Cleveland Sports Forum

Anthony Bennett’s breakthrough night could be a sign of things to come, if Cleveland complies
Kelly Dwyer
By Kelly Dwyer 19 hours ago Ball Don't Lie

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Anthony Bennett backs one down in his breakout night (Getty Images)

The Cleveland Cavaliers did not look good on Tuesday night. From the team’s scattershot and silent defense, to an offense seemingly comprised solely of make ‘em ups, to the glaring absence of Austin Carr’s retired jersey in the rafters, Mike Brown’s unit looked completely out of sorts in a 100-89 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, a game featuring a score that wasn’t representative of how the game looked. It was worse than an 11-point loss.

One obvious standout emerged for Cleveland, though. In a season filled with an 0-16 start to the season from the floor, a benching, rumors of a D-League “demotion” (that many say would help his prospects) and a 1.1 Player Efficiency Rating (second to last in the league, entering Tuesday), Cavs rookie Anthony Bennett busted out with what is by far his finest game of the season in the loss. Bennett played most of the second half and totaled 15 points on 5-10 shooting. Playing 31 minutes, Anthony grabbed eight rebounds and only turned the ball over once. His PER is up to 2.3.

The points total exceeds the amount of points Bennett has contributed in the 2014 calendar year. The minutes total represented the first time Bennett has played more than 20 in a contest. It was the most action Bennett had seen since that 20-minute outing, one that saw the rookie miss eight of 11 shots in a 29-point loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second week of the season. Needless to say, it was a career night.

In a career that we hope hasn’t been irreversibly spoiled by the Cavaliers’ handling of their young prospect, one that was selected tops overall in last season’s draft.

Even with the loss at his team’s feet, Bennett was understandably more enthused following the game than after most others in this dreary, dreadful 16-29 season for the Cavaliers. After the contest, Cavaliers coach Mike Brown praised his rookie’s ability to “stay ready when your number is called,” and it was obvious throughout the second half that the team was making an effort to go to the young man – possibly in preparation for a nationally televised Thursday night game against the New York Knicks, one that could serve as an embarrassment for two teams that were expected to compete for a playoff berth; and one in Cleveland that has been afforded four lottery picks over the last three drafts, including two number ones.

Bennett looked good, though. It wasn’t the sort of dominant game that you’d expect every so often from a top overall pick (even a 19-year old one in a terrible draft), so for those expecting Bennett to play as Anthony Davis (the top overall pick prior to Bennett’s draft, one who contributed a brilliant 30-point, eight-block, seven-rebound and zero-turnover game against Cleveland on Tuesday) often did in his own rookie season, but it was good enough to remind you of who Anthony Bennett is.

He’s a young prospect, coming off of a major shoulder injury, who should be a sophomore in college. A top five lock in a legendarily poor NBA draft that was taken first overall, in a move that was a surprise but probably not worth criticism considering Bennett’s talent and size. Anthony Bennett is not your typical rookie, in so many ways.

Working at center alongside Tristan Thompson and at power forward alongside second-year big man Henry Sims, Bennett still slipped many screens and was aggressive in heading to the rim. At times he was confused on whether or not to slip the pick to set up for a perimeter shot or roll to the rim, and this contributed to poor spacing on the strong side with Sims. Bennett made 2-3 three-pointers (and missed another that didn’t count at the third quarter buzzer), and overall he reminded us of what has been clear since the start of the season:

Anthony Bennett needs to play power forward. Or undersized center, in a pinch. He needs minutes, and plenty of them. He can’t play small forward, and he shouldn’t be coming off the bench for cameo appearances with all eyes on him.

Cleveland’s coaching staff (because the front office, hesitant to send him to the D-League, won’t help in this regard) has to understand this, even with the “make the playoffs or else” mandate. The defense was terrible with Bennett out there on Tuesday night, but it was terrible in the stretches just before that, time with starters that allowed NOLA to build a big lead. The kid has to play, or you’re going to lose him. No amount of preparedness for “your number” being called can make up for these sorts of things.

