Trust=Chemistry: The Mike Brown Mantra

[heathmalc]

"Trust=Chemistry"


That is Mike Brown's mantra, and something that he has posted all over the locker room and work-out facilities. The purpose of him repeating this all the time, and posting it everywhere is so that it becomes an ingrained team concept...just like his defense.

So, let's take a snapshot of the start of the 4th quarter of Friday night's game against the Boston Celtics: The setting is the beginning of the quarter, the Cavaliers have a 12 point lead, and LeBron is on the bench. after getting the Ball, Boston comes down the floor quickly, and the ball in thrown to Paul Pierce; Wally Szczerbiak is guarding him. (Pause game and look at LeBron)

He is intently watching the game, and nudges Tarence Kinsey from obscuring his view. (Continue game)

Paul Pierce fakes Wally, then shoots the ball and scores. (Pause game)

LeBron scoots half-way out of chair, half standing, looking toward coach Brown, expecting to be called...Wanting to be called. Mike Brown never looks at him, and LeBron sits back on the edge of his chair, awaiting the inevitable call that will come, that he wants to hear.
--------------------------

The point of this snap shot, is that there is no player on the Cavaliers' team who is more distrusted on the floor than Wally Szczerbiak. His defense is bad, he has tunnel-vision on offense, and he cannot seem to make shots at nearly the same rate as he used to...or even close to that rate.

If trust equals Chemistry, then Wally obviously has no chemistry with the rest of the team. And if he has no chemistry with the team, then trading him cannot hurt the team's chemistry.

Now, you begin to wonder why Sasha wasn't in the game, guarding Pierce. He is clearly the better defender. He can make a shot and has some range. So why was Wally even in the game? The only answer would seem to be that Sasha is in the dog-house for some reason, which may also mean he has no chemistry with the team...so losing him has no impact on the team.

Let us assume for a moment that the Cavaliers made no more moves this season.

(Skip ahead a year, January of 2010)

Cavaliers line-up:

Andy/Z/Wright(or other minimum player)
Ben/Hickson/Jackson
LeBron/Sasha
West/Sasha/Gibson
Mo/Gibson/West

The Cavaliers will not be trading Ben Wallace, so the only contract they will have will be Sasha, and any mid-level type player they may pick-up during the off-season.

Wait!!! So you are wondering why the Cavaliers wouldn't be trading Ben Wallace? Well, they would... for Bosh. But they'd need a bunch to go their way, so we'll assume it wont all go their way. The reason Ben is staying is because what he brings to the table. Not only does he truly get along with the guys on the team, but he has begun mentoring JJ Hickson. In-Fact, they are work-out partners. Mike Brown and Danny Ferry loves this development, as JJ Hickson is the exact same type of player that Ben Wallace was when he was younger...only with a better jump shot.

Okay, so, if the Cavaliers need to make a splash before the summer of 2010..they have to do it with ....Sasha? Ummm no. That won't work.

(Rewind to this year)

The Cavaliers have Wally Szczerbiak, Eric Snow, Sasha Pavlovic, Tarence Kinsey, Lorenzen Wright, Darnell Jackson, and picks that can all potentially be moved to acquire either a superstar/allstar side-kick, OR some OTHER players on contracts that would expire next season... thus giving them flexibility to make a move while teams are scrambling to get below the cap, for the summer of LeBron.

Some people of are the belief that the Cavaliers will not trade Eric Snow. This is not true. They will trade him! They won't trade him arbitrarily, for just any player... as it has to make sense for the Cavaliers to lose the insurance and cap money that Snow would bring. However, they will trade him if the situation presents itself. The money that Snow would save the franchise is but a drop in the bucket to the money they would lose if LeBron James leaves. So make no mistake about it - Eric can, and will be traded if a deal comes along that requires him being added.

So.. Expect for Wally to be traded...at the very minimum.

If we don't pick-up an all-star type talent this year, then I expect the Cavaliers to pick up contracts that expire next year, so the front office can take another swing this summer, and/or before next year's deadline.

