The Bottom Up: Cavs and Cleveland Sports

Episode 25: The Bottom Up Returns!

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 02:28:00 +0000

A slow start or a bad team? Scott and Logan return to find all is not well in Cavs Nation.

Topics: Should we be panicking after nine games? // Thoughts on Kyrie and Mike Brown's relationship. // Getting Anthony Bennett out of his slump. // Is Andrew Bynum a key piece worth our patience or a distraction? // Are the Cavs better served having Dion come off of the bench?

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Episode 24: Bynum? Bynum!

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 01:00:00 +0000

The one where Andrew Bynum takes his talents to North Beach, and the Summer League sparks a revolution, or something.

Topics: Scott and Logan's reactions to the Andrew Bynum signing, Expectations for the Cavs' Summer League squad, and the brand new stat that the Summer League has inspired.*

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*Note: We're nowhere near competent enough ourselves to compile this stat (quarters won)...any mathletes in the audience today? Get in touch at TheBottomUpShow (at) Gmail.com!

Episode 23: Free Agency

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 05:00:00 +0000

The one where Jarrett Jack is the hero Cleveland needs right now, and Dwight Howard is the hero nobody deserves.

Topics: Impact of Earl Clark and Jarrett Jack signings for the Cavs, The Dwightmare has ended, A tale of two trades: Bargnani to the Knicks and the Suns/Clips/Bucks deal, and other free agency discussion.

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Episode 22: Cavs Draft Special

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 18:49:00 +0000

The one where...WHOA!!!! and other draft thoughts.

Topics: Anthony Bennett, Sergey Kasarev, and Carrick Felix to the Cleveland Cavaliers, The Nets-Celtics trade, and our favorite moments from the 2013 NBA Draft.

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Here's the majestic "Where in the World is Nikola Pekovic?" video that Logan references in the pod...

Mocking the Mocks

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 15:35:00 +0000

By: Scott Barkett

With all of the mock NBA drafts floating around the interwebs, we were feeling a little left out here at The Bottom Up. See, we do not have any sources or inside information, so it seemed a little above our pay grade to have a running mock over the past couple months. Then I thought about it a little bit more and realized if Sam Amico can make a mock draft while clearly having no real sources, then so can we!

I kid, I kid...we love you, Sammy.

Anyways, here's my hastily compiled mock draft. My method? Look at everyone else's mock drafts and try to deduce where the truth actually is. I'm like Gandhi, but better. Also, I only picked the top 6, since the consensus is that there are six players in consideration for the # 1 pick. Everything after that gets much more murky in a weak draft like this, and I expect there to be plenty of trades. Basically, I have stuff to do today and you heathens need to take these six picks and like them.

The Bottom Up NBA Mock Draft, Version .001a

1. Cleveland Cavaliers- Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky

There is too much Alex Len smoke here for me to believe that there is a fire. Having observed a few Chris Grant drafts, it just seems too easy to believe the way the rumor mill is leaning. Did any of us see Tristan or Dion coming? Last year, everyone thought the Cavs were trading up for Beal or MKG. If we are to believe Chris and Bryon's words after the draft, they really liked Waiters all along. Knowing this and combining it with Grant's fondness of advanced analytics makes for a pretty compelling case that all this Alex Len talk is a baloney sangawich. I like Len, but Noel drank his math milkshake. Then again, maybe Grant knows that I know that he is an extra sneaky GM? Maybe he expects us to expect that these Len rumors are lies?! Maybe he...stress fracture...ignore...happy place... *passes out*

2. Orlando Magic- Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana

Last year the Magic drafted two bigs in Andrew Nicholson and Kyle O'Quinn. Nicholson had a nice rookie season and can shoot it in the pick and pop game. Their center, Nikola Vucevic also has nice range and was a great acquisition for them. While I do not think they would be opposed to adding a dynamic PF such as Anthony Bennett, I do think shooting guard is a more pressing need for them. But, Scott, they have Aaron Afflalo! Hush that noise, young blood. On every bad team, somebody has to do the scoring. Afflalo has yet to post a 15 PER in his career. This is a rebuild, and the 27 year old Afflalo should be nothing more than a temporary mercenary until a young prospect eclipses him. That prospect should be Victor Oladipo. GM's love this guy, I love this guy, my mom would love this guy. He is wild athletic, a Doberman on defense, and has the kind of work ethic that will thrust him into a locker room leadership role sooner rather than later.

3. Washington Wizards- Anthony Bennett, PF, UNLV

I am probably getting too cute here. Everyone in the world has Otto Porter slotted to the Wizards with this pick. He fills a need, played his college hoops at Georgetown, and should be able to contribute from day one. Can't knock the hustle. I am a little skeptical of Porter's ceiling, though. In the games I watched him live, I was frustrated by his struggles to create his own shot. Maybe I just saw bad games. Regardless, the Wizards' young core of Wall and Beal (and Jan Veselololololol) makes for a beautiful back court long term. But their front court of Emeka Okafor and Nene seems as if it could use a top young prospect to join the rotation. Bennett is big time, in my opinion. I absolutely love this guy's game. Knowing that Cavs coach Mike Brown really liked him after seeing him play at UNLV makes me think the concerns about Bennett's defense are overblown. Heck, he might even be able to give the Wiz some minutes at SF, too. Is it riskier than Porter? Absolutely. Both would fill a need, although Porter at the SF is the more pressing need. But if I were building the Wiz, I would prefer to pair my young guards with a dynamic front court mate rather than another wing player. Rome wasn't built in a day, kids.

4. Charlotte Bobcats- Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas

The scuttlebutt for this pick has been all over the place, depending on what each mock thinks the Cavs will do at #1. If Len is on the board, many think that will be the Bornets™ pick. Some rumors say GM Rich Cho is higher on Cody Zeller than Len, but I cannot see that unless they trade down a few slots. I hate McLemore's fit here as a prospect and as a person. I think he could benefit much more from a situation with a more defined culture that he can slide into. Charlotte needs more players such as MKG who are capable of setting the right tone in a locker room. I question McLemore's chops in that regard. Naturally, I also imagine Charolotte will jump at him and completely ignore their cultural deficiencies. McLemore certainly fits a skill set need. MKG is not strong a shooter yet, and Kemba Walker would benefit greatly from an upgrade over Gerald Henderson in the back court. I think the need for scoring is going to outweigh Charlotte's front court needs, as will the fact that big men are usually slower to develop and contribute.

5. Phoenix Suns- Alex Len, C, Maryland

I love Len's fit here. He would slot in as the natural successor to Marcin Gortat and be a nice fit next to Luis Scola when he does get minutes as a rookie. If Oladipo or McLemore are still on the board, then their need at SG is too high to pass on those guys. With them off the board, Len provides the Suns with a high ceiling, skilled big man who has the kind of fundamental foundation that can be built upon. He has clear, projectable NBA skills so his basement is pretty high as well. That stress fractured ankle is a major concern, but if he stays healthy the Suns probably land their C for the next decade here. Picking fifth in a middling draft makes that pretty darn good value.

6. New Orleans Pelicans- Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown

If Porter slides past the Wizards at #3 and makes it to the Pelicans at #6, I think they jump at him without hesitation. Most of the mocks have one of the top point guards as their pick. If they move Greivis Vasquez on draft night, then I suppose that makes sense. To me, Vasquez is a legit NBA point guard and a nice partner for oft-injured SG Eric Gordon. I am never a fan of trading away a proven, good young player so that you can replace him with a dice roll in the draft. No need to reinvent the wheel, guys. With Anthony Davis and Robin Lopez making for an excellent young front court, I see the Pelicans biggest need as SF. In this mock that I am making up on the fly, the basketball gods reward the Pelicans with the selfless, skilled Porter. His ceiling might not be that high, but he will fit in perfectly on a roster that already has an Alpha Dog in Gordon, and a second in command in Davis.