Mike Brown isn’t wrong when he points out that Cleveland’s “competitive spirit is non-existent,” but some of this has to be attributed to the coaching staff – one that also features former head and interim coaches in Bernie Bickerstaff and Jim Boylan, and highly regarded longtime assistants Igor Kokoskov and Jamahl Mosley. We don’t bring these names up as a way of suggesting that Brown be fired by the Cavs for the second time in three and a half years, we bring this up to point out the wealth of knowledge on that team’s bench. There’s no excuse for the coaches to be coaching this way, and for the players to be playing this way.

Bennett hasn’t been properly utilized in the slightest. Kyrie Irving has tailed off. Dion Waiters still alternates good possessions with terrible ones. New addition Luol Deng is being treated like J.J. Redick, instead of the slasher that he is. Anderson Varejao sat out on Tuesday, but he wasn’t the answer to these problems. The competitive spirit may be lacking, but there’s quite a bit of blame to go around here.

It’s not the most pressing concern in Cleveland, especially not with Austin Carr’s jersey still floating out there, but Bennett has to play. He has to get into shape, he has to develop confidence, and he has start scoring the damn ball for a team that needs a player with versatile offensive gifts like Bennett’s. Mock the selection all you want, but Anthony Bennett has “top overall pick”-talent. At least for that awful 2013 NBA draft.

Tuesday was a good start, but where it goes from there is anyone’s guess. Typical confusion, as is the custom for the Cavaliers.

GMs who spoke to Chris Broussard identified the following players as candidates to be traded before the deadline: Andre Miller, Jameer Nelson, Emeka Okafor, Kenneth Faried, Shawn Marion, Dion Waiters, Jarrett Jack, Francisco Garcia and Arron Afflalo.

How hot are the collective seats of Chris Grant and Mike Brown? And who do you think the Cavs are most likely to target at the deadline?
Chad Ford (1:05 PM)

Virtually every GM in the league believes that Grant will be gone this summer if things don't get turned around this season. He doesn't have much time. The thinking is that there's no way Dan Gilbert is going to let him make another lottery pick if that's the direction the Cavs end up heading. Grant's goal (via his owner) is to get this team competitive and into the playoffs. The Deng move was supposed to help. But so far ... nothing. Chemistry is a major issue there and some of that is on Mike Brown. But more of it is on the collection of players in Cleveland at the moment. Something has to happen quick. Kyrie Irving has been telling people privately he wants out. Cleveland can't afford to lose him and LeBron. They know the urgency. I expect them to be major players at the deadline.

The Cavs are going to get rid of Waiters and keep Kyrie.

Jarrett Jack is an obvious guy to be moved.

GREAT guy to have as a 3rd guard for a contending team. The Warriors can vouch for that.

Now that the Cavs are also-rans, he's much more valuable elsewhere.

For the second straight generation the CAVS have an all star who I cant stand. I agree Kyrie needs to go but wont. They will get rid of waiters who will go on to be an allstar and try to get rid of JaCK who is a stiff on a long contract no one will want him. Something changed for Kyrie at the all star game last year. He has not been the same since.

david (toledo)


Welp, Cleveland is gonna melt down now.



Chad Ford
(1:41 PM)


Yeah, I see Twitter is blowing up about what I wrote about Kyrie. Thought that was fairly common knowledge that he's been unhappy there. Maybe not ... Don't overreact. Much, much harder for players in their rookie contracts to leave. They have to take a much riskier path and essential sign a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent. Very few do it. And the Cavs are working to try to create a winning situation and culture to make him happy. Didn't report it to say he's gone. Just trying to show why the Cavs are trying hard to right the ship right now. Back away from the ledge Cavs fans.

http://www.stationcaster.com/player_ski ... &f=2376603


Chad Ford interview on ESPN 850.

Knicks heating up, Cavs staying flat. What's next in New York?
Sam Amico
FOX Sports Ohio

JAN 30, 2014 4:52p ET


Cleveland Cavaliers (16-29) vs. New York Knicks (18-27)

Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York.

TV: 8 p.m., TNT

Projected Starters

CLEVELAND: C Tyler Zeller; PF Tristan Thompson; SF Luol Deng; SG C.J. Miles; PG Kyrie Irving.

