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I thought maybe Brown needed another year to grow with these young players, but I just don't see it. He just doesn't have control over Kyrie and Dion. Pop would never put up with the lack of ball movement of them 2. I agree about TT. Signing Hawes is a must, but he is soft on defense, so you need an enforcer like you said, and TT isn't that type of player. Against good big men, he gets over-matched at times.

I have no idea what Deng's problem is. I think the lack of ball movement is hurting him. He is strictly a mid range shooter, but he seems to be forcing the issue to the basket. Chicago is another great system team, he must feel like a fish out of water playing in this structure. The way our schedule is, we should have a good chance to land someone like Wiggins, or Parker. I expect us to finish with a bottom 5 record. We're 10th right now.

yeah Deng tonight look horrid, driving right into double teams and getting the ball stripped..he just looks like he just got off the plane from Sudan and they showed him a basketball.

Spurs are just a damn machine.

They have so many veterans that it helps them continue without a bump.

Tim Duncan could plays with his eyes closed and still be outstanding. Same thing with Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, who have been around forever. They are like coaches on the court, and strictly enforce the coach's schemes.

j/c...

Yahoo had a pretty rough article earlier bashing Cavs, Gilbert, the fans and a potshot at Quicken Loans regarding LeBron and Zs jersey retirement. I wanted to post earlier. It mysteriously disappeared. But in sad reminder...if its on the web and you take it down.....its still on the web at least for awhile.

Google Cached Article

As a player, Zydrunas Ilgauskas eased his 7-3 frame into influencing several different iterations of Cleveland Cavalier squads. As a knockout rookie in 1997-98, he was able to claim that he played alongside Shawn Kemp in Kemp’s final year as an in-shape professional. Big Z was mostly around, when his feet let him, for the frustrating rebuilding seasons that eventually led to the Cavaliers earning the top pick in the 2003 NBA draft, and the selection of LeBron James. Zydrunas was around for James’ first two seasons of growing pains, his ascent and the team’s status as potential Eastern giant-killers, and the franchise’s run as championship contenders from 2007 through 2010.

That run ended in the summer of 2010, when James left for Miami – in a move that was both ceremonious and unceremonious, depending on your level of tact. Ilgauskas, somewhat heartbreakingly, left for Miami that same summer, retiring following the 2010-11 term. On Saturday, the Cavaliers will honor Ilgauskas by retiring his No. 11, and it’s reported that LeBron James – as big an active heel as there is and will ever be in Cleveland – wants to attend the game to support his teammate of eight seasons.

From Tom Haberstroh at ESPN:

"I want to be there, but we'll see. I'm not sure just yet," James said. "I think it's going to be a great day for my friend, a dear friend of mine. I'm excited for him."

When asked if his appearance may take away from Ilgauskas’ moment, James seemed self-aware:

"I hope it doesn't, if I'm able to make it," James said. "It's not my day, it's not about me. It's about Z. But it wouldn't matter to me. Obviously I'm there for a dear friend, to be able to support him, if I'm able to make it, and that's the main thing."

LeBron’s Heat are working through heady times with nary a reflex, as the team has won eight straight and is coming off of James’ ridiculous 61-point performance from Monday night. They’ll take on the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, easily the West’s hottest team, before visiting the San Antonio on Thursday for a Finals rematch. The team won’t play again until Sunday at Chicago, in a nationally televised game that could serve as a coronation of sorts – the Heat will be taking on a Derrick Rose-less Bulls squad, working with what could be a 10-game winning streak that could include huge wins over the Rockets and Spurs alongside that 61-point game from LeBron.

That’s a busy, if fruitful, potential week. You’ll notice that James’ schedule is technically open on Friday and Saturday night, though. And even in the midst of a busy week like this one, we wouldn’t bemoan a millionaire for taking private accommodations to go see a WWE or MMA event, or for flying to a college football game on a Saturday night. So why get on LeBron for going to see a Cleveland Cavaliers/New York Knicks game on a free Saturday? A contest featuring two teams that could have just one more combined wins (45) as the Heat could potentially have (44) entering Saturday night?

