Mike Brown does Big Z wrong

[RJ87]

Apparently, LeBron is so competitive that he lost touch concerning what was happening with his  good friend Zydrunas and when he came out of the game with 1:47 left in the game, up 16 and saw Jawad Williams going in for him, he didn't mention to the coach that he should put Z in given the game was over and Z hadn't played. And, because he obviously knew ahead of time that this was Z's record breaking game and he's such great friends with Z,.  probably having to shoot his team's last 10 straight shots to make sure he was the leading scorer in the game got Lebron so tired he forgot about his good friend. 


Okay, so what did Lebron do to your family?

Nothing. I just think he's a selfish, egotistical, self serving jerk and proves it every time he opens his mouth.

He obviously could care less if Mike Brown put in Ilgauskas or not yet rather than keeping his mouth shut and saying nothing he runs to Z's defense. Well, if he was so concerned about it, why wasn't he aware of what was happening and why didn't he do something about it? LeBron doesn't have the pull to tell Brown, "Put in Z, it's his record breaking game. He flew his family in to see this."?

Of course he does. But he didn't do that because he isn't close to Z and could care less. It was only after he found out what was going on that he goes public and throws his coach under the bus to seem like he is a team guy concerned with his team mates feelings.

The guy does nothing unless it benefits and serves himself.

funny thing is, if Lebron didn't say anything in Z's defense, people would still be calling him a selfish, egotistical, self serving jerk.

Point is, I don't see many superstars speaking up publicly for a teammate these days. I know as C's fans, there is a predisposed hatred for Lebron, but this time I think he was right to speak up.

Wow, I'm defending Lebron...

My problem with Lebron is not that he stuck up for Z. My problem is that I think it is insincere and contrived because how could he not know that this was a record tying game or that Z flew his whole family in BEFORE the game. They were on a plane for hours together, locker room, shoot arounds etc. There's only 15 of them as players and he didn't know what was going on?

So, if he did(my assumption, I know), how could he not try to pull his weight to get Z playing time? He pulled his weight to get Mo Williams an All-Star spot last year. He's pulled his weight to get players resigned and traded on and off the team. He could pull his weight to get Z playing time??

I don't buy it. I think he's saying things after the fact to draw attention to himself and to appear in public as being the thoughtful, caring team mate, which, when all is said and done and all the books are written, we will find out he isn't. Just like we found out MJ was a horrible team mate.

Wait, you think LeBron should've told his coach, midgame, who to sub in?  You don't think he'd get at least as much criticism for that, and raise all kinds of issues about who's really running the Cavs?  Trying to dictate who the coach puts in during a game under any circumstances is not a behavior that gets you classified as a good teammate, or anything else positive.  I guess it's prima donna if he does, prima donna if he doesn't.

Exactly.
No matter what he would've done in the situation, people would've claimed he was being selfish. There's no way he demands who plays and who doesn't and people don't cry foul about it. If he did demand Z get put in, this would be a discussion about how selfish, egotistical, and self serving he is for trying to take over the team mid-game from his coach.

[Kiorrik]

Aw shucks. Last post of the page again.

*sobs*

[Edgar]

I'm so glad that I could care less about why he said it. Saves me a lot of time arguing. No offense btw guys

Anyway, I agree with LeBone. Bad move by the Cavaliers 'Doc'. Glad we got the Celtic one. He's teh pwn.

well feel better now
I hate when that happend to me too.

[twinbree]

I watched this game and I have no problem with Brown's decision - Moon and West were playing well, Dallas went small and Z was just a bad fit .

To me it wouldn't make no sense whatsoever to play him in garbage time (or even 1 minute at the end of the 2nd/3rd quarter or something like that) - I think that would be kind of disrespectful and take away some meaning from the moment.

What they should have done: started him. Shaq would be glad to grant him the courtesy. The Cavs are generally a very good organization dealing with their players, but they could have done better here. No big deal though.

Btw, this episode highlights why Cleveland must trade one of the glaciers ASAP.

