Saturday Slam: The Cleveland Cavaliers are a mess after letting John Beilein go

(Credit: Tony Dejak/Associated Press) 

The big news story of the week in the NBA is the Cleveland Cavaliers parting ways with their head coach John Beilein, who didn't even get a chance to finish year one of his contract. The official report is that Beilein resigned and is being given a new role in the organization. J.B. Bickerstaff has been promoted from assistant coach to head coach. Just so we're clear on that. 

The Beilein era didn't go as the Cavaliers hoped. They went an abysmal 14-40 during his brief stint as head coach and all along the way there were reports of tension and frustration from both the players and Beilein. The nut of it is Beilein took an old-school college approach to the NBA and it backfired in his face. A lot of what players were complaining about is what you would expect a good basketball coach to do: Practice hard, watch a lot of film, etc. 

Unfortunately, that old-school approach works better in college where players aren't getting paid and are not yet in the NBA. Sadly, in the NBA you have a lot of players who act entitled and think they're better than they actually are. Charles Barkley sounded off on this below. 

Now don't get me wrong, NBA players are incredibly gifted athletes and basketball players. That's why they're there. However, that doesn't mean they don't still have to work hard and perfect their craft. It would be one thing if the Cavaliers had a bona fide superstar on their team. Someone who could mentor the younger players like Collin Sexton to make it clear that being in the NBA doesn't mean you stop watching film and practicing hard.

The players that have been complaining about Beilein (e.g. Andre Drummond who just got to Cleveland) haven't accomplished much in their careers in terms of team success. They're great individual talents, but they haven't figured out how to play as a team. That's where a good coach like Beilein is supposed to help.

Ultimately, what's happened in Cleveland rests on the shoulders of their front office. Namely general manager Koby Altman. You can't hire a coach and then not even have him complete his first year. That's embarrassing. You need to send a message to your players that they can't just blame their coach for all their problems. Their job is to play basketball and they need to treat it as such.

In the event that Beilein truly wasn't a good fit and not cut out for the NBA, that also is a bad look for management. If he was as much of a disaster as the players want us to think he was, then that means he was a bad hire and shouldn't have been offered a job in the first place. Given his track record at Michigan, I have a hard time believing he's as bad as they say he is. Even though the NBA game is different, it's still the same sport.

Going forward, the Cavaliers need to do some soul searching as an organization after the way this all went down. Their front office needs to seriously evaluate if they have the right players to right the ship and whether or not Bickerstaff is the man for the job. There are lots of questions that need to be asked by the Cavaliers and they're not easy questions to have to ask yourself. The Cavaliers are a mess right now and it's unclear how they'll get themselves out of it.

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Skyhook Sunday: Can anyone in the East stop the Cleveland Cavaliers?

The Cleveland Cavaliers made quick work of the Indiana Pacers, completing their four-game sweep on Sunday by a final score of 106-102. LeBron James had another fabulous game, finishing with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists while Kyrie Irving finished with 28 points. The Pacers gave the Cavaliers a good scare in Game 1, losing 109-108 after C.J. Miles missed what would have been the game-winning shot from the elbow. After that game, the Cavaliers took firm control of the series and never looked back.

Going into the playoffs, the one team who we all thought had a chance at dethroning the Cavaliers in the East was the Boston Celtics and after the way we've seen them struggle with the Chicago Bulls (2-2 series at the moment), it's hard to see them finding a way to take out the Cavaliers even with home court advantage.

Earlier in the week on TNT, Charles Barkley made a great point, stating that the Cavaliers don't respect anybody in the East. He's right. The Cavaliers' sole mission is to make sure they are healthy and in a good groove come the NBA Finals. They respect whoever the Western Conference produces as their champion, but there isn't one team in the Eastern Conference who they respect.

That isn't to say there aren't players in their conference who they respect. I'm sure LeBron James has a lot of respect for Paul George, Isaiah Thomas, DeMar DeRozan, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and others, but that's different than respecting the teams that they play on. The bottom line is that the Cavaliers more or less believe it is a foregone conclusion that they'll be playing in the NBA Finals and as such treat the rest of the Eastern Conference as a mere afterthought. The Eastern Conference playoffs are merely hoops to jump through en route to the NBA Finals.