[TheOUTLAW]

I could have sworn that the first few baskets in the 4th that were scored by Pierce were against Delonte.

[witnessmoboobie]

I believe he scored one against each of them early in the quarter. I think he backed down Delonte and hit a jumper around the FT line with Wally on him.

[Niko23]

Play, Pause, Rewind, Fastforward.......is this the cinemetography of a bad porn?

[TheOUTLAW]

That's what you do when you don't like a player and looking for things to say bad about them. Did Wally have a good game? No, but I don't think that the LeBron was showing a lack of trust in him either. LeBron sat for 3-4 minutes and frankly that's about when he normally comes back. Especially since the lead had shrunk to about 8 or so.

[Mr2400]

Again, looking way too much into this stuff. We all know that snow, wally, and sasha may or may not be traded. No need to use so many words to explain it again.

[TheOUTLAW]

He did make one good point though. The Cavs may trade Snow, but it's not going to be for alot of the crap deals that I've seen. It has to make alot of sense for them.

[Rise Against]

Yeah.. I don't think that LeBron was showing a lack of trust in Wally.. That isn't like him. He trusts everyone on the team. But honestly, I would be surprised if we do make a trade before the deadline.

[TheOUTLAW]

Again, I expect a deal but I think people should expect a deal where the Cavs are pretty much a clear winner. Those are just about the only deals that Ferry has done.

[Rise Against]

That's the point. It is difficult to make a deal where the Cavs are the winners of a trade. At this point, I don't see a trade happening based on the way we are playing right now but I would be surprised if we do make one.

[Mr2400]

I think a deal will be done simply because we know we can get a better player than wally if we trade him, and you have to jump at the chance to get better

[heathmalc]

by TheOUTLAW on Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:15 pm
Again, I expect a deal but I think people should expect a deal where the Cavs are pretty much a clear winner. Those are just about the only deals that Ferry has done.

That's the point. It is difficult to make a deal where the Cavs are the winners of a trade. At this point, I don't see a trade happening based on the way we are playing right now but I would be surprised if we do make one.

Just to clear a couple things up...

#1: Delonte West was guarding Ray Allen; Wally was Guarding Paul Pierce. - The one shot that Pierce made over Delonte was on a switch, where Delonte had to jump around Garnett

#2: I do not dislike Wally. However, I do value LeBron staying in a Cavalier uniform. And any trade that the Cavaliers make will have that in-mind.

#3: The Cavaliers cannot lose on a trade made with Wally. He has played worse this season than he did last year after the trade from OKC. The only thing he is marginally better at is fg%, which is 41% as opposed to 35%. As bad as he was shooting 3-pointers for us last year, he is a lot worse this year, while taking more of them, in LESS minutes!!!!!! Even his free-throw percentages are down to a career worse 82.5% (which is actually a good percentage for most players). Wally has 1 singe use, and NO OTHER. That use, is his ability to shoot. Since he can no longer do that, he is of no use to the Cavaliers. ANY TRADE that the Cavaliers make with Wally, where they get ANY player who can actually do something, or his contract offers them flexibility for next season... it is a WIN!

#4: There is a myth going around. That myth is that since the Cavs are doing well, they shouldn't mess with a good thing. This is a totally backward way of thinking. Yes, if the Cavaliers want to stay stagnant, and continue to have their bench perform poorly, and the Cavaliers dont want to be able to make a trade next year, and the Cavaliers are content to leave their front-court rotation, and it's health to fate, then yes, the Cavaliers should stand pat.

Everyone was really singing the blues when it was reported that Zydrunas would be gone for a month. What happens if Ben's back gets bad? What happens if Delonte, Mo or Gibson twist an ankle? What happens if LeBron hurts his wrist? What is JJ or Anderson land wrong?

Add ONE MORE injury to our regular rotation, and things could get desperate. Another Big-Man injury could have horrible consequences. And if we had to go a couple games without LeBron...While we had Z down? Well, we can pretty-much hang up any chance of winning then.

