Rosen Rips Cavs

by Jeff Clark on Jun 2, 2009 7:10 AM EDT in News/Links Comment 23 comments

You know, I don't normally like Charlie Rosen's articles, especially when he talks about the Celtics. He's arrogant, overly critical, and condescending in a "I'm a former coach so I'm better than you" sort of way. And I usually disagree with his take on the Celtics. So either I'm too much of an oversensitive homer (a real possibility, I admit) or he's probably blowing smoke again. However, I must say, I do enjoy watching him rip an opponent to shreds.

Here's his take on the Cavs. My favorite part:

Zydrunas Ilgauskas couldn't guard his own lunch, was no longer a consistent threat in the low post and had devolved into a modern-day equivalent of Mel Counts. Anderson Varejao was both foul- and flop-prone and consistently tried to do things that he was incapable of doing — like hitting jump shots. Ben Wallace was old and in the way. Wally Szczerbiak was a jump-shooting statue. Daniel Gibson and Sasha Pavlovic were 3-point specialists who could do little else.

Only Delonte West had the toughness, the offensive versatility and the defensive chops to enhance LBJ's game.

I promise I'll get back to the Celtics now. I just couldn't resist one last swipe at the Cavs.

Update: Bob Ryan piles on as well, pointing out that just three teams managed to win 66 games and fail to win a championship (the list includes the 72-73 Celtics).

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good and scathing

but right on the money.

by slamtheking on Jun 2, 2009 7:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Has he written anything nearly as critical about the Celtics?

by 33-32-00 on Jun 2, 2009 8:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That Photo...

Is the best thing ever.

by Jackson34 on Jun 2, 2009 8:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

so we played orlando better than the cavs. they still got higher on the tree than we did. as long as they have lebron, they will be a fierce competitor.

by nazzbo on Jun 2, 2009 9:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Love the final sentence of..

“more of the same will only result in more of the same.” How true!!

If Danny Ferry tries to keep this team together to get another run out of them, it’s a huge mistake. he needs to start planning for the 2010 off season now. If he locks up LeBron then let contracts expired and get as far under the cap as possible for 2010 and get someone who can be Robin to LeBron’s Batman. Then build around that.

If you can’t lock up LeBron, trade him to a place like Portland and get a bunch of young talent in return and rebuild. be proactive. Don’t let LeBron go into free agency without knowing for sure what the outcome will be.

by nickagneta on Jun 2, 2009 9:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think a Lebron trade is happening

No one is going to risk trading for Lebron and then having him walk away in 2010. Portland’s definitely not blowing up their young nucleus.

If Wallace does come off the books it would be huge for the Cavs. They could go for a free agent big man like Sheed or McDyess. Not sure either of those would be able to fill the second-fiddle role needed but if they could get Boozer that would probably do it.

by Reddo on Jun 2, 2009 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

72-73

I wasn’t around for that – but is that the year Hondo got hurt?

by Brendan on Jun 2, 2009 10:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I Think It Was

I think he hurt his right arm or shoulder. He was passing left-handed.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn

by TrueGreen on Jun 2, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Two problems with the article

I have to disagree on two points but only two.

First, Rosen really rips the Cavs for the bench celebrations and all that. If they had won the championship, no one would be doing this. The celebrations are not all that different from KG’s antics. In some ways, you need that type of swagger and attitude in order to win but you get ripped if you show that attitude and don’t win. Its an all or nothing bet and I don’t envy the players for the position they are put in on this one.

Second, he’s overly critical of Lebron in his article. Yes, Lebron is not nearly as good of a shooter as he needs to be to be truly unstoppable (anyone see all those horrendous three point shots in game 6?) but he’s still the best player in the NBA right now. And he criticizes the Cavs offense because it relies on Lebron’s teammates to hit open shots when Lebron drives the lane… Hold on a second, that’s standard practice in almost all offenses that have superstars. When Rondo drives the lane to draw help defenders and kicks it we expect that guy (whether its Allen, House, Scalabrine or anyone) to hit the open shot. If they don’t, that’s not a problem with the offense; the offensive scheme got them an open shot, that’s all a coach can do.

