As we have described to you before, many of our best ideas for columns start in long-winded group email conversations. Sometimes these chats become post-worthy in themselves, like this one did. Not only was it interesting fodder, but it also gives you, our loyal readers, some insight into our crazy day to day world (all while trying to work at our regular, paying jobs). This particular one was spawned by Anderson Varejao getting absolutely posterized by Dwayne Wade during last night’s Cavs win in Miami.
Rick: Anyone wanna start andyvarejaoneedsahug.com?
Rock: I was furious with Andy last night. Yes, it was extremely embarrassing, but he’s not the first to be dunked on and he won’t be the last. There’s no reason to start jawing with Wade after the fact. What could he have possibly been saying to him anyway?
TD: I actually liked it. Sure, he got shown up and looked like a clown whining to Wade, but great teams need an agitator like that from time to time. i.e. Rodman in Chicago, Laimbeer in Detroit.
Rock: I think if that’s the case, he should have done as soon as he got dunked on. Not wait until 5 minutes later to do it. It just rubbed me the wrong way.
Rick: I will say this, the team chemistry has most certainly changed. Remember the whole,everybody helps a teammate up thing? Yeah, that’s gone this year.
TD: exactly what did that get us last year? If we could do it all over again, we’d have traded Wally’s contract in a heartbeat at the deadline, knowing what we know now.
Rock: Not to mention even LeBron was clowning Andy when they asked him about the dunk at halftime. I was disappointed in LeBron’s answer, to be honest.
TD: He was being too diplomatic and looking out for his friend. That is the new NBA though. These guys are all friends. The bad blood is at a minimum. It certainly isn’t the old days.
Rick: Back in my day Wade would have gotten a beat down by a T-Rex bone.
Rock: True, but the Cavs didn’t lose because of their chemistry, they lost in spite of their chemistry. In Bill Simmons’ new book, the 2nd chapter is about what’s known as The Secret, and it’s all about how NBA Champions need a certain kind of chemistry to win a title, and there have been precious few exceptions to that rule. Yes, you of course have to have a lot of talent, but you can’t win on talent alone.
DP: You don’t need talent. Just character.
/Mangini’d
Brendan: I said the same thing watching the game last night Rick…each game just seems like a pressure cooker for the team and they seem pretty irritable and on edge. They are definitely not having the same sort of “fun out there” and goofing off together like kids as they did all last year. Do we need Favre?
Rock: You can’t force chemistry. There are 5 new guys on this team (counting Powe), one massive personality in Shaq, and then you have the Delonte issues which I know are weighing on this team. I’m starting to wonder if it wouldn’t be best to deactivate him for the season just so the team doesn’t have to keep dealing with this active/inactive bs. It’s hard to develop consistent flow and chemistry when your 2nd most important player is sometimes there, sometimes not.
Anyway, not to be too down on this team, though, because they are actually playing some pretty good offense these days. They’re finally going to Shaq early in games, which I love, and then rather than having 3 other guys on the strong side with Shaq, they’re moving everyone to the weak side with a lot of motion behind the play. The defenses aren’t adjusting to this and Shaq is setting up guys with really good looks. The Cavs are moving the ball great and with the exception of 4th quarters, LeBron isn’t slowing down the offense. These are all very positive signs.
Craig: I also think Delonte’s struggles could have a lot to do with it.
TD: I agree. I also think from the things we have read over the past two days that they are truly “moving on” from thinking he is going to be around.
Moon was GREAT last night. That was the exact kind of game you want from him.
Rick: Delonte’s struggles are hurting the team because Anthony Parker was not mean to guard D Wade for 30 minutes.
