Cleveland Cavaliers 2009-10 Thread

[nmmb]

Ilgauskas?

He is getting old he can't defend younger post players!

Howard did what he wanted with Ilgauskas...

[rikhardur]

Why Lebron James Acted The Way He Did

Everybody's talking about Lebron James and his quick exit in Game 6 on Saturday night. After losing the game, James bolted for the locker room never shaking a hand, skipped the post-game news conference and headed home. After catching up to him more than a day later, all Lebron could muster up for his show of disrespect was:

"I’m a winner. It’s not being a poor sport or anything like that. You know me, I’m a competitor. If somebody beats you up, you’re not going to congratulate them, it doesn’t make sense for me to go over and shake somebody’s hand."

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo!Sports wrote an article about it today. The sentiment around the blogosphere is mostly about the same, that Lebron is a sore loser and nobody around him wants to tell him that because they coddle him. Yes, he acted selfish and immature and nobody around him wants to chew him out, but why is that?

What I see missing in all the chatter is some of the psychological reasons why Lebron acted the way he did. Certainly, some of it can be blamed on celebrity culture, or too much money too young. But what nobody is talking about is Lebron's upbringing, and specifically the lack of a strong male-figure growing up. Sure, he lived with some coaches in between years when his mother was unable to take care of him, but nothing can substitute for the real father figure that Lebron never had.

In Wojnarowski's article, he states that Kobe never acted that way when he lost (Kobe grew up privileged with a father who was a professional basketball player and coached him in high school). Jordan always shook hands graciously when losing to the Pistons (Jordan was known to be really close to his father). Wojnarowski lists Isiah Thomas as an example of a supposed classy guy who walked out without shaking hands when the Pistons lost to the Bulls (Thomas's father left his family of 8 kids when he was just 3 years old).

Am I saying that if one grows up fatherless they will always act immature, and if one grows up with 2 parents they will always act normally? No, there are examples of guys who grew up without fathers or had abusive fathers and still act appropriately like Julius Erving or Larry Bird, and vice versa (ie. Barry Bonds). Nor am I saying that it's a race issue, because white players who grew up without fathers like Chris Andersen of the Nuggets, or Roger Clemens in the majors, or Jeremy Shockey in the NFL have all also exhibited similar attitude problems.

With this being June and Father's Day right around the corner, Lebron's behavior serves to underscore the point that fathers make a difference. Lebron never learned how to be gracious in defeat because those kinds of hard life lessons are usually learned from your father which Lebron never really had. The values we hold as individuals are in large part given to us by our parents, and when one or two of your parents are absent, where will those values come from?? Nobody around Lebron is going to tell him he acted like baby and he should apologize because that is something a father would tell him, not his teammates, not the owner. Coaches, teachers, and mentors can help, but nothing can substitute for the real thing.

http://coachingbetterbball.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-lebron-james-acted-way-he-did.html

[LuDux]

In Wojnarowski's article, he states that Kobe never acted that way when he lost (Kobe grew up privileged with a father who was a professional basketball player and coached him in high school)

Kobe did it in 2006 playoffs.

No, there are examples of guys who grew up without fathers or had abusive fathers and still act appropriately like Julius Erving or Larry Bird

Larry Bird did it to Pistons

[Jon_Koncak]

Given the chance of this Lebron handshake controversy i'd like to mention that i like the way hands are shaken in NBA.They do it only after a play off series is OVER.Not in a friendly game,not in a regular season game not in a non deisive play of game.

Here in Europe players shake hands before the match stards,they shake hands before the tip off,they shake hands hug and kiss after the match no matter how important it is.It's only a matter of time before they start shaggin each other on the floor.Well done NBA players 4 keepin it real.

[rikhardur]

Here in Europe players shake hands before the match stards,they shake hands before the tip off,they shake hands hug and kiss after the match no matter how important it is.It's only a matter of time before they start shaggin each other on the floor.Well done NBA players 4 keepin it real.

Arab men kiss twice (or thrice) in the face You're confusing sexual behaviours with friendliness. Between that and not greeting anyone, I choose the former.

[mvblair]

I would have commented much earlier, but I've been gone for two weeks.

The Magic are just a better team than Cleveland. LeBron can only guard one man at a time and Delonte West and Mo Williams are too small to match up with Rashard Lewis and Turkoglu. ....But in the playoffs it's about match-ups and the Magic are just a better team

This is the sad fact. The Magic were a better team and their players created match-up hell.