So, there you have it. My guess at the first six picks in the 2013 NBA Draft. Feel free to throw me a ticker tape parade when they all come up aces tonight.

Episode 21

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 01:26:00 +0000

"Get that first pick outta' here!"

The one where the NBA Finals lived up to the hype, and pre-draft anxiety pushes Cavs fans to the brink.

Topics: Heat vs. Spurs wrap-up, Who's best positioned to challenge the Heat next season?, Cleveland-Miami rivalry and the Josh Gordon shenanigans, Doc to the Clippers, Cavs draft anxiety with a flawed group of prospects.

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Episode 20

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:39:00 +0000

UNLV's Anthony Bennett doing grown man things.

The one where Anthony Bennett and Alex Len make a late push for the Cavs' number one pick.

Topics: Cavs draft: Are Bennett or Len a better option than Noel?, Is Andre Iguodala the perfect veteran free agent for Cleveland?, Heat-Spurs Game 5 reaction, Clippers-C's trade talk.

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Episode 19

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 23:47:00 +0000

The one where Pop lets the shooters shoot, and George Karl takes a ride on the coaching carousel.

Topics: Heat-Spurs NBA Finals reactions, Pop's failed Game 2 strategy, is the 2-3-2 Finals format still necessary?, George Karl's firing and the NBA coaching carousel, Jason Kidd's Nets candidacy.

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Episode 18

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 00:23:00 +0000

The one where Vitaly Potapenko looks to finally fulfill the prophecy, and Kidd and Hill hang up their Chucks.

Topics: Heat-Pacers series wrap-up, Roy Hibbert comments and fine reaction, NBA Finals preview and predictions, Cavs hire Potapenko and Kokoskov, Lionel Hollins out in Memphis?, and Grant Hill and Jason Kidd retire.

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Episode 17

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Sun, 26 May 2013 19:50:00 +0000

"Attaboy, Nicky!!"

The one where the Cavaliers win the lottery, and the Memphis Grizzlies lose the coin toss.

Topics: Why there is no downside to winning the lottery, Is Noel the guy?, What trade offers would be worth listening to?, Spurs shocking 3-0 lead over Memphis, Indiana's legitimate shot at knocking off the Heat.

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Nerlens Noel in Cleveland?: Scouting Videos and Links Roundup

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:29:00 +0000

"Get that weak stuff outta' here!!"

It's a night of celebration for Cavs Nation worldwide! For the second time in three years, the Cleveland Cavaliers will have the first overall pick in the draft. Barring any long-term red flags with his knee, it appears that Kentucky ~~big man~~ beastnastymonster Nerlens Noel will be the pick.

Here's a quickly assembled package of Noel scouting reports and highlights:
(If I missed a good one, get in touch on Twitter or comment below!)

Scouting Videos:

DraftExpress.com 2013 Nerlens Noel Scouting Video:

Nerlens Noel scouting report video by Rafael Barlowe (ya, me either):

Scouting Report Links:

Chad Ford (ESPN Insider)

Jonathan Givony (DraftExpress)

Kirk (Waiting for Next Year)

Umair Khan (Bullets Forever)

Tyler Lashbrook (Orlando Pinstriped Post)

The Sports Mind Online

The Curious Case of Mike Brown and Cleveland Cavaliers Fans

noreply@blogger.com (Logan) — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:41:00 +0000

By: Logan Bednarczuk

"Hear me out, bro."

Back Again

Mike Brown is once again the coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

When the news broke a few weeks ago I was one of the many who were outraged; I never despised a coach as much as I despised Mike Brown. But was this feeling toward Mike Brown truly fair? Dislike of Mike Brown can be difficult if you are a Cavs fan, as most of your fondest Cavaliers memories probably come from the Mike Brown era.

He is inarguably the most successful coach in Cavaliers history. The Cavs had an astounding 272-138 record in his five seasons as their coach and he led them to not only five playoff appearances, but also never lost in the first round. He even led Cleveland to the 2006-07 NBA finals. In 2009, while leading the Cavaliers to a franchise record 66-16 regular season record, Brown won the Coach of the Year award.

You would think a coach with such a large list of achievements would lead me and other fans to be ecstatic that Mike Brown was returning, but we as fans possess bittersweet memories of his tenure and were largely upset at his return.

Under Mike Brown, the Cavaliers were consistently great, breaking team records and dominating the regular season. Every year felt like it might be our year to finally bring a championship to Cleveland. Yet, every year we came up short. Most of the blame fell upon the shoulders of our MVP superstar and our coach. Critics claimed that the “King” did not have the winning spirit that makes someone truly great, the intangibles that do not show up in the stat sheet, the extra "stuff" that Jordan oozed through his pores.

Mike Brown was seen as being incapable of getting the best out of LeBron and his supporting cast to perform like champions or design the wining plays to do so. In a bid to keep LeBron from leaving town, Cleveland fired Mike Brown after the 2009-10 season after his Cavaliers had a disappointing collapse in the Eastern Conference Semifnals.

They hired Byron Scott, a more offensive minded coach who was better known for his ability to draw up plays and handle the X’s and O’s of coaching. It was a last ditch effort to prove to LeBron that they were committed to winning a championship at any costs, which would have cemented LeBron’s legacy by bringing that elusive championship to Cleveland.

Sadly, we all know that this plan did not work as Cleveland’s management had hoped. LeBron took his talents to South Beach and Cleveland was left to wallow in an ongoing rebuilding process with the dregs of the Eastern Conference.

Now after three dismal seasons, the Cavaliers wish to rebuild through the past by hiring Mike Brown to once again seize the helm of a young Cavaliers team. Many are excited at the prospect but many more seem to be upset. Both make a solid case with good points on both sides.

In this article, I hope to bring together both camps. This is an appeal to those who are outraged by showing them that its not all bad and some positives could come of his hiring, while also showing those who are gung ho about the hiring the reasons there are skeptics and why it is okay to be skeptical going forward.

The Good, The Bad, and Hopefully Not That Ugly…

The Good:

Actually playing defense: Good.

Mike Brown as a coach has been labeled a defensive specialist, and he certainly has lived up to that reputation. While coaching Cleveland, the Cavaliers were one of the best defensive teams in the league. Defensively under Mike Brown each year, the Cavaliers ranked 14th, 4th, 11th, 3rd, and 7th, respectively, in points per 100 possessions. Every year, the Cavaliers were one of the best defensive teams in the league and showed a focus and effectiveness that we have not seen recently in Cleveland.

In comparison, under Byron Scott the Cavaliers ranked 29th, 26th, and 27th in points per 100 possessions over the past three seasons. Though these are truly dismal statistics, they aren’t all that surprising and not entirely Byron Scott’s fault. The team he inherited was in total disarray with our defensive centerpiece and superstar jumping ship along with our two centers, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Shaquille O’Neal. Throughout his tenure, Byron Scott had to deal with a roster that went through a gradual revamp that saw most of the old guard either traded or just simply not re-signed and a new youthful group handed the reins. Gone were Mo Williams, J.J. Hickson, Ramon Sessions, and Anthony Parker. In were Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson, Dion Waiters, and Tyler Zeller.

