It’s called buying into a system. And “Believeland” has nothing to do with the fans. It has everything to do with the players. Two teams living in the same town. One believes. The other doesn’t.
While the overachieving Browns continue to surprise with solidarity, the more experienced Cavs seem totally removed from a year ago. “We’re not a very good team” LeBron says. Mr Moohead says: “You’re not a team at all”. The Cavs are a bunch of individuals refusing to perform together. If this were an orgy, no one would get off. No passing. No help defensively. No effort or energy. No belief. And these players are more talented than the Ethan Kelley’s of the world. But they don’t have each other’s backs.
Larry doesn’t want to be PG. He only wants to shoot. Damon Jones shoots 3’s, and does not play defense. Z gets sullen when he doesn’t get touches. Drew gazes into space during time outs. And LeBron resorts to the fadeaway 24 footer when all is lost.
Derek Anderson wants the ball. The OL plays with energy, and relishes the trench work. Jamal Lewis wants the ball at the end of the game. Mediocre players gang tackle to help each other out. Lawrence Vickers blocks and doesn’t whine about not getting the ball.
Some might say it’s coaching. Nope. It’s team balance. When veterans refuse to accept roles to make room for young guys, you end up with distractions. When Hughes refuses to handle the ball, he destroys the offensive flow. When DJ plays matador, a big man commits a foul behind him. Then rotation stops altogether.
Compare that to Ken Dorsey. He’ll never play, but he remains comimited to helping the young QB’s. Or Willie McGinest who teaches on the sideline. No whining. No hidden agendas. Soon the young guys start responding. Even the weak DL stepped up yesterday, because they are listening to the right voices.
But who can Gibson, Shannon, Sasha and AV listen to? To selfish Larry? To sometimes team leader LeBron? To the pouting Z?
The Cavs need more than a point guard. They need a VETERAN PG, like Jason Kidd. LeBron wants him because he needs help motivating a bunch of whiny veterans who refuse to part with their playing time or accept their own diminishing skills.
Believeland is a state of mind. The fans may live there, but the Cavs do not.
Subscribe to the Moohead Radio podcast