Hey, Cavs fans and CavFanatics! It’s Austin, checking in. How’s everyone’s offseason been so far? And what’s happening?
I’m sure new coach Mike Brown’s offseason just got a lot busier. I’m really excited that he’s back at the helm.
I think on both sides of the ball, he’s definitely the perfect guy. He’s big on organization and attention to detail – and all that will permeate through the team. And with this young team, you need somebody who’ll teach them how to pay attention to detail.
I’m anxious to see him when Camp opens – because Mike will make you do something over and over and over again until you get it right. And you’ll follow the rules.
All that is going to make them a better team.
But I’m definitely all-in with the hire. I understand why we did it. And I’m looking forward to working with him again. He’s one of the best guys in the league. But things will be different under Mike. He’ll be a lot more detail-oriented and he won’t be as free with access to the team. Things will definitely change.
Of course, Mike is different, too. Think about who he’s dealt with. He’s dealt with LeBron, he’s dealt with Kobe. And between those two guys, he’s learned a lot.
It’s going to be interesting to see how it all unfolds. If the young guys listen to Mike and try to play the game the right way, it’ll be successful. And, really, the key is: The guys who don’t want to listen, you get rid of them. It’s as simple as that, because that’s the only way you’re going to win.
You have to have a system that everyone buys into. When I first came to Cleveland, it was the same way. The first two or three years, we didn’t have the guys we wanted. So it took us two years to get rid of the malcontents and all the guys that winning wasn’t the only thing to them.
And once we got to that point, we took off as a team. Once everyone was on board with the proper mindset: Winning comes first and the accolades come second.
We know one thing – the team will be better on the defensive end. They’ll be much better defending the pick-and-roll up high. That was something that really hurt us. Our weakside defense will be a lot more solid, as far as who’s going to guard who and who’s going to be where.
And there will be much more focus on the little things – out of bounds plays, setting picks properly. The attention to details is what’s going to make this team better.
The Cavs left a lot of wins on the table last year. And to an incoming coach, that has to be encouraging. To know that you gave up 28 games in which you had a double-digit lead and lost. That shows the team can be fixed. It’ll take tweaking. And naturally, we’re going to need more personnel. But that just takes tweaking to cut that number in half or better.
As far as the personnel Chris brings in this offseason – through trades, the Draft and free agency – I’d like to see them bring in some tough guys. Guys who understand that if you’re going to play defense, you’re going to get some bumps and bruises. And you have to be willing to hand out bumps and bruises. And you have to be willing to play with bumps and bruises. So you have to get tough-mindset guys. You can’t have guys that are worried about getting hit in the mouth. This isn’t a league for pretty boys.
Look at the teams competing in the playoffs right now.
You look at Memphis. They’re not a bunch of superstars. That’s a team with just a bunch of tough dudes. Look at Chicago, how banged up they are. They’re in the next round and have already beaten Miami in South Beach. Do you know why? Because they play tough, hard-nosed defense!
That’s one thing that Mike Brown teaches. Like he used to say: ‘I want the other team to feel me.’ And that’s the kind of defense you have to have to be successful.
The Cavaliers have a great core of youngsters that are continuing to develop. But their ‘Core 4’ from the last two Drafts are still a work-in-progress.
Kyrie needs to take his defense to the next level. He knows that. He knows it’s the only thing keeping him from making that next leap.
I understand his success in the fourth quarter, and that’s great. But you can’t hang your hat on that.
Put it this way, that’s a part of the game the Cavaliers know that we have – a guy that can finish in the clutch. Now, it’s the rest of the game that he needs to understand, so we don’t need him to finish games like that all the time. We can finish the games as a team, not simply relying on an individual.
I think Kyrie’s already understanding how to run the team better. His assist numbers were way up towards the end of the season. He decided to get this guy going and then get this guy going. And he’s not getting as upset when he makes a good pass and the guy doesn’t make the shot. Because nobody’s perfect. You don’t want it to happen consistently, but you can’t get down on guys and show it. That’s the kiss of death for a point guard.
For Tyler, he’s got to get in the weight room and get stronger. And he needs to understand that although it’s not football, it’s still a physical sport. And being a good guy in the middle is not a good thing.