Dealing with such a dramatic roster turnover that also features so many young players would make it difficult to establish an elite or even an average defense. No one expected the Cavaliers to maintain the same defense efficiency under Byron Scott, but the way in which they had not improved themselves is what has resulted in his termination. Last season was the time we would really get to see improvement. He had a whole season and training camp to work with our new young core. No one expected a juggernaut defense, but we did expect some improvement for our team. Kyrie in particular was awful last year and we all hoped to see that part of his game come together throughout the season. Sadly, improvement on defense for Kyrie and most of the rest of our team was hard to come by.

This just should not have been the case. Although we did not have an overwhelming amount of skill and ability on the defensive end, we had enough talent to be far better than we were. Too many times we would have poor switching and just a lack of communication on defense. It was not that the Cavaliers possessed a lack of athleticism; it was more they just were either not coached to do these things or just completely ignored Byron Scott’s wishes. Either way it was unacceptable. And Cleveland’s lack of discipline and understanding of simple defensive concepts was not even the worst thing about our defense, it was the shocking lack of effort from many players that was most disheartening.

Kyrie Irving takes most of the blame for this considering that he is only 20 years old and is the leader on the team but showed a complete disregard for defense through most games. Even in tightly contested fourth quarters could he be seen jogging back on defense after a turnover or a missed shot. This was so bad, in fact, that opposing announcers sometimes assumed he was injured because he had such a complete lack of effort. Kyrie isn’t the only one who deserves to be chastised for his lack of effort, but he is just the largest disappointment considering his ability and how he is seen as the cornerstone for Cleveland’s future.

No one fears that Mike Brown will not be able to better help the defense in Cleveland. Half of the battle in any game is playing defense. During his first stint as coach, he inherited a team with great potential but no real identity and turned it into one of the elite defensive units in the NBA. He got the Cavaliers to play a committed team defense that featured many players who were not seen as good defenders individually. If you go back and look over the roster for Brown’s 2009 team that made the Eastern Conference Playoffs and ranked 3rd in defense per 100 possessions (the best mark by any team under Mike Brown), you will see that very few players that jump out as great defenders on that roster. Only LeBron and Varejao really distinguish themselves from that group (and it may be fair to say that their leap to defensive greatness may be greatly attributed to Mike Brown).

Mike Brown’s teams proved effective because he taught and effective system where players understood where their teammates would be and effectively bought into a system that allowed for suffocating defense. This is not to say that Mike Brown will be able to turn this current roster into one of the best defensive teams in the league, but I am confident he will be able to put together the necessary schemes and build the right team mentality to play at least a competent and hopefully highly effective defense.

The Bad:

LeBron eating up the shotclock: Bad.

After listing the achievements of Mike Brown as head coach in Cleveland and also discussing his aptitude as a defensive coach it is probably odd to many that I, and so many other Cleveland fans, was so distraught initially at the thought of him returning for a second tenure. This question is tough to answer and even harder to explain for those who were not Cavs fans during Mike Brown’s last stint in Cleveland.

Largely, this feeling stems from the tragic way that the LeBron and Mike Brown era ended. We, as fans, truly felt going into every year after the 2007 season that we were going to get a championship with the league's best player as our centerpiece. Yet, every year we failed. Although in retrospect this largely can be blamed on a variety of reasons (one being our weak supporting cast that surrounded LeBron), we saw a team that seemed more playful than serious and seemed to lack the focus needed to win a championship. We also were greeted with what felt like a constant lack of offensive adjustments that occurred every season during the playoffs and in crucial games.

One of the arguments which continually gets brought up against Mike Brown’s hiring is that he is a terrible offensive coach. Yet, under Mike Brown’s watch, Cleveland ranked 9th, 18th, 20th, 4th, and 6th in points scored per 100 possessions in each of his five years as coach. Although not all of these numbers are eye-popping, he had been able to create a very efficient offense in the last two years of his tenure. With these numbers in mind how is it that so many people claim that Mike Brown is not a good offensive coach? One aspect of their claims stems largely from what is perceived to be his inability to adjust specific in-game strategies or map out plays in crucial game time situations.

In professional basketball, it can be difficult for fans to truly understand the impact that a coach has on a team, whether it be positive or negative. We do not get to watch practices and see the hands-on work coaches provide. Nor do we get to view the locker room speeches and the in-game adjustments that are attempted and described or really get to understand everything that goes into the player management of each individual team.

But, what we can see clearly are the plays a coach draws up in a timeout with an expiring clock. These moments are few but they are critical moments where we can get a clear glimpse of a coach’s understanding of the game. Mike Brown struggled with this greatly and we had many occasions where the ball movement would die and LeBron would be left to play 1 on 5 with the clock ticking down. This was irksome for fans and probably unjust to weigh his offensive aptitude as a coach based on just this, but this kind of showing was so consistent and in so many crucial games that it became a huge problem.

When Byron Scott was fired, Dan Gilbert highlighted that it was a desire to get back to having a defensive minded team identity. This, however, should not lead you to believe that our offense under Byron Scott was without its issues. Last season the Cavaliers were not the high-octane offense that Byron had once promised, as they ranked 19th in offensive efficiency and points per game.

This, however, was substantial growth from the past two seasons and Kyrie, in particular, flourished in Scott’s offense. With Mike Brown taking the helm we will hopefully continue to see growth in our offense as Kyrie and his young supporting cast develop together as players. Specifically, this growth must continue with Dion in addition to Kyrie, so the offense can flow more naturally through our young potential-laden stars. After all, if there is one thing we know it is that Mike Brown can effectively run an offense through a key superstar player or two. Hopefully we just will not have too many close games down the stretch in which Mike Brown has to draw up a play.

One of the hardest things to measure under a coach is what kind of culture and attitude a coach brings to a team, yet, it is one the most scrutinized things a coach does. It is difficult due to the many different actors that impact a team’s culture: the owner (Editor's Note: See Lerner, Randolph D. for a negative example), the front office, the coach, his assistants, and the players themselves.

In Mike Brown’s case, he also was in the unique position of coaching the league’s most talented player, LeBron James. This was undoubtedly a good thing for Mike Brown’s career, as I think it is safe to say he would not have had such great success in Cleveland without LeBron. However, when discussing the team's culture LeBron may have had some negative impacts as well. On the court and off the court the team went as LeBron went. This was encouraged by the front office and the owner who sought to appease their superstar and keep him in Cleveland. We have all heard the stories about LeBron's posse on the private jet and other perks afforded only to the King. Whether it was Mike Brown’s fault, Lebron's, Dan Gilbert's, or some other actor, the team had a heavily scrutinized culture in which Mike Brown justifiably receives a large amount of the blame.

The Hopefully Not That Ugly:

Taking family portraits instead of focusing pre-game: Ugly.

Under Mike Brown, the Cavaliers became very close-knit and clicked on multiple levels. They, as a team, would come up with zany pre-game rituals and antics that included everyone from LeBron all the way down to Jawad Williams. On the court, they also had great chemistry, this being most apparent in the way they would play help defense and work as a team in neutralizing an opponent.

Interestingly though, even when the Cavaliers were posting a league best record their focus and team identity was being called into question. Their choreographed pregame rituals, and the teams overall goofy and playful nature was seen as a weakness. Critics believed it showed immaturity and a lack of focus, as the Cavaliers continually came up short in the playoffs. Year after year they would dominate the regular season but then would be dispatched in the playoffs. It seemed when the going got tough our team seemed to crumble.

LeBron was largely blamed as not having the effort or desire to carry the team to a championship, but the whole team deserves blame. Over many playoff games, I remember the anguish of watching Mo Williams, our All-Star point guard, miss shot after shot down the stretch, or watching an uncharacteristic break down on the defensive end when a stop was crucial in the final stretch of a game.

