Fear The Sword: All Posts by David Zavac

NBA Offseason: Angst surrounding Kyrie Irving mostly misguided

2013-05-20T13:00:08Z

Kyrie Irving recently turned 21 years old. Drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers two short years ago, he was given the task of leading a team with a serious lack of quality players in a city with a heartbroken fan-base. He would be the face of the franchise, picking up a crown that had been tossed aside by its previous owner. He would be Mike Conley, we hoped, back when Mike Conley wasn't particularly good at basketball. Turns out, he is a much, much better player than that. His rookie season was one of the best in the history of the NBA, and there is no hyperbole there. He excels in nearly every facet of what an NBA offense requires. Breath-taking shooting ability? Check. Quickness and handle? Check. Pick and roll savant? Sure thing. Gifted passer? Yeah, he does that too. One of the best isolation players in basketball, he even can post guys up. He turns the ball over a bit, mostly because he has too much confidence in his own ability. So what is the problem?

"He is the worst defender in the history of Dr. Naismith's sport"

The most common and persistent criticism regards Irving's defense. Writers, even ones I respect, consistently make the claim that there was no improvement for Irving in his second season in the NBA on the defensive end. This is false. For one, Irving is pretty darn good at creating turnovers defensively. His instincts are good and his athleticism allows him to disrupt passing lanes. Opposing point guards saw their Player Efficiency Rating and effective field goal percentage go down while Irving was guarding them this season compared to his rookie year. He isn't a good defender by any means, but he did improve. How many young players in the league are actually good defenders? Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, and LeBron James all took time to develop the focus and stamina to put in consistent defensive work in, and, to be honest, these guys don't do it all the time. Irving has a huge offensive burden when he is on the floor. Why are we killing him for not being a great defender as a 20 year old?

There is also the simple fact that with the hand-check rules the way they are in the NBA, there are only a few guys with the strength and lateral quickness to actually stay in front of point guards. Outside of Eric Bledsoe and maybe Avery Bradley, even the best defensive point guards like Chris Paul and Mike Conley give up penetration from opposing point guards. This is why interior defense is so important. Tyler Zeller wasn't a disaster defensively just because Spencer Hawes could bully him down low. He was also a disaster defensively because he provided almost no value protecting the rim. The Cavaliers as a team finished second to last in the NBA in the total number of shots blocked defensively, nearly 100 below the league average. When opposing guards light up the Cavaliers, please remember that it isn't necessarily Kyrie Irving's job to keep guys out of the lane. The bigs have to help. They haven't so far. I cannot stress enough how little I worry about Kyrie Irving's defense.

"He is a diva in training"

The diva label is courtesy of Bill Livingston of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. In another more recent article, allegedly about the NBA Draft lottery, Livingston went even further:

Not only is he injury-prone, he paid no attention to deposed coach Byron Scott's harping on defense and sometimes barely tried on that end of the floor. Irving stiffed the fans on Fan Appreciation Night, then curtly denied the cover story an embarrassed public relations man whipped up to explain it.

I will admit to being pretty bothered by this. I was also bothered when Irving failed to stand up for Byron Scott as it became clear that Scott's job was in real danger. Irving admitted to being disinterested for a road game in Detroit this season that I attended. In that game, Irving came out and scored 11 points in the first quarter before realizing that none of the other Cavaliers were all that into the game. It appeared that he decided to take the rest of the night off as well. As the season went on, Irving became shorter and shorter with the local media following games. While veterans like Wayne Ellington Luke Walton, and C.J. Miles would often hand around the Cavaliers locker room after games, recovering and relaxing, Irving was usually one of the first guys out the door.

But, ultimately, what does this mean? The most likely explanation is that we are watching a 20 year old lose a lot of basketball games for the first time in his life with the knowledge that the front office is purposefully avoiding improvement. He is discovering love, he is discovering money, he is discovering success and the fame that comes with super-stardom (he really did enjoy All-Star weekend, didn't he?), and he still has the weight of being the most recognizable and loved athlete in Cleveland, Ohio. A certain amount of moodiness is understandable. Watching old guys put the hammer to a 21 year old is not. It is cliche, but we are watching Irving grow up, and there are some some bumps along that road. I don't want to rationalize bad behavior, but it is just way too early to draw conclusions from these things.

So let's relax a little bit

Sam Amico often makes an argument that I don't really agree with, but nonetheless see some merit in; he argues that expecting an NBA championship, and only being happy with a season that ends with one, is a recipe for sadness, and people should just enjoy their team's success for what it is. I think we all agree that we don't want the Cavaliers to go the route of the Nets or Knicks, where the playoffs is the end destination without much hope of getting better. At the same time, though, NBA titles are really hard to achieve. Maybe the Cavaliers will get one, maybe the won't. But they do have Kyrie Irving, and they have him right now. That is worth celebrating, and the angst and criticisms, while somewhat merited, shouldn't overcome or overshadow the fun that comes with him.

