Memphis 111, Cleveland 109

Tale of two halves. The first half was fantastic; the Cavs passed well, they brought energy on both ends (LeBron seemed to be putting on a show for the Memphis crowd) and they build a nice comfy lead by playing defense and running. Daniel Gibson scored 10 points in the quarter and the Cavs lead 31-25 after one period.

But the second half... ugh. The Cavs had an 11 point lead (59-48) going into the third quarter but acted like they were up 25. The effort just wasn't there; the Cavs threw the ball away, played poor defense (in both the halfcourt and transition) and all offensive flow ground to a halt. The Cavs had trouble with Rudy Gay (he's too big for Delonte, like Turkoglu), Zach Randolph (too skilled for Hickson) and Mike Conley (he gave Mo fits with his speed). The Grizzlies executed down the stretch (running plays for Randolph, Mayo and Conley) while the Cavs settled for jumpers.

The weird thing is, the Cavs shouldn't have even been in this game at the end. I'm not sure there are words to describe the offense. If you like five guys standing around until someone hoists a terrible three, then you were in heaven. The only reason the Cavs even got the game into overtime was because LeBron and Mo knocked down a couple of those "no no no no no no YES!" threes. I don't get it, this is year 5 of Mike Brown's tenure and the offense always reverts to this garbage anytime the Cavs are in a close game. Whether it's Brown having no offensive clue, LeBron going off script and doing his own thing or some combination of the two, I dunno (some call it "LeBron not trusting the play"). But there's no reason why this team should still be having this problem.

Frustrating game. The Cavs had some issues throwing entry passes to both LeBron and Shaq, resulting in at least 4 turnovers. LeBron didn't help matters by "posting up" 20 feet from the rim (he consistently allows himself to get pushed off the block). The Cavs kept going under the Grizzly screens, allowing two huge buckets (Mayo's go-ahead trey and Conley's game winning layup). Also, if you're going to go to the LeIso, could you at least put Boobie in the game? Gibson scored 13 point, shot 3-3 from downtown (5-7 FG overall) and yet played only 16 minutes (and didn't sniff overtime until the very end). The Cavs shot the same number (24) of free throws as they did three pointers. Not good.

LeBron had some pretty numbers but others weren't so nice. LeBron had an eye-popping 43 points to go with 13 boards and 6 assists. Nice. However, LeBron took some terrible, terrible threes (4-11 3pt FG) and had 5 turnovers. Not nice. I found it fitting that his final shot was an off-balance 25 footer as time expired (he scored all 9 Cavalier points in the extra period). LeBron went a little too much into Hero Mode (he had a little feud with Rudy Gay) and the Cavs got out of their rhythm. I don't like how the offense looks when LeBron dominates the ball so much; I'm way to tired to look up the Cavs' record when LeBron scores 40 or more but I'm can't imagine it's over .500.

Some guys played well, others notsomuch. Mo Williams had 20-8-5 but got schooled on the pick-and-roll with Conley (if I'm playing the Cavs, I put Mo and Shaq in the pick-and-roll all game). Shaq had a decent game with 16 points and Boobie scored 13 (though just 3 after the first quarter). Anderson Varejao had an OK game before fouling out (5 points, 6 boards) but J.J. Hickson looked spooked after getting schooled by the post moves of Zach Randolph.

Memphis looks like they have the makings on a nice young team. Every one of the Grizzlies' starting five had double digits: Randolph had 32 (10-19 FG, 11-11 FT), Mayo had 28, Gay had 21 (finishing 9-22 after a horrendous 2-9 start) while Conley and Marc Gasol had 12 and 11, respectively. That's a decent five right there. However, they got squat from their bench; the Grizzly bench had 7 people between them and no one made more than one basket. Hasheem Thabeet does not look comfortable out there, it looks like he has stone hands (though the game is probably just moving too fast for him at this point).

and finally...

Not the way you want to spend the first night of a back-to-back. The Cavs face Houston on Wednesday night and if they're tired, they have only themselves to blame. The Cavs had a 10 point halftime lead and acted like this game was over (yes, Memphis was demoralized early on but the Cavs never went for the kill). Not gonna lie, Brown's performance worries me (for some reason he had Shaq in for big offensive plays and for some reason Memphis didn't foul him) and I hope he can get these guys prepared to face the Rockets.

Update your files

Really ESPN? This is the picture you have on file for Delonte West? He's been on the Cavs for almost 3 years. You have nothing for Brandon Jennings either? Makes sense, he's just the rookie that dropped 55 in a game. Makes sense you wouldn't have a picture of him.

