Brown Is Destroying LeBron

Posted by Mark Barnes Dec 1, 2006

This blog might seem a bit contradictory, since I predicted Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown would win the NBA Coach of the Year award in 2006-2007. Now, I'm suggesting that Brown may be destroying LeBron James' legacy. Pretty harsh, I realize, but bare with me.

Watching the Cavaliers develop last season under their first-year coach, I found myself to be quite impressed by season's end. Brown talked defense, and as the year passed, the Cavaliers improved dramatically on the defensive end. They were particularly impressive in the NBA playoffs against Detroit, a team filled with offensive weapons.

Back to this season and to LeBron James, the Chosen One. Few will argue the incredible talents that James possesses. King James can do anything he desires on the basketball court, and his numbers support this assertion.

The real great players -- those with indelible legacies , though, were winners. Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and others like them all had great statistics but, more importantly, they won championships.

When the 2006-2007 season began, the Cavaliers seemed primed for a title run. Sure, stellar guard Larry Hughes is hurt, but even without him, Cleveland should beat the likes of New York, Charlotte and Toronto. Yet the Cavaliers have losses to each of these very weak NBA teams.

One might argue that the losses can't be pinned on LeBron James, as he posts his usual 28 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals regularly, no matter who the opponent is. True, but LeBron has really only won one game for the Cavaliers this year -- a stirring come-from-behind victory over Boston, in which LeBron should have been wearing a cape and had a capital S sewn on his jersey.

LeBron James, it would appear can dominate on any given night, no matter who the opponent is. So, one must wonder, why doesn't he do it more often?

Because Mike Brown won't let him; that's why. Brown is retarding LeBron's game and hurting the Cavaliers, in the process.

How Brown handles the greatest NBA player in the galaxy is often beyond bizarre.

James sits for six or more minutes of the second quarter in every game, no matter what the score is. Of course, Coach Brown would say that LeBron has to get his rest, like anyone else. Fine. Why not give him two minutes at the end of the first quarter. This way, he benefits from the time between quarters. If there is a decent lead, let LeBron begin the second quarter on the bench too.

There are far too many times, when the Cavs are behind, late in the game, and LeBron isn't shooting. The team doesn't seem to value possessions. The Cavs will trail by 6 with three minutes left, and Eric Snow, who couldn't hit water from a boat, will run down and chuck up a quick shot without ever even looking at LeBron.

In other losses, LeBron has taken less than 18 shots. If the Cavaliers are losing a close game, LeBron James needs to get 25 or more shots. This is simple logic. You're losing, so your best player needs to shoot.

This is coaching -- bad coaching.

As good as LeBron James is, it appears that Mike Brown is content to play near-.500 basketball, lose to stiffs and allow the greatest player since Michael Jordan to coast through a season that will see LeBron have huge numbers, while the Cavs struggle to make the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Cavaliers fans and LeBron James' legacy will both suffer.