Rock: If Hickson is playing well, having him, LeBron, and Moon out there together is a really nice lineup from a pure athleticism standpoint. The Cavs don’t run much, but with those 3 plus Mo in the open court, they can do a lot of damage. If Hickson is for real (and I’m not saying he is, yet), that’s going to be enormous for this team. For instance, last night in the 4th when Miami put Wade back in, Mike Brown had enough confidence in his guys to keep LeBron on the bench a little bit longer. With LeBron on the bench, the Cavs were actually running sets for JJ. It was crazy, but it worked, and thus down the stretch LeBron seemed to have more energy than Wade did. Not that Wade is a great 3 pt shooter to begin with, but he was really pushing the ball with his arms on those shots, as he seemed to have no legs under him. Mike Brown coached a hell of a game last night, IMO.
Rick: I’ll say this about Mike Brown this year- starting Hickson was a gutsy move. And it really wasn’t a move anyone could see coming.
Rock: The Cavs can’t trade Z until Powe is back, and I don’t want Stephen Jackson’s contract anyway, but with the way Z is struggling, that deal looks a little more appealing without having Delonte around. I totally agree, we’re asking Parker to do something we didn’t bring him here to do, and it’s the one thing that is really standing out to me right now from a negative standpoint. So I wonder, what other SGs will be out there for Ferry to try to acquire?
TD: Agreed on Hickson. Starting him seems to have done wonders for his confidence. That said, last night’;s opponent was right up his alley. They play so small (Beasley isnt a true PF) and that fed right into his game. Same with Orlando unless they are putting Gortat and Howard next to each other. He has truly become the X factor.
That Miami roster is garbage. Shows you how good D Wade really is.
Rick: There is always the Gerald Wallace rumor to start up again…
I think he is better at the small forward, but he can certainly play the 2.
TD: I completely agree, Rock. I was thinking the same thing last night. If Z’s shot isn’t falling, he is worthless. He is looking slower than ever too. I would love to have Captain Jack on this team. Bad contract or not, LBJ can play more PF and it gives us another top defender and top shooter. Would it block Hickson’s development? Sure. But I am all about the now.
Rock: If he’s the best the Cavs can get, then so be it. But if I’m Danny Ferry, I’m making sure there aren’t other options out there with more favorable contract.
Rick: Garbage? I have to disagree with you there TD…
TD: name me, other than Beasley and Chalmers, who you like on that team? Haslem maybe. Q Richardson? garbage. Jermaine O’Neal is finished. He can barely move. Daequon Cook and Dorell Wright? I’ll pass. Joel Anthony? please. Carlos Arroyo? He is a journeyman. James Jones and Jamal Magloire? Garbage and Garbage.
Rick: O’Neal can barely move?? Did you watch that game last night? Beasley, Chalmers and Wade make a pretty good 1-2-3 punch. O’Neal could win comeback player of the year. (do they even have that award in the NBA?) O’Neal should still be playing the 4 though, he isn’t a center.
TD: Rick – he looked good to you? He is at the end of his rope. Not like Z, but not half the player he was. I’d take him off of our bench, but he is no longer a high quality starter in the league.
Rick: He looked a lot better than he did last year. Again, he shouldn’t be guarding Shaq. That is ridiculous, but he would give most PFs in this league fits.
TD: Lets see how long that lasts. he has become the Bob Sanders of the NBA. Never plays a full season. The most games he has played in the past five seasons is 68.
Brendan: I know it is an incredible long shot and I have not looked at the numbers but is Rudy Gay realistic at all? I saw a few people writing last week that he may be available and the Grizzlies will not extend him. This would obviously be an ultimate game changer but I dismissed it as fantasy.
Rock: People are assuming that because the Grizzlies didn’t extend his contract that they’re going to trade him. I’m not sure that’s the case, but boy would I freaking LOVE having him on the Cavaliers. However, what would the Cavaliers have to give up to get him? The Grizzlies aren’t likely to let themselves get swindled again for a bunch of trash and expiring contracts.
TD: Rudy Gay? where do I sign up. He is what we could only dream Hickson could be, and he can shoot from deep.
AP Photo/Lynne Sladky