29-0

I find it interesting that LeBron was so animated on the bench the very next game after the confrontation with Joakim Noah. Lesson learned.

This was a bloodbath. The Cavs spotted the Bucks and 11-0 lead... and then led 39-17. The Cavs scored 29 straight points with Delonte going for 14 straight to start the second quarter. LeBron was certainly enjoying Delonte's run from the bench, hopping up and yelling every time West scored another bucket (man, he sure looks like he can't wait to leave, eh Simmons?).

I'm more than okay with James hamming it up on the bench (most of the time). Think about that- he's on the bench when this is happening. It's not like he's kneeing someone in the balls and then staring him down (for instance). He's not hitting garbage time buckets and preening around. He's celebrating the good play of his teammates (you know, the ones everyone calls "The LeBrons), this is a bad thing? Stop having fun!

And as far as I'm concerned, they're allowed to ham it up if the Bucks did this:

The Bucks played Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" as James and the Cavaliers were introduced, an apparent jab at the franchise because James can opt out of his contract at the end of this season and become a free agent.

Seriously Milwaukee, what the hell are you thinking? Do you want LeBron to leave the Cavs? You're cool with stars to leaving their mid-market (winning) teams to bolt for the bright lights? Really? What about Brandon Jennings? You think he might want a bigger market to showcase his talents? Hell, Cleveland gave your city C.C. Sabathia, allowing Brewers fans to experience postseason baseball for the first time this decade, this is how you repay us?

Poor form, Milwaukee, poor form.

Wow, he sure is good at reading body language

Bill Simmons:

32. Cleveland
First, the Cavs choke in the 2009 playoffs. Second, the best two starters on the 2008 Indians start Game 1 of the 2009 World Series for two teams not named "Cleveland." Third, the Browns clean house and hire Eric Mangini, who takes that same house and sets it on fire with a flame thrower. Fourth, what could end up being LeBron's final Cavs season is distinguished early by Shaq looking like a bald Aretha Franklin and LeBron's body language occasionally lapsing into "I can't wait to find a new team; I am tired of playing with crap teammates" mode. And fifth, there are two nights of star-studded concerts to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame -- located in Cleveland, as you know -- and those concerts happen at Madison Square Garden.

Here's my question, God: What did Cleveland do to you?

He's not totally wrong (hasn't been a good stretch for Cleveland sports)... but I'm not as down on Shaq as he seems to be. Right now the Cavs are 13-5 and last season they were 15-3... everything is OK. I'm pretty sure this team has a higher ceiling. (For what it's worth, I'm enjoying Simmons' book and I'm almost finished. I'll post a full review when I'm done. He has some nice shout outs to the 90s Cavs).

I guess there's one (kinda/sorta/not really) bright spot:

The year-old New York City annex to Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum will shut down Jan. 3.

A news release issued Thursday by S2BN Entertainment, a partner in the venture, gave no reason for the closing.

Rock hall CEO Terry Stewart tells The Plain Dealer newspaper in Cleveland the decision was made by corporate partners who had backed the $10 million annex in downtown Manhattan.

So it looks like the Rock Hall won't be moving anytime soon (the NYC annex felt like a trial balloon to move it out of Cleveland). It's really stupid that all the 'real' rock hall ceremonies aren't held in Cleveland.

Pssst, wanna read something dumb?

Go here.

I'll give you a little taste:

The guy is a diva who acts like he is the GM. He couldn't co-exist with established high-scoring volume shooters like Ricky Davis, Larry Hughes, and Dajuan Wagner. If you remember correctly, Wagner, who was supposed to be the future of the franchise, was only 20 when James was drafted. Wagner was instantly moved to the end of the bench and his career was ruined. Davis was shipped out because James couldn't co-exist with him. He hated playing with Eric Snow. He drove out Drew Gooden, so his buddy Anderson Varejao can land a huge contract. He dominates the ball and clogges up the lane, so Larry Hughes couldn't slash.

Yup.

(Inside all the stupid there's a point that James shoots too much and can dominate the ball too often. I don't necessarily disagree. Though the entire post could be one giant joke. Let's hope.)

We're going with Tait

See, I just dropped my cable. Can't afford it. Hours at work got cut, living alone... I simply can't afford cable and DVR (this may come as a shock to none of you, but I don't make any money from this site). And really, I rarely watch TV. I record a few shows like Venture Bros, 30 Rock and Always Sunny, but those can be downloaded (both legally and illegally) and I mainly want/need the cable/DVR combo for LeBron and the Cavs.

