The Celtics are dominating the Orlando Magic even more completely than they dominated the Cavaliers. Bud Shaw says that's still not likely to be enough to help Mike Brown keep his job.
In the playoff finale of Game 6 against Boston, Mike Brown (flanked by Michael Malone, left, and Melvin Hunt) looked like a head coach who had lost the ear of his team, says Bud Shaw. That development, as much as the series defeat, works against any possibility of his staying with the Cavaliers.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Celtics are dominating the Orlando Magic more completely than they owned the Cavaliers.
Unfortunately, the time for that to qualify as consolation around here has come and gone. It's not likely to work in Mike Brown's favor, for one. Maybe in his next job, but not here.
Ten days worth of perspective probably won't save Brown's job. If watching the Celtics-Magic suggests the Cavs weren't as awful as they seemed -- that Boston might've actually had something to do with how bad they looked -- then the conference finals also provides perspective concerning the Cavaliers' team dynamics at the end.
Nobody came to Brown's defense after the meltdown against Boston the way Orlando's Dwight Howard spoke up for head coach Stan Van Gundy after Saturday night's travesty left the Magic beaten down and trailing, 3-0, in the series.
"They outplayed us, outhustled us and worked harder than us," Howard told reporters. "Coach has done everything he could. This is not on the coach. This is on the players. There is no strategy for effort."
The Cavs were beaten to the same loose balls as the Magic were. They stood just as flat-footed. They looked -- as Howard also said of the Magic -- like their "hearts weren't in it."
Always a coach who focused on defensive excellence, Mike Brown's long-term security with the team may have been undermined by the acquisition of offensive talents such as Shaquille O'Neal and Antawn Jamison during the 2009-10 season.Instead of leading the charge in support of his coach, LeBron James let it be known he didn't agree with some of Brown's in-game decisions. As if better choices would've given Mo Williams a playoff swagger. Or cleared Delonte West's head. Or made Kevin Garnett any easier for Antawn Jamison to handle.
Sorry, you don't beat the Celtics the way they're carving up teams in the postseason by giving J.J. Hickson and Boobie Gibson more playing time. It wasn't going to happen, not without everybody following James' MVP lead, maybe not without somebody in wine and gold striking a deal with the devil.
Brown never wowed anybody with his acumen on offense. Then again, his superstar often worked best without a blueprint. But his defensive tenets were the foundation of an under-talented team making it to the NBA Finals against San Antonio and, a year ago, winning 66 games.
Once Shaquille O'Neal and Jamison came aboard, joining Williams in the lineup, defense was greatly compromised. Brown might as well have been conducting his skull sessions in Mandarin.
With the Cavs getting outplayed and outcoached in consecutive postseasons, nobody will be surprised if owner Dan Gilbert changes head coaches this week. But blaming Brown is way too easy.
Take a hard look at the Magic. Van Gundy's team took a 14-game winning streak into the Celtics series. He didn't go Mensa to moron overnight.
Will seeing the Magic get embarrassed by Boston (and very possibly swept) help Brown with Gilbert? Who knows. But it seems a pretty big longshot.
Head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers is a poker chip to be played in the bidding for James' services now. Maverick Carter, one of James' buddies, says James isn't looking to pick his next coach. But James sure didn't rush into the corner of the one who helped turn him into a first-team all NBA defender.
During the Boston series, Brown tried to arouse his players by challenging them in the media. James all but yawned. Brown took the cue and backed off the next day.
His departure is probably inevitable. If he leaves shouldering the blame, it's also a shame.