Last season the team experienced some chemistry issues unlike anything we ever experienced under Mike Brown. Though the team largely seemed to get along with each other, near the end of the season there seemed to be a rift between Byron Scott and many of the players. Word leaked to the media that many players were unhappy with the way people were being played and how practices and shootarounds were being conducted. Players speaking out against the coach to the media shows a crumbling of team unity and culture that could eventually destroy an entire team's play and trust in one another.

Mike Brown’s teams in Cleveland were very close knit (except arguably near the end of his tenure if you believe the Delonte West rumors) and showed a real understanding for playing together. Hopefully this is a culture that he can bring back to Cleveland now. I have high hopes that this team will avoid the pitfalls of the last few squads in terms of their maturity and grit in critical moments.

It seems that Dan Gilbert and Cleveland’s front office have learned from the mistakes of the past and will better manage their new young star. By firing Byron Scott, it was clear Gilbert felt pampering Kyrie may not necessarily be what’s best for him or the franchise, and though he will receive some star treatment hopefully it will not be as extreme as in the past with LeBron. Mike Brown hopefully will also have learned from the past and better manage his young superstar and the team around him, to not only build a team with great unity but also one with the grit and determination necessary to achieve success.

Looking On The Bright Side…With Significant Skepticism:

Since the end of the 2009-10 season and "The Decision," LeBron has proven that he is capable of wining a championship and has shown a work ethic and drive that is uncommon for an athlete of his caliber. He is constantly improving his game and coming back every season a better and more complete player than the one before.

In 2011 Mike Brown moved on to a Lakers team with proven championship mettle, only for his team to be eliminated in the second round. Going into his second season as the Lakers’ head coach, the championship dreams and expectations only grew when the team acquired a future Hall of Famer in Steve Nash and the best center in the NBA in Dwight Howard to complement future Hall of Famers Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. Yet, his team got off to an abysmal start with the Lakers losing all 8 pre-season games and starting the season 1-4. Taking the fall for the team's struggles, Mike Brown was relieved of his duties as the Lakers’ head coach and replaced by Mike D'Antoni.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers bottomed out and have finished in the bottom of the league the past three seasons (Editor's Note: You could say they'll need to go from...The Bottom Up). But through their rough seasons they have been able to acquire a budding superstar in Kyrie Irving and promising young pieces in Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson. And with Kyrie getting ready to enter his third season, management has shown that they now believe they posses enough pieces to start competing. The hiring of Mike Brown shows that it is time to win now and that we are dedicated in changing the mentality of our young roster. We are moving onto year 4 post-LeBron, and it is time for the rebuild to bear fruit. Fans are restless and rightly so with the potential of our young roster but lack of clear dedication to winning over recent seasons. They are ready to truly see growth so instead of competing for NBA Draft Lottery ping-pong balls they compete for a spot in the playoffs.

We, as championship-starved Cleveland fans, have high expectations. So high, in fact, that we do not realize how good we have it sometimes. The Mike Brown era was an amazing time to be a Cleveland fan. We played meaningful games and enjoyed great media attention and success. Kyrie has recently given us a small taste of that kind of attention again, but we still have not participated in any meaningful games on a big stage in three years (except maybe when Lebron came back to town during his first season in Miami).

Mike Brown may not be the long-term answer for the Cavaliers, but all of us Cavs fans should be excited for the changing of the guard and what it can bring in the short-term. Cleveland is a city desperate for a championship, and I want it as badly as the next guy, but we need to realize that the Cavaliers are not ready to deliver such a thing anytime soon.

The Cavs are a young, talented team with great promise but have a great deal of necessary growth ahead of them. If in the next few years Mike Brown can get us back to the winning ways of the Lebron era, that would be a welcomed pleasure. Who knows, maybe he can even lead us to a championship? If not, hopefully he can better position us for the future with a team that understands how to play defense, while bringing in a coach more adept at the X’s and O’s of an NBA offense.

We may not win a ring with Mike Brown but we may get back to winning and competing in this league, which, for now, would be welcomed.

Death to the Ad Page Redirects, and Thanks for a Great Three Months!

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:52:00 +0000

By: Scott Barkett

"Just try and redirect my browser away from The Bottom Up!"

It has been an amazing first three months here at The Bottom Up.

We could not be more thrilled with the feedback we have received from loyal podcast listeners and those who read our written pieces. Even better, the fine folks at RealCavsFans.com have partnered with us over the past month or so to run our more Cavs-centered podcasts over on their shores as well. Needless to say, that has been a fantastic way for Logan and I to build our audience and engage with a larger cut of the Cavaliers fan base.

Also, we have been lucky enough to have a couple of our blog posts make it into WaitingForNextYear.com's daily "While We're Waiting..." blog roundup, which has also helped us to broaden our audience and increase our traffic.

This experience has been, as a good friend says, aces...

...except for one thing....

Since the start of the blog, there had been an issue where without an ad-blocker in your browser the page would occasionally redirect to an ad. If you found this annoying (and you did, because who wouldn't?) then I promise you that it hit me ten times harder in the feels. Logan and I have spent a lot of time to make this site look clean, engaging, and professional. A website that regularly redirects you to an ad page is anything but that--it reeked of the seedy underbelly of the interwebs and, candidly, was unacceptable.

But this post brings good news, friend!

After scouring through the catacombs of the Google machine and lines and lines of HTML that I only vaguely comprehended, I was finally able to figure out the root cause of our redirect issues. You see, we had installed a sidebar widget that allowed you to share our website to your favorite social media platforms. Unbeknownst to us, that widget also had some shady advertising code that created a sidebar ad (I assumed that was a Blogger default ad), and also prompted the redirects.

With a few keystrokes the crappy ad code was stunned. Whip crack with his whoopy tail, and the beast was done.

So, anyways, long story short you will no longer have to fear the crappy advertising redirect gods while browsing The Bottom Up, and we sincerely apologize for any annoyance that such shenanigans caused you over the past few months!

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Episode 16

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:40:00 +0000

Georgetown's Otto Porter

The one where we plot out Cavs draft scenarios, and Phil Jackson answers one of life's most enduring questions.

Topics: Tuesday's NBA Draft Lottery and Cavs draft scenarios depending on their pick, Knicks vs. Pacers, the upcoming Eastern Conference Finals and Western Conference Finals, and a discussion about Phil Jackson's Jordan vs. Kobe analysis from his new book.

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Cavs Draft Options and the Chris Grant Lemonade Stand Deluxe Combo Special

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:57:00 +0000

By: Scott Barkett

When life give you lemons, you draft European players

A Tale of Two Scenarios

As a near constant stream of overly dramatic music blares from my laptop speakers, my roommate calls out from the other room, “Who are you watching now?” I have poured through every DraftExpress YouTube video possible, and with the draft lottery days away, my anxiety as a Cleveland Cavaliers fan is skyrocketing.

DX’s Mike Schmitz does an amazing job of putting highlight videos together. For those unfamiliar, each video begins by highlighting all of the strengths a player has, before finishing with the weaknesses. And so, as another highlight tape rolls on my computer screen—backed by a soundtrack fit for Gladiator, of course—my excitement is inevitably decimated once the second half of the video trains the halogen beams on the flaws.

This is not Schmitz’ fault, though. He has to tell it like it is, and this is a draft that teases and intrigues more than it comforts and excites. Still, I cannot help but feel as if my praise for Schmitz’ work comes more from Stockholm syndrome than it does from pure enjoyment.

Wow, this guy really can attack the bucket! Man, look at that pick and roll defense! That jumper is silky smooth! Oh, he got arrested? I wonder what it wa—Oh, dude, he clubbed baby seals? Wait, he’s actually 26? And he’s actually 4’10” in socks? Schmiiiiiiitzzzz!!!