Okay... so you think the likelihood of injuries is remote? Alright, I'll humor you. Let us say that we somehow make it the rest of the season without another injury to any of our players. When we get to the playoffs, there are some things to consider. IE: The way the playoffs are played (half-court,physical)

With our current bench of Sasha and Wally... we are screwed at 2 positions, and limited in a third.
SG/SF position is totally screwed. If LeBron fouls out, then that leaves Sasha..or Wally? to make the difference for us???? OH CRAP! If Delonte fouls out... We are SCREWED. Again, we not only lose our only capable SG, but we also lose line-up flexibility. If Mo fould out, we still have Gib, or West.... so that position is only half screwed. Why is it screwed at all? Because it means that Gibby and West cannot be on the floor at the same time all the time...because in order for one4 of them to take a rest, that means that the other has to switch to PG, pushing Mr. Defense Szczerbiak into the SG position, and weakening us again..

The Cavaliers absolutely MUST get a SG/SF who can fill the role for the playoffs. Because Wally/Sasha cannot do it, as has been demonstrated. And this is just assuming there is no injuries...but we all know better. Teams ALWAYS have injuries...and we will have more too. The question is whether or no we will be prepared for them.

Wally absolutely MUST be traded. Not just for this year... but for the franchise's future. The Cavaliers have to use Wally to get their man this year, or use him to get an player who expires after next season, so we can use THAT contract to get the player we move forward with.

[TheOUTLAW]

most of the deals that you've suggested are ridiculously one sided. The Cavs bench has more than held there own just about all season and that was with Gibson being in a slump the majority of that time. But you are right, the Cavs would be in trouble if LeBron got injured. But, yeah of course they'd be in trouble. I don't think things are nearly as dire if something happened to either Delonte or Mo since we do still have Gibson and I think Sasha is alot more competent than you give him credit for.

[LoveThemCavs]

Way too many if's thrown around heathmalc. Of course, if LeBron is injured or fouled out we are screwed. There is nothing in any scenerio that will change that. Our bench has been better than I thought possible, there is no need to make dramatic change to it. If you want to rid of Wally fine, I don't really care one way or the other for him. You undervalue Sasha. In many ways, he's been one of our best perimeter defenders and he's valuable to our franchise in a playoff series. Chemistry is something you can't teach a team. This team has that and screwing with that makes no sense at all.

[Mr2400]

come playoff time, there are too many guards that are too big for west IMO. unless sashsa really steps it up and gets back into regular playing time, i don't think he will be able to be there for the cavs to count on come playoff time. Personally, i don't trust west to be able to stick with guys like joe johnson, kobe, carter, etc. come playoff time. I don't really trust sasha either because of his inconsistent play so far this year. if the cavs trade wally, i'd like for it to be for someone who can step in and guard those guys. maybe even someone who can start at the '2'.

[RevMan26]

I agree that alot of your trades are one sided, but you are right in one thing; if we have another injury while Z is out, things could get scary.

[Icness]

So let me get this straight...

Lebron wants to get back into the game, a very important contest against the only East team with any hope of beating the Cavs. But Coach decides to stick with the group on the floor, a group that had maintained the lead (up to that basket). Your interpretation is that because Lebron hates Wally, Brown wouldn't put Lebron back in the game because he's worried about chemistry and trust. I just don't know where to begin on that one, I mean, it's so convoluted. It's like the Pelican Brief or something.

Chemistry and trust are built by cohesion and continuity, not by constant lineup turnover. Does that mean I think Wally should be getting the minutes he's getting? No. Does it mean he should be used like Damon Jones was last year? Probably, esp. once Z comes back and the rotation returns to normal.

You have to ask yourself: what would dealing Wally bring in return? Would any other team give up anyone more valuable to the Cavs than Boobie, Mo, West, Lebron, Varejao, Z, Big Ben, or Hickson? I really doubt it. We might get someone of equal value to Pavs in return, nothing more. Package them together w/ Snow's contract and it might get a better backup PF/C than Hickson, but that contradicts your reasoning for dumping Wally in the first place--to try and keep Lebron happily in Cleveland until 2016. Hickson's development is far more important to that than shuffling the 9th/10th men on the roster.