NBA Playoffs: The Curious Case of the Memphis Grizzlies, and what they could mean for Cavs

2013-05-17T22:44:06Z

The Memphis Grizzlies, for years one of the most depressing franchises in professional sports, are now one series victory away from the NBA Finals. They play in a tiny market. They don't have a conventional superstar, though try and tell me Marc Gasol isn't one. They have made controversial moves. They have made moves that have gotten them absolutely killed by the media. They have made moves that should have been crippling to their franchise. But again, they stand four wins away from winning a brutal conference. How did this happen, and what does it mean?

They have simply been lucky

There is something to this. This theory is basically that they really aren't that good of a team, and have been blessed by teams that may have been superior had they been at full strength. The Los Angeles Clippers struggled with Blake Griffin hobbled; when he was healthier early in the series the Clippers jumped to a 2-0 series lead. Once past the Clippers they rolled through an Oklahoma City Thunder team missing one of the top 10 players in the world, and even without him each contest was quite close. Perhaps Russell Westbrook was the difference. I don't know how much stake to put in this; I think Memphis would have had a pretty good chance to beat the Thunder even with Westbrook with how good their defense is. Even if they would have been beaten handily, though, they are a small market team in the Western Conference who would have been right there with teams featuring Chris Paul and Kevin Durant. They have built something impressive down in Memphis, and its worth analyzing.

They have taken risks

This is an understatement. They have made some hard choices, some of which have worked out splendidly, and some which should have been disastrous. First, the impossible to defend: General Manager Chris Wallace drafted Hasheem Thabeet and traded Kevin Love for OJ Mayo. They received no value for Kevin Love, a key member of the United States Olympic team, and Thabeet washed out of Memphis pretty quickly.

They gave Tony Allen a three year contract in the Summer of 2010. I see this as the perfect way for a small market team to utilize free agency. Find a guy who has a specific NBA skill that you can acquire as either a fringe starter or key bench piece that won't hamper flexibility moving forward. Allen was already an all-world defender before he came to Memphis, and he has more than earned the $10 million Wallace gave him. The Cavaliers, moving forward, can follow this example. In a way, the CJ Miles contract is similar to the Allen signing, on a smaller scale. With Miles, the Cavaliers got bench scoring for cheap. This summer, the Cavs can look for guys who will buy into Mike Brown's system.

Despite having Greivis Vasquez and Kyle Lowry, Memphis instead chose to invest in their high draft pick Mike Conley. Conley came out after just one season at Ohio State, and he couldn't shoot and wasn't physically ready for life in the NBA. Memphis could have sold low on Conley and shipped him off, instead opting to build with Lowry. Instead, they extended Conley, known as a smart player with his head on straight at a price mocked around the NBA and let Lowry go. Lowry continues to make as much news for his talent and solid play as for the headaches he gives his head coaches as he bounces from team to team. At some point, the Cavs may have to make a tough choice in extending either Tristan Thompson or Dion Waiters to a deal that is a little richer than observers around the league might find prudent. Betting on our young players might be the right play; it was for Memphis with Conley.

Zach Randolph, written off by much of the basketball world while he appeared to waste his career away with the Clippers, was brought in. The cost to Memphis: Quentin Richardson. Since arriving in Memphis, Zach has rejuvenated his career, cutting out the three pointers, bullying power forwards in the paint, and even committing himself on the defensive end of the floor. The first thing I ever wrote for Fear the Sword was a fan post urging Chris Grant to follow the Joe Dumars model and take risks like acquiring Rasheed Wallace and Chauncey Billups. This type of deal qualifies. Randolph was reviled in Portland, Los Angeles, and New York, and for good reason. In Memphis, they want to make him mayor. For the DeMarcus Cousins fans out there, Randolph is your example of a risk for a talented headcase paying off.

They have had continuity

There are two different ways that the Grizzlies have maintained continuity in a way that has really paid off. The first is simply in the form of their coach Lionel Hollins. Hollins isn't loved by all of the basketball world after his dismissive comments of advanced statistics while the Rudy Gay trade rumors were in full force. Despite this, you really can't argue with the results. The Grizzlies' record has improved in each of his seasons as coach since 2009. His commitment to defense and accountability and ability to play on real and perceived media slights of the small market team to motivate his players is unbelievable. Mike Conley has gone from weak point guard who couldn't guard to a tenacious and tough defender. He has managed Allen and Randolph's personalities to perfection. Marc Gasol has gone from afterthought in the Pau Gasol trade to the Defensive Player of the Year. The team was noticeably despondent earlier this season after the Jon Leuer and Rudy Gay trades; Lionel Hollins kept them together and playing hard.