NEW YORK: C Tyson Chandler; PF Carmelo Anthony; SF Iman Shumpert; SG Pablo Prigioni; PG Raymond Felton.

Pregame Notes:

-- The New York media doesn't know what to do with itself: The Knicks are on fire and now reporters who cover the team have no one to shred in print. When it comes to New York and pro basketball, that's no fun for anyone.

-- That's a joke, of course. The truth is, the Knicks deserve credit for winning three straight, and have done so mostly with a makeshift lineup. Coach Mike Woodson has experimented with the rotation and came up with five starters who play well together. That, more than talent, determines winning and losing. (Just ask the depleted Bulls.)

-- Plus, Carmelo is simply on fire. In the past three games, he's scored 62, 35 and 24. And he only accumulated 24 because the Knicks beat the Celtics in a blowout and he rested. For all the criticism Anthony takes (and sometimes deserves), he's a sight to behold when things are clicking. If you put guys around him who understand his skills and tendencies, you can be pretty good. That's been the Knicks this month.

-- The Knicks are 9-6 and averaging 100.3 points per game in January. That's compared to 9-21 and 94.7 ppg in first 30 games. They're also shooting 46 percent from the floor this month. That's up from 43 percent earlier this season.

-- OK, now about that Kyrie Irving rumor. Chad Ford of ESPN wrote in a Thursday chat that Irving has been "telling people privately that he wants out." My guess is Irving will deny that sometime before or after tonight's game. Goodness knows, he'll be asked. It's New York.

-- Irving may or may not be saying that privately, I don't know. He and I don't have private conversations.

-- I do know this: Irving's dad, Drederick Irving, hasn't been so private in his irritation with how Kyrie is being used this season. Drederick Irving has basically been sharing his agitation with anyone who will listen.

-- I also know this: Your family and role models can influence the way you think.

-- There's a segment of the Cavs' fan base (and media) that encouraged the team to lose the past two seasons to get a better draft pick. It's an OK theory, but as I've spent at least two years preaching, that sort of plan never sits well with the players. The long-term results of losing are rarely good. Playing the lottery, draft picks, assets, etc... players never care about that stuff. They want to win.
Cavaliers GM Grant speaks, but solutions must come from team

Where the Cavs can go from here remains anyone's guess, Sam Amico writes.

-- I'm not saying Kyrie wants to leave. I am saying that athletes in all sports and at every level hate to lose. And when you're a great athlete who plays a team sport, and you keep losing, you rarely blame yourself. That's just the reality of life.

-- There's more to this story, but all we can do is go by what Kyrie Irving says. We should let him address it and take it from there. But I don't think he wants to leave. I think he wants the game to be fun again. He can't be having fun this season. No one can. If the Cavs can turn it around, and sustain it, Kyrie isn't going anywhere. And I truly believe that.

-- OK, about that winning. The Cavs aren't doing it. The offense is stagnant and the defense is worse. They've played an ugly brand of basketball and the results are anything but pretty. Someone has to step forward in the locker room and show some resolve.

-- Personally, I think this defense, defense, DEFENSE approach of Mike Brown isn't working. I love Brown the person and have a great deal of respect for him otherwise. But the Cavs possess so many gifted offensive players. They need to get better on defense, yes. But they have the ability to just outscore opponents with guys like Kyrie, Deng and Dion Waiters. I'd love to see some creativity, some FUN, instituted on offense. Right now, it's all isolation and it's doggone flat and it's failing. Sometimes, you need to adapt your philosophy to your talent. That's just my free advice, and I'm sure it's worth every penny.

-- Finally, Cavs center Anderson Varejao (knee) is a game-time decision.

According to Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio, although Cavaliers brass is concerned that Mike Brown has lost his team, league sources say there aren’t any plans to fire him at the moment. Amico also relays that there isn’t much hope for Brown re-gaining command of the locker room without a “significant occurrence” (Twitter links).

These tweets come along shortly after the Cavs were dealt a 31-point drubbing to the Knicks tonight and on a day that includes a report of Kyrie Irving telling confidants of his displeasure in Cleveland. At 16-30, the team has dropped 17 of its last 22 games and have lost three straight.

TFIR, will agree with this !


