Cavs Start Over, Again
Added on Apr 18, 2013 by Scott in
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To no one’s surprise, the Cleveland Cavaliers fired head coach Byron Scott today following a miserable 24-58 season. It was a third straight disappointing campaign under Scott, who assumed the impossible task of coaching a depleted roster in the wake of LeBron James’ free agent exit to Miami in 2010. With Kyrie Irving a budding superstar at the point, Cleveland has a player to build around. Here’s what the franchise needs to do to improve.
Hire a defensive coach – Even if they add another scorer in the draft, this team still isn’t equipped to trade baskets with the likes of the Heat and Knicks. Scott was never able to get a young roster to play defense, especially in the fourth quarter. Hiring someone with the same pedigree as Chicago’s Tom Thibodeau would go a long way to fixing their defensive woes.
Find a legit power forward – Tristan Thompson is decent, but he’s not the full-time answer. Same goes for Marreese Speights. Both guys lack the offensive skill-set to alleviate pressure from Irving and center Anderson Varejao, who was quietly enjoying a career season before getting injured, averaging 14.1 points and 14.4 rebounds in 25 games. Luring a credible free agent might be difficult, so drafting a player like UNLV’s Anthony Bennett should be considered.
Get tougher – This is easier said than done and requires an aggressive coach to drive it home, but ranking 22nd in rebounding and 25th in points allowed is at the core of their problems. The Heat and Knicks can afford to rank near he bottom in rebounding because they have superior talent. Not so much for the Cavs. Adding a a couple veteran forwards with a history of crashing the glass and defending in the paint would be wise.
Wait on Waiters – Dion Waiters will need surgery on his ailing knee, which should have him at 100% for the 2013-14 season. He was at his best when Irving was sidelined, showing a willingness to accept the bulk of the offensive burden. He’s still raw and has a tendency to force shots, but once he matures he has the makings of a solid sixth-man/part-time starter.