The other continuity is simply having Conley, Allen, Randolph, and Gasol out on the floor together for multiple years. These guys are not offensive dynamos, but they know more about each other than just about any team in the league outside of San Antonio can boast. They know what they can and can't do. They fight for and love each other. Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph on face seem like complete opposites, but when you watch Randolph cheer for Gasol after a big play it is hard not to get fired up. The Cavaliers have installed their defensive minded coach. Hopefully our young players get lots of time on the court together. Chemistry doesn't happen overnight, it has to be earned.

This has led to a unique identity, embraced by the players and fans

Memphis now has a special relationship between its players and the fans and the city. It is pretty darn cool, and I dare say it can only happen in a small market. It takes a special kind of player who embraces the city of Memphis like Zach Randolph has, but the truth is, Randolph and Memphis need each other and they both know it. I don't know if this is something that can be duplicated. Cavaliers fans thought we had this with LeBron James, but deep down we knew it wasn't real. As silly as it was to get upset about James wearing a Yankees hat, it was another sign that LeBron may be of us, but he didn't belong to us. What Memphis has with Randolph is a player and a city finding each other, with really fun results.

Still, I wouldn't rule this out for the Cavs moving forward. Dion Waiters is pure Philly, but the young athletes of Cleveland really have fun supporting each other. Whether its Joe Haden or Phil Taylor sitting courtside, or Kyrie and Tristan going to Berea to hang out with the Browns, there is some momentum building. Winning, of course, will help. We don't know what the Cavaliers future is, but Memphis pretty recently was in a much more depressing situation. They may not win a title, but I wouldn't rule it out, and the Cavaliers can learn some lessons from the Memphis Grizzlies.

NBA Draft: Victor Oladipo would be great fit for Cleveland Cavaliers

2013-05-14T19:39:01Z

Much has been made of the Cavaliers inability to guard last season, and rightfully so. It was a dumpster fire. Everyone likes to use Kyrie Irving's defense as a fun thing to harp on (for reasons that are near unfathomable to me), but Dion Waiters and the rest of the wings weren't effective guarding the perimeter either. Adding a center to reduce the amount of uncontested layups would be one step forward, but you need sound perimeter defending, if only to reduce the number of open three pointers. Believe it or not, Irving and Waiters still project as plus defenders for their respective positions; I have particularly high hopes for Dion. Adding a coach like Mike Brown who both understands and can teach a defensive system should lead to steps forward from both.

Still, a gaping hole at small forward remains. Irving and Waiters have shown great potential creating offense, and it has already earned Irving an All Star bid. Waiters has a bit more ground to cover before becoming a really good NBA player, but the athleticism and work ethic appear to be there. Watching the NBA playoffs, you can see the value of having several players who can create offense; the Knicks go from average to excellent depending on whether or not Carmelo Anthony or JR Smith decide they want to stay within themselves. Say what you want about Jarrett Jack, but I really think he is helpful to Stephen Curry. It took Dwyane Wade and LeBron James some time, but when Wade is healthy and the two of them are clicking their offense is really special. So what would the perfect small forward look like for Cleveland, keeping in mind you want him to compliment Irving and Waiters? He would have excellent length, a great motor, work hard, be physically imposing and athletic, have the ability to make three pointers without having to create them for himself, stay within himself and not try to do too much, and pride himself on his defense. That player might exist in the form of Victor Oladipo.

This isn't going to be a traditional scouting post on Oladipo; Sam already did a fantastic job of that a short time ago. What this is an argument: If Nerlens Noel is off the board and Victor Oladipo is on it when the Cavaliers turn to make a selection comes around, the Hoosier should be Chris Grant's selection. Some of you know that I coach high school debate, so I am going to use some complex terminology from our activity to help me make my case. There are two types of arguments a debater can make, offensive ones and defensive ones. To use an example, a few years ago my kids' case argued that invading North Korea was a good idea and that the United States should do it. We offered offensive reasons for doing this; it would stop Kim Jong Il (the now deceased dictator) from doing terrible things to his own people. We also offered defensive reasons for why this was good; the North Korean military is weak, and the effects of a war wouldn't be that bad. Let's apply these basic principles to Oladipo.

First, my offense

Oladipo is not an offensive juggernaut, but he has the potential to be an outstanding offensive player, and it shouldn't take him long to find a role. Of Draft Express' Top 100 prospects, not a single one had a higher effective field goal percentage than Oladipo. He doesn't force a thing. He plays with a non-stop motor and loves to get out in transition. 13.6 points per game on 8.4 shot attempts is outstanding. A 21% three point shooter a year ago, he got that all the way up to 44% this season, a larger improvement than even Otto Porter. He is an excellent rebounder both offensively and defensively, and would represent a massive upgrade in this regard over Alonzo Gee almost immediately. 74% of his jump shots this season were in catch and shoot situations, an indication that he understands his own limitations. He is effective attacking the basket and can finish once he gets there. Despite playing three college seasons he is young for his age and turned 21 just a couple weeks ago. There is significant room for offensive growth.

