With Defense Firing On All Cylinders, Cavs' Offense Should Look to Shaq

Once again, talk of the Cleveland Cavaliers is focusing on their defense.

A strong end-game closed out the defending champion Lakers on Christmas, and a few days later the Cavs held Atlanta scoreless for the first nine minutes of the fourth quarter in sealing another road win.

Defense is the name of the game for the Cavaliers, and has been in their five seasons under Mike Brown.

Offense is another story.

Google “Mike Brown offense” and see for yourself. There are mostly blog entries offering scathing indictments of the coach and his decidedly non-creative approach to putting the basket in the ball. There's certainly nothing testifying to his offensive innovations or strategies.

Do the same with Phil Jackson, and you’ll get enough X’s and O’s to start a basketball clinic (along with a hilarious spoof from The Onion about the Zen Master’s “Tetrahedron Offense").

What gives? You’ve got a perennial candidate for the NBA scoring championship in LeBron James. You’ve got three of the top three-point shooters in the game: Mo Williams, Anthony Parker and Daniel Gibson.

You’ve also got Shaquille O’Neal.

Don’t laugh. As Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain Dealer wrote this week, Shaq is still a force to be reckoned with inside, and the Cavs have yet to figure out how to capitalize.

In a loss to Charlotte on Sunday—their second stumble against the Bobcats this year—Shaq took just five shots, making four on his way to a 10-point night. This while being guarded down the stretch by Boris Diaw—all six-feet, eight-inches of him.

It’s part of a disturbing recent trend that has seen O’Neal taking fewer than 10 shots a game; in many cases, far fewer.

As Windhorst pointed out, the Cavs have been winning, so it’s no big deal in the immediate context. However, their inability to truly integrate Shaq into the offensive flow is indicative of the fact that Brown’s approach to scoring still seems to consist of getting the ball into LeBron’s hands, and little else—and that will hurt them in the long run.

Much has been made of how the Orlando Magic beat Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals last spring. The Cavaliers didn’t have an answer for Dwight Howard. Orlando’s perimeter shooters lit up the Cavs’ small guards. Orlando was simply better all along, said the experts.

But it was also a case of having to finally pay the piper. When your offense revolves so much around one player and his ability to create shots, you’re asking for trouble.

Commentators from Charles Barkley to Mark Jackson to Magic Johnson warned that asking James to carry the team offensively, playoff series after playoff series, was a prescription for disaster. They were right.

As much as the Magic’s offense came to life, the Cavs’ offense went stagnant. The result was another long summer for Cleveland, and another lesson learned.

Or was it? Concern over the way Cleveland frequently closes quarters—with LeBron dribbling, dribbling and dribbling before firing a last-second shot—is nothing new. Yet it still happens with disturbing frequency.

Let Windhorst say it: “LeBron has to be a leader enough to allow the ball to go elsewhere if he doesn’t have the right situation…He’s got to set up teammates more, no matter what the score is. This is something he’s been poor at all season.”

(Windhorst is a refreshing and articulate voice among NBA beat writers. Even though he co-authored a book about James this past year and knows the MVP well, it hasn’t kept him from being honest and objective in his observations about LeBron and the Cavs. He is consistently insightful and a joy to read for any hoops junkie.)

The Cavaliers appeared to grow offensively during their 66-win season a year ago. Much of their improvement was credited to then-assistant coach John Kuester.

With Kuester now steering the Detroit Pistons’ ship, Cleveland’s offense has too often fallen back into old, bad habits—most of them centered around giving the ball to LeBron and waiting to see what happens.

Again, the team has been winning, so it's not as if the sky is falling. However, this team operates best when attacking the basket—pushing the ball up the floor on fast breaks, setting up their perimeter shooters for three-point opportunities, and hurting teams with a relentless effort inside.

The Cavs' expected twosome underneath, O’Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, has actually become a trio. Anderson Varejao has been a key component in the paint all season and has shown more skill and aptitude around the basket than at any point in his career.

Ilgauskas, who has finally adjusted to coming off the bench, remains one of the best outside shooters among NBA centers.

