On Saturday, Cleveland center Zydrunas Ilgauskas was scheduled to set the record for most games played in Cavalier uniform. It's not the most glamorous record (Danny Ferry is tied with Z currently, after all), but it apparently meant a lot to Ilgauskas, one of the league's most well-regarded players. And it should have. Some 724 games in a Cavaliers jersey? Well worthy of celebration.Ilgauskas brought his family and a group of friends to the game against the Mavericks, ready to mark his new achievement. Instead, Ilgauskas was shocked by what was his first "Did Not Play-Coach's Decision" in memory. Mike Brown started Shaquille O'Neal, and never subbed Ilgauskas into the game.
Ilgauskas hasn't talked to reporters, but today his longtime teammate -- one LeBron James -- did. And LeBron, while avoiding outright lyrical maiming of Brown, does not sound like someone happy with the Ilgauskas snub.
According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, LeBron told reporters today after practice that he and Ilgauskas were both very upset that Z never got into Saturday's game.
"I stand behind Z and whatever Z feels at this point in time, I definitely -- if I was in control of it -- would have put him in, probably would have started him. You could have easily started him and subbed him right out and had the standing ovation from the fans with a timeout. If you didn't want to play him, there were a lot of ways for that accomplishment to be accomplished.The Dealer's Mary Schmitt Boyer also notes that Ilgauskas refusing to speak with the media is unheard of, as are two other things Z did Saturday: he was the first Cav back to the locker room, and the first Cav out of the arena.
"It's a sensitive subject. I'm not one to raise havoc or raise fire into the locker room or our team. But, for me, I speak the truth. I stand behind Z and I feel like Z not playing wasn't the right thing. As a friend of his, I was very upset, and I know he was also."
Clearly, Brown made a huge mistake in snubbing Ilgauskas on Saturday. It could have been an honest mistake (though I'd doubt it, given the heft of importance LeBron placed on the record) or perhaps it really wasn't the right game for an Ilgauskas appearance. (Given that Ilgauskas might be the best big man on the roster, even at age 33, I'd doubt that too.) Brown has not yet addressed the matter, and the Cavaliers do have two more home games before the team's next road trip. But the damage is done, clearly, whatever the excuse and reparation.
As a frequent defender of Brown over his controversial tenure in Cleveland, bonehead mistakes like this only owe to his reputation as a bumbling dunderhead who can't stay out of his own way while managing a roster featuring the greatest player of this or maybe any generation. I don't think that reputation is fair in general, but it's certainly applicable in this situation.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mike Brown is a sub par coach, to say the least, and is forgetting the one thing that keeps him employed...KEEPING LBJ HAPPY! What the hell else has this guy done besides standing out of James's way? It's not like they have been running an offense. I can see him in the huddle..."What do you do when you get the ball? That's right, give it to Lebron!!! That's our game plan! Get your head out Z!" Props to Lebron for standing up for a teamate who was with him from the beginning (pro-level, that is).
This is a really funny/sad story. Since when does a coach not know what is going on with his team?
I agree with the naysayers that say that Brown is not the best coach out there. This bonehead move will prove to be the undoing of this fine francise
when LeBron decides to say bye-bye after this year.
MIKE BROWN HAS TO GO. If you people have not noticed HE is NOT the coach of the Cavs. Perhaps in title but the assistant coach is running this high powered offense and Brown is the cheerleader. For this team to win a championship Brown MUST go. I think he is a good man but certainly not a good coach. Ferry, it is YOUR job, pull the trigger NOW
to do this to Z proves what a knuckle head this guy must be. they should have given dumbo a test in "class" Obviously Brown is not in tune with this team. I'd love to see Gilbert coach!! I bet this team would love him
Honestly, that's extremely harsh of Brown. Z stayed with this team in the DARK TIMES (pre-LBJ) and worked hard to come back from what could've been a career ending series of foot injuries. Having to make way for an inefficient, lane-clogging Shaquille O'Neal is one thing. Not playing in what would've been a landmark game in front of your friends and family is nothing less than being deliberately, maliciously punked by your coach.
Z was getting paid FAT and Europeans don't care about winning that much....That's why Z was with the team through the "dark days".
Mike Brown sucks, true. This would be a complete non-story if LBJ wasn't running his mouth.
Besides, it's not like Z had some huge streak of consecutive games...he'll get the record in the next game, settle down everyone.
Especially LeBron. He needs to not create drama and focus on a championship.