But you aren't necessarily drafting Oladipo for his offense. He is a high energy guy who uses his length and strength to wreak havoc defensively. The combine will be interesting to see just what kind of length Oladipo really has. In his piece, Sam notes that it is likely somewhere between 6'8 and 6'11. Oladipo guarded four positions in college, and will be able to guard three in the NBA. He has the athleticism and strength to bother NBA point guards, and he won't be bullied by small forwards. He won't expend a lot of energy offensively and can guard the other team's best perimeter option. There aren't many teams who have multiple perimeter stars, so Oladipo allows you to hide Irving or Waiters should you choose to do so.

Second, my defense

No, his height isn't ideal. But how many small forwards in the NBA will really be able to take advantage? Kevin Durant will be able to shoot over the top of Oladipo; Kevin Durant shoots over the top of every player who tries to guard him. His strength could keep Durant in check, somewhat. He is the same height as Alonzo Gee who has spent the last two years guarding small forwards, and while Gee isn't the defensive stopper we all want him to be, how many times is this a result of his height? Not often, I don't think.

"But David," I hear you say, "I have heard that Otto Porter is a perfect fit." Porter will probably be a fine player; like Oladipo he made a lot of progress this season, and his length is tantalizing. He isn't, however, a great athlete. His shot has a hitch which could present problems; the cleaner a shot is, the easier it is to repeat success. He is also thin, and will need to bulk up so that he isn't bullied by small forwards. He lacks the versatility Oladipo will have to guard multiple positions. Draft Express has Oladipo as the 4th best prospect in the draft, and Porter at 6. Oladipo has an athleticism and upside that Porter doesn't have access to. At the same time, Oladipo has a higher floor as an excellent situational defender. If the Cavaliers needed more offense from the 3 position, my mind might change.

Some of you may think the Cavaliers need to take a player like Alex Len if Noel isn't available. I am sympathetic to this point, though I can't agree. Anderson Varejao will be healthy for training camp, and the Cavaliers can use their 19th pick on a guy like Steven Adams that they can develop. Varejao can act as a bridge. It also makes filling the hole at center less imperative than finally finding a small forward. Signing someone like Samuel Dalembert and going into next season with Varejao, Tyler Zeller, Dalembert and a project big would be a fine strategy. There isn't a need to force a pick on Alex Len. Oladipo can make a more immediate impact, and we know the Cavs want to win now.

Final thoughts

Victor Oladipo immediately improves the Cavaliers perimeter defense, and gives Cleveland a foundation at point guard, shooting guard, and small forward that the league would envy. The athleticism of Irving, Waiters, and Oladipo would put serious pressure on opposing teams from the get-go. There isn't a lot of height there, but the league is getting smaller. He is by all accounts a hard worker and great kid. It would be fun to watch him grow in the Wine & Gold.

NBA Draft: What should Cleveland be looking for with 19th pick?

2013-05-12T19:09:23Z

The Cleveland Cavaliers appear ready to take a step forward and start winning basketball games next season. They hired Mike Brown, a coach who has never failed to make the playoffs, and the general feeling among both the fan base and front office seems to be that the team can make some real strides next season. Still, though, the youth movement is far from over. Tyler Zeller is likely to see his minutes go down next season but Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters will continue to play lots of minutes, and make some mistakes, and do some really fun things. There could be two more additions to this young core in the June draft. We have seen how painful and difficult it is to win while giving first and second year players starters minutes. Keeping in mind that the Cavs both want to stay young and start winning, what are the Cavs options, particularly as it relates to the 19th pick?

Draft a player who can help immediately

Full disclosure: I am not sure this player exists, and I am even less sure that the Cavaliers can isolate the player. But the idea would be to find a well-developed player that has a specific NBA skill that the Cavs lack who can immediately fill the role. The Cavaliers need perimeter defending, shot blocking, three point shooting, and either a big who can score or who can facilitate for others. They need a backup point guard and a backup power forward. This is not an exhaustive list, of course. Are there any guys who might be available around 19 who could fulfill any of these roles? Jeff Withey and Gorgui Dieng are players who are consistently talked about as guys who can protect the rim and rebound immediately. Both were huge factors in their program's success this past season. Both are 23 years old.

Let's start with Withey. He was undoubtedly one of the best defenders in NCAA basketball this past season, has great length, blocks lots of shots, and is actually pretty athletic. But he is not very strong, and at his age you have to wonder if he can add strength. He probably can, but my guess is that it will take some time. Maybe you are willing to still give him minutes, even if he is a little overmatched physically, as long as he can protect the rim. He plays very smart and is a good help side defender. Despite this, I can't help but feel like Tyler Zeller was similarly prepared as a smart defender; it wasn't enough to keep him from being bullied. Still, his length gives him an advantage Tyler does not posess. But he brings almost no value offensively. He is reasonably coordinated and was pretty efficient, though he turned the ball over a bit more than you would like. Playing against stronger NBA players will make it difficult for him to get position. He certainly isn't a post-up threat. Ultimately, he may be a solid backup center who can defend and challenge shots. But I don't think that will be next season, necessarily.