I agree that playing meaningful minutes would have been nice for the occasion but I think a DNP-CD is far worse than a garbage time stint because this milestone obviously meant something to him. Having friends and family come for a reason and not having it happen must be embarrassing and painful.

Reminds me of when Federer had a bunch of people at the AO to watch him break the record and he didn't.  Actually scratch that I didn't feel bad for him and his scene-stealing tears cracked me up. That and he did himself in. Poor Z was at Brown's mercy.

[Finkelskyhook]

No matter what he would've done in the situation, people would've claimed he was being selfish. There's no way he demands who plays and who doesn't and people don't cry foul about it. If he did demand Z get put in, this would be a discussion about how selfish, egotistical, and self serving he is for trying to take over the team mid-game from his coach.

People would claim the messiah is being selfish because he may be the biggest narcissist in NBA history.  Listen to one of his interviews, for God's sake.  The term "my guys" constantly comes out of the messiah's mouth.  

Completely diningenuous.  The messiah runs the team.  Ilgauskas knows it.

Sad that Ferry's ego supercedes team chemistry.

[Kiorrik]

I'm so glad that I could care less about why he said it. Saves me a lot of time arguing. No offense btw guys

Anyway, I agree with LeBone. Bad move by the Cavaliers 'Doc'. Glad we got the Celtic one. He's teh pwn.

well feel better now
I hate when that happend to me too.

Hahaha TP thanks!

.edit: but it wasn't like I added something to the convo harhar

[RJ87]

People would claim the messiah is being selfish because he may be the biggest narcissist in NBA history.

um... have you heard of Kobe Bryant?

[fairweatherfan]

If LeBron told his coach to play Z at half in the locker room in front of everyone otherwise he would sit the whole second half and then after Z got in and broke the record if Lebron had kept his mouth shut, said nothing and then word of the incident spread from there:

1.) He wouldn't be perceived as a prima donna.
2.) He would obviously convey to all his team mates that he has their back.
3.) He would be universally praised for the gesture towards his team mate.
4.) He wouldn't come off as either a player throwing his coach under the bus in public or a guy thast is saying stuff after the fact to get good publicity.

He should threaten to boycott the rest of the game if the coach doesn't play the guy he wants to play?  Waaaay too many unintended consequences to that approach.  First of all, there's no way of knowing at the half that Z's not coming in during the 2nd.  That's a dealbreaker by itself. Secondly, the Mavs are a good team and the game was not decided at halftime - a major distraction like that is not conducive to winning games.  Lastly, Z's a grown man with pride - you don't think he might be a bit embarrassed to have the star have to threaten to quit to force the coach to put him in when the coach doesn't want to?

And LeBron would absolutely be perceived as a prima donna and would most certainly not be universally praised for it. Any whiff of LeBron making threats to control midgame coaching decisions would be catnip for the media and the many fans that dislike him.  Not to mention the longterm consequences of calling out and forcing a power struggle with your coach in front of the entire team, during a season when you're trying to win a ring.  There's no good way to try and force the coach to play the guys he doesn't want to play, and there shouldn't be. 

Don't see it that way at all. Sorry.

Hey, fair enough (NPI).  TP for discussion.

[Who]

To me this whole thing is a non-event.

No importance whatsoever.

[chelsearules]

http://news-herald.com/articles/2009/12/01/sports/nh1769168.txt

full coverage on the novel. via hoopshype
just in case someone miss it

cliff notes version of the novel

Cavaliers coach Mike Brown often governs with his gut.
He makes important decisions by how he feels in the pit of his stomach.

However, Brown inexplicably saddled Ilgauskas with what is thought to be his first "DNP-CD" of his career.

= brown sucks

"After having a little bit of time to think about it, me personally, I definitely thought he should have played," James said.

= i didn't care less when it happened

"I'm not trying to stir up anything with Coach. I don't know who made the call.

= i am in fact passively aggresively stirring something up

"I think it's a sensitive subject," James said. "I'm not one to raise havoc in the locker room, but for me, I speak the truth. As a friend of his, I was very upset, and I know he was also.

