The Cavaliers had interesting back-to-back games last Friday and Saturday. In these games, they lost to the now 7-9 Charlotte Bobcats, who have not yet qualified for the playoffs in franchise history and currently sit at 7th place in the Eastern Conference; and defeated the Dallas Mavericks, runners-up in 2005-2006, owners of the league's best record in 2006-2007, and currently 3rd in the Western Conference with a record of 13-5.
In Friday night's game, the Cavaliers came out flat. This was likely the cliche "trap game", in which the Cavs overlooked the Bobcats in favor of Saturday night's opponents, the Mavericks. Also, the game against the Bobcats took place the day after Thanksgiving, meaning that the lethargy of the team could be linked to heavy eating, including the consumption of tryptophan-containing turkey. Still, as Mike Brown, Danny Ferry, and others declared during the 2007 playoffs, the Cavs are a "no excuses team". The performance was beyond lackluster; it was arguably the team's worst game of the year. In addition to committing 25 fouls and 17 turnovers, the Cavaliers only earned 14 assists, which is well below their season average of 20.8 APG. On the other hand, Charlotte managed 19 assists versus 12 turnovers. The aggressive Bobcat defense held Cleveland to 87 points (allowing 87.9 PPG versus Cleveland's 99.1 PPG scored), while Cleveland's defense also surrendered its average of 94 points, but to a much lower scoring Charlotte offense (Cleveland defense allowing 94.6 PPG versus Charlotte's 88.2 PPG scored). Surprisingly, the Bobcats cooled off on the offensive end, as Cleveland outscored them by 8 points in the second half. The Cavs also outrebounded the Bobcats 46-35.
In Saturday night's game, the Cavaliers looked much, much better. While LeBron James looked sharp with a double-double in points (25) and assists (12), it was the play of Mo Williams and Anderson Varejao that spoke volumes. Varejao, especially, looked as focused as he has been all season; his only noticeable miscue was a miscommunication with James in which he crashed the boards on what he expected to be a shot attempt only to mishandle what turned out to be a pass. Jamario Moon and Delonte West also contributed major minutes and points off the bench. With Dallas playing a smaller lineup for much of the game, Shaquille O'Neal played well when needed at center, leaving Zydrunas Ilgauskas having to wait until Wednesday to break Danny Ferry's franchise games played record. Aside from Z having to sit out, the Cavaliers played arguably their best game of the year--probably better than the win over Orlando a couple weeks back.
Most likely, the upcoming Cavaliers performances will be a balance of the bad from Friday and the good from Saturday. As a friend of mine told me on Friday night, it is better for the Cavaliers to play their best basketball at the end of the year, when the championship is on the line. Sure enough, the Cavaliers are still developing chemistry in the midst of multiple roster changes and other issues. Perhaps the recent wins without Shaq and the win without Z are showing the Cavaliers that they can save the two big men's energy for the playoffs, when foul trouble could limit either of the players' minutes. With that said, the Cavaliers continue to work their way to their first championship, with Friday serving as a reminder of their room for improvement and Saturday serving as a preview for what is in store in the weeks and months to come.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Wizards Owner Pollin Passes Away; Transition of a League
Last week, Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin passed away at age 85. Pollin was the longest tenured owner in the NBA, having owned the Wizards (formerly the Bullets) since 1964. Pollin moved the team from Baltimore to the nation's capital. Among his franchise's accomplishments was winning the NBA Championship in 1978.
Pollin was not only a long-tenured owner but also very well respected across the league and sports in general. He previously owned the Washington Capitals (National Hockey League) and the Washington Mystics (WNBA), both of whom he sold to a group led by Ted Leonsis of AOL (who will take over the Wizards with Pollin's passing). He was loyal to his employees, who were loyal to him as an employer. At the same time, Pollin was not afraid to speak up about his concerns internally or externally. Internally, Pollin gave Michael Jordan much power as a team executive, allowed Jordan to make a second comeback from retirement, then let Jordan go following Jordan's failures to put together a winning team from either position (executive or player). Externally, Pollin spoke up about the need for NBA players to be role models due to their public status and exposure.
