Mike Brown’s rotations right now are a total mess. At most points it seems like he’s just running out whomever isn’t too tired and hoping something sticks.
Bron played a lot at the 4 tonight. In fact, he started the second half at that position, which is something I’ve been meaning to write about but haven’t. It’s looking more and more like Andy and Shaq can’t both start. With Shaq down low, and the floor less spread than it was with Z, Andy is unable to dive and cut and get shots off in space around the rim. Poor decision making on his part - a desire to dribble drive - hasn’t helped either.
The problem here is twofold since Andy’s defender can double Shaq easily - and Shaq has shown no ability whatsoever to pass the ball with 1 assist in 54 minutes.
The other end of this though is that Shaq’s rotations on defense have been terrible, and if you pull Andy out of line next to him, the defense could be even worse than it has been.
You could make a case that Shaq might be best suited coming off the bench to play when Mo is on the floor and maybe even when Bron isn’t. The idea being to pound the ball in to Shaq on the block and surround him with shooters - which is easy for the Cavs to do.
However, the only real shooter the Cavs have at 4 is Z, and that creates a whole other issue on defense - those guys are getting killed together in transition - and since, at least tonight, there were too many misses on the offensive end during those sets (overall, the Cavs shot 34.9%) transition was easy for Toronto.
Toronto created specific match-up problems for the Cavs because Bargnani is a 5 that can shoot threes and neither Z nor Shaq could step out on him.
As Brian Windhorst blogged, Coldstone had a long meeting with Danny Ferry and Lance Blanks, the Assistant GM. Presumably, the rotation was discussed.
Shaq, in my mind, is the big issue here. Nothing is working when he’s on the floor. I don’t subscribe too much to +/- numbers overall, especially non-adjusted ones (I owe you guys a column on this still), but Shaq was -25 tonight. Watching the game, you could see why.
During the first half, I asked Tim what he thinks the chance is that Shaq gets dealt before the trade deadline. This is not a good sign.
Shaq wasn’t even slightly effective on offense or defense tonight, and Toronto was one of the teams - without a great post defender - that I thought he could damage, either with his back downs or by passing out for three point shots. Somehow though, Bargnani kept him out of the paint. And when Toronto doubled and triple teamed, Shaq didn’t pass.
With no advantage on offense, Shaq’s inability to guard Bargnani and even rotate for help defense became a more noticeable disadvantage. I started to wonder whether or not Shaq is a player built for a different era in the NBA. 7’0” tall 5’s that shoot 38% from 3 didn’t exist when he was in his prime.
I don’t know how the Cavs go to Shaq and ask him to come off the bench this early in the season and risk upsetting him. Still, he really has no power - his play has been poor, and if he wants another contract for substantial, he has to win in Cleveland. The easier conversation is with Andy, but then you have to settle on either Bron starting at the 4 or putting Hickson there, which Mike has shown no desire at all to do. But he may have to.
The Stephen Jackson rumors are heating up. I don’t see the sense in making this deal now. Why add another new piece to a team that is in total disarray? Plus, why use one of your biggest trade chips (Z’s contract) now on a slightly above average wing player when who knows which other players might be available by February?
The “it’s going to take time” point is a fair enough one to raise, but I’d counter that by asking how long it took Chauncey Billups to fit in in Denver last year or how long it took Pau Gasol to fit in with the Lakers two years ago. Yes, there are more moving parts this time, but basketball is basketball. Right now the coaching staff and the players seem over-matched.
Game Three on Friday at Minnesota. If the Cavs go down there…