I agree that the team had some serious shortcomings that were masked by their regular-season dominance but lets not get carried away with that criticism.

by Reddo on Jun 2, 2009 10:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I didn't get...

that he was criticizing LeBron’s offensive game (he called him possibly the best finisher ever when he uses his right hand), so much as he was pointing out the weaer parts of Lebron’s game. Those weak tendencies(going left, shooting of balance outside) are weaknesses that are further magnified when used in Mike Brown’s pathetic “let’s give the ball to Lebron and get out of the way” offense. In that offense, good defenses can force lebron ito his weak areas and after trying to get his shot for 20 sdeconds out of the 24 Lebron will then dish out to the outside and expect team mates that have been standing arund for 20 seconds to hit that outside shot. The fault is in the offensive scheme, not in LeBron.

by nickagneta on Jun 2, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I did pick up a definite ripping Lebron for the weaknesses in the offense vibe though. The question becomes, would Lebron be willing to function in a offense that doesn’t have those weaknesses. Taking on a smaller role perhaps, with less ballhandling?

by Reddo on Jun 2, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes and no

KG’s antics are very much about raising intensity and effort, which shows an implied respect for his opposition (even if many of them don’t regard it that way). The Cav’s stuff was more about relaxing and doing stuff outside the context of the game, which is more contemptuous of the opposition.

I do agree with you that the criticism of Lebron’s offense goes overboard…much of what Rosen writes is true, but he ignores how much James has improved, especially as a shooter. Every player Lebron’s age is still a work in progress, but it’s hard to fault Lebron’s rate of improvement — and I write this as someone who hates how much attention this guy who hasn’t won anything has been given.

by MattD on Jun 2, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also...

Orlando shot 42% on threes in the 4 games they won. Much higher than their 38% mark for the regular season.

by Reddo on Jun 2, 2009 10:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

My favorite line from the article:

“Submitting to a team-wide workshop on the joys of humility.”

by richtrader on Jun 2, 2009 10:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I like Rose, period.

While I may not agree with everything he writes, reading his breakdowns of games over the last couple years has helped me see things on the court.

This dissection of the Cavs is no exception.

by Thruthelookingglass on Jun 2, 2009 12:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rosen, sorry!

by Thruthelookingglass on Jun 2, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My favorite part of the article:

“LeBron’s swaggering and continual self-promotion was the most egregious of these haughty antics. It’s only fitting that the prestidigitations of the Magic made LeBron disappear in the same cloud of chalk dust that he ostentatiously employed to announce his imperial presence before each game.”

Witness that.

by footey on Jun 2, 2009 12:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Pretty outstanding and right-on stuff. The messiah’s arrogant interviews where he talks about “my guys” are about as nauseating as his "my guys’ " on the court and on the bench demeanor.

The messiah is actually more talented than Jordan. The difference between the two is that Jordan had to actually accomplish something to attain his fame. The difference on the court is Jordan’s focus on winning as compared to the messiah’s focus on himself.

by Finkelskyhook on Jun 2, 2009 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Amen to that

by Celtic_E on Jun 3, 2009 3:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That photo is pretty funny, but I don’t think a rip job, esp. by Rosen, is going to do much for me, so I’ll pass. I think he knows the game but most of his previous articles that I bothered to read have been a compilation of observations from a specific game which he then extrapolates into broad generalizations that are pretty worthless. He’s also been known to be Phil Jackson’s hand puppet. I wonder if that’s where he got the condescending, know-it-all smugness?

by Berkcelt on Jun 2, 2009 3:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What happened to MO!

How come no one is ripping Mo Williams? The other “All Star” on that team. He was suppose to be the big pickup. He folded like a chair in the playoffs.

by liamail on Jun 2, 2009 3:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mo? Not worth mentioning

at all.

13 points in 39 seconds. Enough said.

by Duhoh on Jun 2, 2009 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rosen ripped the Cavs a new one

After reading the article, I couldn’t help but smile and nod with agreement to his article. He said everything I wanted to say about the Cavs and some more.

I’m not normally a fan of Rosen’s articles but this one is just right in the money. I’m really glad to see someone in the sports media standing up to Queen James and his royal antics and telling it as it is.

by Celtic_E on Jun 3, 2009 3:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs