A new Identity

 By Dylan Lowther / @OntheDylanL

Cleveland Cavaliers, holders of last year’s second-worst record in the NBA, faced many problems heading into this year’s offseason (wish I could talk about free agency).
Of course all of the holes of a 19-63 team have not been filled, but the front office has changed the image of this franchise.

The Cavaliers general manager, Chris Grant, is often telling interviewers about the “culture" that he is trying to establish in Cleveland. He will always refer to guys that fit in the “culture” of the team, however, nobody understood what he was talking about, including myself.

This past season, there was nothing that resembled any sort of “culture” about the Cavaliers team.
The Cavaliers’ biggest fault was that they had no identity at all. So the culture that Chris Grant was talking about was a complete mystery to everyone watching the Cavs.

For example, here are some of their per-game stats as a team from last season: They averaged 95.5 points per game, which was sixth worst in the NBA last year, also, their opponents averaged 104.5 points per game which was good for eighth worst in the NBA.

Of the bottom 15 teams in points allowed per game, they had the lowest points per game average. This means that they were in company with teams that were offensively oriented, teams that would give up big numbers, but get them back.

The Cavs gave up points as if they were a team like the Knicks, but they didn't score like them. This had them stuck in an awkward place where they didn’t have a direction. Going into each game with no real style or identity would result in them losing in every way possible.

The Cavaliers were also holders of the league’s second worst field-goal percentage, 43.4%, however, they were giving up the fourth highest field-goal percentage to their opponents in the league, 47.5%.
Once again, this points to them having no style of play.

The Cavaliers also allowed the best three-point percentage in the entire NBA, 41%, they had the seventh worst at 34.2%. They also ranked fourth worst in blocks per game and steals per game.
At the end of the year, there was no doubt as to which team had the most work to be done in the offseason, and that would be the Cavaliers.

The subtle, yet remarkable rebuilding process began for the Cavaliers on June 23, the day of the 2011 NBA draft.
 
With the first overall pick, the Cavaliers chose Kyrie Irving. Most people will look at his ability to create for others and score on his own and ultimately conclude that he was deserving of the No. 1 overall pick this year.


Kyrie Irving is all of the above, but most importantly, he is a top-notch defender at the point guard position. That is another reason why he is compared to Byron Scott’s former point guard project, Chris Paul, who is the best defensive point guard in the NBA.

Draftexpress.com, a website that has scouting reports on the majority of draft prospects had this to say about Irving, “Defensively, Irving won't have any problems from a physical standpoint in the NBA, as he has good size, strength and lateral quickness.

"He's already way ahead of where most freshman are on this end of the court too, as he plays with good intensity, has excellent fundamentals, and shows great timing jumping in the passing lanes.”
Two picks later, the Cavaliers were on the clock again, this time they chose power forward Tristan Thompson.

Many people questioned the decision of drafting Tristan Thompson with Jonas Valanciunas still available, I even responded by quickly burying my head in my lap following the selection.
This reaction was mainly based on me convincing myself before the draft that Valanciunas was the second coming.

After getting over the heart-breaking selection (in my eyes at the time), I realized that Tristan Thompson is a fine player. He was the best power forward prospect in the draft, but most of all, he is a defense-first player.


When mentioning Tristan Thompson, the first things that are talked about are his motor, his rebounding, and commitment to defense.

Thompson led the Big 12 conference in blocks, and was second in per game rebounding, This landed him the Big 12 Freshman of the year award. He is also a guy who loves to get into the open court.

When Irving and Thompson were introduced with Chris Grant and Byron Scott in Cleveland, Grant told the media repeatedly how Irving and Thompson were high-character guys who fit into the Cavaliers’ culture. Finally, this "culture" is forming.

Just a few days later, Grant clears the log-jam at power forward by trading power forward J.J. Hickson to the Sacramento Kings for small forward Omri Casspi and a protected first-round pick.

Not only did Grant pick up Casspi, another player who loves defense, has a high motor, and hustles non-stop, but he let go of the inconsistent effort that J.J. Hickson would give the Cavaliers.

Hickson clashed with Byron Scott, because Scott wasn’t content with the effort he would give at times during the season. Hickson became better as the season went on, but he never gave the consistent effort that a player who wants to rebound and defend would give.

He showed flashes of hard work such as the game against Blake Griffin, sadly, for each great play, there was a mental lapse.

As for the addition, Omri Casspi is a gritty player, he is extremely intense, plays hard, has a great work ethic, and runs.

These three moves during the offseason have given the Cavaliers a new identity heading into next season (whenever that is).

With a core comprised of hard-working, committed, and defense-oriented players, the Cavaliers now have gained an identity as a tough team that was much needed.