You guys can like Z as a person all you want, but the fact of the matter is he's going downhill majorly (as evidenced by last year's postseason) and Shaq provides them the best chance of winning.
Cleveland was swept in the finals
agains the Spurs so I felt at that time
Brown should be given a second chance;
Last year Cleveland had the best record
in the NBA and in the playoffs they were
cruising along with ease , just fine
and Brown was smiling and then came
Orlando ??? abracadabra or magical powers ??
Brown naughty so much that Lebron , a mild
manner young man became , same ;
In fact, he didn't want to shake hands
at the end with nobody including Brown;
Now Cleveland saids to Lebron not to
worry we are going to get you this player
and that player but what about Brown ?
Go figure.
huh? Please send me a re-write, you're giving me a headache as I read your comment!
This is a lack of respect for one of most loyal player in the league, and show how "great" is Mike "the subjet" Brown. This guy won last year COY only for keep happy his King (the only thing he does, because tactically he only has to say "the ball to lebron")and now he isn´t capabable to keep doing it. The real Lebron´s way to the title should start firing Bronw and impossing him a basketball system, it could bown his martian stats, but could give him a title
it could bown his martian stats, WTF!! does that even mean?!?!
Forget Lebron...This is about Z! He has always been a truly class act. He deserves much better treatment from the Cavs organization! As a lifelong Cleveland fan let me apologize to Z for this boneheaded mistreatment. Coach Brown should be totally embarassed by not honoring Z in a manner consistent with his accomplishment!
I couldn't have said it better Mike. For those of you that missed Mike's comment, I've pasted it below. -
Forget Lebron...This is about Z! He has always been a truly class act. He deserves much better treatment from the Cavs organization! As a lifelong Cleveland fan let me apologize to Z for this boneheaded mistreatment. Coach Brown should be totally embarassed by not honoring Z in a manner consistent with his accomplishment!
the question is...did Danny Ferry, current holder of the title...order Brown to do it?
This seems to be the case. Coach Brown has been a coach that has been told what to do his whole coaching career. To keep his job, he was told by Danny Ferry, his boss, to bench him. This is clearly a travesty, as I was a fan of "Z" from just watching his career work, and I'm in New York. I believe there will be bad omen to the Cavs after this year, and they will return to mediocrity after this season. I am disgusted by Danny ferry for this action. Sometimes all the hard work can be ruined by one mistake, which, this was.
Bonehead, classless stunt by Mike Brown. No excuses for this one.
"Given that Ilgauskas might be the best big man on the roster, even at age 33, I'd doubt that too."
Are you dillusional, man???? At this point, he's the FORTH best big man. Obviously Shaq is better, as is Andy. JJ Hickson is coming up QUICK. Not to hate on Z, but don't be trying to create drama or fan the fire in Cleveland.
You are right Max.People should stop acting like Z is in a class with the 5 greatest centers of all time.He in my opinion was the cause of Orlandos victory over Cleveland in the playoffs.A 7 ft stiff who is only on the court because of his size and maybe can hit an occasional perimeter jump shot.Thats it.Z should go and find Tom Boerwinkle and maybe share a few beers.
Z is a class act and Brown's lack of forethought, respect and decency is a disgrace to the Cav's organization.
are you kidding me?!?! this is ridiculous. after everything zydrunas has given to the cavs organization, how can mike brown do that to him?!? it reminds me of when isiah thomas snubbed him in atlanta at the all-star game after giving him 90s or so of playing time... give me a break... as coach, mike brown is the one responsible for not making the call and should be ASHAMED of not playing him ~ he owes zydrunas an apology. zydrunas was there before him and will be there after him...
As great a talent as Lebron is he all alone will not win a championship.If you replace Mike Brown as coach and continue to give the ball to Lebron and get out of his way things in Cleveland will be the same.Maybe if Z would have demonstrated like his is now how upset he is by not breaking the all time Cavs games played record which by the way he'll get in his next game and would have shown a little more against Dwight Howard in the Orlando series maybe they could have beaten Orlando.Z was the cause of that series loss.Someone said Cleveland was a proud franchise.Cleveland is on the map only because of Lebron and once he leaves they go back to holding company with the Nets,Clippers etc...And those who bash Mike Brown saying the only reason he has a job is because of Lebron,that mentality is why Cleveland will be an also ran this year too.Remember the PLAYERS make the coach and the team not the PLAYER.