While We’re Waiting…the Vikings prep for West Virginia, and Arenas to ORL talk
December 18, 2010The day I met Bob Feller
December 18, 2010
A number of things have come to light recently to prove my previous perceptions of the Cavaliers over the last five years – both individually as players, as well as collectively as an organization – to be quite false.
As I watched the Cavs diligently work towards extending they’re losing streak from 9 to 10 games last night against Indiana, another of these incorrect perceptions hit me squarely in the face. It might not be a new revelation to some, but it was new to me.
For the last five years, I had completely bought-in to the idea that the Cavaliers were a “winning organization” with a “winning culture”, regardless of who was on the roster. I basically had accepted it as fact. I also thought, that despite the challenges this season would undoubtedly involve, the Cavaliers would still compete, and still demonstrate characteristics of an organization with that type of culture – even if they didn’t win at the clip they had over the last five seasons.
What is evident to me now, is there never really was a “winning culture” within the make-up of this organization. That “culture” – which was often associated with the efforts of Dan Gilbert, to Danny Ferry, to Mike Brown on down to the players – was really just created as a bi-product of LeBron James’ natural ability.
There was no identity to this team or organization other than LeBron James. The organization was his, the culture was defined by him, and the regular season winning was simply a result of sheer natural talent and ability that belonged to him.
When LeBron left, he took more than his on-court production with him. He took the identity and culture of an entire franchise, that is yet to define one for itself.
By default, that culture is now simply losing. It’s practiced, accepted, and will not change until the Cavaliers organization is able to figure out who they are, who they want to be, and find players interested in being involved in that.
I had thought they did, thought they knew, and thought they had some. All of which, I was wrong about.
On last night’s game:
Now the bright side for me in last night’s 108-99 loss to Indiana is that some of these guys the Cavs desperately need to rid themselves of are starting to put up individual numbers that might help entice a willing trade partner.
Mo Williams went for 22 on 8 of 12 shooting along with 11 assists – nice game statistically – and Antawn Jamison scored 17 along with grabbing 7 boards. Anthony Park exactly doubled his 8.5 ppg scoring average by going for 17 himself, and also grabbed 6 rebounds.
After scoring a combined 18 points over the last four games, JJ Hickson entered the double figure scoring mark by getting himself 11 of his own this time out, and after going for 26 last time out, Daniel Gibson scored 4.
Anderson Varejao did play hard, like he always does. He scored 15, grabbed a half dozen boards, couple of blocks, couple assists, used five of the six fouls he had, but he can’t win any game in this league by himself.
Nobody else did anything.
If this whole team played as hard as Varejao does though, they probably could’ve finished the season above .500. But they don’t, not even close, and now they welcome the Knicks tonight as they hope to avoid number 11.
14 Comments
God damn depressing.
Well said, Bowers.
There isn’t even a stud to hope for in a lottery situation. Barnes? Irving? Sully? Nothing makes me think any of these guys will be impact players in the NBA. Wish there was a Durant or Griffin out there this year.
I have to disagree with this article. Too many people are fixated on the idea that it was ONLY #6 leaving which has caused this season of losing.
Was he a great talent, yes. Was he the end all be all thing that had this team winning every night, NO. People went back and forth on whether or not to “blow it all up” if we start to lose this year. Uhm, look around people, it was blown up well before the season even started.
Before the first player set foot on the practice floor this year we had lost our starting center, backup center, starting small forward, starting/backup point guard, head coach, two assistant coaches AND general manager.
Now if that’s not “blowing up” the organization, I don’t know what is. I think the decision to tank was made well before opening night.
There had been a winning culture for five years but take away what I mentioned above and you have no culture left. No matter how hard the fans cheer, how many tweets the owner sends when you lose the OVERALL talent and leadership we did you will never “will” a team to victory.
Yeah I have to say we as fans had to know this was going to be a down season. The team has to regroup and work toward competeing again in a few years.
Chris is 100 percent right. The Cavs did have a winning culture but you can’t lose not only LeQuit, but the other players who have left and still have a team that can win games and keep the winning going. Bottom line here is the Cavs dont have the talent to win as the roster stands now. Time to blow it up and start over.
balls!!
ditto on chris.
and if you’ll allow me a completely non-productive (and semi i-told-you-so) rant: it makes me ill to see al jefferson (16pts/9rebs) with the jazz and darren collison (13/3/4) with the pacers. the fact that they were traded offseason tells me they were get-able during the jamison saga.
we were sitting with two 35+ yr old centers… we knew very well how mo matched up against rondo/rose/nelson… forward was the one position where we were deep.
settling for the old, redundant (and soft) PF killed us last year and set the stage for the bleakness this year.
Gibson was completely shut down by Grainger and Rush last night, which I thought made the diference. I feel like trades need to happen, not necessarily “blowing it up,” to fix the glaring lack of consistent production out of the SG/SF position. Anthony Parker should not be starting if the Cavs want to be good. He had a 17, a season high in scoring last night, but the Grainger nearly doubled it with 30. He gets outplayed every night. The other problem is there is nobody on the roster to give better production at that position. Although, I am encouraged when Manny Harris plays,but his minutes have been sporadic. I also think the Cavs need a legit starting center and move AV back to PF or off the bench.
@Jim
Collison going to the Pacers is almost as infuriating to me as #6’s game 5. I really saw him as the key to us and the title last year.
Although I guess no matter who we brought in it wouldn’t have mattered. From all the details that have surfaced as to the timeline for the Heat trio planning there alliance there is no way #6 was going to allow us to win a title last year.
How much even more of a douche would he have looked winning the MVP and the NBA crown then stepping up to the podium to announce he’s booking to be with his superfriends in the MIA.
*difference* (I always spell that wrong)
Stevie Wonder could see how inept this roster was!
Btw Orlando just blew up their roster – wow. Also JR Sullinger of the Buckeyes is the real deal. If that kid stays another year he’ll easily be a #1 pick. Heck if he came out after this year he might be #1.
@chris10 — first, thank you. reassuring to know you’re not the only one. like: didn’t we know mo williams isn’t a true point guard for two years? like: did we forget how rondo owned us?
with the money problems down there and CP3’s likely departure anyway.. it was strange that NO wouldn’t talk about dealing him. if we’d landed chris paul, maybe #6 stays.
(and if they were committed to CP3… then collison should have been available>)
of course, #6 would have had to tell CP3 that he was staying for that to happen. thanks again #6.
ferry’s inability to ‘build a supporting cast’ is the most cited reason used by national pundits to rationalize #6 leaving. at some point, it would be nice if windy or someone provided some data on how #6 hamstrung ferry from making moves. because let’s be real: no ‘A’ player wanted to be jamison’s current situation.