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I thought trading Deng was supposed to be the sign that they were packing it in for the year but they've gone 7-2 since the trade. Beyond that I just don't see a group of players who have what it takes to play playoff basketball, let alone anything near championship basketball.

It blows my mind that people think that the Cavs can be a 3- or 4-seed. The East is bad this year, but it's not that bad.

I know I probably sound like a broken record, and maybe it's because I live in Chicago, but the Cavs need a coach like Thibs. He'd be perfect for the team, and the city.

I know, hindsight is what it is, but that probably should have been the hire after they canned Mike Brown, and before Lebron took off.

The problem is,in the NBA, more so than the NFL IMO.

How do you know a great assistant can be a good HC?

Brown was a GREAT assistant with the Spurs, talked highly off constantly.

Came here won 50 games everythings great..

Then everyone figured out he has no idea what offense is or that rotations are a real thing in the NBA...

I mean Pops is a great coach, one of the greatest IMO, but it REALLY helps to have one of the best PFs ever and a stable of talent, and FAs willing to come to your team...

Stars win in the NBA.

Anthony Bennett is the worst player in the NBA. My god he is terrible. So he gets some garbage minutes against the worst team in the league and promptly clanks an open jumper, misses a put back, misses a dunk or two, gets a stupid foul on D and then fouls with like 40 seconds left in the game up double digits. Aye yi yi

Other than that it was a good game

I only watched part of it but Zeller impressed me with a couple blocks, good hustle, and a couple nice scores.

Honest to God, I have no idea why the Cavaliers won't send Bennett down to the D League for a couple of weeks so that he can play 20-30 minutes/night and work his way back into shape, and hopefully find his game again.

Sitting on the bench is doing him no good at all.

Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Anthony Bennett would be open to playing in NBA D-League | cleveland.com
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2014/01/cleveland_cavaliers_rookie_ant_1.html

PORTLAND, Oregon -- Even before he didn't play a minute in a 120-118 victory over the Lakers on Tuesday night, rookie Anthony Bennett was being asked whether he'd be interested in going down to play with the Cavaliers' owned-and-operated NBA Development League franchise in Canton.

"It's something I'd think about, for sure," Bennett said before Tuesday's game. "It's not a bad thing, especially going down there, hopefully playing a lot, going out there, building my confidence."

Of course, it's not really up to Bennett. A few young players have asked to be sent down so they could get some playing time, but no No. 1 overall pick has ever been sent to the D-League. Hasheem Thabeet, the No. 2 pick by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2009, did spend time there, as did Minnesota's Shabazz Muhammad, the No. 14 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, this season.

For now, Bennett says he's just trying to make up for a lost summer after shoulder surgery. As recently as three weeks ago in Boston, he referred to himself as ''clueless.''

"It's a learning process, and all I can do is just work hard, you know?'' he said. "I'm just patient. I missed the whole summer due to the surgery, so I'm kind of behind in everything, trying to catch up on everything. Like I said before, the only thing I can really do is work hard. It doesn't show much in the games, but in practice I've been going hard. My conditioning is a lot better. I lost weight and everything. So it's coming along slowly.''

Bennett is averaging 2.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in about 10 minutes a game. He's shooting just 26.9 percent (29 of 108). Much like Dion Waiters last year as a rookie, he relies too much on jumpers instead of driving to the basket. About a quarter of his shots have been 3-pointers. He has made just four, or 14.3 percent.

To this point, the Cavs have resisted a Canton assignment, believing they can monitor his progress and development more carefully if he remains with the team.

"We've been able to find minutes for AB, from time to time, whether it's at the small forward or power forward," coach Mike Brown said on Tuesday. "That hasn't been a bridge we've crossed yet."

Bennett was asked what he thought had to happen for him to gain more confidence.

"To be honest, I don't really know,'' he said. "In practice, I'm going hard. I'm making shots, getting a little work done after practice, before practice, in the weight room, doing all that, building a routine.''