Look at the Celtics. Watch how poorly Ray Allen plays when Eddie House is in the game, or how Garnett plays much better when Perkins is down low instead of Powe or having to move down there himself. It's about finding trust and chemistry between players, figuring out who fits well together. You want another one, go back and watch the Showtime Lakers. Notice that Kareem and Michael Cooper almost always played together and rarely played without the other, or that Worthy always looked to score more when Byron Scott was running the show, or that Magic looked for his offense more when Kareem had a tough defensive matchup. Great teams figure out those little tweaks and adjustments internally, they don't go out chasing every last deal to make their bench look better.

I think Mike Brown has greatly improved as a coach in figuring those things out, establishing a rotation and discerning combinations that work, and getting the unit to morph roles as needed when the unit changes. Like how differently Andy plays when he's on the floor with Z or with Ben, or how Boobie plays with Mo and without him. You throw another player into that, and those little nuanuces get blown up and have to start all over again. There's enough talent and team-first guys on the Cavs that it probably wouldn't take long, but is it really worth the risk when the #1 seed is already well within reach and the team is playing so well even without Z? Other than bringing back Joe Smith or a playoff-tested vet looking for one last run who wouldn't mind DNPCD most nights, this team needs nothing else to win a title. Tweaking is not necessary and is more apt to blow up in the face than to make any difference in winning the finals.

I believe in this team as it exists right now. I see no reason why they cannot win the NBA title with this group of players. Now if Lebron or Williams get a prolonged injury that's another story, but that's not fixable with anything that trading Pavs/Wally/Snow/Wallace could bring back. Many times the best trade is the one not made.

[Rise Against]

Very well said Icness. I couldn't have said it any better myself.

Honestly though, I would be more than happy if we got Joe Smith back.

[heathmalc]

So let me get this straight...

Lebron wants to get back into the game, a very important contest (1)against the only East team with any hope of beating the Cavs. But Coach decides to stick with the group on the floor, (2)a group that had maintained the lead (up to that basket). Your interpretation is that (3)because Lebron hates Wally, Brown wouldn't put Lebron back in the game because he's worried about chemistry and trust. I just don't know where to begin on that one, I mean, it's so convoluted. It's like the Pelican Brief or something.

#1 Celtics aren't the "only" team... probably not even the biggest threat to the Cavs. Orlando is!

#2 From this, I assume you missed the game. The Cavs held the lead the entire game. As for the basket (3rd) in question, it was 1:41 into the 4th quarter - It isn't Like Wally had been doing okay, but just got beat a couple times... Boston's ENTIRE offense went DIRECTLY at him! If you need a copy of the game, let me know!

#3 First, you totally misread what I was saying. I never said, nor implied that LeBron "hates" Wally. What I am saying, is that LeBron does not trust Wally, and he expected coach Brown to re-insert him into the line-up. Second, Brown didn't put LeBron back into the game at that point because we had a large lead and he wanted LeBron to get rest...it had nothing to do with "Chemistry"... Mike Brown gave-in and re-inserted LeBron at the 2:38 mark of the 4th quarter.... less than a minute later, and after Pierce had scored his 7th point of the quarter... ALL ON WALLY! (except the switch)

You have to ask yourself: what would dealing Wally bring in return? Would any other team give up anyone more valuable to the Cavs than Boobie, Mo, West, Lebron, Varejao, Z, Big Ben, or Hickson? I really doubt it. ight get someone of equWe mal value to Pavs in return, nothing more. Package them together w/ Snow's contract and it might get a better backup PF/C than Hickson, but that contradicts your reasoning for dumping Wally in the first place--to try and keep Lebron happily in Cleveland until 2016. Hickson's development is far more important to that than shuffling the 9th/10th men on the roster.

