SportsStreet Ohio

During halftime of ESPN’s telecast of the Cavs-Mavericks matchup at Gund Arena, Jim Gray broke down his halftime conversation with Cleveland head coach Mike Brown. Gray report that Brown felt his biggest concern was Cleveland’s lack of defensive intensity - however, at one point in the third quarter, Cleveland managed 24 points in 19 minutes. Meanwhile Dallas showed no signs of eclipsing 100 points. Brown insists Cleveland needs to turn up its defense?

Cleveland’s plodding, predictable offense shouldn’t be dictated by Brown’s previous tenure at San Antonio. Brown fails to see the possibility in Cleveland’s offense, and his insistence on defensive posturing prevents any creativity from being injected into the game plan.

Disputing the notion that defense wins championships isn’t the argument. Its a key component in winning basketball and can be a catalyst for easy baskets. But constantly believing the only recourse to turning a ballgame around is playing more defense only produces dull basketball with scores in the 80s.

Even ESPN’s announcers Bill Walton and Jon Barry wondered aloud why Cleveland (and Ohio State for that matter) insisted on pedestrian offense tactics. At some point Brown must recognize he has more than a cast of marginal players and open up the game. Phoenix doesn’t seem to struggle…

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