Dieng enjoyed a great tournament run en route to Louisville's national championship. He was impressive, no doubt, and showed that perhaps he could still add a few offensive wrinkles to his game. He even showed some nice passing touch. Still, his value, like Withey's will primarily come on the defensive end. He has an NBA body right now, with fantastic length and strength. When he came to the United States in 2009, Dieng weighed 187 pounds. He is now up around 250, and he hasn't lost the athleticism that allows him to challenge shots and rotate. Despite his age, though, Dieng is still more of a guy you take based on upside. In my opinion, it will take him time to learn how to play defense in an NBA system, and outside of a few things he can do offensively, he still has a long ways to go. I could see his defense being similar to Tristan Thompson's rookie year, where his block numbers go steadily down while he learns that he has responsibilities defensively. I am more sold on Dieng playing NBA-proficient defense next year than I am Withey, primarily because of his strength. If he is available at 19 I think it would be a solid pick, though asking too much too early could be setting him up to fail.

Draft a player who can take his time developing

This philosophy involves punting in large part. Instead of relying on a middle first round draft pick to make a positive difference immediately, you take a guy who can hopefully be coming into his own in a few years with seasoning and growth. You won't see the fruits of the pick right away, but perhaps the upside is higher. This is ultimately the way I would go, should they decide to keep the pick. It could mean a few different types of players. Steven Adams is a 19 year old center from New Zealand who projects as a plus defender, and has the time to develop offensive skills. The Cavaliers could have him play all of next season in Canton under close supervision. By the time he is 21-22, he could be a great cheap option to join the rotation or even be used as part of a trade. A completely different type of player who could do the same thing is Archie Goodwin. He is 18, was seen a potential lottery pick heading into the year, and largely disappointed. He can't really shoot, but has great length, athleticism, and quickness for a 2-guard. His production, though, was quite bad. The Cavaliers could draft him, retain Wayne Ellington for a year and have Goodwin spend the year in Canton. If the Cavs don't want to use a roster spot on a guy who will spend a lot of time in Canton with the 19th pick, one of the international players not ready to come to the NBA yet makes sense as well. Giannis Adetokunbo is perhaps the guy with the most talent in this category

Trade the pick

This is, of course, the most difficult scenario to predict. Would the 19th pick just be one of several assets being moved? Would it be used to simply acquire a proven veteran? How good would that veteran be? I really don't know. Alonzo Gee and the 19th pick for Danny Granger? I don't know if either team does that. The point is, if Chris Grant doesn't see value around the Lakers pick, a trade for a real NBA player could be the best option.

My preference is that the Cavaliers don't put too much emphasis on ability to help immediately when they decide what to do with the Lakers pick. Young players take time, and it seems that free agency could be used as a way to patch up the Cavaliers' holes. Draft young guys who have the opportunity to be more complete NBA players.

NBA Draft: Under the radar prospects that make sense for the Cleveland Cavaliers

2013-05-08T23:06:53Z

I am on record admitting that I didn't watch too much college basketball this season. If it wasn't in the Big 10, all I know is from what I read on draft sites and ESPN and twitter and various other places. Now, keep in mind, I read a lot. I did quite a bit of pre-draft evaluation before last season's Draft, and I think for the most part my evaluations look pretty good after a year of results. So here are a few guys I find myself drawn to that will be around after the lottery.

Sergey Karasev- 6'7, 197 pounds, small forward, 19 years old

If the Cavaliers take Len or Noel with their first draft pick, Karasev is at the top of my wish list. The first thing I like about him is that he is from Russia; I had a Russian concentration in college. Karasev is incredibly young but has already led Russia's top pro league in scoring. Draft Express reports that at the Nike Hoop Summit he was the most mature player there, and boasts a high basketball IQ. While he is a gifted scorer, he has good court vision and is unselfish. It is easy to see him fitting in with a talent like Kyrie Irving. Again, he is only 19 years old. A lot of his scoring comes from catch and shoot opportunities; the Cavaliers desperately need someone that Kyrie and Dion can set up on the wing for catch and shoot opportunities. In Eurocup competition, which is a small sample size of only 11 games, he averaged over 16 points a game, and shot 49% from three point range. For the regular season in Russia he shot 38% from distance, impressive as he was the player opposing teams were most anxious to stop. He isn't very strong, or the quickest guy but he will shoot lights out. He is young enough to become a solid team defender and can bulk up. Chad Ford has him going 22nd in his mock draft. I would love it if the Cavaliers took him off the board a couple picks before that. It sounds as though he is available to come to the NBA immediately.