Brian Windhorst ‏@WindhorstESPN 4m

From talent standpoint, not sure there's much difference between Cavs & Suns rosters. But you'd never know watching them each play.

rusty2 wrote:According to Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio, although Cavaliers brass is concerned that Mike Brown has lost his team, league sources say there aren’t any plans to fire him at the moment. Amico also relays that there isn’t much hope for Brown re-gaining command of the locker room without a “significant occurrence” (Twitter links).

These tweets come along shortly after the Cavs were dealt a 31-point drubbing to the Knicks tonight and on a day that includes a report of Kyrie Irving telling confidants of his displeasure in Cleveland. At 16-30, the team has dropped 17 of its last 22 games and have lost three straight.

11:07pm: Amico has been told there’s no fear that Brown has lost the team, in addition to the Cavs strongly refuting the report. When asked by a Twitter follower about the quick contradiction of the earlier report, Amico responded with “different sources say different things” (Twitter links).

Kyrie Irving: 'Happy' with Cavaliers
Updated: January 31, 2014, 2:43 AM ET
By Brian Windhorst | ESPN.com

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Irving: 'I'm Happy To Be Here'
Kyrie Irving addresses rumors that he wants out of Cleveland.Tags: Kyrie Irving
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Knicks Crush Cavs For Fourth Straight Win

NEW YORK -- Cavaliers All-Star Kyrie Irving downplayed any notion he wants out of Cleveland and says he plans to be with the team for "a long time."

[+] EnlargeIrvin
Anthony Gruppuso/USA TODAY SportsKyrie Irving downplayed any notion he wants out of Cleveland and said Thursday night he plans to be with the Cavaliers for "a long time."

"I'm in Cleveland. I enjoy myself. I enjoy going out and competing at the highest level for the Cleveland Cavaliers," Irving said after the Cavs' 117-86 loss to the New York Knicks, the second time in the last year Irving has found himself publicly attempting to quell rumors he was frustrated with the Cavs.

Earlier Thursday, ESPN.com's Chad Ford, answering a question in an online chat, wrote Irving has been telling people privately he wants out.

"It's not about me and it's not about this controversy -- 'Do I privately want out when my contract is up?' I'm still in my rookie contract and I'm happy to be here. And I'm pretty sure I'm going to be here for a long time," Irving said.

Earlier this season, Irving got into a verbal altercation with teammates during a team meeting following a lopsided loss. He and backcourt teammate Dion Waiters have not produced together as the Cavs had hoped when they drafted them in back-to-back drafts in 2011 and '12.

More From ESPN.com

Kyrie Irving's halfhearted non-denials are not as strong as what has been spreading in the league about his mindset, Brian Windhorst writes. Story

Irving, who was voted in as a starter to next month's All-Star Game, is averaging 21.5 points and 6.2 assists for the 16-30 Cavs. He has another season left on his contract and then would be a restricted free agent if he does not sign an extension with the Cavs before the start of next season.

Irving, who had 24 points in the loss, said he hasn't decided on signing the extension. The Cavs can't officially offer him a new deal until July 1.

"I'm not saying anything to tell the future, but I'm pretty sure the relationship I have with (owner) Dan Gilbert and management extends off the court. I enjoy being here," Irving said. "I'm still trying to get through this season. Everybody is trying to antagonize this team and put it on me to 'privately he wants out.' I'm here for my teammates, I'm here for Coach (Mike) Brown and the coaching staff and I'm going to play my heart out every single night for the Cleveland Cavaliers."

Kyrie's cloudy future in Cleveland


Updated: January 31, 2014, 2:48 AM ET
By Brian Windhorst | ESPN.com




NEW YORK -- The last thing the Cleveland Cavaliers and their fans need is drama with their franchise player and his future. But that is starting to appear unavoidable with Kyrie Irving, who can expect to see himself involved in rumors for at least the next six months.

On Thursday, ESPN.com's Chad Ford mentioned in a chat that Irving has been telling people privately that he wants out of Cleveland. This made significant news, especially in Cleveland, but it was only a matter of time before these rumblings became public.