Neither Varejao or Ilgauskas offer what Shaq does inside, however. O’Neal’s brute strength still poses problems for every center in the league. Howard couldn’t stop him one-on-one earlier this year. Neither could Amare Stoudamire, Andrew Bynum or Pau Gasol, to name just a few.

Mind you, O'Neal isn't complaining. He's been a model citizen for the Cavs. He's playing about 25 minutes a game and has accepted a reduced role, knowing that it will leave him rested for the playoffs.

Cleveland’s offense will continue to revolve around LeBron, but Shaq offers a legitimate option underneath. Brown has four months to figure out how to capitalize on it.

As well as they’ve played, there is still significant room for improvement for the Cavaliers. The thought of James employing his breathtaking athleticism on the offensive end, while simultaneously involving the strengths of O'Neal and the rest of his teammates, is a frightening prospect for the rest of the league.

THIS Is My Tribe?

Well, the dismantling of the Indians – at least, as we’ve known them the past few years – is complete. Victor Martinez was shipped to Boston today, on the heels of Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco going to Philadelphia, Ryan Garko going to San Francisco, and Rafael Betancourt journeying to Colorado. Wasn’t Mark DeRosa on the team at one point, too?

So, who’s left?

Let’s see, there’s a pitcher named Mike Gosling. Another named Tony Sipp. And don’t forget Jose Veras. Or Chris Perez.

At times, they’ll all have the chance to throw to Wyatt Toregas behind the point. Chris Gimenez, too, although he’s listed as an infielder.

Who? I mean, who?

There are three outfielders on the roster. One of them is Trevor Crowe. Talk about going from uncertainty to security; Crowe has to feel lucky to be in Cleveland during this fire sale.

Wow, what a season it’s been.

Fans are crying for Mark Shapiro’s head, but you really can’t blame the Indians’ general manager. This season is lost. And the pitching has been horrendous. Losing Lee is tough, but otherwise he surrendered some bats, and they can’t throw strikes. So stocking up on pitchers (nine of the 11 players obtained) revealed his strategy – fix the rotation, and fix the bullpen. Trust the guys who are here (Hafner, Cabrera, Sizemore, Choo, Peralta) to hit. Trust that one or two position players in the minors (LaPorta, Santana) develop into big league hitters. And hope that lightning strikes twice in the Shapiro era, and that this current crop of youngsters gets it done.

I’m not upset by it all, I’m really not. Admit it: The Indians weren’t going anywhere – this year, or next, or ever – not without better pitching. Now, we’ll sit back and watch to see if they can recharge their batteries and develop into a contender in a season or two.

Finally, how great was it to see the emotion Martinez showed after the trade? He could barely speak to reporters in the locker room. It was clear that when he said recently that he wanted to play his entire career in one uniform, he meant it. Martinez’s loyalty to the Indians, and his sadness over leaving the team regardless of their won-lost record, speaks volumes about him. Would that there were more players with his attitude in professional sports today.

Well, Now That Tiger’s No Longer the Best…

I knew it. What a fraud. Tiger Woods – number one in the world? Ha, ha.

It was only a matter of time before this showboat was exposed. Couldn’t even make the cut at the British Open! Come on, Eldrick. Champions don’t wilt under pressure. Five over par? Five over par? Puh-lease! Jack or Arnie or Ben or Sammy never would have slinked off the world’s biggest stage like that. Enough with the commercials and sponsorships, already. Come back when you’ve won something....

Oops! Sorry. I digressed, there, into the black hole of sports logic often employed by today’s “what have you done for me lately” pundits and fans. Case in point:

“LeBron James? NBA Most Valuable Player? How can that be, when he still hasn’t won a championship? He had his chance this year, and he blew it. Wilted, right there on national T.V.! And Kobe didn’t. He won the championship, which clearly makes him the greatest player in the game today.”

Except, of course, it doesn’t make him that, at all. I’m not sure when “championships won” became the defining criterion for greatness, but that’s the twisted logic that, to many, determines who the truly great ones are in sports.