Lucas Nogueira- 6'11, 215 pounds, center, 20 years old

6'11 with a 7'5 wingspan, Nogueira has entered the NBA draft for a second time. He entered in 2011 before withdrawing, having never secured a commitment from a team to be selected in the first round. Now its 2013, and the rules state that if you withdraw once, you can't do it again. Nogueira has had his doubters for awhile now. While he is long and athletic, his effort level is inconsistent, and he is rail thin. Still, there is talk that he has matured a bit and his offensive game has slowly evolved over the years. He plays in the top league in Spain and has held his own. If the Cavs took him with the 31st or 33rd pick, he could stay over in Spain for awhile and the team could monitor his progress. Maybe he puts it all together, maybe he doesn't. But athletic dudes who can protect the rim and rebound don't grow on trees. Draft Express rates him as the 28th best prospect in this year's class.

Glen Rice Jr. - 6'6, 215 pounds, small forward, 22 years old

Glen Rice Jr. is an American who has played professional basketball in the United States and is still eligible for this year's NBA Draft. After being kicked off of Georgia Tech's team last March, he didn't have many options. He made his way onto the Developmental League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers and, for awhile, didn't do much of anything. Once he got his opportunity when another player on the team got hurt, though, he took full advantage, leading the team all the way to the developmental league championship. In the D-League finals, his team won in a sweep, and he averaged 29 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals per game. The D-League may not have the top talent that the NCAA has, but the talent is older and and much deeper. Chad Ford has Rice going 15th in his latest Mock, and Draft Express has him rated as the 31st best prospect. It is unclear if he will be available when the Cavs pick at 19, but it does seem that the Cavaliers really do value the developmental league and might be inclined to think highly of his performance there. If it were up to me I would take Karasev above him. he is a better shooter, is younger, and has less character issues.

As I hear about more prospects I may do another one of these type posts. As you can tell, I am pretty enamored with Karasev.

Cleveland Cavaliers fans maintain optimism, faith through lottery bound seasons

2013-05-03T22:36:53Z

With the news that ESPN is planning on producing an installment of their documentary series 30 for 30 on Cleveland sports and the fans persistence through what will likely be Cleveland's 50th year without a championship in a major sport in 2014, I found myself reflecting on the state of the Cavaliers fan base. Cleveland is, of course, a football town. The Browns franchise soaks up a huge amount of oxygen; I wasn't even shocked when I visited Cleveland for a Cavaliers game last month, and sports talk radio talked for twenty minutes about E.J. Manuel and whether the Browns would take him in the third or fourth round (this was at the infancy of his unbelievable rise up draft boards). I myself split season tickets to Browns games, and talk myself into a level of mediocrity that I will be comfortable with. If we win 8 games, that's a huge step in the right direction ...

But Cleveland is also a basketball town. Yes, you read that right. Cleveland is a basketball town. The Cavaliers may not get talked about too on sports talk radio, but you know what, those guys don't know much about basketball anyways. For the third straight season the Cleveland Cavaliers earned a top-6 draft pick. For the third straight season, the Cleveland Cavaliers gave significant minutes to guys who both never should have made an NBA roster, and guys who stopped being viable NBA players a half-decade ago. The franchise bottomed out after LeBron James left, and has yet to begin to climb its way back. But there is no talk of franchise relocation. There is no informed talk of young players upset about being drafted by Cleveland, or of wanting to be traded out. And the fans are still there. The Cavaliers finished 22nd in the league in attendance this year. This isn't good, but it could be much worse. This site's traffic compares favorably with several of our brother blogs who have teams in the playoffs. Cavs: The Blog, Waiting For Next Year and Stepien Rules have dedicated writers who understand the NBA and have a loyal following and produce great content almost daily. There are a number of intelligent people on Twitter that have dialogues and debates and jokes about the Cleveland Cavaliers every day.

How it was

The patience and loyal following the Cavaliers have is in many ways all the more impressive considering how far they have fallen. An NBA finals appearance, taking the eventual champion Boston Celtics to 7 games (P.J. Brown ...), winning 60 games in back to back seasons ... it was pretty awesome. And you know what, I am done trying to forget that era. That era was awesome. It was fun. Did the Cavaliers win a championship? No, but they won a ton of games. NBA media members routinely referred to Quicken Loans Arena as one of the loudest and imposing places for opposing teams to come play. I didn't go to a Cavaliers game until I was 21 in February of 2009. I have excuses for this (grew up a Bucks and Pistons fan, two hour drive, tickets are kind of expensive, etc.) but I will never forget the first one I went to. One of my uncles who lives in my neighborhood, but I unfortunately don't see as much as I should, had access to tickets about 15 rows up behind up the Cavaliers bench. He got us a hotel room for the night, and we watched the Cavaliers win their 23rd straight home game over Chris Bosh and the Toronto Raptors. LeBron James had 16 points in the first quarter, the pre-game video gave me chills, and I had an experience with my uncle that I will remember forever.

