Cavs need to 'Dig Deep' according to Owner Dan Gilbert
You saw the shots on TV. Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert stoically looking on during the 4th Quarter of quickly became a horrible nightmare for Cavaliers fans. After the final seconds of the Cavaliers 2nd consecutive blow-out home loss ticked away, you got the feeling that Gilbert was already formulating a plan on what to do this off-season should the series continue to spiral out of control and the Cavaliers bow out of the Playoffs.
After the game, Gilbert spoke to the Plain Dealer, and let it be known that he expects more from his $100 million basketball team.
"Our entire franchise has done everything in its power to put all of our players and its coaching staff in the best possible position to execute when it counts," Gilbert said. "And to deliver to the highly supportive fans of Cleveland a proud, intense, impassioned all-out drive to achieve a championship.
"The last two home playoff losses and the manner in which we lost these games does not come close to being anywhere near the high expectations all of us have of our organization. Our fans and supporters deserve more."
"Above all, the fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers, as well as the entire franchise, deserve and need our players and coaches to dig deep within themselves," Gilbert said.
Gilbert has always been successful and has done everything in his power to give his employees what was necessary to succeed. For the Cavaliers that has been a lavish home locker room at The Q, and a brand new practice facility with all the trimmings in a Cleveland suburb. All in an effort to deliver a Championship.
Little effort from the Cavaliers, however, is not part of the recipe.
Gilbert is still optimistic, however, something that has been a calling card of his throughout his life - and through his optimism GIlbert issues a challenge to his team.
"We have to ask ourselves two questions," he said. "Will we remember who we are and choose to impose our will on our opponent for the remainder of this series and beyond? And how much do we want it? I believe in our players, our coaching staff and our entire franchise. This series is not over."
If the answers to those questions are not to Gilbert's liking, something tells me heads will roll down at The Q.
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Well, until this series is over…i’ll reserve judgment. I think most cavs fans would be good in doing so as well. Gilbert has been phenomenal, though.
I hear ya on the “wait til the series is over”….. but MAN. You just don’t hear of teams being dealt blow out losses like the Cavs have endured this series, and go on to win it all. Hell, Celtics had a really good shot at winning game 1 even!
The one and only refutation to that argument that I can remember from history in sports was the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960. The Yankees positively blew them out in their three losses, and yet the Pirates won the World Series on a walk-off home run in Game Seven. Pittsburgh’s three losses were by the scores of 16-3 in game two, then 10-0 in game three and 12-0 in game six.
Not looking for any kudos here, or even arguing any point here, just pointing out that, at least once, a team was overwhelmed three times and yet managed to win when the smoke had cleared.
by AncientMariner on May 12, 2010 9:16 AM CDT up reply actions
and of course, I do understand that the dynamics of the two sports are not even close, for in baseball, the same pitcher who started a blow-out does not start the very next day and magically win. Basketball is different, I was just looking for a little silver lining in an ocean of bleakness.
by AncientMariner on May 12, 2010 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions
Lakers blown out by Celtics in game 1
in one of their 80s series. Don’t remember each year off the top of my head, but the Lakers went on to win. Although that was only one loss the rest were close games.
1985. The Memorial Day Massacre
and on the 93rd postseason of the National Hockey League, the Slovakian-hockeygod Zeus commanded from high atop Mount Figueroa..."RELEASE THE MEAT TRAIN!" And it was good.
by DodgerBlueBalls on May 12, 2010 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions
Playoffs is about one thing—matchups. Defense and rebounding win championships. Varejao did a better defensive job on Garnett than Antawn, but Jameson still needs to be out on the floor. Shaq is winning his matchup with Perk, put Varejao on Garnett, Parker on Ray Allen since AP is hitting nearly 60% in 3’s and is still hustling, and LeBron is the only one that can matchup with Pierce. So that leaves Jameson to guard Rondo, and Jameson can’t do any worse than anyone else has on the Cavs. Give Rondo the outside shot by having Jameson sag off into the lane. This is the best defensive matchups that the Cavs can put on the floor against those five of Boston…
“So that leaves Jameson to guard Rondo, and Jameson can’t do any worse than anyone else has on the Cavs.”
You think putting LeBron on Rondo backfired much?
Go ahead and put Jamison on Rondo game 6 and you guys might as well forfeit.
Look, Cavs need to get back to CAVS basketball. The same kind of basketball that won them 61 games this year. Now’s not the time for experiementing.
Glad to see you left Mo on the bench.
however, I doubt Brown will bench him.
I'm Polish...what's your excuse?
The playoffs are also about who wants it more
I watched this game from the third on and stopped with 5 min to go in the fourth and the lead still growing. I’ve never seen Lebron not at least try to score. He literally blended in and superstars cannot do that. You guys have to attack, but instead you’re reacting. You’re not making them guard you, while they’re making you guard everyone on the floor. It was hard to watch. Thats where the problem is, obviously defense and rebounding play a part, but those things are about effort and who wants it more. The Cavs I watched during the regular season ran up leads throughout the game and always came back when down. I don’t know what that was yesterday, but reacting to their leads, instead of trying to build your own will not get you the win.
In case you think I may have gone mad with such an offhand comment, there was a blurb yesterday on Ball Don’t Lie that said that Spike Lee is rooting for the Celtics to win to hasten LeBron’s alleged going to New York, and of course a big deal was made about a ‘New Yorker’ rooting for any Boston team…
by AncientMariner on May 12, 2010 9:28 AM CDT up reply actions
on court leadership
I read the article, and yes Wojinarski did get a bit dramatic with it, but we clearly lacked on the court leadership. Where was Lebron’s head?

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