A Cavaliers starting lineup will now likely be something like this: Kyrie Irving, Christian Eyenga, Omri Casspi, Tristan Thompson, and Anderson Varejao.

What can we say about this lineup?

In the backcourt there is a point guard who has been compared to Chris Paul due to his offensive and defensive abilities, and a shooting guard who can block shots, steal the ball and has been asked to guard the other team’s best playmaker by Byron Scott numerous times due to his improvement defensively.

The frontcourt features a small forward known for his gritty, hard-nosed play, intensity, and willingness to play defense. He is accompanied by a power forward, who as a Freshman in an elite conference led his conference in blocked shots and came second in rebounding, and he is standing next to arguably the best pick and roll defending power forward-center in the NBA who is no stranger to the All-Defensive second team.

The Cavaliers have found a tough, gritty, defensive-first identity that they were lacking last year.
Comparing that to a lineup that featured Ramon Sessions, Daniel Gibson/Eyenga, Alonzo Gee/Eyenga, Jamison, and Hickson/Varejao is a very remarkable, and impressive culture and identity change.

The Cavaliers still have much work to do, a team with a 19-63 record won’t be contenders overnight, but they now have solved a serious problem, they have a style, an identity.

Now Chris Grant doesn’t seem crazy when he goes on about the team “culture”.

Also featured on Slamonline and Bleacherreport

What Cleveland Should Do With Point Guard Ramon Sessions

Point guard Ramon Sessions has been one good crop in a field of ugliness this year for the Cleveland Cavaliers. His play has improved dramatically from what it was in the beginning of the year.

We have seen Sessions change his way of playing basketball since the beginning of the season. We were growing accustomed to him going up for a layup on three guys in the lane every single time he touches the ball, and most likely missing or jumping in the air and in some way getting a turnover.

He has instead learned to be patient when entering the lane, letting the defense react to him before him reacting to the defense.

On top of his improved decision making and patience, we have seen Sessions notoriously terrible jumpshot improve! It is no longer the same form he had to start the season, he has way more lift and it is really helping.

He has added the top of the key jumper to his game, which helped him sink his first three pointer of the season the other night when he dismantled the reigning champion, Los Angeles Lakers.
Sessions' new style of play is paying dividends.

Because of Sessions great play over the past two months, Cleveland is getting calls from numerous teams throughout the league, inquiring about the point guard. This has raised the question, what should the Cavaliers do with Ramon Sessions? (not LeBron joke).

Ramon Sessions has only began to break out this year. I wouldn't call his recent success a hot streak, because it isn't that his usual moves and decisions are working, it is that he has changed his style of play by correcting the things that made him inconsistent. If Ramon keeps his new style, he will surely see just as much success in the last two and a half months of the season as he has enjoyed in the past one and a half months.

Trading Ramon right now for a first round draft pick from a playoff team (what Cavaliers are looking for) is a mistake.

Chris Grant, the Cavaliers general manger has preached flexibility since being named the general manager.

For the Cavaliers to stay flexible, it would be best for them to have Ramon for at least the rest of the season. The Cavaliers should have a very high pick this year in the draft.

However, if the highly touted Kyrie Irving is not on the board and Ramon is out of town, the Cavaliers have the true shooting guard, Daniel Gibson, starting at point guard going into next season. This forces the Cavaliers to find an adequate point guard heading into next season and for the future.

The point guard position, especially for Byron Scott, is the most important position on the floor. The point guard position is there to distribute the ball and run the offense, without a point guard you are not able to assess the success of your bigmen or wing players.

It is like trying to assess wide receivers when you have a bad quarterback, it is going to be difficult and it will prevent the team from progressing.

If Ramon remains with the Cavaliers and they are able to select Kyrie Irving, Ramon Sessions becomes expendable. With Sessions setting up to have a very impressive ending to the season, his value during the draft will be higher than it's ever been, especially considering his four million dollar contract. The Cavaliers can then field offers rather than giving offers.

With Ramon and no Irving on the board you still have a good point guard in Sessions, who Byron Scott is making better day by day. Sessions' improved play is starting to show that he is capable of running a team and at the young age of 24, the Cavaliers could easily keep him throughout the rebuilding process.

So what do I say to the Cavaliers? Trading Ramon right now is a gamble. Play it safe and keep the emerging point guard until a player comes along that forces you to give him up.

(This article can also be found at http://bleacherreport.com/articles/610383-cavaliers-what-cleveland-should-do-with-point-guard-ramon-sessions)

Grading the Cleveland Cavaliers' Trade Deadline Moves

Going into the trade deadline, Cavaliers fans were concerned that they would carry the same injury plagued 15 guys that they have had the entire season (small replacement with Gee in, and Jawad out). The have been wildly unsuccessful this season and are coming off the worst losing streak in NBA history.