This is a draft only Presti, Morey, or Buford could love. Most other fan bases will be stuck listening to their respective suits spin the Shabazz Muhammad’s and Anthony Bennett’s of the world into something to get excited about. Except for a select few players, most of these prospects are either high risk-high reward projects, talented but undersized players, or NBA ready bodies with low ceilings.

For a Cavaliers team in desperate need a big time wing player and a rim protector down low, a weak draft is bad news bears. If the Cavs’ 2013-2014 playoff chances hinge on improving their anemic defense under Mike Brown, then at a certain point size and athleticism has to matter. We know that Mike Brown is a master at overcoming mediocre talent simply through a distinct size advantage in his defensive schemes. The Larry Hughes, Sasha Pavlovic, LeBron James, Andy Varejao, Zydrunas Ilgauskas lineup from the ’07 NBA Finals run was nobody’s idea of the ’97 Bulls, but possessed a staggering height advantage that suffocated Eastern Conference offenses.

For this reason, the 6’8” Otto Porter has been nearly unanimously slotted to the Cavs, assuming they pick around the number three slot. Otto is the only legitimately sized small forward currently pegged in the top-10, and he conveniently possesses a skill set that should complement the Cavs’ current young core. I love that the main knock on Porter is that he was hesitant at times to dominate Georgetown's shot chart. That might be problematic for another lottery team in need of an alpha dog scorer, but the Cavs are in good shape on that front with Kyrie and Dion. What Porter does excel at—defense, passing, rebounding, and finishing in the paint—are all traits that would make him Mike Brown’s new best friend in the Cavs’ starting five.

Of course, if the Cavs win the lottery (a substantially less likely scenario than picking 2-6 and targeting Porter, but a legitimate possibility nonetheless), then Nerlens Noel is their likely first pick. That is certainly a great fit, too. Noel is really skinny for a big man, but he’s got great length and athleticism and should be able to get much stronger even if he never transforms his body like Dwight Howard did. You could definitely do a lot worse than giving Mike Brown an exceptionally athletic defensive anchor for the next decade. In short, Noel—similar to Porter— brings a size and athleticism dimension to the Cavs defense that has been missing for the past few seasons.

What I do like about this draft, assuming the Cavs are able to get Noel or Porter with their first pick, is the way that they should be able to find an intriguing compliment to either with their 19th pick. If the Cavs are able to take Otto Porter, then a hyper-athletic big man such as Gorgui Dieng would be an obvious choice at 19 (or higher, if Grant needs to use his high second round picks as leverage). Likewise, if they snag Noel, then a swingman such as Sergey Karasev, Glen Rice, Jr. or Dario Saric should be legitimate targets for Grant.

When Life Gives You Lemons...

But, what if the ping pong balls are unkind and the Cavs pick slides all the way to number six? If Nerlens Noel and Otto Porter are off the board, I honestly have no clue what move Chris Grant will make. It is not a decision tree that is very attractive, at least from a conventional team-building standpoint. Grant would either be forced to take a two guard and deal with the Dion Waiters related ramifications, or go with a big man such as Alex Len who is skilled but may not be great value so high in a draft filled with competent, if not spectacular big men.

Uncertainty with the Cavs top pick will only further complicate their strategy with the 19th pick. Let us say, for example, that the Cavs land at six and take Alex Len. Then, with the 19th pick they have the opportunity to take Gorgui Dieng, whose style of play fits Mike Brown’s perfectly. Do you pass on the fit at 19 because of what you did with your previous pick? That’s the kind of cause and effect that should keep GM’s up at night in the days before a weak draft.

So, how to attack this hypothetical scenario where Porter and Noel are off the board? If the basketball gods jai alai serve those kind of lemons in his direction, I personally would love to see Chris Grant put a little “f*** it” in his system and swing for the athletically-unique fences.

I call this plan the Chris Grant Lemonade Stand Deluxe Combo Special™.

Go ahead and take either 7’1” Alex Len from Maryland/Ukraine, or 7’1” Rudy Gobert from France. Gobert in particular has absolutely absurd length, with a 7’8.5” wingspan (!!) and a 9’7” standing reach (!!!!!!!!). There is a lot to like about both of these prospects, though there is also tons to pick apart. But, let’s let my master plan take shape before we freak out about the negatives.

Okay, so we just added a legitimate seven footer with great length and shot blocking talent in either Len or Gobert. With that 19th pick, the Cavs might be able to snag the 6’10” small forward, Dario Saric from Croatia. He brings some of the same court vision and offensive feel to the game that Porter does, though he’s much more raw on the defensive end and will have to navigate the culture shock of a new country, too. Or, perhaps the Cavs could go after 6’7” Russian, Sergey Karasev. While his height is average for a small forward, he is the son of a coach and possesses a deadly jumper. Size-wise, I prefer to think of him in a Sasha Pavlovic role under Mike Brown, where he can be a big two or an average three, depending on the lineup.

While either pick would be nice, exiting the first round with Len/Gobert and Saric/Karasev is pretty risky and not far enough from conventional wisdom for my tastes. So, I would love to see Chris Grant double down in this scenario and go for broke. Dangle those two second round picks (31st and 33rd overall) in exchange for another mid-first rounder. Come out of the first round with both Saric and Karasev to compliment your top pick! Will all three players pan out? Probably not, but Grant would increase his odds of finding that Euro gem by simply taking all of the Euros.

Is this strategy crazy? It might be, but let me toss some potential lineups at you:

Irving, Karasev, Saric, Varejao, Gobert.
Irving, Waiters, Saric, Varejao, Gobert
Irving, Waiters, Karasev, Saric, Gobert

See what I am getting at? The height at athleticism Mike Brown could throw around would be impressive, even if the trio of Euros don’t all turn into great players. Basically, I am arguing that Chris Grant could try to make up for what this draft lacks in polished talent by pursuing prospects that bring something unique—in this case length—to the table.

For my money, that has to be a better option than Shabazz Muhammad in wine and gold, right?

I would be absolutely thrilled if the basketball gods should deem the Cleveland Cavaliers worthy of Nerlens Noel or Otto Porter. It would be hard to argue with a Chris Grant draft with either of those guys as a cornerstone. But, if the gods smite our ping pong balls, then I would absolutely love to see Chris Grant get highly creative and at least add some unique traits to this mind-numbingly traditional Cavaliers roster.

Episode 15

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Sat, 11 May 2013 21:49:00 +0000

The one where it's Boogie time for the Cavs, and Cousin Niko wants to go bowling in Cleveland.

Topics: Bill Simmons' Trade Value column, Boogie Cousins trade--worth the risk?, Nikola Pekovic to Cleveland in free agency?, D. Rose fatigue and placing blame, Amare's return tonight for the Knicks.

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Episode 14

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 06 May 2013 22:09:00 +0000

The one where the contender pretenders look to pick up the pieces, and Sacramento makes the NBA a Godfather offer.

Topics: Sacramento's creative offer to the NBA that helped keep the team from leaving, the contender pretenders (Clippers, Nets, Nuggets, Lakers) and what's next for them, making our picks for the second round of the playoffs.

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Episode 13

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Thu, 02 May 2013 00:05:00 +0000

The one where we break down the NBA playoffs so far.

Topics: Giving thanks to those supporting the blog so far, NBA playoffs first round discussion.

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ESPN the Magazine Turns 15

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Wed, 01 May 2013 21:56:00 +0000

By: Scott Barkett

Hard to believe it, but ESPN the Magazine turned 15 today. As a 23 year old, scrolling through old covers feels like going through a time capsule of all my sports memories. I highly encourage all those who revel in nostalgia to Google "ESPN the Magazine 1998 covers" and go from there.