The Magic space the floor and pass the ball better than the Sacramento Kings of 6 years ago. Watch the replays: when Howard has the ball in the paint, there are four other players on the three-point line. The one Cavalier who could make a good double-team was usually LeBron, who guarded Courtney Lee, Turkoglu, and JJ Redick, never made the double-team. I fault Mike Brown for that.

So, if Varejao double-teamed, Rashard Lewis was open, the help rotated to Lewis, and Lewis passed the ball to somebody else who was open.

I also fault Mike Brown for putting Delonte West and Szczerbiak on Turkoglu. Turkoglu was too big for West and Szczerbiak was cold.

But the truth is Orlando crushed us every game. Our wins were lucky.

Their plan wasn't fantastic. It wasn't original. They just passed the @#$% around the perimeter. They made their shots.

After Game 1, Mike Brown should have done something different. Something. Anything. We could have tried hack-a-Howard, we could have tried double-teaming early in the shot clock before their offense set, we could have tried Joe Smith, we could have tried putting Pavlovic on the floor more, and we could have tried forcing our offense into the paint more.

Still, I think our team is pretty good. Rather than Mo Williams and LeBron, our true base is Big Z and LeBron. Big Z is still a very good center (don't listen to Rik). Williams and West played worse than usual, as did Z.

Oh well.

There's always next year.

[joel23]

I know Cleveland Cavaliers is not verygood team. And only one superstar Lebron James. Look at the Lakers have more contribute by supporters like Fisher, Gasol, Vujacic, Farmar are considered lower rated players. That's why they have Ben Wallace, Wally S., West, Ilgauskas could not contributed. Im suprised Coach Brown that Varejao have playing more minutes even he's tired for guarding Howard and Lewis. He's garbage player and did banging out opponents and lack of focus. Orlando Magic too is not verygood team. Very lucky Magic to entered the Finals because they beaten Celtics w/o Garnett and Powe.

[mvblair]

Im suprised Coach Brown that Varejao have playing more minutes even he's tired for guarding Howard and Lewis.

Varejao's playing time surprised me too. I think Brown should have played Joe Smith more. Smith, like Ilgauskas, can pull the defense away from the basket, making lay-ups more possible!

[LordOfLeyte]

Varejao's playing time surprised me too. I think Brown should have played Joe Smith more. Smith, like Ilgauskas, can pull the defense away from the basket, making lay-ups more possible!

Sometimes gameplans on personnel can simply go wrong or backfire. Mike Brown opted for a venture in physicality and hustle in Varejao but guarding Hedo or sometimes Howard off the switch withered his energy in hustle and physicality.

[donmar]

I think we should give Mike Brown a chance... he's a great coach... in my opinion, the team already have good role players... and I think what really lacks the team is another superstar... Lebron is still young and having all the pressures of his team on his shoulder would be too much... I mean you can see it when they loss to the Magic... I don't blame him for not congratulating them... I mean the guy carried his team all the way only to loss at the end... I guess he will learn from this but if he got somebody beside him who can offload some of those burden then maybe they could've win...

[Michael]

Give him a chance

I agree. Lebron is still way too young to carry this team on his shoulders. The Cavs lucked out getting as far as they did. Give Brown another year or two. If he doesn't get results then we need to cut him off.

[Lebron23]

Cleveland Cavaliers 2009-10 Thread



2009-10 Unofficial Roster

C- Shaquille O'Neal - 7'1"
F- Anderson Varejao - 6'11"
F- LeBron James - 6'9"
G- Anthony Parker - 6'6"
G- Mo Williams - 6'1"

Bench

C- Zydrunas Ilgauskas - 7'3"
PF- Darnel Jackson - 6'9"
PF- JJ Hickson - 6'9"
SF- Danny Green - 6'6"
PG- Delonte West - 6'3"
SG- Daniel Gibson - 6'2"
PF- Leon Powe - 6'8"
SF - Jamario Moon 6'6"
PF- Rob Kurz - 6'9"

[Lebron23]

Cavaliers should hire Ettore Messina. No disrespect to Coach Brown, but he's a horrible Offensive Coach.

[rikhardur]

Cavaliers should hire Ettore Messina. No disrespect to Coach Brown, but he's a horrible Offensive Coach.

Unfortunately not possible anymore, he signed for Real Madrid.

[Lebron23]

Unfortunately not possible anymore, he signed for Real Madrid.

I Like Coach Messina, and I think he can really help the Cavaliers to beat the Celtics, Spurs, Magic and Lakers next season.

Coach Messina has one of the best offensive strategy in Europe. And I am sure Shaq, Ilgauskas, and LeBron would love to see him coach the Cavs next season.