If there was one team in the NBA that needed a change at the deadline, it was undoubtedly the Cavaliers. The team lacked an identity, and still does, but more importantly, before the trades they had no direction.

The Cavaliers accomplished what they needed most, a change in direction. With the two moves that they made before the three o'clock Thursday deadline, management showed that they are trying to get younger and build through the draft.

In their first trade of the day, the one that made the headlines, the Cavaliers traded Jamario Moon and struggling point guard Mo Williams who has been slowed down by injuries the whole year for former all-star point guard Baron Davis. (These are my thoughts on Davis: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/597226-blake-griffin-how-he-saved-baron-davis-courtesy-of-andre-miller )

More importantly, in this trade they picked up the Clippers unprotected first round pick for 2011. If the draft lottery played out with no surprises, the Cavaliers would go into the 2011 draft with both the first pick overall and the eight pick overall.

In a draft without a clear cut number one pick according to most people covering the subject, they could easily wind up with two guys arguably worthy of the first overall pick.

From this trade, the Cavaliers now have a great starting point to begin a youth movement in Cleveland.
Although Davis' contract is large (nearly $15 million in the third year of his contract, around $13 million this year and around $14 million the next year) it is just as long as Mo Williams' contract.

However, Baron has an early termination option after next season, I am not sure if he will want the money or the ring, but there will definitely be a hard decision to be made for Davis, if he lasts that long in Cleveland.

I could easily see Davis receiving a buyout from the Cavaliers, especially when he finds himself after the first few games receiving less minutes than Ramon Sessions on a team that is 10-47. Davis could find himself getting sick of the Cavaliers and I am sure that the Cavaliers would love to cut themselves free of the burden that is Davis' contract.

The second trade that occurred on the day of the deadline was one that avoided the headlines, being hidden by much larger deals.

The Cavaliers sent Minnesota's 2013 second-round pick to the Boston Celtics in exchange for rookie center Semih Erden and rookie forward Luke Harangody.

What makes me very proud is that this stemmed from another great trade made in the offseason. Let's back track.

The Cavaliers obtained that pick in the offseason from the Minnesota Timberwolves in combination with Ramon Sessions and Ryan Hollins. What did they send? Delonte West, a player who they were planning on waiving if he wasn't traded. From this trade, the Cavaliers now have thriving point guard Ramon Sessions, and two rookie big men. All of this stemming from a player that wasn't expected to be in training camp.

Of the two big men that the Cavaliers acquired from the Celtics, I am more intrigued by the Turkish center, Erden. In the beginning of the season, Erden got a few opportunities to start at center because of injuries to Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal, and new member of the Thunder, Kendrick Perkins.
In the seven games he has started, he has played an average of 22.4 minutes, in those minutes he was averaging nearly seven points a game along with five rebounds and one block. His effectiveness went beyond the stat sheet. He has never been shy to sacrifice his body on defense and take a charge. He has also shown how smart of a basketball player he is.

He is great for the Cavaliers because they desperately need a player who's first position is center and isn't named Ryan Hollins.

Harangody has not seen much of an opportunity but in one of his three games this season when receiving 20 minutes or more he posted an impressive stat line of 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Harangody is another power forward, one thing that the Cavaliers have plenty of. The two things that these two players do share in common, they both fit into the youth movement that Cleveland has begun.

My overall grade for the Cavaliers deadline trades, A-.

I wanted to give them an A but Davis' contract wouldn't let me. They were also unable to trade away Antawn Jamison and Anthony Parker, two players that do not fit the mold of the type of players that the Cavaliers are trying have on the roster.

The Cavaliers have stayed very flexible by holding onto the large 14.5m trade exception received from the LeBron James sign and trade. Also, Jamison will be much more attractive in June and as an expiring deal next year. The Cavaliers still have two very nice pieces that could be moved.

If reports are accurate, the only thing that kept them from acquiring Richard Hamilton and the Pistons protected-pick for next season was that Hamilton was not wanting to accept a buyout from the Cavaliers. It was another sign that Cleveland is trying to get younger and build a brighter future.
(This article can also be found at http://bleacherreport.com/articles/619612-cavaliers-grading-the-cleveland-cavaliers-trade-deadline-moves.)

Why Kyrie Irving Should Enter the NBA Draft

The Cleveland Cavaliers are the worst team in the NBA and have shown no signs of improving. Adding on to that, their team is likely to be gutted of all bad contracts by the end of the trade deadline on the 24th of this month (February).

