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Then they will decide what to do next. And unfortunately, there will be only one viable option.
Mike Brown will be fired as head coach. Jeff Van Gundy will be hired to battle his brother for supremacy in the East.
The Cavaliers didn't win 66 games by accident this season. They were outstanding defensively, meshing well around the greatest player in the game. They were well-coached, too, during the season, which was obvious after watching them through six games in the final.
Anyone who can milk 66 wins out of a One-Man Show, a team so lacking in overall talent, deserves Double Coach of the Year honors.
Yet Brown will become a victim of the NBA way, where failing to live up to playoff expectations, whether real or imagined, almost always leads to coaching changes.
It would be great instead if the Cavs just had the flexibility this summer to add a badly-needed second star for LeBron James, but they don't. Wouldn't it be a hoot if Magic free-agent-to-be Hedo Turkoglu – who carved up Cleveland in this series -- ended up in a Cavs uniform. He would fit nicely as a well-rounded, second fiddle to James. And the Magic really can't afford to re-sign him.
Everyone else has a reasonable salary number, but everyone else also is a one-dimension player without great trade value. So the Cavs are roster handcuffed until the summer of 2010 when they can add Yao Ming or Chris Bosh as a free agent, giving them a real chance to beat the Magic.
In the meantime, they will preach patience to LeBron and a coaching change to help them erase the harping about Mike Brown. As good as he was all season, he was outcoached by Van Gundy, failing to devise a plan to slow the Magic's outside attack.
Jeff Van Gundy, another one of those defensive disciples, has been itching for another shot on the bench, although he has grown considerably as a television analyst/comedian. He would make a logical choice for the Cavs.
It actually would be great theater to see the Blues Brothers matching one liners and insults and egos for the next several years with the two best teams in the East. James and Howard are about to develop a rivalry that only the playoffs and two superstars can provide. The Van Gundys would add to the fun with all their maniacal ways.
It's too bad for Mike Brown. He deserves another chance with this team, but it might be the only choice that Cleveland has this summer.
LeBron James Photos
ORLANDO, FL - MAY 30: Delonte West #13, LeBron James #23 and Mo Williams #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers sit on the sidelines preparing to take the court against the Orlando Magic in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 30, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Delonte West;LeBron James;Mo Williams
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ORLANDO, FL - MAY 30: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers sits on the court after being fouled by the Orlando Magic in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 30, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LeBron James
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Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James is defended by Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard (12) and Mickael Pietrus (20), from France, in te third quarter of Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals Saturday, May 30, 2009, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
AP
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) shoots between Orlando Magic's Hedo Turkoglu, from Turkey,left, and Rashard Lewis (9) in the first quarter of Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals Saturday, May 30, 2009, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
AP
Orlando Magic's Rashard Lewis (L), reaches to block Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (C), as Magic's Anthony Johnson (background) and Michael Pietrus (R), look on in first half during Game 6 of their Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoff series in Orlando, Florida May 30, 2009. REUTERS/Scott Audette (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL IMAGES OF THE DAY)
Reuters
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) walks off the court after a 103-90 loss to the Orlando Magic in Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals Saturday, May 30, 2009, in Orlando, Fla. The Magic won the conference championship 4-2 over Cleveland and will face the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
AP
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James looks to the bench as Orlando Magic's Rashard Lewis and Courtney Lee (R) walk past after the Magic defeated the Cavaliers to win the Eastern Conference Finals during Game 6 of their Eastern Conference Finals NBA basketball playoff series in Orlando, Florida May 30, 2009. REUTERS/Kevin Kolczynski (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
Reuters
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James leaves the floor after his team was defeated by the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference Finals NBA basketball playoff series in Orlando, Florida May 30, 2009. REUTERS/Kevin Kolczynski (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
Reuters
ORLANDO, FL - MAY 30: Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic drives to the hoop against Anderson Varejao #17 and LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 30, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dwight Howard;Anderson Varejao;LeBron James
Getty Images
ORLANDO, FL - MAY 30: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts after a play against the Orlando Magic in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 30, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LeBron James
Getty Images
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
5-31-2009 @ 6:26PM
Bryan said...
I think it will be hard to justify the firing on the NBA Coach of the Year.
I have been ranting about this for ages.
Mike Brown is hindering LeBron's greatness. Lebron cannot flourish in Brown's defensive oriented system. Brown has no offensive knowledge whatsoever and therefore defers to an offensive coordinator.
Mike Brown like Doc Rivers are both incompetent coaches. Doc Rivers road Tom Thibodeau's coattails last year.
He should be fired, but i find it unlikely to happen.
Reply
5-31-2009 @ 7:40PM
dtenore said...
Um, boy-genius Bryan: I believe Doc won the whole thing last season. He took the Magic to the limit this year while BOTH of his bigs were out - after a nasty 7 against the Bulls.
KG: surgery on bone spurs.
Powe: knee & ankle injuries.
Pierce: Surgery
Allen: maybe surgery
To put Doc in the same fail class as Mike Brown is pure idiocy on your part.
6-01-2009 @ 5:31PM
Da Doh said...
The cavs have been celebrating since the season was over believing the hype with the air guitar and celebrating forgetting they have to win 16 games to be champs
5-31-2009 @ 6:45PM
nickstoli said...
"He should be fired, but i find it unlikely to happen."
Well, why not borrow a page from Pat Riley? Have him "voluntarily" retire to spend more time with his family.
