Nov 5, 2009 -- 12:32PM, Justin wrote:

Nov 5, 2009 -- 12:20PM, topSykretts wrote:

Nov 5, 2009 -- 12:10PM, Justin wrote:

Nov 5, 2009 -- 12:07PM, topSykretts wrote:

Nov 4, 2009 -- 7:04PM, VPReese(DHCT=GOAG) wrote:

Nov 4, 2009 -- 6:50PM, topSykretts wrote:

Nov 4, 2009 -- 6:41PM, VPReese(DHCT=GOAG) wrote:

Play a huge part in the what?

Yea good question but Hickson should have stayed in college clearly he was not prepared to play in the NBA.

I was talking about the last sentence in the first post, it isnt finished.

I understood but Hickson isn't finished either...as in a finished player but I agree it's kind of hard to improve if you never play then again from what I've seen so far he's hardly earned more playing time.  The Lakers and Celtics can afford to draft on potential not the Cavaliers.

Why is that? I thought it was every team's goal to draft players for their potential in that team's system....

Because both of those teams are deeper in talent then the Cavaliers so they could afford to not play a rookie much if at all.  Cleveland isn't as deep in comparison PLUS unlike the Celtics and Lakers the Cavaliers have not won a championship. 

Cleveland is "all in" for this season that's why you added Shaq and all but cut your purse strings for the summer of 2010 free agency the Cavaliers are playing for a championship now not next year.  This is why guys like Hickson, Jackson and Green are after thoughts at least to me.

Ok. But rookies can make more depth. Look at the Magic last year: they started a rookie and they didn't miss a beat, in fact they were probably better off that way. You should always try to improve your team through the draft. Otherwise you'll have to keep trading for older talent like we've been doing. Sometimes a promising, talented rookie can be a great weapon.

Courtney Lee had more of a developed game then Hickson heck wasn't he a senior when he was drafted?  Besides that Orlando could afford to start him because of the rest of their starters: Nelson, Turkoglu, Lewis and Howard.  I don't consider Hickson "a promising talented rookie" so maybe that's the difference between us.

any more questions about JJ's minutes?

Nov 5, 2009 -- 5:20PM, Justin wrote:

Nov 5, 2009 -- 4:59PM, fabcavfan wrote:

Whatever happened to the concept of "earning" playing time?  Quite frankly, JJ last year was an immature goof - way before he got hurt.  I think he realized he's going to actually have to work - WOW, what a concept.  Hence, spending the summer with LBJ working on his game.  He needs to continue to work, however, including in practice.  If he is not seeing the court, then there must be a good reason.  Also, look at Boobie last year...although he did get injured, when he came back he was awful - not hustling, acting like he didn't want to play, not playing defense and guess what?  His minutes were cut, as they should have been.  Now this year, he looks like he's motivated - get it?  It's not up to the coaching staff to convince the players to play.  Who motivated LeBron?  The coaches?  No - it's up to the players to work hard and if they don't, I don't think they should be rewarded with playing time.  Stop blaming the coaching staff, the GM and any other suit if the player doesn't play.

Players will play more motivated when they are placed in rotations that fit with their skill set.

 Ex: Boobie at PG. He's NOT a PG, so don't play him as one.

Past Example: Larry Hughes: Natural SG and wing player. Cavs started him as PG. He was OK but still not playing up to potential. The minute we trade him to Chicago, he looked more comfortable on the wing in Chicago and his playing rhythm looked much more smooth.

Things like effort are decided by the players, but if they are put in the wrong spots according to their skills, that's on the coaches...

Unfortunately, you don't always have the "ideal" personnel to always play them in a position that suits their skill set.  On last year's roster,  who do you propose should have been our back up point guard?  Boobie had to step up and he didn't - now look at him this year - he worked all summer on his PG skills as well as defense and it shows.  And you are talking strictly offensively - I am also talking defensively - as I said in my original post, Boobie played horrible defense last year.  Is that also due to him being played in the "wrong" position?  Again, it's up to the coaches to prepare their teams for each game and make adjustments accordingly, but only the players can make it happen - if they want to.