Well, there could be the part where the Cavaliers fans boo LeBron right out of Predatory Loans Arena The Q.

LeBron wouldn’t even have to be introduced by the public address nor even recognized by Big Z in his halftime speech, and his presence could still take away from the feel-good vibe surrounding the retirement ceremony. Cleveland Cavalier fans have done some stupid, stupid stuff over the last couple of years, and with the possibility of James returning to Cleveland as a free agent this summer at absolute nil, the time would appear right for thousands of knuckleheads to be taking out four years’ worth of frustration out on Big Z’s famous guest.

Even if they should be booing Dan Gilbert, the man who presided over several botched rebuilding attempts, along with the botched mishandling (Mike Brown! Ben Wallace! Shaq!) of LeBron’s best years in Cleveland.

Which is a shame. Because Ilgauskas’ story is unique and one of the more special careers we’ve seen in this league over the last 25 years.

Originally pitched as a fluid, all-around center in the mold of his hero Arvydas Sabonis, Ilgauskas had to completely re-work his game due to a series of foot ailments – the same fractures that ended the career of Yao Ming some years later. Signed to a massive contract extension after just one full year of play because of injury and rookie scale complications, Zydrunas only managed 29 NBA games between the spring of 1998 and fall of 2002 following his rookie year, suffering setback after setback as onlookers wondered if his fragile bones could support his 7-3 frame.

Ilgauskas roared back, however, making two All-Star teams and playing fantastic ball for Cavalier teams that ranged from god-awful to middling to “hey, we made the Finals!” By the time he retired in 2011, Ilgauskas had played another combined 812 combined regular and postseason games, working with a series of revolving coaches and teammates, acting as the most respected voice in the locker room throughout his run.

This is why James, who asked Big Z to come to Miami for one more chance at a ring (after the Cavaliers dangled Ilgauskas at the 2010 trade deadline) when he joined the Heat, wants to be a part of his special night. He explained his current relationship with Ilgauskas to Cliff Pinckard at the Cleveland Plain-Dealer:

"I talk to Z very often, probably once or twice a month,'' James told The Plain Dealer. "He meant everything to me. When you come in as a rookie you try to find a leader, that veteran, that guy who's been around to learn the ropes from. He taught me how to be a professional on and off the floor. That's something you cannot ever take for granted. He was everything to me. From Day One, I knew he was going to be a guy I would always be with.''

Will he get to be with him on Saturday night, as Ilagauskas’ number rises to the (unsecured, apparently) rafters?

LeBron may ultimately choose to bow out, with the next day’s matinee game in another time zone as a reasonable excuse for passing on the Saturday night ceremony. He shouldn’t have to, of course, but this is the sort of thing that happens when two sides badly botch a breakup. And holy lord, did LeBron and those Cavaliers really screw this up.

Which is a shame. Because Zydrunas Ilgauskas deserves to have all eyes on him, come Saturday. Congratulations, Big Z.

- - - - - - -

Kelly Dwyer is an editor for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at KDonhoops@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @KDonhoops

Not a big fan of Kelly Dwyer... Got into it with him a few times on emails... Some of the crap he spewed to me was pretty hilarious... (he was so deadset on Lebron going to NY that he once told me that info about him not going to NY was "planted")

For one, I think if Z wants Lebron there on Saturday, that everybody should shut up about it. If you as a fan have a problem with that, don't go.

Cleveland is in a no-win situation. If Lebron shows up and we cheer, we're desperate fans who are clinging to him being our only hope of returning to relevance...

Boo him and we're terrible fans... Because when big cities boo players, it's because they're a "tough town".. When we do it, we're classless fans.

I think this is a good chance to close the book on this whole thing. If Lebron shows up, give him a decent nice ovation. Not over the top. Just a simple few claps, and move on.

I'm really happy for Z, I think he deserves this... Having your number retired isn't just about what you meant to the league, or your stats or if you're a hall of famer. It's about you and your relationship to the team...

Personally I think it will be hilarious if Lebron doesn't attend the ceremony on Saturday, considering that the entire retirement of Z's jersey is an attempt to lure Lebron back to Cleveland this offseason.