While the Cavaliers believe that they are virtually invincible in the Eastern Conference, is that really the case? Is there any team that has the ability to upset them? As much as I want to say that there is, it's pretty tough to think of any team who has a real shot at doing so. The Celtics as I've already mentioned are struggling to get out of the first round, the Raptors are likewise having a difficult time with the Bucks, and the Wizards I don't quite feel are ready to advance to the NBA Finals, though they are certainly putting together a championship caliber team.

As of right now, there really doesn't appear to be a team in the Eastern Conference capable of knocking off the Cavaliers. That isn't to say there aren't other good teams worth watching. The Bucks are developing into a serious contender as are the Wizards and Celtics. It's just that none of those teams are there yet. Give them a couple more years and it very well might be a different story. But as of right now, expect it to be smooth sailing for the Cavaliers all the way until the NBA Finals.

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NBA Daily Dunks: 8/10-8/16/15

                                                  (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source) 
     
Here is my Daily Dunks page for Monday August 10, 2015 through Sunday August 16, 2015. Throughout the week this page will be updated with news from across the NBA until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Patty Mills is replacing Dante Exum on Australia's roster for the Oceania Championships (Click here for details).

#2. Nike won't match Adidas' offer to James Harden. Harden is joining Adidas (Click here for details).

#3. The Celtics officially waived guard Zoran Dragic (Click here for details).

#4. The Nets officially waived forward Earl Clark (Click here for details).

#5. The Nets signed point guard Donald Sloan (Click here for details).

#6. The NBA and Under Armour announced a partnership (Click here for details).

#7. 76ers center Joel Embiid is scheduled to undergo a foot operation in the near future (Click here for details).

#8. Tristan Thompson may not re-sign with the Cavaliers (Click here for details).

#9. The Lakers worked out Bobby Brown, Toure Murry, and other guys on Monday (Click here for details).

#10. Michael Jordan says he loves Kobe Bryant like a brother (Click here for details).

Tuesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Kevin Durant is being cautious as he recovers (Click here for details).

#2. Timberwolves president/head coach Flip Saunders has been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. It is "very treatable" and he plans to continue on with his regular duties (Click here for details).

#3. The Pacers officially signed guard Toney Douglas (Click here for details).

#4. Markieff Morris demands a trade from the Suns (Click here for details).

#5. Phil Jackson doesn't miss Andrea Bargnani (Click here for details).

#6. Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns believes they can make the playoffs (Click here for details).

#7. Joel Embiid has reached out to Kevin Durant about his impending foot surgery (Click here for details).

Tuesday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Liberty 84 Sky 63. Fever 73 Mystics 62. Lynx 83 Stars 76. Storm 85 Sparks 77.

Wednesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Hawks forward Mike Scott faces 25 years on drug charges (Click here for details).

#2. The 2015-16 NBA regular season schedule was released (Click here for details).

#3. Baron Davis is working out and preparing for an NBA comeback. He's serious. (Click here for details).

#4. LeBron James hasn't made a decision yet on the 2016 Olympic games (Click here for details).

#5. Wisconsin governor Scott Walker has signed the Bucks' arena deal (Click here for details).

#6. Derrick Rose won't compete for Team USA in the 2016 Olympic games (Click here for details).

#7. Paul George has been excused from Team USA minicamp (Click here for details).

#8. Malik Rose is joining the Hawks as their manager of basketball operations (Click here for details).

#9. Greg Oden signed in China with the Jiangsu Dragons (Click here for details).

#10. Here is a funny version of Space Jam 2.

Wednesday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Sun 80 Shock 74. Mercury 83 Storm 66.

Thursday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The NBA and officials officially agreed on a 7-year collective bargaining agreement that starts in the 2015-16 season (Click here for details).

#2. The Mavericks signed JaVale McGee (Click here for details).

#3. The Lakers signed forward Jonathan Holmes (Click here for details).

#4. James Harden has officially left Nike for Adidas (Click here for details).

#5. Kevin Durant says he's the best player in the world (Click here for details).

#6. The Kings signed undrafted UTEP forward Vince Hunter to a partially guaranteed deal (Click here for details).

#7. T.J. Zanin is leaving the Nets to be the head of college scouting for the Hornets (Click here for details).

#8. The Timberwolves have signed Tayshaun Prince to a one year, $1.4M deal for the veteran's minimum (Click here for details).