No question, a few championships under the belt cement a star’s legacy. But to demote LeBron from best-in-the-game status to another-bum status, just because the Cavaliers lost in the Eastern Conference Finals, is ridiculous. Yet that’s what many fans and sports writers did. Wilt Chamberlain struggled to win two titles during his career, and he clearly was the most unstoppable force the NBA had ever seen during his playing days. Bill Russell’s teams won eight in a row. People like to argue that Russell was better – as if he didn’t have any good teammates on those Celtic teams (or a Hall of Fame coach, for that matter). I disagree, always have.

It’s absurd. Tiger had two bad days, that’s all. He’s human. His humanity got the best of him. He’s still, quite clearly, the best player in the game, and will take his place as the best ever in a few more years.

LeBron didn’t make it to the NBA Finals this year, which was a huge disappointment for him, personally and professionally. But it shouldn’t tarnish his reputation at all. Will his day come? The same question was asked of John Elway, who didn’t win a Super Bowl until the sunset of his career. And it was asked of Dan Marino, perhaps the most famous, accomplished athlete of our generation to never win a title. LeBron could win six, like Michael Jordan, or be lucky to ever win one. Time will tell.

But great is great. Tiger is great, and so is LeBron. Why can’t we leave it at that?

Call Him the 'Big Deal' -- That's Good Enough For Me

Shaquille O’Neal is coming to Cleveland.

I have no concrete idea what level of talent, at this point in his career, he will bring to the Cavaliers. The goal is to team with LeBron James to win a championship. Does he have the talent? Yes. Does he have the desire? Probably. Will that desire translate into the motivation necessary to demand at least one more All-Star caliber performance from his 37-year-old body? Stay tuned.

No matter. Shaquille O’Neal is coming to Cleveland.

Think about that. When was the last time a major star of Shaq’s stature came to Northeast Ohio?

LeBron doesn’t count. Neither does Jim Brown. Both were drafted, and arrived in Cleveland as young stars-in-waiting.

You have to go back to 1974, when the Indians obtained legendary outfielder Frank Robinson from the Angels. Robby was named player-manager – the first black manager in the history of the major leagues – during the subsequent offseason and punctuated it the following April by hitting a home run in his first at bat on Opening Day.

Is O’Neal the answer? Will he help bring Cleveland its first major pro sports championship since 1964? Maybe. He’s certainly larger than life – figuratively and literally – and will bring a whole new attitude to Cavs’ Town. If he’s motivated to get into better shape – even if it’s just for one final run at a championship – then look out, the Cavaliers could be scary.

Mike Tirico raved about the deal on ESPN radio Thursday. He later interviewed Danny Ferry, the Cavs’ general manager. As Ferry put it, the chance to add a player of Shaq’s stature, including the presence he brings to the court and the locker room, is too good to pass up.

Ferry also pointed out that he and other Cavalier executives watched a lot of game tapes of O’Neal, and were impressed with how well he played for the Suns. Indeed, O’Neal averaged 17.8 points and 8.4 rebounds a game in 75 games with Phoenix. Contrast that with the numbers posted by the Cavs’ Zydrunas Ilgauskas: 12.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per, in 65 games.

Don't write Shaq off just yet.

O’Neal is a 15-time All-Star and four time NBA champion. Add in the fact that there is no more consummate entertainer, and he promises to bring an attitude to Cleveland unlike any we’ve seen in these parts.

It’s called star power. It makes the trade worth it. That the Cavs only gave up Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic and this year’s second-round pick is gravy.

I mean, think about it: As I’ve written this, and as you’ve read it, LeBron James has been an afterthought.

That’s why Shaquille O’Neal is special. And it’s why he could be exactly what the Cavaliers – and LeBron – have needed.