One early cover stands out over all of the others. Behold:

New The Bottom Up podcast on the way tonight. See you then!

Brave New World: Drafting and Winning in Cleveland

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 21:45:00 +0000

By: Scott Barkett

But I don't want comfort. I want God. I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin.

-Aldous Huxley, Brave New World

We Prefer to Do Things Comfortably

Cleveland fans would do well to read a little Huxley this week, as the tired, huddled masses cope with last weekend's underwhelming NFL draft. The safe, traditional--dare I say comfortable--path that Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert followed during their brief stay in Barea is no more.

In its place, Browns fans have seen their team pursue and sign two of the top available free agents--a facet of roster building openly abhorred by Holmgren, et al. Then, during the 2013 NFL Draft--the yearly Super Bowl for Browns fans starved for hope--Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi opted to trade down, then out of the middle rounds for higher future picks and veteran wide receiver Davone Bess. They even traded with the Steelers, an ultimate sign of confidence for a franchise that has all too often cowered in fear and deference to the black and gold.

(And for the all the talk of Steelers drafting greatness, ask your local Steelers fan how that 2009 draft went for them. They'll tell you that it's not just Eric Mangini that can blow an entire draft.)

Despite Banner's active free agency period and confident if not arrogant patience with the draft, the pitchforks and torches are out once again among Cleveland fans.

You'd have thought Banner and Lombardi slapped Bernie Kosar across the face.

And yet, if the anger seems irrational from the outside it is certainly more understandable from beneath the grey clouds of Northeast Ohio. Recent history tells us that if the Browns blow a draft that's it. While free agency aggression and talk of maximizing assets might invigorate those tired of a passive, docile organization, the risks Banner took last weekend could easily result in disaster. Browns fans younger than 35 know only disappointment. After all, there has not been competent coaching or front office leadership in Barea since the late 1980's.

But should recent failure be an excuse to prefer safe, passive leaders? How pathetic is it to be upset that the Browns traded with the Steelers simply because they are a strong franchise? Championships are not won by teams thin at leadership positions but deep at the fetal position.

Taking Patience for Complacency

Drawing parallels to the safe, traditional, unsuccessful route(s) taken in Barea are useful in examining the pressure on the Cleveland Cavaliers own brain trust entering June's NBA Draft. As much as Dan Gilbert wishes it to be true, his franchise cannot operate in a vacuum safe from the stench that rebuilding Browns and Indians teams have spewed for the past decade. Without question the Cavs' run with LeBron should have bought Gilbert patience, support, and confidence as his franchise struggles to craft a successful post-LeBron identity.

But, Cleveland fans are rightly skeptical of Soviet-style five year plans touted by a string of empty suits. Gilbert has proven his dedication to building a consistent winner, but the jury is still out on whether Chris Grant can turn Gilbert's unlimited resources into wins. There is no fairness in a world where "process" and "patience" have become inside jokes for fans who "battled" through empty promises from Pat Shurmur, Eric Mangini, Manny Acta, and Mark Shapiro. Still, Grant must be mindful of such rhetoric when he speaks to the media. Fans now take patience for complacency and confidence for mindless arrogance.

That is why it was so refreshing to hear urgency return to Dan Gilbert's voice as he introduced Mike Brown 2.0 to the media last week. That fire was omnipresent during the LeBron era, and was unique among the Cleveland sports franchises. For all of Gilbert's early mistakes after buying the Cavs, taking a win-now attitude was not one of them.

The past three Cavaliers seasons have been as difficult as any before them. First, there was the atrocious post-Decision roster; an empty shell built around a King that vacated the throne. In the two years since, optimism surrounding young draft picks has been tempered by poor coaching, poor effort, and a prevailing sense that it will all get better tomorrow as long as everyone is patient. As Keynes said, we're all dead in the long run.

It is hard to listen to Dan Gilbert now and not think he has had more than his fill of the waiting game. With four first rounders on the roster and two more on the way, this Cavaliers squad has all of the young talent that it can handle. By hiring a veteran defensive coach in Mike Brown, it seems foolish to keep throwing more and more rookies at the Cavaliers' winning problem. Rather, the time has come for aggression in free agency and even more aggressive asset management in the draft.

While Joe Banner's approach to building the Browns may not yet resonate with fans, his approach to the off-season is exactly what the Cavaliers should emulate. Banner inherited an exceptionally young roster littered with rookies and second year players with upside, but largely devoid of veteran leadership beyond a few key names. The additions of Kruger, Bryant, Campbell, Bess, and others should help stabilize the roster and transition it toward a more winning posture. For Chris Grant, his own rebuilding project has yielded similar results to this point. While another talented top five pick and mid-first rounder will certainly be welcome, the time has come to find a balance through free agency.

Nothing Costs Enough Here

As Chis Grant approaches this off-season, he has an embarrassment of non-player wealth at his disposal. He will have one of the first few picks in the draft, as well as the 19th overall selection. The Cavaliers also own two of the first three picks in the second round. In addition to the picks, Grant has enough cap space to pull off almost any roster maneuver he can dream up.

The challenge, as always, is turning these assets into living, breathing players that will nudge the win column ever higher for the Cavs. Grant's assets are cheap--the NBA is a market and more often than not great players are expensive. A quick look down the Cavs' roster shows nothing costs enough here. Banking on every young draft pick developing into a star is a recipe for disappointment. It is time for Grant to spend on a few proven commodities.

Last year, Grant opted to consolidate his draft picks into two first rounders. At the time, Grant explained his rationale as not wanting to add too many rookies to the roster at one time. Given the new found sense of urgency within the organization, it would be incredibly surprising if Grant opted to use all four of his draft selections.

It would be prudent to consolidate again--either by moving up from the 19th pick or by packaging multiple picks to acquire a future first rounder of higher worth. Of course, Grant could also use his available picks in a trade to acquire a veteran. There are plenty of options, and Grant has a lot of flexibility.

What would be most frustrating is if Grant opts to sit back this off-season and let his draft picks be the main roster additions. The Cavaliers should always be mindful of adding young talent, whether the team is trending up or down in the standings. But, the time has come to shift the focus away from only adding young talent. Mike Brown needs an influx of savvy veterans to run his system. Regardless of whether Byron Scott deserved his fate, Chris Grant let him enter three straight seasons as the driver of a school bus rather than a professional basketball coach. Here's hoping Grant does Brown a favor and gives him a much more balanced roster to work with; a roster where young guys learn from veterans and earn playing time by merit and not by mere heartbeat.

Exactly who Chris Grant should pursue in free agency and the draft is a topic for another time and another column. In the meantime, suffice it to say that the patience of the city is wearing thin across all three professional franchises. Their fates are intertwined because the frustration of three concurrent rebuilding projects spills over between seasons. The idea that the road to a championship is paved through a half-decade of losing seasons is preposterous, and younger Cleveland fans distracted by the LeBron era are figuring it out.

The time has come to support those who lead with a sense of urgency, even if the trust is tenuous and even if the risk for more disappointment is high. Fans' ire should be reserved for the Holmgren's of the world who would have us subsist on a steady diet of Soma and patience, blissfully ignorant as a never ending rebuild sputters along on the road to mediocrity.

I missed angry Dan Gilbert, and I sure as hell salute Joe Banner's fearless aggression. The draft is great, entertaining, and important. But, it is the roster building tool for the long term. Those who want to win now should recognize that rookie-laden rosters rarely succeed at anything other than getting coaches fired.

Cleveland fans are trained to fixate on the draft, but as the Cavs and Browns progress through their off-season, the true test of their win-now urgency will be their aggression in free agency.