= i'm a two faced friend

James said he hasn't tried to talk to Ilgauskas about the ordeal. He said he was just going to let him cool down first.

= couldn't waste time talking with z when i can give soundbites to the media

Brown said if he had it to do over again, "I'd try to play him.

= i know i messed up

"It was surprising to me," James said. "It was unchartered territory for me. To see him in a uniform and not get in the game ... to a guy like that, it doesn't happen. He's played 70 games plus (almost every season). That's a tribute to him."

= couldn't be bothered to find out why

[nickagneta]

Strange quote out of Ilgauskas tonight after he broke the record:

“I was very disappointed,” said Ilgauskas, “that I didn’t play in the last game. I know I’m a good player and I could have been impacted the outcome. What made me more disappointed were some acts that followed … I’m not going to go in any details. I know when I got to bed at night my conscience is clear.”

SOME of the acts that followed. Okay, one of the acts that followed was obviously Mike Brown lying through his teeth as to the reason for not playing Z but what were the other ones. SOME usually means more than 2, so, was LeBron's little attention seeking support and two cents on the subject one of the other things and was the other possible a complete refrain of comment coming from the front office?

More to follow....I'm sure of it.

[Rondo_is_better]

Strange quote out of Ilgauskas tonight after he broke the record:

“I was very disappointed,” said Ilgauskas, “that I didn’t play in the last game. I know I’m a good player and I could have been impacted the outcome. What made me more disappointed were some acts that followed … I’m not going to go in any details. I know when I got to bed at night my conscience is clear.”

SOME of the acts that followed. Okay, one of the acts that followed was obviously Mike Brown lying through his teeth as to the reason for not playing Z but what were the other ones. SOME usually means more than 2, so, was LeBron's little attention seeking support and two cents on the subject one of the other things and was the other possible a complete refrain of comment coming from the front office?

More to follow....I'm sure of it.

I think you're reading into a Lithuanian man's english a little too much. And even if he speaks good english, everyone throws words around when they're talking off the cuff.

[nickagneta]

Strange quote out of Ilgauskas tonight after he broke the record:

“I was very disappointed,” said Ilgauskas, “that I didn’t play in the last game. I know I’m a good player and I could have been impacted the outcome. What made me more disappointed were some acts that followed … I’m not going to go in any details. I know when I got to bed at night my conscience is clear.”

SOME of the acts that followed. Okay, one of the acts that followed was obviously Mike Brown lying through his teeth as to the reason for not playing Z but what were the other ones. SOME usually means more than 2, so, was LeBron's little attention seeking support and two cents on the subject one of the other things and was the other possible a complete refrain of comment coming from the front office?

More to follow....I'm sure of it.

I think you're reading into a Lithuanian man's english a little too much. And even if he speaks good english, everyone throws words around when they're talking off the cuff.

You really chaulk up that quote to a very well spoken man not speaking English that well because he isn't American?

You really think Lithuanian men that can't express themselves that well would cut a phrase like:

I could have been impacted the outcome. What made me more disappointed were some acts that followed

That to me sounds like a man that can speak the English language quite eloquently and knew exactly what he was saying.

[Roy Hobbs]

You really think Lithuanian men that can't express themselves that well would cut a phrase like:

I could have been impacted the outcome. What made me more disappointed were some acts that followed

That to me sounds like a man that can speak the English language quite eloquently and knew exactly what he was saying.

I don't know...  My English professors in college wouldn't have been in love with the phrase "could have been impacted the outcome".

[Bahku]

You really think Lithuanian men that can't express themselves that well would cut a phrase like:

I could have been impacted the outcome. What made me more disappointed were some acts that followed

That to me sounds like a man that can speak the English language quite eloquently and knew exactly what he was saying.

I don't know...  My English professors in college wouldn't have been in love with the phrase "could have been impacted the outcome".

Yeah ... "I could have impacted the outcome" works, and "I could have been impacted" works, (let's not go there, though), but "I could have been impacted the outcome" just is not very good English ... sorry.