Best Uniforms? Let the Debate Begin

On CBSSports.com Monday, Gregory Urbano named what he called the 10 coolest uniforms in sports history. In ascending order:

10. USC Football
9. Los Angeles Lakers
8. Dallas Cowboys
7. Boston Celtics
6. San Diego Chargers
5. Notre Dame Football
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
3. New York Yankees
2. University of North Carolina Basketball
1. Michigan Wolverines Football

Alrighty then. You’re no doubt already doing a slow burn at some of the names on the list. North Carolina’s basketball uniforms? Really? And, of course, the constantly overrated Boston Celtics garb. Ooh, they put “Celtics” across the front in block lettering. What’s so great about that? C’mon, the Bruins’ hockey unis are way better than those green monsters.

But that’s the nature of such lists. So I’m going to throw some of my own at you. Agree, disagree, whatever. It’s my blog. Note, however, that, unlike Mr. Urbano, I provide definitive visual evidence of my good taste.

I have also claimed one caveat: To make my list, a uniform cannot have made his. So there. Let the debate begin anew!

1. St Louis Cardinals. I’m shocked that this isn’t on Urbano’s list. It should be on every list. It is the classic baseball uniform of all time. Unique, colorful, attractive, historic. Has never gone out of style, never will.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers. Clean, simple, and stunning. The blue and red jump off the blazing white uniform, evoking patriotic sentiments, which I suppose baseball should do. The brilliant blue caps, the interconnected L and A…whoever did this got it right.

3. Texas Longhorns Football. The Longhorn logo is unlike any other in sports. Represents an entire state, moreso than any iconic logo I can think of. Even their opponents have to admit it’s the ultimate in cool. Slapped on that bright white helmet…perfect. And who else wears burnt orange? Great stuff.

4. Detroit Tigers. Another great uniform. The gothic D. The black piping around the collar and the buttons. The contrasting hat, with the same D. This hasn’t changed in decades, and never should. Understated and classic.

5. St. Louis Rams. Ram’s horns on the helmet. Ram’s horns around the shoulders. All matching the pants. I’ll bet every player who ever dressed in those things felt good about it. I still can’t decide if the gold of today is better than the yellow of yesterday, but either way, these get it done.

6. Chicago Baseball. OK, I’m fudging a bit, by giving a nod to both the Cubs and the White Sox. Again, however, their home pinstriped uniforms have held up over time. The Sox’ intertwined logo is unique in all of baseball, and the Cubs’ simple “C” gets the job done.

7. Virginia Cavaliers Football. Clean and classic. Distinctive choice of colors. Great logo. Evokes all sorts of regional emotions. Nicely done, hugely underrated by just about everybody.

8. Pittsburgh Penguins. Come on, it’s hard to make a hockey uniform look great, and these look great. Plus they have penguins on them, for crying out loud. Who else has the cajones to do that?

9. Green Bay Packers. What can I say? Green and gold can be a nasty combination if not used properly – but these folks used ’em properly. Better in the classic days of Lombardi as shown here, but still, they’re superb.

10. Baltimore/ Indianapolis Colts. Since the days of Johnny Unitas, this uniform has stood the test of time. Peyton Manning has been a deserving successor to the legacy. Who knew a horseshoe could help define a league the way this one has?

So there you have it. Now, about my Cleveland teams.

Right now, we’re in the hey-day of Cleveland uniforms. When the Indians went back to the classic script in 1994, it heralded the return of championship caliber baseball in Cleveland. New uniforms, new stadium, new era. I hope they never change. These are what baseball uniforms should look like.

The Cavaliers did a smart thing the year LeBron James was drafted. They returned to the classic burgundy and gold of their founding years, but with a beautifully updated approach. Mind you, I still love the original Cavaliers script uniforms, but I’m sentimental about their early days, when they were such loveable losers. But the lost era of orange, blue, black, powder blue? Ugh. No thanks.

And finally, the Browns. From the 1940s through the 1960s, when the Browns literally were the Yankees of pro football, people around the country professed love for their understated appearance, complete with no logo on the helmet. And, I must admit, I still love the look. Somehow, though, it had more of a classic feel all those many years ago. The team that has been on the field since 1999 has been mostly an embarrassment to the city of Cleveland and the NFL in general. So some of the luster has worn off. But, if they begin to win again, watch the orange and brown take this region – and other parts of the country, where Browns Backers clubs are large and plentiful – by storm.