There has been chatter among league executives, agents and even fellow players about Irving's unhappiness for awhile now. He has downplayed those whispers and did so again after a lopsided Cavs loss to the New York Knicks on Thursday when he said: "I'm pretty sure I'm going to be here for a long time."

But that is not going to stop anything.

Irving's halfhearted non-denials -- "I'm in Cleveland now," he said for the second time in the past year to try to dampen rumors -- are not as strong as what has been spreading in the league about Irving's mindset.

Irving is reaching a crucial point and he and his support system realize it. This summer the Cavs can offer him a contract extension. Between now and then Irving is going to have the most leverage he has had in his career to this point. It seems like he intends to use it.

Here is why and how.

The Cavs have Irving signed through the 2014-15 season and because he would then be a restricted free agent, the team controls his rights through at least the '15-16 season. But that is misleading, as Irving's future will likely be determined this summer because of something team owner Dan Gilbert vowed back in 2012. Gilbert said he learned a major lesson from 2010 when he lost LeBron James, and that is to never let his franchise player get to free agency again. He said so himself.

"The key thing, whoever you are and wherever you are, you cannot wait," Gilbert said before last season. "The big lesson was if a player is not willing to extend, no matter who they are, no matter where they are playing, no matter what kind of season you had, you cannot risk going into a summer and having them leave."

It seems likely the Cavs will indeed offer Irving a contract this summer that would kick start in 2015. It will probably be a maximum contract because All-Stars like Irving are so rare and valuable. If Irving takes it, the team will control him for perhaps the next six years.

If Irving doesn't sign it, well, Gilbert said it all. No matter who they are ... you cannot wait.

Even with restricted free agency in which the Cavs would have matching rights, Irving not signing that extension would apply extreme pressure to the team to act because it would be a no-confidence vote.

Would it be a risky maneuver for Irving, who has had injury problems in his career, to play it this way? Absolutely. Would it hurt his sterling reputation among the fans, who just voted him in as a starter in the All-Star Game? Probably. Would he truly go through with that? It depends on just how displeased he is with his current situation. And he is not looking very happy when he's playing.

You don't need any inside info, just read Irving's demeanor recently. Just when he was expected to take the third-year leap that so many stars before him have made, Irving seems to have played much of the season with a frown. His stats are down, but more troubling his effort level and leadership have been inconsistent, to say the least.

This traces to what seems to be a growing displeasure with coach Mike Brown, who he has not clicked with in the least. Irving is unhappy with how Brown runs the offense and Brown is unhappy that Irving's interest in the defensive end has eroded massively in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Irving's on-court and off-court compatibly with Dion Waiters, the player who was drafted in 2012 to be his backcourt mate, is virtually nonexistent. That discomfort, combined with the large disappointment that No. 1 overall draft pick Anthony Bennett has been, has Irving questioning whether general manager Chris Grant is putting the best team around him.

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With that contract decision coming up, there is reason to believe that Irving may try to force changes. The rules favor the Cavs in keeping him, but he is in position to dictate some of the terms. That makes it hard to predict which way this will go.

This of course cuts both ways, the Cavs haven't exactly been thrilled with everything they have seen from Irving in recent months. He has acted very much like a 21-year-old at times. And while he may not be thrilled with Brown, the Cavs coach has to have been taken aback by Irving going through periods of ball hogging and the absence of interest in giving defensive effort at times. That sort of play from your best player can undercut any team.

Irving's talent is undeniable. Going into this season, NBA.com surveyed the league's general managers and asked which player they would want to start a franchise with. Three players got votes: LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Not Paul George, not Stephen Curry, not Anthony Davis. During Team USA workouts last summer, Irving wowed observers among his peers with his abilities. He stands out among standouts.

A player like that, in his third season with some veterans such as Luol Deng and Anderson Varejao on his team, should not be on a 16-30 team. And that's where the rub is. Despite all that talent, the results have not equaled it. The Cavs may be asking themselves if Irving is worth investing $80 million, especially if he is going to be such a handful and may not deliver success like he appeared destined to do.

All of this is being watched closely by the teams around the league as they consider opportunities, because how this is going to play out is getting into the unpredictable zone.

Sorry the file is too big to send. It was me standing in between 2 Cav cheerleaders.