You could go to Waiting For Next year, and Andrew Schnitkey would have 1500 word previews for December match-ups with the Minnesota Timberwolves. You could turn on the television on a Tuesday night and Mo Williams would be convincing you with three after three that a championship was coming. Looking back, that February game I went to may well have been the apex of those Cleveland teams. We will get there again.

How it will be

This isn't going to turn into another article on how the Cavaliers are going to be good at basketball again. We have written and will continue to write those. But the great fans that range from their late teens to low 30's who understand what Cleveland basketball can be haven't gone anywhere. The Q may not have the atmosphere for these 20 win teams that it did for those 60 win teams, but there have been a few occasions that make it clear that its just a temporary absence, and not something permanent. Remember when Kyrie Irving and the Cavaliers were beating Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and the Thunder at home this season? It wasn't just Fred McLeod and Austin Carr that couldn't contain themselves; Quicken Loans was going nuts.

Cleveland has great basketball fans, and they will be rewarded for their patience soon. Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters, and Tristan Thompson will make sure of it. In the comments if you want to talk about who your favorite moment being a fan of the Cavaliers, or why you keep the faith that would be fun.

NBA Offseason - Can the Cavaliers Upgrade at Small Forward through the draft or free agency?

2013-05-01T21:07:04Z

By now, the phrase "3 and D" has become an essential term in NBA jargon. If you are one of these "3 and D" guys, you are an NBA wing who can both play solid defense and hit open three pointers. The league is changing; teams are utilizing the three point line more than ever, and it isn't a trend likely to slow down anytime soon. At the same time, teams are playing smaller. As teams become more reliant on scoring point guards and shooting guards there is less value in having a big clogging up the paint, and spacing the floor becomes ever more valuable. This isn't to say having a traditional big or bigs isn't important or necessary; unless you have LeBron James on your team, it almost certainly is. But there are simply fewer and fewer productive players who can't hit some type of jump shot.

In a recent Grantland piece, Zach Lowe tackled both the importance of having "3 and D" guys, as well as some players who fit this mold. He notes that the conventional wisdom holds that finding these types of players is relatively easy, but pushes back on this concept a bit. The amount of players who can capably guard 2's and 3's in the NBA while shooting league average or better from three point range is smaller than many think. He likens the archetype of this kind of player as Shane Battier, and it seems apt. Thabo Sefolosha may be the best example of a player in this mold who happens to be in his prime.

Cleveland is in dire need of this type of player. Offensively, Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters are more than capable of getting into the paint and getting defenses to collapse. When the offense was rolling last season (and it really was at various points) open looks created by our young guards were plentiful. The problem was, too many of those looks were created for Luke Walton (29% 3pt shooter) or Alonzo Gee (31.5% 3pt shooter). Only Kyrie Irving, Wayne Ellington, and CJ Miles showed real proficiency when shooting from distance. Irving and Waiters also mean that the third wing the Cavs employ need not be able to create for himself, or require the ball in his hands. If he understands spacing and can hit corner threes while showing a bit of proficiency cutting off the ball then that is more than enough. Defensively, the Cavaliers need someone who can both check the opposing teams best wing, and also understand his role in the defense. We all know Gee isn't a great defender off the ball, but over the course of the season he badly regressed even just in checking his own man. Some of this can be attributed to being worn down over the course of a season, but it is pretty clear that Gee doesn't belong anywhere near an NBA starting line-up.

NBA Draft

So who makes sense for the Cavaliers? The easiest place to find one of these guys might be the Draft. Otto Porter and Victor Oladipo both project in most analysts eyes as above average defenders in the league, and both enjoyed some success shooting from distance in college this year. There are caveats with both; neither are naturally gifted shooters, and when they get to the NBA and things speed up and the line moves back, there is reason to believe that there will be some adjustment time before they become proficient shooters. Oladipo might be a little short on height to guard some small forwards, and Porter may lack the lateral quickness to check all but a few shooting guards. In other words, while I think both have outstanding potential as "3 and D" wings (and perhaps much more) expecting it next season might be unfair. If I had to choose between the two at this point I would lean towards Oladipo; I think his strength and athleticism will allow him more flexibility in guarding NBA wings.

If the Cavaliers don't go the route of using a top 6 pick on a wing, there should be plenty of opportunity later on to get a difference maker. Sam has written excellent profiles on Reggie Bullock and Michael Snaer as guys who could eventually fulfill the role.

