For the latest chatter from the Cavalier hardcourt
Who Should Start at Shooting Guard? – 3-10-08
Once Gibson and Pavlovic are healthy, five players could potentially start at the two
The Cavaliers’ backcourt has been a merry-go-round for the past few seasons. The team consistently sports a powerful frontcourt, but finding steadily productive guards has been an issue in the LeBron era.
Now, with the help of the trade and the emergence of the youngsters, the Wine & Gold have up to five different players who could start at the two.
Newcomer Delonte West has solidified the point guard position after taking over for the departed Larry Hughes. Other newbie Wally Szczerbiak could potentially serve as the starter from the other guard spot. He’s bigger than the other candidates and is a crafty veteran that could compliment James and West. He plays with emotion and could become the new Eric Snow in that he is a vocal veteran leader – the difference is he sees playing time. When defenses focus on James or Zydrunas Ilgauskus, he can hit the open jumper.
One of Coach Mike Brown’s favorite guys, Devin Brown, has been seeing a lot of the starts at the two as of late. He plays great defense and has showed more offensive determination playing alongside the starters.
Many would argue that upon his return at the end of the month, Daniel Gibson is the obvious candidate for the job. While pure statistics seem to back this up, (11.5 points per game) he has historically been a more productive asset off the bench, despite his strong performance in the NBA Finals last season. He is the most consistent outside threat on the squad, but he still has to work on his defensive skills. Gibson is also envisioned as an eventual point guard in this league, and is being groomed as such.
Sasha Pavlovic is currently plagued by injury and has suddenly become the forgotten man. Many overlook his solid play down the stretch last season, ultimately knocking Damon Jones down the totem poll for minutes. Most remember him for his lengthy holdout at the beginning of this season and the rusty performance that followed - and now he has been out for a month while the dynamic of the club has changed drastically. He is set to return at the end of the week, and he could provide a huge spark for the offense. If he struggles, he will eventually find himself as the odd man out in the rotation.
Lastly, it’s hard to imagine that the Best Shooter in the World is not in the starting lineup, but Damon Jones isn’t. He’s been used primarily as a backup during his time in Cleveland, and that is probably the best place for him. He’s been playing his best ball since joining the squad, and this is probably attributed to his new set role as one of the top two guards off the bench. He knows he’s going to get minutes, and more importantly, he’s going to get those open looks.
For the short-term, Brown should continue to start between West and James. He has played well and fits into the defensive scheme the team employs better than anyone.
Upon Pavlovic and Gibson’s return, that could change – and that hinges on how Pavlovic plays. If he can leap back into the starting lineup, the bench is that much better with sharp-shooters Gibson, Jones and Szczerbiak, and Brown serving as the all-around option. Time will tell though as Pavlovic may not be sharp enough, and will scrap to find significant time. If that’s the case, it may be beneficial for the Cavs to have Wally playing with James in the starter’s role. He is an experienced veteran who could serve as that “captain” that vocalizes and plays with that competitive fire.
Gibson and Jones are simply better bench options, much like Anderson Vareajo. Brown, when all of the pieces are back together, is better suited for the bench as well due to his versatility. Pavlovic starting only means that he is playing quality ball, and the team that has played well without him, Ilgauskus and Gibson suddenly got that much deeper.
The bottom line is that it’s been fun watching these new teammates get acclimated to each other. The team is playing well, but there is still room for improvement. Having everyone healthy will give Cleveland a team that is 12 deep, and hopefully everyone will fit into the role that has been designed.
Having everyone healthy should determine who is getting starts at the two down the stretch as well.