If that feels foreign, it's because while Cleveland sports teams condition us to wait for next year, their competition is busy competing this year.

It's about time we join them.

One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them.

-Aldous Huxley, Brave New World

Episode 12

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 22:50:00 +0000

The one where Cavs fans choose their own Mike Brown adventure (For angry path, press play; For rationalizing path, press play too).

Topics: Mike Brown hiring reactions, mid-level free agent targets

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Episode 11

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 18:13:00 +0000

The one where Byron gets fired, and Mike Brown buys Bill Cowher's mansion in Strongsville.

Topics: Byron Scott's firing, potential replacements, Cavs' season in review, goals for next season.

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Our Very Thought-Out (unquestionably perfect) All-NBA Teams

noreply@blogger.com (Logan) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 21:37:00 +0000

Here's Logan and Scott's All-NBA first and second teams. Enjoy!

If you'd like to chime in with your own All-NBA squad, get in touch with us on Twitter: @TheBottomUpShow

Logan's All-NBA Selections
By: Logan Bednarczuk

Before I share my NBA first team selections, I would just like to point out that I believe, like the all-star game, that the selection process should get rid of the Center label and instead be allowed to pick 3 backcourt positions. That’s not to say I don’t believe the Center position is n important one I just feel that Forwards this year really performed better than the Centers. That being said, I will stick to the traditional format and select a center for my all NBA teams until the rule changes (sorry, Carmelo).

First Team

Guard: Chris Paul- 17.0 PPG/ 9.6 APG/ 3.8 RPG/ 26.33 PER

Chris Paul is largely seen as the best point guard in the league and with merit. His ability to control the game on the floor is second to none and he has the best defensive hands in the league. Not to mention the fact that he could become the first player-coach to lead his team to a championship since Bill Russell….What? Del Negro is the head coach?!?!? Well I still feel like Chris Paul should at least be acknowledged as a co-head coach and that’s still a remarkable feat.

Guard: Tony Parker- 20.4 PPG/ 7.6 APG/ 3.0 RPG/ 23.08 PER

This is my controversial first team pick. I realize that their have been several guards that have had amazing seasons this year, and this was a very difficult choice. Out of all of them I feel that Westbrook has the best case against Tony Parker, averaging slightly more points and rebounds then Parker and dishing out almost the exact same number assists. Parker however is shooting a remarkable .524 percent from the field, far greater than Westbrook’s .432 percent. He also is the best player on one of the only 3 teams even sniffing 60 wins this season. He has been snubbed of this honor for years and I think he truly deserves it. Westbrook may, and probably should, be offended if he was overlooked for this honor but Parker has been denied such high honors for far too long.

Forward: LeBron James- 26.8 PPG/ 7.3 APG/ 8.0 RPG/ 31.69 PER

This is a no brainer; LeBron has been the most dominant player we have seen in the past decade and is well on his way to capturing his 4^th MVP award in the past 5 years. No one can dominate the game in so many ways like LeBron can. He can play the point and set up his teammates better than any other in the league also while scoring at will and rebounding the basketball. Oh, did I mention he was a lockdown defender who can guard almost any position on the court? LeBron was an obvious selection (though it pains me).

Forward: Kevin Durant- 28.1 PPG/ 4.6 APG/ 7.9 RPG/ 28.18 PER

Durant gets the dubious reward of being the second best player in the league but hopefully should find solace in the fact that he is the only player nipping at LeBron’s heels for top-dog status. He has been scary efficient offensively, joining the very exclusive 50/40/90 club. This means that Durant will finish the season with averages of over 50% from the field, 40% from three, and 90% from the free throw line. Not to mention that he is no slouch on defense either with his surprising quickness and over 7-foot wingspan. Including Durant on this team involved just as little thought as LeBron (again, sorry Carmelo).

Center: Marc Gasol- 14.3 PPG/ 7.8 RPG/ 1.7 BLKPG/ 4.0 APG/ 19.67 PER

Marc Gasol has been an all-around force this year. He is on a short list to grab the defensive player of the year award and leads the leagues best defense only allowing 89.4 points per game. What really sets him apart form many of the other great big men in the league is his ability to run the offense through him. Not only is he a diverse scorer with the ability to put his back to the basket and hit a jump shot if his defender leaves him but he is a great passer, averaging 4 assists a game. He has the most complete game of any legit center in this league and may be adding a defensive player of the year award besides first-team All-NBA honors.

Second Team

Guard: Russell Westbrook- 23.5 PPG/ 7.5 APG/ 5.3 RPG/ 24.00 PER

Russell Westbrook had a great year and it was hard to pass him up for the first team but he is an easy choice for the second team. Westbrook has had his best season to date for the second best team in the NBA. He is probably the most athletic guard in the league and has learned to better use his amazing athleticism to create more scoring opportunities for his teammates. This has really rounded his game to complement his already explosive scoring ability. He also is the best rebounding guard in the league and is always a threat to streak down the lane and get a quick putback. If Westbrook could just get his jumpshot down and increase his scoring efficiency he wouldn't just snag a spot on the all NBA first team but also rival Paul as the best point guard in the league.

Guard: James Harden- 26.0 PPG/ 5.9 APG/ 4.8 RPG/ 23.42 PER

My second truly controversial pick is James Harden. Many will think it outrageous to pick Harden over the Lakers Kobe Bryant but you just have to hear me out. Harden and Kobe almost mirror each other statistically with Kobe having a slight edge averaging 27.3 points, 6 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game. Kobe, however, has not led a team to a solid playoff spot like Harden, does not have as high of a PER, and has been a worse defender than Harden. By no means am I saying Harden has been a devastating defender, I am just saying Kobe has been so bad that even just the relatively decent defense of Harden gives him a huge edge. Harden should be rewarded for his huge breakout season and leading such a youthful squad with such limited practice and game time to the 7^th seed (maybe...) in the tough Western conference. While Kobe statistically has been putting up gaudy numbers he was unable to lock in a playoff spot for him and his All Star cast and I feel that this paired with his horrendous defense can't be overlooked.

Forward: Carmelo Anthony- 28.7 PPG/ 2.6 APG/ 6.9 RPG/ 24.87 PER

Anthony was the third best player this year in the NBA. Carmelo has evolved into his most complete offensive form, decimating defenses in a litany of ways. Sadly, there are only two forward spots in the first team selection and it just happens the best two players on the planet happen to play the same position. He has led the Knicks to be a legitimate threat to the Heat this year and dethroned Durant as the NBA scoring leader. His lack of dominance, or in some cases even competence in other facets of his game however, have led him to fall to the 2^nd team all NBA roster. With the level of attention he garners from a defense it would be nice if his assist numbers would improve, also his defense though better than in years past could be a little more focused.

Forward: Blake Griffin- 18.2 PPG/ 8.4 RPG/ 3.6 APG/ 22.72 PER

I am not a huge Blake Griffin fan, but I can’t deny his ability or his effectiveness. He is one of the most impressive physical specimens in the NBA (probably second only to LeBron). His rebounding and scoring prowess can’t be disputed, this season he averages over 18 points and 8 rebounds a game. He (with the help of Chris Paul) has steadily guided the Clippers to their best record in franchise history. Though I have serious reservations about his ability in the pressure filled environment of the playoffs (where defenses clamp down and those alley-oop breakaway dunks become hard to come by), he deserves this position for his great regular season.

