The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Cavs GM needs to fill some holes
The Cavaliers’ home game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 21 is a good early test.
The Grizzlies (21-5) have the second-best record in the NBA (heading into games on Dec. 20). It will give the Cavaliers a chance to regain their footing as one of the elite teams in the NBA.
Thus far, the Cavs have been a disappointment. They are 15-10 (.600) and have the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.
If one were to rank the 30 teams in the league, they might not be in the top 10 right now. That isn’t exactly what the Cavs’ brain trust had in mind when they put this team together.
This team has holes. It’s not real tough physically or mentally (hence the “fragile” comment from LeBron James). Some of the older players on the roster are showing their age, starting with center Anderson Varejao.
They don’t have an abundance of athleticism. Some hint that James has lost a step. He struggled Dec. 19 going against Nets swingman Joe Johnson.
Two of the Grizzlies’ top players — guard Tony Allen (right corneal abrasion) and forward/center Zach Ran- dolph (swelling in right knee) — are questionable for the Cavs game.
“We’re going under the theory Zach will be out there tomorrow,” Cavaliers coach David Blatt said.
The Grizzlies are a grind-it-out team.
“They are very physical and very deliberate,” Blatt said. “They do have the ability to play some in the open court, particularly with Mike Conley. They have a particular style, which is different from many teams in the West.”
In order to consistently compete against the elite teams, the Cavs need a rim-protecting center. The object of their desire, Grizzlies backup center Kosta Koufos, comes to town at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 21. Memphis has shown no interest in dealing the 7-footer. That would weaken their rotation, as he serves as the backup to Marc Gasol and Randolph.
Cavaliers general manager David Griffin is scouring the league for another big. He’ll probably find one.
They also could use a defensive wing they can bring off the bench. They had some interest in Minnesota’s Corey Brewer, but he was dealt to Houston.
Some say they also need a backup point guard. Not everyone is sold on Matthew Dellavedova.
Griffin doesn’t have the assets to address all the Cavs’ needs before the trade deadline. The problem is they are gunning for an NBA title this year — with a roster that is a bit flawed.
Feliz Navidad
The Cavaliers are 6-4 lifetime on Christmas Day. Their last appearance was on Dec. 25, 2009, when they topped Washington, 93-89, at Quicken Loans Arena. They travel to Miami at 5 p.m. Christmas Day. They will wear uniforms with their first names on their backs for the game. The ratings on ABC (WEWS-TV 5 locally) are normally among the highest in the regular season. It’s usually a major event. “Christmas Day, for me, was rewarding,” NBA TV analyst Chris Webber said. “It was the best thing ever. I’ve never seen one guy complain about playing on Christmas Day because we all grew up dreaming about playing in the NBA.”
NBA TV analyst Greg Anthony said playing on that day means you have one of the top teams in the NBA and that you will have the attention of the rest of the league.
“I definitely had the opportunity to play on a few Christmas Days,” he said. “I would say this, it’s a huge honor. It’s a great opportunity. The entire country will be tuning in and it’s a showcase for our league and our players. And I do think most guys embrace it.”
Rondo in West
The final vestige from the 2008 Boston Celtics championship team is gone. Rajon Rondo was the final piece of the starting lineup that won a title. It’s the end of an era.
It also had to be done. Rondo could have walked at the end of the season. The Celtics received three rotational players in return, as well as a conditional firstround pick from Dallas.
The Mavericks are gunning for an NBA championship. They now might have the most talented starting lineup in the league (and not the Cavaliers).
Despite two 7-footers in the starting lineup, the Mavericks are a middle-of-the-pack rebounding team (17th in total rebounds). That’s better than the Cavs (21st), who should be embarrassed by that ranking.
Rondo is leading the league in assists at 10.8 per game. He will continue to put up gaudy numbers in Dallas. But the fact is he still can’t shoot from the perimeter. He’s a clear upgrade over Jameer Nelson, who was one of three players sent to Boston.
Will this trade push the Mavs over the top for another championship? Maybe not. But one has to credit Mavs owner Mark Cuban for having the guts to make a run at it.
Three points
1. James passed Charles Barkley (23,757) into 23rd place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Next up? Allen Iverson (24,368).
2. Why it took Blatt 25 games to identify Mike Miller as his starting shooting guard is a bit baffling. After he decided to bring Dion Waiters off the bench, it would have made sense to take advantage of Miller’s longrange shooting.
3. No one is trying to discredit what Shawn Marion does. He’s had a great career in the NBA defending and being a glue guy. A top scorer, though, he is not.