Well, I thought I was the only one who made long posts...

Anyway... Again, you have misread what I said!

#1 You ask what a team would give for Wally? Not a damn thing. However, they will give a lot for his contract! A hell of a lot more than someone like Pavlovic.

#2 How does packaging Wally with another player and/or picks hurt us when it comes to keeping LeBron happy???????? And who said anything about a PF/C???? I specifically said that we needed a SG/SF to replace Wally! However, if we did get a good 4 or 5 player, who was a fringe all-star, I'd be extremely happy with that move. And... it would not hurt Hickson's development! The only way that Hickson's development is hurt, is if HE hurts it! Players who can play, will get played. Period! A coach will not keep a player sitting on the bench if he believes that player can help the team win... which brings me to another thing : Sasha

I have always been a Sasha supporter. I watched him play when he was 17, and thought he had mass potential then. When the Cavaliers got him from Utah, I was thrilled. However, even though Sasha has improved on defense, he is very inconsistent, and often is in the wrong place, missing assignments. On offense, he usually plays well, and makes decent decisions...except when he decides he's a point guard

Anyway, I am convinced that Sasha's days are numbered in Cleveland. He has become that stale player who needs a change. He is still young, he can defend, and he has some range...and he has a very nice contract. This makes him trade-bait.

Fans of other teams probably are not high on him... but coaches of young or veteran teams will find him attractive as a throw-in to another trade.

Personally, I expect the Cavaliers to pick-up someone like Desmond Mason, to fill the role of Wally and Sasha. I also expect them to maybe pick-up another big that they can use for match-up situations. I would prefer to get Wallace, but word is that Gerald's stock has risen, and the Bobcats may have too many suitors now. For a big man... I am thinking of Ike Diogu (preferably), or Channing Frye, if we can't get Ike. Both are available, and would come cheap. If the Cavs made a deal with Portland, I'd expect the Cavaliers to make a trade for one of those two bigs plus Travis Outlaw for Sasha and a 1st round pick. That is a deal I believe is available for the taking. I also thing that if the right situation presented itself, the Cavaliers would love to take Jermaine Oneal off of Toronto. Jermain is a match-up nightmare for the Celtics and Orlando, and is considered the best overall defensive big-man in the league... which is saying a lot, considering his injuries.... Plus, Mike Brown would LOVE to have him.

Jermaine, Bargs, & Kapono for Wally, Snow, Sasha & Snow and 09 1st would be a nice deal...(Doubt Toronto comes off of Bargs though).

Anyway... Wally needs to go....and not come back.

[Mr2400]

So let me get this straight...

Lebron wants to get back into the game, a very important contest (1)against the only East team with any hope of beating the Cavs. But Coach decides to stick with the group on the floor, (2)a group that had maintained the lead (up to that basket). Your interpretation is that (3)because Lebron hates Wally, Brown wouldn't put Lebron back in the game because he's worried about chemistry and trust. I just don't know where to begin on that one, I mean, it's so convoluted. It's like the Pelican Brief or something.

#1 Celtics aren't the "only" team... probably not even the biggest threat to the Cavs. Orlando is!

#2 From this, I assume you missed the game. The Cavs held the lead the entire game. As for the basket (3rd) in question, it was 1:41 into the 4th quarter - It isn't Like Wally had been doing okay, but just got beat a couple times... Boston's ENTIRE offense went DIRECTLY at him! If you need a copy of the game, let me know!