Reply
5-31-2009 @ 6:48PM
Janice said...
Maybe i'm a little naive but how you gonna name him NBA Coach of the year and then turn around and fire him!!!
Reply
5-31-2009 @ 10:22PM
LaJuan said...
Check the history. That's usually when they get fired, after winning coach of the year.
6-01-2009 @ 3:56PM
craigg1483 said...
What has he done in the playoffs?
5-31-2009 @ 6:50PM
eternalremix07 said...
Is there a way to reverse subscribe to Tim Potvak's feed? I don't even want to see the titles of drivel like this, and I'm not quite ready to unsubscribe to Fanhouse entirely. A few of you are killing what little quality is left here.
Reply
5-31-2009 @ 7:13PM
Shawn said...
Don't you people listen? This ain't the coach's team. It's Lebron's team. (when he wins, of course). He's constantly talking about his guys and his team. Mike Brown has had no chance to coach this team since Lebron has been running his mouth and taking all the credit. Well then Lebron should take the fall. You live by the sword and you die by the sword baby.
Reply
5-31-2009 @ 7:42PM
mdkin01 said...
Cleveland should trade LeBron to the Celtics for a package of players and draft picks (not including Garnett, Pierce, or Rondo). The Celtics have other good players like Ray Allen, Baby Davis, Powe, Marbury, Perkins. This could work for both teams. Cleveland needs to be more balanced like Orlando and Denver. Boston just needs to stay healthy and Lebron never sits out. Lebron, Pierce, Garnett, Rondo, and ? would make a really tough team, but Cleveland could be really good too if they got enough of the above players and picks for Lebron.
Reply
5-31-2009 @ 8:20PM
Martin said...
You need to stay away from that loco weed and face the facts that the Celtics traded their future for last year's championship.
6-02-2009 @ 9:11AM
sg4146 said...
Must be a Celtic fan
5-31-2009 @ 8:50PM
fune4u said...
well if the cav's fire brown and bring in van gundy the team will fall apart player will not play for him he destroy ny the cavs need to talk to lebron about his game and the position he will be playing in future his natural position not where he wants to play but where he fits look tim duncan could do alot of things when he came into the nba but his position was 4 then 5 the king playing the 2 is a joke he is a 4 maybe you can swing a 3 but he is not a 2 rite now it is fun to watch but it does not win rings and it will not at 24 he is not feeling it but in 2 years lebron will have to come off bench in role playing position if this is not stopped
Reply
5-31-2009 @ 9:01PM
T J said...
fune4u,,look for the period (.) on your keyboard. You can't miss it, it is on the bottom row, over on the right side.
Reply
5-31-2009 @ 9:03PM
Giles said...
I think the writer`s article clearly implies the illogic of dumping the coach of the year this summer,more likely next summer, to replace him with another, over hyped under achiever, Jeff Van Gundy. He was fired from New York and Houston, for good reason, but the media like him. He is one of them. He should stay one of them, though radio would suit him better than tv, or, if he can write, not just talk, print. But Coach Brown is very much James` Doug Collins, and there is NO Scott Pippen or Phil Jackson (or Bill Cartwright, Horace Grant, BJ Armstrong, Dennis Rodman fortunately fashion-sise!, Ron Harper, Toni Kukoch, all of them all stars at least once), in sight. (As for Celts, Marbury can`t be traded, he is a has been not under contract, Allen may be a has been next season, Perkins is a small center who would be worth trying at forward, but the Celts need him at center, they aren`t giving him up, Davis and Powe are throw ins, to balance salary if a deal was otherwise possible, so no, afraid even if it were Pierce and/or Garnett, not Powe and/or Davis, too old, not much chance of that trade).
Reply
6-01-2009 @ 6:47PM
Mushroom Kingdom said...
Van Gundy walked out on the team Scott Layden put together because there was no effort from the players in a game or practice (he walked out in practice). Before Mr. Layden came into the fray, with Van Gundy as coach, reached Conf Semis 97 (lost cause of the brawl), reached Conf Semis 98, reached Finals 99 and Conf Finals in 2000. But I will say he didn't do much in Houston but we should also say that the Western Conference at that time was far supeior to the Eastern Conference.
5-31-2009 @ 9:03PM
fune4u said...
look magic 6'9" played the point with the lakers aka the lake show they ran up and down the court magic had both knees covered in pads by his third season and he was not doing what this kid has to do night in and nite out but lebron 6'8" came into the nba as thick as charles barkley let us not forget magic was thin at 6'9" like little penny. I say move him to his natural position now as a forward go out and get you a true swing man keep mo at the point and get some plays giving lebron the ball at the top of the key is giving up that saying i have nothing
Reply
5-31-2009 @ 9:11PM
demzrdopes said...
LeBron just ignored Brown, and his plays in the 4th quarter, not a good sign..
Reply
5-31-2009 @ 9:20PM
djtonyr said...
Povtak....you're an idiot. He was coach of the year!!!! Maybe if his guys could shoot better, we'd be looking at them in the finals.
Reply
6-01-2009 @ 12:52PM
Chuck said...
wrong - the cavs needed DEFENSE to win this series.
They averaged 101.2 ppg in the Orlando series - a point better than their regular season average, against a Magic team that was giving up 94ppg in the regular season, and 90ppg in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
The Cavs were giving up 91.4 ppg in the regular season, but Orlando blitzed them for 103.6 ppg, which was 2.6 points better than their season average.