Is LeBron Upset with Coach Brown???

[heathmalc]

I cannot remember 100% for sure, but I believe this is the very first time I have ever heard LeBron publicly criticize Coach Brown:

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- LeBron James says Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown should have let Zydrunas Ilgauskas set a record last weekend.

Ilgauskas has tied Cleveland's record for all-time games played at 723 and will set a new mark with his next appearance. That could have been at home last Saturday, but Brown elected not to play Ilgauskas in a victory against the Dallas Mavericks.

"I definitely thought he should've played," James said Monday. "I'm not trying to stir up anything with coach or whatever is going on with the organization, but sometimes one game is the smaller things. What was on the line was something way bigger than us playing the Mavericks. That was Z breaking the record."

Ilgauskas declined interview requests Saturday night and on Monday.


Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4701191

Coach may unofficially be on the hot seat now?

[TheOUTLAW]

If he is, he is the crybaby that all the haters say. Personally I think he was just voicing an opinion. It is completely silly to argue that Brown would be on the hot seat because of this minor issue.

[heathmalc]

If he is, he is the crybaby that all the haters say. Personally I think he was just voicing an opinion. It is completely silly to argue that Brown would be on the hot seat because of this minor issue.

No, what would put Mike on the hot seat is the very fact that LeBron is upset with him.

In a way, I agree...It seems like an awful silly thing to be upset about. However, perhaps there is more to it than we know? Maybe he is upset with something else about the coach?

All I know is that I have never seen LeBron criticize his coach....ever, until I read that article. Maybe it is nothing, but if that is the case, then why does LeBron comment on it, after going 7 years without giving an opinion on his Coach's decisions?

As for LeBron being a 'cry-baby', I don't think so. But he is a prima-donna... as is Wade, Kobe, and every sporting superstar.

[heathmalc]

Oh yeah..... I'd be willing to bet Zydrunas plays against the Phoenix Suns!!!!

LeBron James:

"I definitely thought he should've played. I'm not trying to stir up anything with coach or whatever is going on with the organization, but sometimes one game is the smaller things. What was on the line was something way bigger than us playing the Mavericks. That was Z breaking the record."

[Roger Murdock]

Its bull **** Z didn't play. LeBrons sticking up for his teammate, hes not trying to get his coach fired. Jesus Christ people read too much into things.

[heathmalc]

Here is something that I read on another Cavaliers site (RealCavsFans):

I have an extemely hard time fathoming that Mike Brown was that oblivious to the situation. To me, it's pretty much impossible. He knew what was going on, and I have been assured that the organization had even corresponded with him about it briefly.

So, for whatever reason that Mike Brown had ... he consciously chose this night to sit Z and give him his first DNP-CD of his long career.

I've talked to everyone in the organization's front office/ownership. They still haven't gotten an answer that washes.

The matchup excuse just recieves a shaking of the head and disgusted laugh. Tyey all feel similarly to me, and most others that it was an uncalled for, and unwarranted statement that was very ill concieved, and a failure on HIS part to communicate effectively.

Like I said last night ...I think Mike Brown feels like his toes are being stepped on. I really can't say everything that I can say to convey exactly what I think is going on, and why. But, Mike Brown, since the Orlando playoff loss, has been scrutinized to a level that he's never been accustomed to since he's been our head coach.

Since the training camp and season have started, it's been obvious that the front office has been handling their concerns in a more proactive manner than at any other time. In many cases I think that this has rubbed MB the wrong way.

That's fine and good and can be understood. But, choosing this instance to make a statement was making it with the wrong player, and for the wrong reasons, and at the worst of all times.

Many ways exist in which Mike Brown can mark his head coaching territory, and the level of command he requires as our head coach that would make alot more sense than this decision.

If this is what is going on ...it shows a high level of detachment and poor judgment.

The tone that I seem to be getting is that everything isn't all peachy, and that this incident just happened to get caught-up in it. Seems that people have been upset with Coach since last season's end in the playoffs.

Link:
http://www.realcavsfans.com/showthread. ... 23&page=22

[Benedict_Boozer]

At the end of the day, Lebron and Mike Brown both know that all he has to do to get Brown canned is hint at it to Ferry. You better believe Gilbert and Ferry wouldn't even hesitate if they thought it might help LBJ resign.

For better or worse Lebron owns this organization right now. Brown will prob be walking on egg-shells for the rest of the year...pissing off Lebron James = not good for his job security.

[Rise Against]

It is odd that Z didn't see any playing time.. That was probably his first DNP in his career.

[Ballah]

Clearly giving Z his first DNP CD EVER on that night was intended as a message. But to who? and why? and is this going to backfire on Brown who a) sucks and b) should KNOW Lebron could have him decapitated if he wished.

[TheOUTLAW]

I don't think it was a message at all. I think that the Cavs went small and it worked so Brown just stuck with that.

[gflem]

That game was in hand whether or not Brown put Z in. However, I think what is being missed here is that Z asked NOT to be put in after he didnt play the first half as reported in the PD. I watched the game wondering why he didnt get in, and while Lebron standing up for Z is understandable, I dont think Brown's job is in jeopardy over this.
However it is notable that for the first time Lebron has spoken against his coach, and the fact that he can see the injustice done, as well as him saying that Z could have started means that Shaq would have been fine with that as well, is a shot across the bow if you will that Brown had better get his head out of his ass and realize that if this team doesnt win the title this year he is done with this organization.

[mg]

Heath I thought you were banned on RCF?

Personally I've always thought of Mike Brown as LeBron's 'Doug Collins.' Brown isn't a horrible coach but don't think he's a championship caliber coach either.

Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill. All he had to do was throw Z into the game for a few minutes Sat night and there would've been no controversy. Considering the circumstances I bet Shaq would not have minded if Z got the start.

[heathmalc]

That game was in hand whether or not Brown put Z in. However, I think what is being missed here is that Z asked NOT to be put in after he didnt play the first half as reported in the PD. I watched the game wondering why he didnt get in, and while Lebron standing up for Z is understandable, I dont think Brown's job is in jeopardy over this.
However it is notable that for the first time Lebron has spoken against his coach, and the fact that he can see the injustice done, as well as him saying that Z could have started means that Shaq would have been fine with that as well, is a shot across the bow if you will that Brown had better get his head out of his ass and realize that if this team doesnt win the title this year he is done with this organization.

No, that isn't being missed.... that was inaccurate reporting by the PD! BW asked Mike Brown if Zydrunas in-fact made that request (to be held out of the 2nd half), and MB told Brian that Zydrunas never said/asked not to be put in during the 2nd half, that it was entirely a coach's decision.

Heath I thought you were banned on RCF?

Personally I've always thought of Mike Brown as LeBron's 'Doug Collins.' Brown isn't a horrible coach but don't think he's a championship caliber coach either.

Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill. All he had to do was throw Z into the game for a few minutes Sat night and there would've been no controversy. Considering the circumstances I bet Shaq would not have minded if Z got the start.

I am.

[heathmalc]

This is the entire write-up from Independence:

James critical of Cavs coach Mike Brown for not playing Ilgauskas on big night

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (CP) – 1 day ago

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The Cavaliers concluded practice on Monday with a lighthearted game of football. The one player missing was the same one missing Saturday night - Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

Ilgauskas was set to become Cleveland's franchise leader in games played Saturday against Dallas, but coach Mike Brown elected not to play him. It's a decision that has upset Ilgauskas and LeBron James.

"I definitely thought he should've played," James said. "As a friend of his, I was very upset and I know he was, also."

Ilgauskas shares the record, currently at 723 games, with the team's general manager, Danny Ferry.

He is typically one of the last players to leave Cleveland's locker room after games. On Saturday, he was the first. He also declined to participate in the team's pickup football game on Monday, instead choosing to shoot at a basket with an assistant coach for a few minutes before leaving the court without speaking to reporters.

"I'm not trying to stir up anything with coach or whatever is going on with the organization, but sometimes one game is the smaller things," James said. "What was on the line was something way bigger than us playing the Mavericks. That was 'Z' breaking the record."

Brown said he intended on Ilgauskas playing his usual allotment of about 25 minutes, but the game's tempo prevented it from happening. Brown stuck with a smaller lineup that included playing James at centre for a short stretch in what was arguably Cleveland's finest game of the season.

Shaquille O'Neal played just 25 minutes in the Cavaliers' 111-95 win against Dallas that included big nights from Jamario Moon, Delonte West and Anderson Varejao, each of whom played at least 28 minutes.

"It wasn't planned. Even as the course of the game went on, I didn't expect to not play him," Brown said. "You can call it a mistake, you can call it a coaching decision. I get paid good money and I feel like I've done a decent job of treating guys right. Maybe in a lot of guys' minds, I didn't this time, I don't know. But that's part of being a head coach."

Ilgauskas has spent his entire 14-year career in Cleveland. He missed essentially three full seasons early on while dealing with broken bones in his feet. He is the team's all-time leader in blocks and rebounds and one of four in team history to score at least 10,000 points.

"He's been everything to this franchise and has given everything since he's been here," James said. "A lot of the guys that are here do not have the same history that I have with Z. They don't know what Z has been through.

"I don't think any of us would've been mad if Z started. He could've started, been subbed as soon as the game started and that would've given the fans a chance to give him a standing ovation. That's just the way I would've envisioned it."

Brown said he hasn't given much thought to starting Ilgauskas in Cleveland's next game, which is also at home against Phoenix on Wednesday, nor was he upset with James' remarks.

"That's fine," Brown said. "This is not the only time he or anybody else on my team has been upset with me."

Ilgauskas is off to the worst start of his career. He is averaging 7.1 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 38 per cent from the floor. He entered the season shooting 48 per cent for his career.

Brown said he goes into every game with a minutes sheet that he keeps in his shirt pocket, but he doesn't always follow it.

"A lot of coaching, at least for me, is by gut feel," Brown said. "You know who's in the game, but sometimes you make decisions based on the flow of the game or matchups on the floor.

"There are times throughout the course of a game when you might have forgotten a certain guy is in uniform, but that wasn't the case with Z. It was just at the time, matchup-wise, this is what I chose to do."

Ilgauskas is in the final year of his contract and has hinted he might retire after the season. James was a big proponent in Ilgauskas receiving a five-year contract during the summer of 2005.

"I think he knows I'm behind him in whatever he does," James said. "Me and Z are the only remaining two from when I was drafted. I stand behind whatever Z does because he's more than a teammate. He's a friend of mine and he's a big part in why this franchise turned around."

Copyright © 2009

[landphil]

Dont take this the wrong way Heath but why exactly are you bringing this up? And more specifically, why do you keep perpetuating the argument by bringing up new information and responding to everyone's posts on this subject as if this is a dire matter? Is it really that important to you (if so, my apologies for insulting you) or are you just trying to stir up some semblance of controversy (which seems more like your MO considering the other posts you seem to have been making lately, such as wanting shaq dealt, arguing (mostly with yourself) vehemently that Kevin Martin is coming to cleveland for a big man so the Kings can put 5 big men on the floor at a time)? Either way, this is a non-issue. Z is a million years old, the cavs won the game, Lebron stuck up for his team mate then gave it his all the next game. This is going nowhere.