So I look into NBA League Pass Broadband. Looks sweet enough: pick 7 teams, watch them live (with DVR) and there's a full season archive available (which is nice, because I work nights and miss games live- like tonight). But here's the problem: the blackouts. If I get the league pass, every Cavaliers game (regardless if home or away) is blacked out (since I live in Cleveland). Every. Single. Game (including the archives). So.... sweet.

That's where I am at the moment. I really have no clue what I'm gonna do about Cavs games and this blog (well, game recaps. I'm still gonna post my same infrequent bullshit). Despite my absences here and there, I really do enjoy writing this blog but I'm not sure how I'm gonna be able to write about Cavs games without, you know, actually seeing the games.

So I have no idea. Maybe call Time Warner (yet again) and see what cheap package I can get that has FSNOhio and then mess around with a VCR. Maybe I'll become an alcoholic and hang out at bars every night. Or maybe I'll get the second job or a fulltime position at CCPL and be able to afford cable/DVR. I dunno. At the very least, I get to reacquaint myself with the wonderful(ly cranky) Joe Tait. So there's that (which isn't terrible).

Anyways, I did not see the Cavs demolishing of the Suns and I missed seeing my favorite uniforms (from the Price-Daugherty years). Ilgauskas led the Cavs in scoring (with 14) while six other Cavs scored in double figures (plus Varejao had 9 and both Delonte and Jamario had 8 apiece).

The main story is the fact Z became the franchise's leader in games played (and third in scoring, behind Daugherty and LeBron) but didn't seem particularly happy afterward:

“I was very disappointed,” said Ilgauskas, “that I didn’t play in the last game. I know I’m a good player and I could have been impacted the outcome. What made me more disappointed were some acts that followed … I’m not going to go in any details. I know when I got to bed at night my conscience is clear.”

So that's, um, great....

Only in Cleveland

Can a player get his first career DNP-CD on the night he's supposed break the franchise mark for most games played. Well done Mike Brown and everyone involved. Terry Pluto:

Sources told The Plain Dealer Ilgauskas was so upset about not playing in the first half that he asked to sit out the second half. Probably not a good move by him, but Mike, you started this.

You got caught up in the flow of the game and how your little lineup was performing. But even when the massive O'Neal played, your team outscored Dallas by five points in his 25 minutes.

You certainly could have found some time in the first half for Ilgauskas.

Mike, you are one of the best coaches when it comes to dealing with the feelings and egos of your players. This is your fifth season with the Cavs, and rarely is there any controversy between you and the players.

That doesn't happen by accident. You usually are smart about these matters.

So you should not be surprised that there is fallout from Ilgauskas receiving the first DNP-CD (Did Not Play, Coach's Decision) of his career. Or that your big man would be hurt, especially since this was not a matter of him being disciplined. It was just your call.

Nor should it have been a shock when James stepped up to defend his teammate. Other than his buddies from St. Vincent-St. Mary, no teammate has meant more to James than Ilgauskas.

After Monday's practice, you said: "[Sitting Ilgauskas] wasn't planned. Even as the course of the game went on, I didn't expect to not play him. You can call it a mistake, you can call it a coaching decision."

I call it both a mistake and a bad coaching decision -- and I suggest you say the same to Ilgauskas when you meet privately.

This is not a crisis, it's not something that divides a team or alienates them from the coaches. But it is a distraction, one that you created and also could have easily avoided.

In the grand scheme of things, this is not a big deal. However, it would've been nice to honor Z and have him break the franchise mark at home at The Q.

If you're itching for more Ilgauskas, Smooth over at Cavalier Attitude has a nice collection of Zydrunas YouTube highlights. I suggest you go take a gander.

This Team is a Joke

What an all around awful game. The defense was terrible, the offense was abysmal and the special teams were non-existent. I really hope I don't see people defending the defense (since they only gave up 16 points). The Bengals ran for 210 yards with Cedric Benson on the bench. Terrible.

Brady Quinn did not look good. He rarely threw downfield (for what it's worth, the playing was horrendous) and his quick throws were wildly inaccurate. Not that his inaccuracy mattered, since the Browns' receivers couldn't catch the simplest of passes.

Neither Quinn nor Derek Anderson have gotten any favors from the receiving corps. Patrick McManamon:

Quinn is throwing to a rookie, a guy who was acquired via trade four games into the season, and a special-teams returner being forced into a receiver's role.

Ya, that about sums it up.

Also, what does Offensive Coordinator Brian Dabol have to do to get fired? What a terrible game plan. To his credit, the Browns ran some nice plays on their one scoring drive (a Cribbs-to-Quinn pass and a QB draw for the TD) but he followed it up with a drive that consisted of 3 horizontal passes to Cribbs for no yards. Just awful.

This season can't end soon enough.