The beginning of their roster gut will start with the worst contracts on the team, Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison. The Cavaliers already have the least talented roster in the entire NBA, with Jamison and Williams likely to be dealt for expiring contracts (or the combination of picks and expirings) the Cavaliers will be even worse.

As a result, the Cavaliers will be without their top two scorers this year, and they will likely be replaced with bench warmers or with nothing at all until this coming June, or possibly even a few June's down the road (stemming directly from the trade).

With that said, I think it is safe to assume that the Cavaliers will have the highest chance of winning the lottery when this June rolls around.

Kyrie Irving is the top point guard prospect eligible for this year's NBA draft. Kyrie has exceptional point guard skills, better than anyone in this class of NBA eligible players.

He has good pick n' roll play, and if you throw in the ability to score the ball in multiple ways including knocking down the long ball efficiently, you have a great talent at point guard. That is not to mention his nice size at the point guard position, and the fact that he is cat-quick with, and without, the ball.

More importantly, he has the brain: The guy has the poise and the understanding of the game to be trusted to start at point guard as a freshman for arguably the most prestigious college basketball program in the world, and is also learning under Mike Krzyzewski, one of the greatest coaches of all-time.

Now many of you are wondering why anybody in their right mind would leave Duke early to pursue a career with (most likely) the Cleveland Cavaliers, the worst team in the NBA.

Kyrie would be entering what many people are calling a shallow draft, and is likely to be picked higher and receive more money and press than next year, when the draft is expected to be deeper and probably much different considering the new CBA.

Rumor has it that they are trying to allow high school kids to enter the draft again, consequently making it harder for everyone to get drafted high.

There is not a soul who would have Kyrie Irving going outside of the top-five, and for most, the top-three in this draft.

This draft is also extremely potential-based: When you look at it, Perry Jones, Harrison Barnes, and Kanter are all expected to go in the top-five, and are all guys who are going to be drafted that high based on their potential.

This is why Kyrie's draft stock shouldn't take a hit, even with his injury.

One of my favorite websites, draftexpess.com, still has him going No. 1, and I trust their insight. In a draft that is "potential-centric," I don't see why a guy like Kyrie who could contribute both immediately and potentially even more in the future shouldn't go No. 1.

OK, Kyrie can get drafted first overall, but would this be more advantageous than learning for one more year under coach K? I think it would, since this year he will have the highest chance of being drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

This probably sounds ridiculous to you, I know.

The Cavaliers don't have "that guy" yet, and Kyrie Irving would immediately become "that guy." Not only that, he is entering the best situation to reach his potential and become a top flight point guard in this league.

Byron Scott is the reason. Byron Scott has taken the two teams he's coached from terrible first seasons to quickly reach great heights.

Byron Scott won 26 games with the New Jersey Nets in his first year there, but the second year he led them to 52 wins and a trip to the NBA finals, and reached the finals the following year as well.

With the New Orleans Hornets, he took them from 18 wins in his first year, to 38 wins the next season, and by his 4th season they went to a tough Game 7 loss in the second round against the reigning NBA champion San Antonio Spurs.

But what about Byron Scott's history makes him the coach for Kyrie Irving?

Byron Scott's team in New Jersey and his team in New Orleans both have multiple things in common, but one thing stands out in particular: They both had great point guards in Jason Kidd and Chris Paul. Not only are they the best playmaking point guards of their era, but they are also the best rebounding and defensive point guards of their time.

Kyrie Irving has all of the qualities that Chris Paul had coming into the NBA, which is why he has drawn comparisons to Chris Paul or a Chris Paul/Mike Conley hybrid. It is safe to say that Kyrie is even a better natural shooter and scorer than Chris Paul was when he was entering the NBA.

Byron Scott made both Jason Kidd and Chris Paul better. There is no better coach for Kyrie Irving to play for than Byron Scott; he of all people would know how to take him to the next level, and the shot is already there (unlike Chris Paul).

Don't be surprised to see Byron Scott turn Kyrie into the next great point guard in this league. Kyrie has all the potential, and Scott has all the knowledge.

He should take advantage of it!

For the Cavaliers, this makes Ramon Sessions and/or Boobie Gibson expendable. They are two players that are drawing lots of interest on their team right now. They are also likely to be overpaid for Ramon Sessions this summer because he should have a breakout second half this year, now that the Cavaliers are forced to play him no less than 30 minutes a game.

Also found at http://bleacherreport.com/articles/593548-nba-draft-should-i-stay-or-should-i-go-kyrie-irving-should-enter-the-draft.

