March 23,'08 Random Thoughts

I took a week off – things needed done.

Cavaliers Lack D
The Cavaliers are starting to fall into a dangerous pattern of winning at home but falling badly on the road – even against sub-par teams. That means they aren’t defending every night. You can do that and win at home – especially when you have arguably the best closer in the game (23). But on the road, it's a different story.

They are having an especially difficult time stopping guard penetration. This was also the case when Larry Hughes wore a Cavs’ uniform, but it’s even more of a problem now. The Cavaliers will need to tighten up defensively if they want to do serious damage in the post-season. Not having Big Ben healthy also allows quality post players to feast on the Cavs inside.

I may be the only observer around who feels not having Eric Snow healthy hurts this team heading into the post-season. Snow would make it much more difficult for the opposing point guard to go where he pleases. Having Snow available, even for short spurts come post-season, would help the Cavaliers advance.

Andy & Ben
You can’t play both Andy V and Ben W at the same time on a consistent basis. We have stated that before. Neither player can score the basketball. It makes it too easy for teams to defend James and the other players on the floor. That's not to say both aren't important to the team's success however.

Mind you, the addition of Wallace is a good fit – as we stated at the time of the trade – because he is a perfect compliment to Z, who is the team’s best 15-foot face-up shooter.

Screen & Roll
This conversation all leads us to the pick and roll sets the Cavaliers run. I see no reason why the Cavaliers run screen and roll with James and either Ben or Andy. All it does is bring another body over to help defend James. Besides, neither Andy nor Ben can finish unless they are standing under the basket with no one around them.

It makes much more sense to involve Wally Z. or Joe Smith in those screen/roll situations with James. The reason why Z and James work well on screen/rolls is because Z has turned himself into an excellent perimeter shooter. The same amount of success – if not more – could occur if you involve Wally/Joe in pick and pop sets with 23.

This is the time to tinker so you know what will and won’t work come playoff time.

More Z
I have criticized the Cavaliers in the past for signing Z over thinking long-term and keeping Boozer instead. Time has proven me right in terms of which player is a better pro right now.

However, I must credit Z for working hard every night and changing his game for the better after reaching the age of 30 and beyond. Z was mostly a post-up player prior to his foot injuries. Since coming back, he has steadily improved his shooting and is now one of the best face-up shooting post men in the game. This makes him valuable on a team with LJ - who draws so much attention.

Danny Ferry and Mike Brown have said over and over again the team needed to surrround 23 with shooters. That's the main reason the 11-player deal came down several weeks ago. In theory, between Joe Smith, Wally Z., Boobie G.,, once healthy, and Z, Mike Brown should be able to find a couple players who can make teams CONSISTENTY pay when they decide to mug James come April.

Wally Z. is not a good man-on-man defender, however, his size and range, along with his 16-point career scoring average will get him floor time. It's up to him to take advantage of it.

Notice I did not mention D.West or Damon J. That's because both have been unable to defend. Jones has a history of not being able to defend and will likely to see his minutes cut when Gibson returns. Here's hoping West plays better at the defensive end of the floor come playoff time, or he will become a spectator as well.

D’Angelo Hall
Now we know what a quality cover corner is worth on the open market – a high #2 draft choice and a second day pick to go along with it. D’Angelo Hall, arguably one of the NFL’s best corners, was recently dealt from Atlanta to Oakland. He then signed a huge contract potentially worth $70 million. Yet, the Falcons could not get a #1 pick for a corner that has Pro Bowl talent and is in his prime.

It never ceases to amaze me how NFL teams value draft choices more than proven talent. Answer this – what are the odds the Falcons will draft a player that has a better NFL career than Hall with that #2 pick? The odds are slim that will happen. That’s the point. Teams, time and time again, value picks over guys who “have done it.”

There is an out here – in many cases, the NFL players being traded carry some baggage (i.e. Hall), otherwise they would not likely be dealt. However, in nine out of 10 cases, we prefer the guy who has done it over an unknown quantity - a yet to be determined draft pick.

You may wonder then why do I want the Browns to deal DA – who “has done it” albeit for one year (2007). Simple. I think they have someone better waiting in the wings and they still have needs to fill elsewhere (i.e. pass rusher, linebacker, corner, safety, etc...)

Indians In 2008
As many of you know, I don’t follow the Grapefruit League/Cactus League schedule. It means nothing. Last year, I had the Indians finishing at 89-73 and narrowly missing out on post-season. I was wrong. Good.

This year, with everyone basically back, one can expect the Tribe to once again be in the hunt. That’s not a bulletin.

Here are two things that must happen if they expect to once again be one of the league’s elite teams in 2008 - Travis Hafner has to bounce back and have a quality season at the plate and Fausto Carmona has to show that 2007 was not a fluke. If those two things happen, the Tribe should once again be a 90+ win team – which hopefully will be good enough to qualify for post-season play.

That's not to say Hafner has to go 40/120 while hitting .320. Few players do that anymore now that the "juice" has been reduced in MLB. But he must do much better than a year ago. You can't pay a DH that kind of cash and have him hit .250 with average power numbers.

As for Carmona, if he has an ERA in the mid threes while winning 17 games, I would be thrilled. AL hitters have now had a full year to study him. It will be interesting to see what adjustments have been made.

Tyler Hansbrough
I have been watching some Division I basketball tournament play and have come to this conclusion – Tyler Hansbrough is a terrific college player who plays with great heart and deserves every positive accolade one can give him for the way he carries himself at North Carolina.

However, he would not be in my top-10 if I were drafting for an NBA team - any NBA team. He’s simply too mechanical, too slow-footed to be a 30 minute a night player at the next level. That’s not to say he won’t work his tail off for you and be a solid role player, but if he is a relatively high lottery pick, that GM in question should be held accountable when Hansbrough struggles.

Jeremiah Wood
On the other hand, I have seen my alma mater’s Jeremiah Wood (University of Akron) play several times now in recent weeks and feel this 6-6 post player would be a good fit taken in the second round or signed as a free agent by an NBA team that needs to fill out its bench.

Wood was obviously overlooked by large Division I schools because he lacked height for a player who did most of his damage with his back to the basket. Akron wisely picked him up and he excelled for them. They (Akron) even listed him as a forward, even though he does much of his damage inside. Because of his footwork in the paint and relentless approach, he is deserving of a look at the next level.

Politics
Now my political thought for the week - Obama is done. Many Americans simply do not want to be reminded we still have race issues to deal with - especially those in towns like Scranton, PA or Youngstown, Ohio. Many middle class whites are resentful when the race issue is brought up. That doesn't make them right - it just makes it so. These folks are busy trying to pay for $3 a gallon gas and frustrated they can't save enough for their kids' college. They don't want to be told there is unfinished business in terms of race they must address. No sir.

I can understand Senator Obama's pastor having some built up anger for whites. He grew up in the 1950s & 1960s when blacks could not eat in many restaurants and were told certain water fountains were off limits as well. He lived through injustice yet served his country as a Marine. I can see why he feels conflicted. So I cut him some slack. I would probably feel the same way if I were black and approaching retirement or in my 70s.

However, times have changed. In some cases, the balance has been tilted in favor of minority hirings to help even out years of injustice. I am okay with that. I do belive in some form of Affirmative Action. Our society is not totally color blind - but things are much better.

However, the problem for Obama is the danger of being seen strictly as a black candidate - something he had been able to avoid until the "Rev. Wright Controversy" arose. That's not good.

Middle class whites, who are struggling from pay check to pay check, and feel no one is giving them any special favors, could punish Obama at the ballot box come November - if not sooner, if they believe, in their minds, Obama sees the world like his pastor and friend of 20 years.

Obama has an interesting resume and is an excellent orator with the ability to move people to action. My guess is he's like that team that reaches the playoffs for the first time. That squad is more likely to do serious damage the next time around - after being there once and learning from it.

The same may be the case for the Senator from Illinois.