#3 First, you totally misread what I was saying. I never said, nor implied that LeBron "hates" Wally. What I am saying, is that LeBron does not trust Wally, and he expected coach Brown to re-insert him into the line-up. Second, Brown didn't put LeBron back into the game at that point because we had a large lead and he wanted LeBron to get rest...it had nothing to do with "Chemistry"... Mike Brown gave-in and re-inserted LeBron at the 2:38 mark of the 4th quarter.... less than a minute later, and after Pierce had scored his 7th point of the quarter... ALL ON WALLY! (except the switch)

You have to ask yourself: what would dealing Wally bring in return? Would any other team give up anyone more valuable to the Cavs than Boobie, Mo, West, Lebron, Varejao, Z, Big Ben, or Hickson? I really doubt it. ight get someone of equWe mal value to Pavs in return, nothing more. Package them together w/ Snow's contract and it might get a better backup PF/C than Hickson, but that contradicts your reasoning for dumping Wally in the first place--to try and keep Lebron happily in Cleveland until 2016. Hickson's development is far more important to that than shuffling the 9th/10th men on the roster.

Well, I thought I was the only one who made long posts...

Anyway... Again, you have misread what I said!

#1 You ask what a team would give for Wally? Not a damn thing. However, they will give a lot for his contract! A hell of a lot more than someone like Pavlovic.

#2 How does packaging Wally with another player and/or picks hurt us when it comes to keeping LeBron happy???????? And who said anything about a PF/C???? I specifically said that we needed a SG/SF to replace Wally! However, if we did get a good 4 or 5 player, who was a fringe all-star, I'd be extremely happy with that move. And... it would not hurt Hickson's development! The only way that Hickson's development is hurt, is if HE hurts it! Players who can play, will get played. Period! A coach will not keep a player sitting on the bench if he believes that player can help the team win... which brings me to another thing : Sasha

I have always been a Sasha supporter. I watched him play when he was 17, and thought he had mass potential then. When the Cavaliers got him from Utah, I was thrilled. However, even though Sasha has improved on defense, he is very inconsistent, and often is in the wrong place, missing assignments. On offense, he usually plays well, and makes decent decisions...except when he decides he's a point guard

Anyway, I am convinced that Sasha's days are numbered in Cleveland. He has become that stale player who needs a change. He is still young, he can defend, and he has some range...and he has a very nice contract. This makes him trade-bait.

Fans of other teams probably are not high on him... but coaches of young or veteran teams will find him attractive as a throw-in to another trade.

Personally, I expect the Cavaliers to pick-up someone like Desmond Mason, to fill the role of Wally and Sasha. I also expect them to maybe pick-up another big that they can use for match-up situations. I would prefer to get Wallace, but word is that Gerald's stock has risen, and the Bobcats may have too many suitors now. For a big man... I am thinking of Ike Diogu (preferably), or Channing Frye, if we can't get Ike. Both are available, and would come cheap. If the Cavs made a deal with Portland, I'd expect the Cavaliers to make a trade for one of those two bigs plus Travis Outlaw for Sasha and a 1st round pick. That is a deal I believe is available for the taking. I also thing that if the right situation presented itself, the Cavaliers would love to take Jermaine Oneal off of Toronto. Jermain is a match-up nightmare for the Celtics and Orlando, and is considered the best overall defensive big-man in the league... which is saying a lot, considering his injuries.... Plus, Mike Brown would LOVE to have him.

Jermaine, Bargs, & Kapono for Wally, Snow, Sasha & Snow and 09 1st would be a nice deal...(Doubt Toronto comes off of Bargs though).

Anyway... Wally needs to go....and not come back.

The bucket in question was at 1:41 into the 4th? wow, that's a little hard to believe considering pierce's last basket was with 10:00 left in the 4th and actually there was no bucket made at all 1:41 into the quarter.

you are seriously, seriously kidding if you think portland is going to give up Outlaw AND Ike/Frye for Saasha and a 1st (which is pretty much useless because it will be so late). That is one of the most one-sided deals ever. Outlaw is their main scorer off the bench. without him, their bench is much much worse and sasha can't change that. Outlaw also plays some pretty good minutes for them (27) and is still very young at 24. They trust him in the clutch as well. They gave him the ball on an iso against Detroit the other night and he hit the game-winner. Seriously, that trade is just awful for portland. Awful, awful, awful.

Lebron came back into the game after Pierce's 4th point of the quarter, not his 7th.
http://www.nba.com/games/20090109/BOSCL ... yplay.html