Pollin is the fourth NBA owner to pass away in 2009. He follows Larry H. Miller of the Utah Jazz, Bill Davidson of the Detroit Pistons, and Melvin Simon of the Indiana Pacers.
The departure of Pollin, Miller, Davidson, and Simon marks a time of reflection about what the NBA has been, is, and will be. The four deceased owners saw much change around the league, including the growing popularity of basketball nationally and internationally, with a growing number of players coming to the league from other continents; the emergence of iconic legendary players such as Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan; an intense collective bargaining period that resulted in the league's only shortened season, a 50-game regular season in 1998-1999 (all played in a 90-day span in 1999); and the expansion of the league to 30 teams. Rules have changed back and forth, as style of play has also fluctuated. The current collective bargaining agreement, which built on the lockout-ending deal of 1999, runs through the 2010-2011 season, with a league option year for the following season.
Despite concerns over the conduct and image of NBA players and the league as a whole, the NBA has managed to stay out of the steroids scandals that have invaded the National Football League and Major League Baseball, possibly in part due to the presence of owners such as Pollin, Miller, Davidson, and Simon. With a series of non-death related ownership changes also occurring, the new emerging team owners throughout the NBA take on the responsibility to put together honorable, marketable teams in the midst of an economic crisis in the United States. In the early 1990s, endorsers of the league proclaimed, "I love this game." The past few years, the league has proclaimed that the NBA is "where amazing happens." In a few years, the stance taken by the league and its fans will be impacted by the actions and values of the emerging owners. To the deceased owners, rest in peace. To other previous owners, thank you. And, to the emerging owners and future ambassadors of the NBA, remember that, with great power comes great responsibility.
Pollin was not only a long-tenured owner but also very well respected across the league and sports in general. He previously owned the Washington Capitals (National Hockey League) and the Washington Mystics (WNBA), both of whom he sold to a group led by Ted Leonsis of AOL (who will take over the Wizards with Pollin's passing). He was loyal to his employees, who were loyal to him as an employer. At the same time, Pollin was not afraid to speak up about his concerns internally or externally. Internally, Pollin gave Michael Jordan much power as a team executive, allowed Jordan to make a second comeback from retirement, then let Jordan go following Jordan's failures to put together a winning team from either position (executive or player). Externally, Pollin spoke up about the need for NBA players to be role models due to their public status and exposure.
Pollin is the fourth NBA owner to pass away in 2009. He follows Larry H. Miller of the Utah Jazz, Bill Davidson of the Detroit Pistons, and Melvin Simon of the Indiana Pacers.
The departure of Pollin, Miller, Davidson, and Simon marks a time of reflection about what the NBA has been, is, and will be. The four deceased owners saw much change around the league, including the growing popularity of basketball nationally and internationally, with a growing number of players coming to the league from other continents; the emergence of iconic legendary players such as Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan; an intense collective bargaining period that resulted in the league's only shortened season, a 50-game regular season in 1998-1999 (all played in a 90-day span in 1999); and the expansion of the league to 30 teams. Rules have changed back and forth, as style of play has also fluctuated. The current collective bargaining agreement, which built on the lockout-ending deal of 1999, runs through the 2010-2011 season, with a league option year for the following season.
Despite concerns over the conduct and image of NBA players and the league as a whole, the NBA has managed to stay out of the steroids scandals that have invaded the National Football League and Major League Baseball, possibly in part due to the presence of owners such as Pollin, Miller, Davidson, and Simon. With a series of non-death related ownership changes also occurring, the new emerging team owners throughout the NBA take on the responsibility to put together honorable, marketable teams in the midst of an economic crisis in the United States. In the early 1990s, endorsers of the league proclaimed, "I love this game." The past few years, the league has proclaimed that the NBA is "where amazing happens." In a few years, the stance taken by the league and its fans will be impacted by the actions and values of the emerging owners. To the deceased owners, rest in peace. To other previous owners, thank you. And, to the emerging owners and future ambassadors of the NBA, remember that, with great power comes great responsibility.
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