Free Agency

If Matt Barnes could be convinced to play for a team that will contend for the playoffs but not a championship, he could be a great fit. He plays with a lot of passion, wants to win, defends, and is a solid three point shooter. Cleveland could both give him a greater role than he has ever had before and avoid putting too much on his plate or asking him to do too much. Chase Budinger is coming off an injury and could be valuable for Cleveland on the cheap next season. Brandon Rush, should he decide to turn down a $4 million player option for next season, also makes sense. Corey Brewer passes the defense test and then some, but can't shoot. My feeling is that Oladipo will be on his level as a rookie next season. Dorell Wright or Martell Webster could be fits.

Trades

And, of course, there are trades. It just wouldn't be one of my columns without a trade proposal to infuriate the public at large. The Cavaliers need to trade for Trevor Ariza. But David, he is overpaid and has been terrible his whole career except for that one time in the playoffs, I hear you say. And you are sort of right. But he is only overpaid for one more year, plays solid defense, and is money on corner threes. How money, you ask? Per NBA.com/stats, Ariza was 40-85 on corner threes. When he played with John Wall, that is, had someone who could create for him, he shot 43% from distance. His Player Efficiency Rating of 14 is almost 2.5 points better than Alonzo Gee's. For the Cavaliers to improve next season, they don't necessarily have to add great players. They just need to stop giving bad players so many minutes. Ariza fits. I would be willing to give up the 19th pick in the draft for him. What are the chances the player with that pick ends up being good? If Ariza works out and has a great experience in Cleveland, we can re-sign him next season on a team friendly deal. He is still only 27 years old, and could easily be a valuable small forward off the bench.

Regardless of what route the Cavaliers go this summer, there is real opportunity to improve and pick up a player the team needs, all while maintaining long-term financial flexibility. It will be fun to see what Chris Grant can do.

NBA Free Agency: Should the Cavs re-sign Daniel Gibson?

2013-04-26T14:10:40Z

Daniel "Boobie" Gibson is something of a Cleveland legend. If you are a Cavaliers fan over the age of 21 or so, you probably remember where you were for Game 6 of the 2007 playoffs. LeBron James had gotten everyone's attention with a dominant Game 5 performance to pull the Cavs within a single game of eliminating the Detroit Pistons in what would be a shocking upset. Gibson, then a rookie taken in the second round, came off the bench and scored 31 points in 29 minutes. He attempted 15 free throws, making 12 and made all 5 three pointers he attempted, all while playing pretty good defense on the perimeter. He immediately became a fan favorite. I was a freshman at Ohio State at the time, and my roommate and best friend, a Pistons fan, threw something every time Gibson hit one of those three pointers. Beating that Pistons team, which by then had come to be so full of itself, felt good. Thanks, Boobie.

After a second season that saw him double his playing time and shoot a scorching 44% from three point range, Cleveland extended Gibson with a deal worth $21 million over 5 years. Originally thought of to be a steal by rival executives and fans alike, unfair expectations developed. It is hard to isolate a part of his game that has improved since his rookie season. He is a great shooter, can guard most point guards, can't guard shooting guards, can't handle the ball, can't pass the ball, and has been consistently asked to do all of those things. It isn't fair to him, it isn't fair to Cleveland fans, and it isn't fair to the people who share the court with him.

This season was perhaps the low point for him. I have written about why I thought the freedom given to Wayne Ellington and CJ Miles helped their games in former coach Byron Scott's offense. I could also write about how it wasn't a good fit for Gibson. Because of his weaknesses when it comes to distributing, Scott requiring guards to push the ball up the court to initiate the offense wasn't optimal. Gibson played 46 games out of 82 this year, usually missing time with aches and pains that stemmed from injuries that were hard to isolate. He shot 34% from the field, and 34% from the three point line. There is a place in the league for undersized 2-guards who can defend point guards and shoot 3's. If they can't shoot from distance, though, it's all over. In the last two seasons, Gibson has played a total of 81 games. His Player Efficiency Rating over that time is 8.5, and his true shooting is at 48%. These numbers, I don't have to tell you, are terrible.

It is hard not to be romantic about Gibson. "We will always have Game 6" is a common sentiment. That game alone probably added $10 million dollars onto the contract Cleveland offered him. With Mike Brown coming back, the coach with whom he had the most success, perhaps a rejuvenation of Gibson's career would be possible. At this point, though, a clean break is probably best. I really doubt there is a team out there who would be willing to give him a multi-year deal at this point, but I am sure he will catch on somewhere. I am just ready for it to be with someone else. If he finds a way to stay healthy and regains his three point shooting form, he could be a fit with a team who either has a shooting guard who likes the ball in his hands or a big point guard. In a different life I wouldn't mind seeing Gibson play off Dion Waiters a little bit.

I am ready to let Daniel Gibson walk. What say you, commenariat?

Poll

Should the Cavaliers bring back Daniel Gibson next year?

Yes

75 votes

No

297 votes

Shoot it Boobie!

79 votes

451 votes | Poll has closed