Why Steve Nash deserves MVP votes

I recently took a look at NBA.com's updated MVP ladder, and after being the biggest All-Star snub of all-time, Steve Nash becomes a snub of another honor.

I am by no means saying that Steve Nash deserves to be the league's MVP, but he is certainly deserving of consideration.

The Phoenix Suns have had a dramatic drop off in talent since last year. Losing Amar'e Stoudemire, Leandro Barbosa and replaced them with Hakim Warrick, Josh Childress, and Hedo Turkoglu during the offseason.

Hakim Warrick, and Childress have struggled to find time on the team due to lack of production, or well, the usual things that don't allow players to get playing time!

Very early in the 2010-11 campaign, the Suns traded Jason Richardson, their only wing player who could create a shot for himself, who was also shooting 41 percent from the three point line, along with Hedo Turkoglu, and Earl Clark.

In exchange, they received the un-motivated, half-dead half-caring, Vince Carter, along with guard-forward, Mickael Pietrus who hasn't looked good since his 08-09 campaign. The Suns also received lifetime backup center, Marcin Gortat, who has never received more than 13.4mpg during his career.

Not to mention that Robin Lopez has now officially become one of the softest centers in the league.

On top of that, Grant Hill is one year older.

Despite all of these imperfections, the Phoenix Suns are 34-30 with the former MVP in the lineup, and in the toughest conference in the NBA.

The only reason why is Steve Nash.

Many people have their jaws dropping when they see Channing Frye's three point percentage, or even his scoring average for that matter. After coming off of three straight single digit scoring average seasons, averaged 11 points last year, and an impressive 12 points per game this year.

Channing Frye has been assisted on 86.74 percent of his baskets this year (according to http://www.pistonpowered.com/2011/03/ranking-nba-players-by-percentage-of-field-goals-created-on-their-own-and-of-course-greg-monroe-falls-near-the-bottom/). He is ranked 15th in percentage of field goals assisted.

That stat directly correlates to the playmaking abilities of Steve Nash. He has made Frye an incredibly effective player, along as a legitimate threat of every possession.

Then, I look at who is second on the exact same list, it is Marcin Gortat.

Gortat has been a lifetime backup center. However, if you looked at his production over the last three months, I don't think you would believe the previous sentence.

In the month of January, Gortat averaged eight rebounds, 10.8 points per game on 58.9 percent shooting from the field. His minutes from the previous month only increased by two, however, his point production doubled and he was grabbing three more boards per game.

In the month of February, Gortat averaged nine rebounds, and 13.3 points per game on 56.8 percent shooting. He enjoyed a playing time increase by seven minutes.

Currently, in the month of March, he is averaging 10 rebounds per game, and 13.9 points on 52.5 percent shooting (including 2.1 assists per game). His minutes only increasing from 30 to 33 per game.
I think it is safe to say that if Gortat is the second most assisted player in the NBA, and he has been scoring upwards of 13 points per game for the past two months, that means someone is creating shots for him.

Nash has taken a defensive minded center, and made him an offensive threat, a career backup defensive center is now an offensive threat, did that just happen? I am not going to say to say that Nash gave Gortat the ability to rebound or to make an open basket, but Nash gave Gortat a boatload of confidence.

Another player I would like to bring up is, Grant Hill. This is more of an overview of his time on the Suns as a whole, but, Hill was supposed to be out of the league four years ago.
Hill has been a consistent contributor on the Suns, probably the most reliable wing scorer they have. Hill, this year and last year, recorded his two highest three point shooting percentages of his whole career (43.9 percent and 39 percent).

Remember, this guy was supposed to be out of the league a few years back, Nash has kept Hill's career alive, not only that, but he has made Hill an effective player.

Lastly, Vince Carter, half-man half-..., has recently become accustomed to playing with Nash, and he is posting his highest per game average of the season during the month of March. He is scoring with efficiency, and most of all, looks like a member of the team.

Not only has Nash incorporated a multitude of new teammates, while dealing with a severe talent decrease, Nash has also continued to score just as well as he has last year.

There is a strange thing that you witness when watching the Suns, you see a bunch of guys who look like they have been together for years, however, they haven't. Steve Nash is instant chemistry, and it goes under appreciated.

The fact is, if the Suns were in the Eastern Conference, against easier competition, would most likely have the sixth seed. To have a winning record in the third toughest division in the NBA is more impressive than many give it credit for.

While many think that Nash staying on the Suns is slowing down their rebuilding process, he is giving more value to every player on the team, daily.

Besides, Stephen Jackson got a vote for MVP last year, Nash certainly deserves votes.

Nash may not be the most valuable player, but he is certainly the most valuable teammate.
This article can also be found at bleacherreport.com