The Game Changer - Anderson Varejao

by Conrad Kaczmarek on Feb 21, 2012 2:07 PM CST in Fear My Opinion

Remember what happened last season when Anderson Varejao went down with a season ending injury? The Cavaliers promptly went on an historic 26-game losing streak. A year later and the Cavs have injected their roster with a bit more talent (looking at you, Kyrie Irving) and I'll be damned if they go on such a skid while Andy is out this time around.

Nonetheless, when SBNation asked us to identify a guy on our team that would best be described as a "game changer," there was really no other reasonable option. It's Andy V -- the Wild Thing.

You can look to last year's disastrous season without the floppy haired seven-footer patrolling the paint to see just how huge his impact on the game is, but from the first 25 games or so of 2012, Varejao played the best basketball of his life.

Until he broke his wrist, Varejao led all qualifying players in offensive rebounding percentage. It's no secret how important offensive rebounding is to the overall outcome of a game and Varejao is simply one of the game's elite on the offensive boards. In 2012, Varejao has grabbed a whopping 15.5% of all available offensive rebounds while he's been on the floor. Consider for a moment that Kevin Love grabs 11.4% and Dwight Howard a mere 10.5%.

Andy's prowess on the glass consistently gives the Cavaliers an opportunity for second chance points. The impact that this has on a game goes beyond the box score. When a team plays solid defense for 24 seconds, forces a bad shot, only time find that Andy comes bursting in for a rebound to give the Cavs a fresh 24 second clock, it's deflating.

Do you remember the Cavs-Celtics game in Boston? Cleveland was down in the closing minutes and then missed a shot. The rebound went to Boston's Jermaine O'Neal. Knowing how crucial every possession was at that juncture, Varejao dashed in, stripped the ball from O'Neal, dove to the ground to secure it and called a timeout. The Cavs got another possession, scored and set up Kyrie Irving's game winner.

I was at that game with one of my good friends and he admittedly doesn't watch the Cavs play all that much. More than once, he said "holy crap, Varejao is everywhere".

That's right. He's everywhere. He's the heart and soul of the Cavaliers team and he plays absolutely every possession as if it's his last. He's one of the quickest low post defenders in the league and has actually developed into a pretty viable roll man for Kyrie's PnR offense.

Anderson Varejao may be hurt right now. He also may be traded later this season. But whether he stays in Cleveland or goes to a contender, he's going to continue to make his presence known.

He's relentless. He's tireless. He's a game changer.

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Comments

Pet peeve: people who rec something and don’t leave a comment. It means you didn’t read it!

Whoever did this, shame on you!

With or Without the H

by johnf34 on Feb 22, 2012 12:14 PM CST reply actions

Hahaha. Yeah, people, comment on things. I respond to essentially every comment.

FearTheSword, SBNation's Cleveland Cavaliers blog

by Conrad Kaczmarek on Feb 22, 2012 1:53 PM CST up reply actions

Varejao is not a game changer… I had written a reply and forgot to send or save before attending tonight’s game, and unfortunately lost it. I will if I have time, give another shot at it tomorrow, but if I don’t, I just had to at least get this in.

He had no significant impact last year, and he was a part of the 26 game losing streak, the first 5 games, as well as another, which was his last before his season came to an end, because of injury. That was a 15 point home loss to Toronto, in which he had 4 points, and 8 rebounds, in 35:18 on the floor. He also was very much a part of the team that went 1-14 in December, so where was he game changing?

Varejao provides what he does best, he isn’t a shut down defender, yet he is one of the leagues better HELP defenders. In regards to the offensive rebounds, most of the rebounds on the offensive end are long, because the Cav’s primarily jump shoot. With that being said, he reads the ball well of the rim, and is relentless at pursuing it.

Howard is often double teamed, is constant in motion trying to get in position to be fed in the post, Kevin Love has transformed himself into a 3 point shooter. He actually leads Minnesota in 3P FGA. Offensive rebounding isn’t as chic, as knocking down 3’s.

I put last season more so on Scott, than the players, it all begins with coaching. He continuously played 1 big on the floor, setting high screens, surrounded by jump shooters, that didn’t shoot well. With James haven taken his talents to South Beach, there were 20 available shots, there to be claimed. Guys who struggled to get shots on the floor with James, were now firing at will. Scott’s offense was G, perimeter oriented.

Anthony Parker 5.9 to 7.7, Antawn Jamison 13.4 to 15.6, Daniel Gibson 4.8 to 9.9, Mo Williams 12.4 to 12.8, Anderson Varejao 6.1 to 7.0, and J.J. Hickson 6.4 to 11.7. Scott was playing Hickson at C, surrounded by jump shooters, and he wasn’t a part of what they did offensively til January. Injuries and trades forced adjustments, and the realization, that another approach was needed.

I actually went more in depth, but its games like tonight, that can just ruin a night, and thought process. These next 2-3 weeks are crucial, losing to inferior teams, especially at home, cannot be tolerated. Why would the Cavs bring Harris up before the All-Star break, only not to play him? Other than trying to prevent another team from signing him?

He allowed Gibson to remain on the floor to shoot 1-9? Harnagody was on the floor for over 6 minutes, and got 5 FGA, and yet Samuels was a DNP? Why didn’t he attack Kaman more in the post with Erden, and Hollins? Sorry I got off topic a bit, but Varejao wouldn’t have been a difference maker here either.

Varejao is having a career year, up until this year, he was having a career year last year. I doubt if varejao will be moved now, do to the injury, but you never know, He could however be traded in the off-season, or during the draft. I was really looking forward to Hickson being on the floor with Varejao this year.

Simply put, Varejao is a role player, he’s a high energy guy, that hustles, help defends, and works hard. No question he’s good in the locker room, but he is, what he is. With more time on the floor, Thompson exceeds, where Varejao levels off.

by CLECavsOutsider on Feb 22, 2012 10:39 PM CST reply actions