I've been saying it for months..Its the biggest reason I want Grant gone. He's not giving AB any chance at success. He needs the minutes and not practice minutes..there's no substitute for game situations. Its ridiculous. Karasev should be down there too. I hate this whole staff to be honest. I know without out doubt this isn't the staff that's going to get us a ring. Watching bennett last night in garbage time was painful. You can tell the game is too big for him, he has no confidence that anything is going in. You can see him overthinking every time he has the ball. That tells me he hasn't had the repetition needed. He may be the worst #1 overall, but I feel bad for the kid. He's not getting any help from this trash of a staff.

It doesn't help that Mike Brown is his coach and he is almost has clueless as Bennett when it comes to offense.

Why did they hire him again?

I'm pretty sure any of us that follow the cavs seriously have been asking the same thing since the day he was hired..

I appreciate Dan Gilbert's passion and willingness to win, but it's my guess that he did not let his people do their jobs when it came to hiring a coach. I understand the owner signs the checks and he should have a hand in picking the coach, but I can't see Chris Grant and the other executives wanting this guy back... Not with a lot at stake over the next few years.

We all rag on the Tribe for some of the stuff they do, but at least they went out and got the best guy available, something the Browns and Cavs have failed to do.

I thought that the reports were that Grant had to talk Gilbert into bringing back Brown ..... not the other way around. I seem to recall that Gilbert tried to keep Lebron by caning Brown ..... and it didn't work anyway.

What is the protection on the Memphis 2015 pick?

It was definitely reported that it was Grant.

Wow after that meltdown tonight, I totally expected a press conference dismissing both grant and Brown..lol.. Typical Mike Brown team, don't make adjustments and can't defend the 3....not to mention no system to speak of to try to run through to get the game back in check after giving up a 20 point lead after half.

He's just a bad coach. But the players don't fit what he's trying to do. We have way too many offensive guys, we're much more suited to play a up-tempo game. I've believed that since the season started. The players are very weak minded. Once their shots start to miss, they forget to play defense. No leadership at all on this team. Grant should be fired for the Bennett pick alone. I would fire these guys without hesitation if I were Gilbert. This isn't getting better anytime soon.

Did Mike Brown only let Anthony Bennett shoot the whole 3rd quarter?

I hate Dan Gilbert. He doesn't know how to run a team.

I always feel sympathetic towards small market owners because the are dealt a crappy hand. If Cleveland was a desirable place we could land Melo and Lebron next year. Of course to get Melo we'd have to trade every young player and asset we have outside of Kyrie, but it could be done. The reality is, these guys want money and fame. They milk it for as long as they can then they can become ring chasers when they're all washed up.

Something kind of funny:

Thunder are a bad matchup for the Pacers.
Pacers are a bad matchup for the Heat.
Heat are a bad matchup for the Thunder.

Deng makes a lot of sense to me. I hope that the other guys on the team are paying attention.

Luol Deng on Cavaliers: 'You've got to get upset and demand more' | cleveland.com
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2014/01/luol_deng_on_cavaliers_youve_g.html



CLEVELAND, Ohio – This is not easy for Luol Deng. He's still the new guy here in Cleveland, still the Cavaliers player who joined the team via trade just about three weeks ago. It's difficult to jump right in after nine games with the Cavaliers and spout off a list of everything that needs to improve.

Still, after watching the second-half debacle against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, after the Cavaliers scored just six points in the third quarter en route to a crushing 99-90 loss, the 28-year-old Deng offered his observations on what is wrong with the 16-28 Cavaliers and what needs to change.

In essence, it's time for the Cavaliers to get angry. They are too nice to each other, too accepting of defeat. The Cavaliers are a very talented group, but they will never win unless they confront their issues head-on and demand more as a team.

"We did a lot of good things (Sunday), but we did a lot of disappointing things -- things that reminds us that we're not that good," Deng told The Plain Dealer. "And we've got to be honest with ourselves. We've got to realize what we're playing for. There's got to be more sense of urgency. We can't keep waiting. This is not a waiting league, it's not a waiting game. You've got to do your job. When I say that, I'm talking about everybody. I've got to do a better job of leading when things like that happen. That's why I'm here. And I've got to get better than that."

Deng pointed specifically to how the Suns knocked in five consecutive 3-pointers at the start of the third quarter as an instance where he and his teammates didn't react in a way that might have stopped Phoenix's run.