Center: Tim Duncan- 17.8 PPG/ 9.9 RPG/ 2.7 BLKPG/ 24.65 PER

In his 16^th season, Tim Duncan inexplicably has improved his game. He is playing more efficiently offensively and more aggressively defensively then he has in the last three years. This 38-year-old veteran boasts the leagues best PER for centers and power forwards and is close to averaging a double-double with his impressive 17.8 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. Defensively, he has been surprisingly spry and active, locking down the paint even when paired with some less than gifted defensive bigs. Gasol just barely nudged him out of the first team spot because of the fact he has just played so many more minutes. Gasol has played in 11 more games this season and averages over 5 more minutes a game than Duncan. Popovich has done a great job at monitoring Duncan's minutes this season but because of this limited playing time Gasol nudges him out for the top spot.

Scott's All-NBA Selections
By: Scott Barkett

I went a little old-school here, picking my first and second teams while staying reasonably true to each position. I love the idea of first and second All-NBA teams, but to me it's about who was the best and second best at each individual position? So, I compiled my list more rigidly to the traditional PG, SG, SF, PF, C positions.

First Team

PG: Chris Paul, LAC

There are a plethora of awesome point guards in the NBA right now. Really, it’s an embarrassment of riches. But if you must pick one to stand out above the rest, it’s got to be Chris Paul. He’s had a fantastic season as the maestro of the “Lob City” Clippers, and his two big men aren’t exactly expert shot creators. In short, Chris Paul allows Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan to get high quality looks at the basket. For my money, the test of a great point guard is making everyone else around him better and then knowing when to take over on offense. Paul is a master of this, and it’s been an absolute pleasure to watch his NBA career.

Key Stat: 4.19 AST / TO ratio. That’s absurd. Jose Calderon is the only other PG even in the same stratosphere.

SG: Kobe Bryant, LAL

Oh, Mamba, how we already miss you already! Kobe’s snapped Achilles tendon might have signaled the end of an era in the NBA, but if this is the end then what an impressive ride it’s been. This season has been the definition of chaotic for the Los Angeles Lakers, and methinks Mike Brown is off sipping a margareta right now thrilled to collect his paycheck away from the drama. But, Kobe shined through it all. As almost every other Laker in the rotation missed stretches of the season, Kobe was the lone constant. He played an insane amount of minutes, took an insane amount of shots, and also adjusted his game on the fly to facilitate more. He was arrogant, petulant, and yet still a leader. The fact that 17 seasons into his career there still isn’t a SG better than Kobe tells us all we need to know. If this is the end, what an impressive finale it was.

Key Stat: 45.2 MPG in April (6 games). Mamba put the team on his back, though. D’Antoni put another star in the operating room with insane minutes.

SF: LeBron James, MIA

Should be the unanimous MVP choice. A legitimate shot at Defensive Player of the Year, which he probably deserves but won’t get because of voter fatigue. Can anything stop LeBron James? For my money he’s the best since MJ, and at this trajectory we might be witnessing something even more special. James deserves every last drop of praise he’s receiving, and his newly matured, efficient game has erased any doubt in my mind that he made the right choice to go to Miami. Does it still sting as a Cavs fan? Absolutely. Will I begrudge transcendent greatness because of July 8, 2010? Absolutely not.

Key Stat: Heartbeat

PF: Carmelo Anthony, NYK

I’m listing Melo at Power Forward even though he’s traditionally been considered a Small Forward. Much like LeBron in Miami, Melo has found great success with the Knicks when they play small and bump him up to the PF slot. He’s an offensive wizard who rightfully deserves to be in the same category as Kobe, LeBron, and Durant. Though his defense at the PF position is mediocre at best, and his rebounding numbers are pedestrian, I think Melo’s impact on the offensive end outweighs these negatives. Put it this way, is there another PF in the league who you would rather have on your team than Carmelo Anthony? Of course not. And with the NBA trending toward smaller, more athletic lineups, it’s appropriate that Melo is listed at the position he played in 2013, and not the position he played in 2006.

Key Stat: 28.7 PPG. Carmelo led the league in scoring after putting together an absolutely ridiculous stretch of games in April.

C: Marc Gasol, MEM

Who doesn’t like the younger Gasol’s game? He might be the odds on favorite to win the Defensive Player of the Year Award, and on the offensive end he’s the hub through which much of Memphis’ offense runs. For Cavs fans, we saw glimpses of this point-forward style when Andy Varejao was healthy at the beginning of the season. If you’ve got a big man who can pass like a point guard from the elbow, you’ve got an exceptional weapon. Playing next to Zach Randolph, Gasol has developed into an absolute beast, and that tandem may well lead Memphis on a deep playoff run this season.

Key Stat: 4.0 APG / 1.7 BPG When your big man is the fulcrum of your offense on one end, and a rim protector on the other end, you’re in pretty good shape.

Second Team

PG: Russell Westbrook, OKC

As physically gifted as any PG in the NBA, Russ would get more love if Skip Bayless hadn’t pushed the whole KD vs. Russell storyline. With Harden in Houston now, there’s plenty of shots to go around in OKC, and Westbrook has earned his fair share of them.

SG: James Harden, HOU

Who honestly saw this coming? We all knew Harden was a great player while he was with OKC, but I suppose it’s impossible to know a guy’s ceiling when he’s stuck behind KD and Westbrook in the pecking order. Now in Houston, Harden’s game has flourished with increased opportunity. He plays a ruthlessly efficient style, attacking the basket or shooting threes. Heir apparent to Kobe as the top SG in the league.

SF: Kevin Durant, OKC

Second team? Sorry KD, but nobody is better than LBJ. Could I have put KD at PF on the first team, using the same rationale I used for Carmelo? Probably. But, with three hall of famers and only two spots, I relegated the young fella’ to the bench. Sue me.

PF: Blake Griffin, LAC

I give the nod to Blake here, not because he’s particularly well rounded or anywhere close to maximizing his physical gifts yet. I give him the spot here simply because he’s a force of nature compared to the other, very deserving candidates. In the same way that a young LeBron made up for his lack of polish with flabbergasting power, speed, and force, Blake Griffin is thriving. His J is still developing, but his stats are impressive and I’m not sure anyone in this league—including LBJ, himself—can neutralize Blake’s athleticism. After he puts together a monster playoff run, you guys at home will look back at this list and nod in agreement. Patience, young Jedi.

C: Dwight Howard, LAL

I’m certainly not a huge fan of the way Dwight goes about his off-court business. To my Midwestern sensibilities, Dwight’s complaining and lack of humility rub me the wrong direction. But let’s look at the big picture of his season. Dwight had offseason back surgery, then he tore his labrum early in the season. Now, let’s look at the numbers he still put up: 17.1 PPG / 12.4 RPG / 2.4 BPG. With the potential exception of Memphis with Marc Gasol, is there any other team in the league that wouldn’t consider Dwight an upgrade at the Center position? I fear that his past (healthy) performance has created the impression that this season was a letdown for him. Maybe it was, but as a Cavs fan I dream of having such letdowns in the Wine and Gold.

Episode 10...A Two Part Finale to "Don't Believe Me, Just Watch!"

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:17:00 +0000

Part I (Western Conference Playoff Team Breakdown)
The one where we break down the Western Conference playoff teams and mourn the loss of Kobe Bean Bryant.

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Part II (Eastern Conference Playoff Team Breakdown)
The one where we break down the Eastern Conference playoff teams and mourn the loss of Gerald Wallace. Oh, wait...he's still healthy? Oh. Well, then. Yikes.

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Episode 9

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 22:13:00 +0000

The one where the Cavs' defense eats the whole wheel of cheese, and playoff teams jockey for optimal seeding.

Topics: Cavs, worst or worstest?; Optimal playoff match-ups for the top teams; Favorite NBA story of the year

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