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**Pioneer10** · 04-09-2007, 09:28 AM

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Auburn Hills, Mich. -- A few weeks ago I was talking to an executive from an Eastern Conference team on the phone and he asked me: "Why does LeBron stand out on top of the the key and dribble so much? You know, that's exactly what we all want him to do." This, of course, is a subject that has been bandied about here and in many other forums over the last few years. But it is, after all, a simple question.
I was thinking about it today when I was watching the Cavs' last three possessions as LeBron was dribbling and his teammates were all standing and looking at him, or running around him trying to figure out how to set a pick. The Pistons (the victors of this afternoon's affair) were all watching him too, heck half of them were guarding him. I'm sure other plays are called, but no matter what happens in crunch time LeBron always seems to have that ball by himself far away from the basket with defenders everywhere. It usually doesn't work. It so obviously doesn't work that every team in the NBA knows it celebrates when they get the Cavs to try to make it work.
Twice this year I've had players say to me that it wouldn't matter if the Cavs had a great point guard if LeBron ended up with the ball isolated at the top of the key in pressure situations. Not that LeBron is a selfish player. But without a trusty jump shot and with teammates that don't seem to want to do anything but watch, it always turns to a at least a 1-on-2 ordeal, often 1-on-3. I've had GMs, scouts and coaches from other teams tell me it seems like the Cavs stop running their plays when LeBron gets the ball late in games.
So, after seeing LeBron jack up a terrible 3 and then throw a desperation pass to Zydrunas Ilgauskas for a missed 20-footer at the end of the shot clock in the two most important possessions of the game today, it led me to wonder. Why does LeBron have to be the one getting the ball all the time there? Why can't LeBron move without the ball so the defenses can't set up against him. Why can't he force double teams away from where the ball actually is so the Cavs can gain an advantage? Why can't someone else set up the final play if LeBron can't get it done because the defenses won't let him or he can't pull off the clutch play?
So here we come to Sasha Pavlovic. To me, the entire second half of the Cavs season has been about Sasha. The Cavs didn't make a formal announcement or anything, but back in February they pretty much figured out their team wasn't working too well. So they decided to go young, so at least they were developing while they were underachieving. It was then Daniel Gibson, Pavlovic and Andy Varejao got minutes increases. It was then Damon Jones stopped playing and Eric Snow's and Donyell Marshall's minutes were cut. It was then Sasha started to blossom and now he looks as if he's got the brightest future on the team outside of No. 23.
Sasha has played very well for more than two months now. He had a little hiccup when he got sick and was in about a weeklong slump in March, but he pretty much shows up every night. At this time, he is a better 3-point shooter than LeBron. He's also a better free-throw shooter. And after LeBron's great talent, he's the second best driver and finisher the Cavs have. Plus he has the massive advantage of not having to play against two and three players at a time.
Sunday, Sasha scored 11 points on the first half. He got two shots in the second half. Against Miami the other night, he had 12 points in the first quarter and only got four shots the rest of the game. This happens often, Sasha gets forgotten even though he's astoundingly efficient. Over the last six weeks, he's averaged 12.5 points on just over nine shot attempts per game. That's insane. Sunday he had 14 points on nine shots. He can finish with either hand around the basket, he can pull up and he can spot up. Not to mention, he's one of LeBron's favorite players.
So I am left to wonder. Why not give Sasha a chance to create in these tight games the Cavs seem to be losing at a shocking pace? Instead of having LeBron dribble, why not set up a play for Sasha and see if LeBron can get open away from the ball. Or why not see how Sasha handles himself in the clutch. Surely he commits bad turnovers, but an aggressive turnover any better than a wild 25-footer over a double team. I know it is cliche, but why not put LeBron in a better position to be successful and Sasha as well? Maybe it will fail, but what's going on now is broken and everybody can see it. They just can't, apparently, see No. 3.
That's all.
If you've got some time, Andy talked to me about his upcoming contract situation and I broke it down here. A lot more to be written about it this summer. Also, the Detroit News worked up a pretty good piece on the plight of former Cav Robert Traylor, a guy who has never seemed to avoid shady money dealings and now is headed to prison for it. Incidentally, in the year I got to know Tractor I found him to be a warm and engaging guy who really took care of a lot of people in his life. Too many, as it seems, and with poor judgment.

http://blogs.ohio.com/cavaliers_blog/

Well I've been calling for weeks for a pick and roll with Lebron setting the pick for Sasha but hell I only watch basketball. I don't get paid millions to coach a team

**Benedict_Boozer** · 04-09-2007, 10:19 AM

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It was then Daniel Gibson, Pavlovic and Andy Varejao got minutes increases. It was then Damon Jones stopped playing and Eric Snow's and Donyell Marshall's minutes were cut.

This is another part of the problem. Snow's all the sudden taking back his minutes and Gibson is being completely phased out. Even when Snow plays relatively well, the way it allows teams to collapse on Lebron is a net negative, especially when he's out there for these long stretches.

It's been discussed to death but it's a major problem going into the playoffs that could cost us some games. Gibson went from a starter, to barely playing or DNP's? That's ridiculous.

**Brandname** · 04-09-2007, 11:32 AM

Gibson's lengthy absences have hurt what we had going for us when he was in. That is, a way of reliably stretching defenses with a consistent shooter.

He's seriously the only consistent shooter we have on this team. Why cut his minutes so much when he gets hurt?

futuristxen · 04-09-2007, 04:30 PM

The problem of giving Sasha the ball at the end of the clock is that when you put him under pressure he will turn the ball over. Either a charge or dribbling the ball off his foot.

The reason Lebron ends up with it then is because the Cavs have so few good options on the perimter. You can't tell me adding a Mike Bibby or Chauncy Billups type guard in those situations won't help.

**Pioneer10** · 04-09-2007, 05:25 PM

Well I think what BW is getting at is that if Billups or Bibby aren't used but placed in the corner then it would be pointless. But knowing how much Mike Brown is scared of veterans there is no way two guys of that stature wouldn't be left out.

Just drooling thinking of pick and rolls with Bibby and Lebron. I'd still love to have Bibby even if his defense has fallen off. We have Boobie off the bench who plays good D to back him up

Larry Hughes for Retirement · 04-10-2007, 09:47 AM

What is Dan Gibson's FG% since returning from injury?

Dan Gibson in his 12 games since returning from injury is shooting 20% from 3pt (4 of 20) and 29% from 2pt (10 of 34) with only 8 assists (3 turnovers)

I love Gibson but he was pure before his injury and he has fallen off, or atleast hasnt regained his stroke since returning.

Larry Hughes for Retirement · 04-10-2007, 09:57 AM

Eric Snow in the last 12 games is shooting 53% (17 of 32) from 2pt and ( 0 of 0 ) form 3pt. While having 44 assist in 8 games (11 turnovers).

**Brandname** · 04-10-2007, 10:42 AM

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Originally Posted by Wesley for Retirement

Eric Snow in the last 12 games is shooting 53% (17 of 32) from 2pt and ( 0 of 0 ) form 3pt. While having 44 assist in 8 games (11 turnovers).

Gibson definitely needs to find his stroke again, there's no denying that.

But the effect of Eric Snow on our offense is not told with those numbers. I would definitely like to see a comparison of everyone else's eFG% when Snow is in the game vs. Gibson. I don't know whether that has been kept track of, though.

**Pioneer10** · 04-10-2007, 10:51 AM

Hard to get going again when you see such limited time. Snow sucks and will continue to suck. (stats are scewed because he freakin take less then 3 shots a game despite all his minutes, the offense cracks when he is in there)

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