For most teams, not only does toughness permeate from the coach down, but the center also sets the tone. Perkins in OKC; Chandler for the Knicks, Noah for the Bulls, Gasol from Memphis. Gasol can’t jump a lick, but he’s physical and he loves to compete inside.
These are nasty dudes, and the team develops that personality. And that’s what Tyler’s got to understand that’s what he’s got to deal with. Most of the remaining playoff teams – (Miami’s an exception, they’re unique) – have that tough guy in the middle.
You can’t touch-foul guys as a center. You’ve got to foul them; let them know that you’re there. You have to set the tone.
So Tyler needs to get stronger and – more than anything – use his talent. He’s one of the most talented big men in the league. He can put the ball on the floor, he can shoot the jumpshot, he can play with his back to the basket, he can shoot the hookshot. Use all that! Use all of your arsenal. And understand that your living is going to be made in the post.
Tristan made huge leaps this year, and I think he can make another one next season.
Mostly, he just needs to work on that little jumpshot. Because teams are starting to play off of him. And they’re giving him that 10 to 15-foot shot. Now, if he can add that – as quickly as he is going around people and as strong as he is finishing – he is going to be extremely tough to handle.
If Andy can come back healthy and Tyler can develop, you’ve got three very skilled, extremely versatile big men in the middle that keep the action going, keep it physical inside and let the little guys do what they do on the perimeter.
That’s why it’s key that they get back to Cleveland, work together and understand one another and how important they are to the success of the team.
The last guy I want to talk about is Dion, who also really improved throughout his rookie year.
Dion started playing much better defensively toward the end of the season. And his thing is more mental – seeing the whole game and not just his game. That’s the key – if he’s able to see the whole game. That’s what he has to work – how he relates to the other four guys and how they relate to him on the floor.
And, as I often say, his game is better when he goes inside out – attacking first and relying on his jumper second.
Now, he just needs to add the mid-range game. Learn those floaters and those bank shots. It’ll save a lot of wear and tear on your body.
I was hard-headed when I first came into the league. That’s why I got hurt so much. My first three or four years, I kept trying to fight the system. And back then, centers were camped in the lane.
Dion will learn aspects of the mid-range game the more he plays with Kyrie. Kyrie is superb at the mid-range game. He has an old-school game. But then again, he is Uncle Drew.
Like you guys, I’m keeping my eye on the postseason. It’s getting interesting now. And as you can see, the physical teams are the ones that are moving ahead.
Golden State-San Antonio should be a great series. They play conflicting styles. But if the Warriors can get David Lee back, that’ll be big. And those two guards from Golden State can put the ball in the basket. That changes your entire gameplan, because it draws the defense away from the basket. So if Golden State can get anything inside, they’re going to give the Spurs all they can handle.
Memphis-OKC – that’s another physical series. You have Perkins in there, Gasol, Zach Randolph. That’s blood-and-guts right there! It’s not about points. It’s about who’s going to do the rebounding, who’s going to be the more physical team – and we’ll worry about the points at the end.
In the New York-Indiana series – I just think Indiana is physically and mentally tougher than New York. And those are the types teams that advance. This is what the Cavaliers need to become.
Everybody sees it and knows it. Our management knows it, our coaching staff knows it. Now the players have to understand: If we want to take the next step, this is what we have to become.
Then there’s Bulls-Heat. If the Bulls weren’t depleted, I think they’d have a shot. But Deng being out really hurts. I’m praying for him. When they have to give you a spinal tap to see what’s wrong with you, that’s nothing too fool around with.
But without Deng and Rose, it’s going to be tough – although Noah is playing great ball. He might be the MVP of the playoffs up to this point. And doing it with plantar fasciitis! Do you know how painful that is?
Now I know why Florida won back-to-back championships. Him and Horford! In college, nobody could deal with them.
I’m going to take in the playoffs and take a little time to unwind and cool out. I have a lot of community stuff I’m going to do. And I’m gonna decompress for a while.
But you know me. After the Fourth of July, I’ll start missing the season and getting antsy to get things rolling again.