"At some point, you've got to compete," he said. "You've got to get upset and demand more of your guys."

Deng has been trying to tell his new teammates that screaming at each other and demanding more effort is not only acceptable, but it's necessary.

"I'll be honest with you, and I really want to put Chicago behind me, but me and Joakim (Noah) weren't so nice to each other on the court if one of us didn't play hard," Deng said. "And it made us better friends, and play harder. The same with Derrick (Rose). We knew when Derrick didn't play defense. As good as he is, even his MVP year, if he didn't play defense, we all said, 'Yo, you're not playing defense. You've got to step it up.'

"I think guys here are young, but I think they'll realize that you're only as good as the guy next to you. It's never personal. I've never had an issue with a guy telling me I'm not giving it my all on the court. My first 2-3 years in the league, did I know this stuff? No. But I had good vets who did the stuff I'm trying to do now, and it paid off for me. That's what I'm trying to do now."

All this is what Deng has noticed in just nine games with Cleveland, and he has been hesitant to scream in his teammates' faces, even if the Cavaliers covet and value his leadership.

"One thing I always say is there's a right way of saying things," Deng said. "First, you've got to let the guys know what angle I'm coming in. I'm not trying to jump in here and scream at everybody thinking that I'm better. I'm just trying to help everyone to be better. And vise versa. They know some things that I don't know."

So, even he has been slow to show anger to his own teammates – at least until now.

"I think we all love each other in this locker room, and I see it," Deng said. "Guys are so close to each other. The one message we keep telling each other is it's OK to scream at each other. If Kyrie (Irving), Dion (Waiters) or Andy (Varejao) come up to me and demand more from me, I would never take it personally. It's going to make me better, it's going to make us better as a team. I think that's what we've got to get to – that kind of mindset where it's OK to scream at each other and not take it personal."

Who'd have thought that being accepting of defeat would be the byproduct of telling these kids to tank for the past three years?

I'd love for Deng to get in Kyrie's face and set him straight, but it'll never happen because he has absolutely nothing invested in the Cavs' success.

Kinda makes you wonder WTF Brown and the staff are doing if they haven't' been doing this already.

Man another craptastic game against another bad team...I pray they clean house over all star break.

Anthony Bennet put up 15 & 8. Very encouraging to see that. Anything to get his confidence going in a positive direction. I'm actually glad this team isn't good enough for the 8th seed. It should be a lock that Chris Grant is gone. We'll also get a high pick in a loaded draft. I don't care if Deng leaves.

Let's just pray that the trade deadline passes quickly before Grant can do anything to sabotage our future draft picks.

I dont know anymore. At some point you have to start winning games. Losing is very contagious. You just hope these guys just need a new head coach and a few changes to the roster. We have enough youth. Just need more veterans to teach these guys how to win.

"The pick is the most valuable part of the deal for the Cavs. In 2015 or 2016, if the Grizzlies' first-rounder falls between picks 6-14, the pick goes to the Cavs. Starting in 2017, if the Grizzlies' pick falls outside the top five, the Cavs then get the selection. In 2019, the pick becomes unprotected."

from: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/886805...ltiplayer-trade

http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/future_drafts/detailed

2014 first round draft pick to Chicago
Sacramento's 1st round pick to Chicago (via Cleveland) protected for selections 1-12 in 2014, 1-10 in 2015, 1-10 in 2016 or 1-10 in 2017; if Sacramento has not conveyed a 1st round pick to Chicago by 2017, then Sacramento will instead convey its 2017 2nd round pick to Chicago protected for selections 56-60 (if this pick falls within its protected range and is therefore not conveyed, then Sacramento's obligation to Chicago will be extinguished) [Cleveland- Sacramento, 6/30/2011 and then Chicago-Cleveland, 1/7/2014]

yeah the thunder proved you can win with good young talent. you'll just over-pay for a vet

What's the point which way you put together the team, if you have Grant calling the shots? Grant and Brown must go. This guy has just wasted 3 years of high draft picks. this franchise is set back another few years if Lebron doesn't come back. I would expect brown to be fired at seasons end. even with his contract, there's no way this could continue.