Dwyer shouldn't be allowed to write about Gilbert anymore. He has some issue with Gilbert's politics and obviously with some of how the LeBron saga went down (it started before it though). It bleeds out anytime he writes about the team (i.e. predatory loans arena, etc.).

Ah well.

There are a lot of bloggers/writers out there that take issue with Gilbert. They didn't have any idea that billionaires make money through various ways, and GASP, some of them are shady! Who knew!?

There is no way I would boo anyone at someone's retirement ceremony.

No way.

That is disrespectful to the person being honored, and incredibly tacky. If you don't want to go out of respect for Z, then, like you, I say stay home.

It's worth a shot. What else do the cavs have to lose? We've been an embarrassment of an organization for the past 4 years, this is our only hope to get back to our glory years. I will see Lebron the 18th when the heat come to town. I will be rooting for the cavs to win, but you could bet your bottom dollar, I will be cheering for Lebron like crazy.

I can tell you one thing, I'll be watching on Saturday, haha.

If he shows up and this thing goes well, the LBJ back to CLE rumors will crank back up....

I'm not saying he's coming back, I'm just saying those rumors will be at an all time high.

It's gonna be tough taking the Rockets out. Harden and Parsons can be stopped, but it's asking a lot to guard Dwight Howard 4-7 games in a series.

Chicago v. Brooklyn would be a fascinating series if they managed to matchup. Neither is a title contender, but I'd definitely watch it.

Dont be surprised to see toronto give miami or indy a tough series. Really like that team.

Toronto might give one of those teams fits for a game or two but they're too young and inexperienced to be a really credible threat.

Watching the Spurs and Heat. The Cavs are not in the same universe as these teams. Not in talent or in cohesiveness.

The spurs big 3 has been together 11 years. That is unheard of in professional sports. You just don't see that anymore. It's easy to be Greg Popovich when you have a veteran group that has been together so long, and understand team principles. that's the only way a small market team could actually win championships in the nba. You need a group that is committed to not only the team, but staying long term in the city they play in. I just highly doubt, Irving, and Waiters are those guys.

I think Irving and Waiters would be better if they had a true low post presence at center. We won't get him, but Joel Embiid would have been the last piece. If Noah Vonleh were 2 inches taller I'd be very intrigued by him as the answer. I'm a little worried putting him at center.

The crazy thing is we were so close to getting Anthony Davis. Think if we lost one more game that year, we would've switched spots with New Orleans, and got the winning combination that won the lottery.

Who cares about the Spurs?

The only reason they beat Miami is because LeBron can't shoot in the sleeved jerseys...

Duh..

We really need a center. Haven't had a great true center since Z retired.

Need a coach too. Well coached teams win close games by execution of their scheme, bad coached teams rely on hero ball to win games...we try to win with hero ball but we don't have one. We need superman but instead we end up with clark kent

This team is the very definition of "win some, lose some". We win a few, lose a few, win a couple, and lose a few more.

It just amazes me in how much trust Popp has with Manu/TP/Duncan. There's even stories of him letting those guys coach the team in the final minutes. Honest to God, I view him as the greatest basketball coach of all time.

He has the right players to let them take control, and ownership. Duncan will go down as one of the greatest, manu, and tony are borderline hall of famers themselves. What he is doing wouldn't work with the roster the cavs have. But I have no doubt Pop could make it work here in Cleveland. He would know how to adapt to different players, unlike so many other coaches, who do things the same no matter what the situation is.

If our guys were fully healthy, Popovich would make us a better version of the Bulls and easily a 3 seed.

Gilbert's son should be in charge of the next draft.

Well .... starting off something like 1-9 ....wait, now maybe 2-10 or so.

Spencer Hawes with all the Cavs points.

There's a solution: Draft Sean Kilpatrick, not that I'm bias or anything

I really like him. His game is similar to another bearcat in Lance Stephenson.

Yeah Stephenson was impressive his freshman year, I was wrong when I said he left too soon. He's developed just fine.

Kilpatrick does have that advantage though, he's much more seasoned and is a fifth year senior.

EDIT - And only one other guy scored over 2,000 points at Cincinnati and he was the Big O. Can't argue with that company.