CLEVELAND, Ohio – Playing defense in the NBA is tough, especially because the players are so athletic. Many of them have incredible shooting and scoring skills. Playing offense is also fun.
scribble in notebook cavaliers We’ve regained our defensive focus:
1. During a five-game losing streak, the Cavaliers had the worst defensive rating in the NBA. All-Star center Jarrett Allen missed two of his games. But they also lost three with him on the court. Coach JB Bickerstaff has also seen his team lose its defensive identity.
2. After five straight losses, Bickerstaff talked about how his team had become “fat cats.” He also accused them of playing “arrogant basketball”. He wisely addressed the media as a group rather than blaming individual players. It was a move by a veteran coach who sent a message without discouraging the players.
3. Action was required. Lamar Stevens took over as small forward for Caris Lebart after his three losses in the first. It’s a sensible move. Small in a four-star lineup, his forward is defensively focused and doesn’t care about scoring. A backcourt of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell and big men Evan Mobley and Allen can provide offense.
4. Isaac Okoro also started watching more minutes. He can move quickly across the screen. ”
5. Bickerstaff of Stevens: “Lamar has a very good ability to prevent isolation.
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach JB Bickerstaff has a team ranked third overall in the NBA in defense this season.
John Kuntz, cleveland.com
6. Bickerstaff loves to talk about things like this… defense. He backs it up by giving playing time to the… well… defenders. Stevens played only 24 minutes in his first 12 games. Bickerstaff then turned to him and his one of the first junkyard dog award winners was ready. In his six starts, he is averaging 9.8 points and 3.7 rebounds, shooting . 489 from the field. That’s why the offense helped me.
7. In their recent four-game winning streak, they had NBA’s highest defensive rating. It came after the worst of a five-game losing streak. Overall, the Cavaliers rank him third in defense this season.
8. Along with some lineup and rotation changes, Bickerstaff made another decision. Yes, the Cavaliers could score a lot of points with Mitchell and Garland playing high-octane basketball . But don’t forget about defense.
9. Bickerstaff explains: But offense is also useful in defense. We were playing at a tempo that was not good for us. I had to slow down. Let our half-court defense go against you. ”
10. The coach is promoting Allen as an All-NBA Defensive Player of the Year candidate and Mobley. He clearly appreciates what Garland and Mitchell are doing in the backcourt.These two are the combined mean Averaged 54 points and 14 assists per game.He has a 48% shooting percentage from the field and a 43% 3-point shooting percentage.the cabs are 8th in points (115.5 per game). The average NBA team currently scores 111.7 points per game.
Evan Mobley (4) and Portland’s Nasir Little (10) battle it out for the loose ball.
David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com
11. Blazers after 114-96 win over Portland Coach Chauncey Billups said: “I thought their physicals really hurt us on half court. Blowing up screens, locking screens. Bullying coverage. I thought it affected our decision making and the quality of our shots.” rice field.”
12. Defensive Bickerstaff: “You can’t be a hit or miss team…you have to stay physical. Then the league gets used to who you are. Your reputation makes you physically We can be a great team.”
13. The Cavaliers’ four-game winning streak ended in a 117-102 loss in Milwaukee on Friday. Stevens was out sick. They had a terrible third quarter, going 35-10. The match against the elite team was a mess. The Cavaliers have won 4 of 5 games this season and are 12-7.
14. Bickerstaff on Friday’s loss: “This is a great lesson for us. We played…they’re a team with championship capability and we’re learning how to get there.”
15. Last thoughts when Billups found himself coaching Portland: When David Griffin was fired after the 2017 season and Kobe Altman took over as interim GM, the Cavaliers gave Billups the GM job. offered. He declined it. Perhaps he would have made a good GM, but thanks to the younger players, Altman (now the team’s president) and his GM, Mike Gansey, made the team into the playoffs with many advantages and his caliber. I know you have completely restructured into the team.
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