The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Team putting early emphasis on defense
Cavaliers might be on the way to an NBA championship if the scoreboard measured enthusiasm.
The Cavaliers might be on their way to a second NBA championship if all the scoreboard measured is enthusiasm.
New coach John Beilein, in his first season in the NBA after 41 years as a college coach, had his players moving and Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse hopping Oct. 8 during the annual Wine and Gold scrimmage. The event was free, and about 4,000 fans took advantage. A handful had an opportunity to walk onto the court and match shots with players.
Beilein is making a point of teaching fundamentals to his young players.
The scrimmage, which was really an open practice with an abbreviated game that was not heavy on defense, began with a passing drill these rich NBA players probably used in junior high school as they ran up and down the court.
“We want to see growth every day, picking up our style of play,” Beilein said after the scrimmage. “It’s so much read and react without calling plays. You saw a little bit of that, then we were fumbling those a little bit, too.
“I want to see a growing sense of urgency on defense. I think we got tired as the game went on yesterday. We’ve got to become a better defensive team.”
The Cavaliers beat the San Lorenzo de Almagro Ravens (Argentina), 120-89, in their preseason opener Oct. 9 at the FieldHouse.
The Cavs were last in the NBA is three major defensive categories in 2018-19 — efficiency (points allowed per 100 possessions, 115.1), rating (116.7) and field-goal percentage allowed (.495).
It explains in part why they finished 19-63.
“I think they understand both offensively and defensively we have to make changes, but you don’t have to make wholesale changes,” Beilein said. “You just have to make a percentage change, two or
three percentages in every category, and you can be a really good team.
“I’ve really been impressed when I’ve seen Delly (Matthew Dellavedova), just go out and be in the right spot at the right time (defensively). Not necessarily as a shutdown guy, but a guy who really makes everybody else better. I hope Larry Nance can be one of those guys as well. We’re waiting
to see who will rise on the other spectrum to say, ‘Who’s our next best defender out there?’ But we’ve got a long way to go.”
The Cavaliers are off Oct. 10. Beilein joked about not recruiting players as he normally would on an off day when he was coaching the Michigan Wolverines.
“It’s odd not going back to my place and texting people, or calling people
and having my list of calls I had to make,” Beilein said. “It’s good, but I just replace it with something else. I’m watching film or thinking about a lot more conceptually what we can do to enhance our growth. I’ve got a lot of personal things I’ve still got to take care of.”
The Cavaliers’ next preseason game is Oct. 11 against the Pistons in Detroit.