the Olympics is the reason they lost to the inferior magic. Lebron would be even better if Brown actually sat him for about 10 minutes a game the bench would be better. If Brown could draw up real plays not Lebron one of five the whole team would be more consistent. Speed up the game stop playing a slow game. Mo Williams, Sasha, Delonte, Gibson, Varjaeo would all be significantly better in a more wide open offense. The Defense would still be solid. Sometimes you have to do the right thing for a team to win. The Bulls fired Doug Collins even though Jordan wanted him to stay. Collins didn’t utilize his team right and Scottie Pippen was much better with a less hands on coach like Phil. Don’t get me wrong Phil Jackson is no coach but he did the right thing with the Bulls letting Jordan run the team and to speed up the pace. The role players were all much better for the Bulls when Jackson came on because they were not overcoached. Mike Brown tried hard not to overcoach this year but in the end his lack of coaching cost the team. Clearly Lebron should have been guarding Lewis instead of slow footed Varjaeo. The Cavs should never have consistenly double teamed Dwight and Pavolivic should have played 30 minutes a game and should have guard Hedo. The magic won because the hit the wide open threes the Cavs allowed them to have because of the Double teams on Dwight.
Baseball is God's sport! All Truth Goes Through Three Stages 1.It is ridiculed 2.It is violently opposed 3.Finally, it is accepted as self-evident. kinesiologist
by E5 on Jun 11, 2009 4:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
what a bunch of baloney, dude.
He was totally out coached this year during the playoffs
and your evidence is…8 consecutive wins by double digits to open the playoffs? this is nonsense. brown definitely didn’t put out his best coaching performance in the orlando series, but let’s not understate the historic shooting run on which the magic went.
Lebron playing in the Olympics is the reason they lost to the inferior magic
firstly, this is false. secondly, there would be no way to prove it if it were true. and finally, the only person to blame, if it were true, would be LeBron. this is totally incidental to any conversation about mike brown.
Lebron would be even better if Brown actually sat him for about 10 minutes a game the bench would be better
LeBron averaged 37.7 mpg this year. Next.
Sometimes you have to do the right thing for a team to win
66 wins wasn’t good enough for you?
The Bulls fired Doug Collins even though Jordan wanted him to stay
this is not true. in addition, collins feuded w/ both krause and reinsdorf. there was certainly not a consensus that phil jackson would lead the bulls to the promised land.
mike brown is no red auerbach. not at this stage. and i’m not blindly sticking up for him. he has a lot to work on, and he’d better work on it. he’s not a perfect coach, but he’s done a great job of turning this team into a defensive monster, and he’s done a great job of keeping LeBron happy. it’s time to take the next step, though. i just had to take up for him here, b/c you are 10 kinds of wrong in this assessment.
The magic won because the hit the wide open threes the Cavs allowed them to have because of the Double teams on Dwight.
this is the only true statement in your whole post.
by DontCallMeJoey on Jun 11, 2009 6:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I totally agree.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
by Simmsinns on Jun 11, 2009 6:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I honestly don’t think the Cavs had much of a chance at stopping the unbelievably lucky hot streak of threes that the Magic were raining down.
I really don’t think it was a matter of being “out coached” as it was simply being mismatched (combined with the threes, and lucky 25% inbound shots.)
Mike Brown can’t make our perimeter defenders 6 inches taller.
by Simmsinns on Jun 11, 2009 6:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
One way to stop a team from shooting well is to play better defense. Defensive coaching strategy is a part of that. I am not ready to write off the Magic’s shooting to just luck
by Roger Dorn on Jun 12, 2009 8:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, not just luck obviously. Matchup problems also.
by Simmsinns on Jun 12, 2009 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
it really is this simple
THE reason the Cavs lost to Orlando is not playing man defense (to the extent possible) for the entire game …The Cavs most likely would have won had they “allowed” Howard 35-40 points a game and covered the perimeter shooters tighter…Joe Smith playing more minutes in the last two games MIGHT have helped the defense a little…Everyone seems to be so hot to see R Wallace in a Cavs uniform next year, but what about Chris Andersen? They could definitely use someone with his size, energy, and athleticism…Turkoglu is gonna be a free agent next year too…think about the possibilities there
by cavslandrocks on Jun 12, 2009 2:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Bring in Coach K NOW
And this thing – especially if Phil J goes part-time in L.A. – is over…..
by jakethesnake66 on Jun 25, 2009 10:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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