Can I call you Dwane? There are a lot of other names I'd love to call you. Stubborn comes to mind. So do names that would make Louis C.K. blush. I'll just stick with Dwane.
I hope this reaches you before game 2 vs. the Cavs. Because
I have some much-needed advice for you.
Now I can't profess to know as much about basketball as you
do. Not even close.
I've watched the NBA since the early 90s. And I’ve followed
the Raptors since that fateful day on November 3, 1995. So I've seen some shit.
But you’ve played...well you played college ball. You have a
ring coaching with Dallas. And you've been coaching longer than I've been
sucking air.
However, it's stupid shit like continuing to start JV, among
a zillion other things, that makes me think you don't know all that much.
Like coaching 101 stuff.
If you didn’t get it by now, I ran out of patience with you
long ago. If it was up to me, your head would’ve rolled long before losing game
7 to the Nets after being up 3-2. The series shouldn’t even have been close.
Don’t get me started on that Washington series.
You’re like a cockroach. Sorry, let me explain. They say cockroaches
can survive anything – even a nuclear holocaust. Somehow you just keep on surviving.
How you’re the 4th most tenured coach in this league is beyond me.
You say you want your players to play well at 7pm, not 7:15.
Well then maybe start the right fucking players at 7 instead of subbing them in
at 7:15 when you're already down by 15. Defence is going to win you this
series.
Speaking of defence, how the fuck was every Pacers-Cavs game
close when the Pacers don't have our defence? Ujiri has gifted you some of the
best defenders in the league – Ibaka, Tucker, 2Pat. Yet you somehow get blown
to shit in game 1. It's like you didn't have 3 whole days to prepare.
What was your strategy? Plan of attack? Did you even have
one? Maybe I should define “plan” for you since you clearly don’t know what it
means.
Now, I’m well aware it's an almost impossible task you’ve
been given. As long as James is breathing, this Cavs team ain’t losing.
But you don't have to get embarrassed, and yes “dominated,”
like you did in game 1 this year and 4 out of 6 games last year. And don't
expect the Cavs to gift you 2 games at home again this year. They now know the
value of rest.
So, if you actually want to make this a close series – because
all signs tell me you don’t – this is how you should play the Cavs:
1. No
JV. Not one more second. Pretend he's dead. His ass is stapled to the bench for
the rest of the series. He's too slow and too dumb for this series. And he's
not out-working Thompson. No way. Nor can he stop him. He doesn't provide any
help defence. Actually, because he's so fucking awful, his teammates are the
ones bailing him out, leaving their guy wide open for 3.
2. You
start Powell. He's one of your best 2-way players. He's another ball handler
who can actually handle the ball (unlike DeRozan). He’s a slasher. He can get
to the line. He can hit 3s. He can cause problems for James on offense and
defence. And he’s saved your ass time and time again.
3. You
start Tucker. Not Carroll. Tucker. Defence wins playoff games. I don't care
that Carroll was the big free agent signing 2 years ago. That’s Ujiri’s
problem, not yours. He's not cutting it on offense or defence. Tucker is your
James stopper.
4. Play
your young guys, Poeltl and Wright. Yes, I know. They're not vets, so that
means they can't help you, right? Wrong. They give you energy and much-needed
athleticism. Wright offers ball movement, as well as length and defence, which
leads to steals. Steals lead to fast breaks. Fast breaks lead to baskets.
Sorry, kind of went all Yoda there, but you get the point. And Poeltl has already
surpassed your supposed experienced vet, JV, in usefulness. He can move his feet,
get rebounds and score in the paint – all without pump-faking 10 times. He can
guard stretch bigs like Love and Frye. Think what Kidd did with his rookies. If
it were up to you, Brogdon and Maker would’ve never seen the floor. Kidd
doesn’t care if you’ve played 1 year or 20. If you were drafted 5th or
46th. If you can help the team win, you’re in.
5. Make
James a jump shooter. Not an easy task, I know. Guard him tough, but don't
double him. Doubling him means there’s a 3-point sniper open somewhere. Easier
said than done because Cleveland will set screens to get shooters open. And,
well, he’s James. Raps will have to switch on screens. I don't care who has to
guard these 3-point shooters. Just cover them. It’s when James gets others
involved that he's most dangerous.
6. Forget
the offensive rebounds. You're not winning that battle. Just concede them. What
you don't want to concede is a fast break the other way. That's playing right
into the Cavs’ hands. Send one guy for the rebound and the other 4 back on defence.
Like as soon as the shot is released. No watching. No trying to get position
your players can't get anyway. Just run back. Trust me. You’ll thank me
later.
7. Use
your timeouts wisely. As soon as you smell any sort of Cavs momentum, call a
timeout. History tells me you wait too long. Actually, waiting too long is a
theme of yours. Don’t wait too long.
8. Finally,
MOVE THE F’N BALL. No more hero ball. I saw you do it in game 5 vs. Bucks. It
can be done. It's how you avoid traps and a stagnant offense. Every time your
team sees any sort of pressure, it’s hero ball. It’s like the worse default
setting in the world. If a player doesn’t want to move the ball, find one who
will. I don't care if their initials are DD or how many all-star appearances
they have. It doesn't mean shit when you’re down 30 points. It's about winning,
not making your players happy. Just ask Pop. You know what, never mind. You
don't deserve to be in the same area code (or zip code) as him.
Like I said before, I don’t know as much as you. I don’t
have the experience. I’m not with this team on a daily basis. And I don’t have
the insights or access to the numbers you do. I'm just using my eyes and my
brain to give you this much-needed advice.
I hope you listen. Or you can continue to get embarrassed. It’s
up to you.
Sincerely,
Ryan Grosman
Follow @RyanGrosman
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