Friday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Former Nets point guard Tyshawn Taylor has been arrested for cashing a fake money order (Click here for details).

#2. Charles Barkley thinks the Knicks will make the playoffs next season (Click here for details).

#3. Kevin Durant reveals that there was a second break in his foot (Click here for details).

#4. Markieff Morris, who wants out of Phoenix, would prefer to go to the Raptors or Rockets (Click here for details).

#5. The Heat signed center Keith Benson for training camp (Click here for details).

#6. The Thunder signed undrafted free agent guard Dez Wells (Click here for details).

#7. Bryce Dejean-Jones signed a three-year, partially guaranteed deal with the Pelicans (Click here for details).

Friday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Liberty 90 Sun 78. Lynx 84 Dream 82. Sky 94 Storm 84.

Saturday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Hawks signed Jason Richardson to a non-guaranteed contract (Click here for details).

#2. The Pistons' arena is being renovated (Click here for details).

#3. Roland Beech is joining the Kings to run their analytics department (Click here for details).

#4. Benny the Bull wins mascot of the year honors (Click here for details).

#5. Caron Butler is planning to release an autobiography (Click here for details).

#6. Michael Jordan and Nike are planning an all-Jordan Brand store in Chicago (Click here for details).

#7. J.R. Smith proposed to his girlfriend (Click here for details).

#8. 76ers center Joel Embiid's foot surgery is scheduled for Tuesday (Click here for details).

Saturday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Shock 81 Liberty 76.

Sunday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Kobe Bryant wants to play for Team USA in the 2016 Olympic games in Rio (Click here for details).

#2. The Cavaliers signed shooting guard Jared Cunningham to a training camp deal (Click here for details).

#3. Former #5 overall pick Nikoloz Tskitishvili wants an NBA comeback (Click here for details).

#4. Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas tweaked his hip playing for Lithuania, but he says it is nothing serious (Click here for details).

#5. LeBron James has set up a college scholarship program for at-risk Akron youth (Click here for details).

#6. Joel Embiid's foot isn't insured by the 76ers (Click here for details).

#7. James Harden says Ty Lawson is "more focused than ever" after rehab (Click here for details).

#8. Charles Barkley hopes Kobe Bryant retires after the 2015-16 season (Click here for details).

#9. The Knicks are interested in Ricky Rubio (Click here for details).

#10. The Hornets signed Sam Thompson to a training camp deal (Click here for details).

Sunday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Dream 90 Sun 77. Mystics 77 Lynx 69. Sparks 76 Sky 64. Fever 75 Mercury 63.  Storm 72 Stars 63.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news and updates. Also, like my Facebook page NBA Lord Nation  and follow my Google Plus page NBA Lord to stay on top of the NBA. 

Daily Dunks: 7/13-7-19

                                                  (Credit Andy Melton: Click here for source)

This is my Daily Dunks page for July 13, 2015 through July 19, 2015. Throughout the week, this page will be updated with news from across the NBA until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Nick Calathes is leaving the Grizzlies and has signed with Panathinaikos B.C. (Click here for details).

#2. The Nets traded point guard Steve Blake to the Pistons for forward Quincy Miller (Click here for details).

#3. The Kings have officially signed Rajon Rondo, Marco Belinelli, and Kosta Koufos (Click here for details).

#4. Marc Gasol officially re-signed with the Grizzlies (Click here for details).

#5. The Nets waived forward Cory Jefferson (Click here for details).

#6. The Celtics and Nuggets discussed a trade centered around Danilo Gallinari (Click here for details).

#7. Luigi Datome is leaving the Celtics to sign with Fenerbahce Ulker (Click here for details).

#8. George Karl is optimistic he and DeMarcus Cousins can work things out (Click here for details).

#9. Jameer Nelson re-signed with the Nuggets and Nikola Jokic signed with the Nuggets (Click here for details).
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#10. The Pacers signed point guard Joseph Young to a two-year, $4M rookie deal (Click here for details).

Monday's NBA Summer League scores: 

Cavaliers 94 Bucks 87 (OT). Pelicans 89 Nets 83. D-League Select 84 Hawks 74. Kings 90 Warriors 71. Nuggets 86 Heat 83. Knicks 76 Lakers 66. Raptors 95 Rockets 87. Jazz 91 Timberwolves 82.

Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Former Stanford guard Chasson Randle had 10 points for the Warriors. Former Stanford forward Stefan Nastic had 14 points and 4 rebounds for the Warriors.

Tuesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Bulls signed both Mike Dunleavy and Aaron Brooks (Click here for details).

#2. The Magic re-signed Tobias Harris (Click here for details).

#3. The Thunder traded power forward Perry Jones III  to the Celtics (Click here for details).

#4. With Perry Jones III gone, the Thunder are expected to sign Josh Huestis to their roster (Click here for details).

#5. Nets power forward Thomas Robinson will undergo surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his knee. He is out indefinitely (Click here for details).

#6. The Timberwolves have officially signed Nemanja Bjelica (Click here for details).

#7. The Magic have officially signed center Jason Smith (Click here for details).

#8. The 76ers signed guard Pierre Jackson to a four-year, partially guaranteed deal (Click here for details).

#9. Ty Lawson has been arrested for a DUI. The Nuggets are thinking about waiving him (Click here for details).

#10. The Clippers waived guard Lester Hudson (Click here for details).

Tuesday's NBA Summer League scores: 

Spurs 79 Trail Blazers 75. Wizards 85 Mavericks 79. Nets 87 Bulls 86. Knicks 84 76ers 81 (OT). Celtics 101 Heat 69. Suns 91 Jazz 82.

Former Florida guard Scottie Wilbekin exploded for 26 points for the 76ers. Former UConn point guard Ryan Boatright had 21 points for the Nets. Suns shooting guard Devin Booker had 18 points.

Tuesday's WNBA Final scores: 

Lynx 85 Sun 79. Mercury 80 Dream 71. Lynx forward Maya Moore had 26 points.

Wednesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. After undergoing surgery, Nets power forward Thomas Robinson is expected to be ready for training camp (Click here for details).

#2. The Raptors officially signed Luis Scola and second round pick Norman Powell. They also signed guard Axel Toupane to a partially guaranteed deal (Click here for details on Powell. Click here for details on Scola. Click here for details on Toupane).

#3. The Clippers signed second round pick Branden Dawson (Click here for details).

#4. The Celtics waived guard Phil Pressey (Click here for details).

#5. George Karl wants his son Coby Karl to join his staff in Sacramento. Vlade Divac won't allow it (Click here for details).

#6. Mikhail Prokhorov may buy 100% of the Nets (Click here for details).

#7. Matthew Dellavedova and the Cavaliers are reportedly far apart from a deal (Click here for details).

#8. The Wisconsin senate approved the Bucks' financial plan for their new arena (Click here for details).

#9. Vlade Divac feels as though Rajon Rondo was a "steal" in free agency (Click here for details).

#10. Alexey Shved is leaving the Knicks. He signed a three-year deal with Khimki Moscow (Click here for details).

Wednesday's NBA Summer League scores: 

Bucks 97 Rockets 93. Nets 75 76ers 68. Hawks 75 Heat 64. Warriors 83 Kings 67. Wizards 86 Jazz 78. Mavericks 88 Lakers 86. Bulls 91 Cavaliers 73. Trail Blazers 82 Timberwolves 77.

Wednesday's WNBA Final scores: 

Liberty 84 Stars 68. Sky 85 Mystics 57. Storm 68 Sparks 61. Fever 83 Shock 80.

Thursday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Spurs re-signed Matt Bonner (Click here for details).

#2. Joe Johnson may come off the bench for the Nets next season (Click here for details).

#3. The Nuggets are interested in signing Danilo Gallinari to an extension (Click here for details).

#4. The Clippers signed Josh Smith (Click here for details).

#5. The Kings signed guard James Anderson after Luc Richard Mbah a Moute failed his physical and was unable to sign with the team (Click here for details on Anderson and here for details on Mbah a Moute).

#6. Mavericks president and CEO Terdema Ussery is stepping down in August to take a job with Under Armour (Click here for details).

#7. Due to DeAndre Jordan staying with the Clippers, J.J. Barea is getting more money from the Mavericks (Click here for details).

#8. The Pistons signed second round pick Darrun Hillard to a three-year contract (Click here for details).

#9. The Nuggets have interest in re-signing Darrell Arthur (Click here for details).

#10. The Kings have signed Willie Cauley-Stein (Click here for details).

Thursday's NBA Summer League results: 

Suns 106 Bucks 90. Warriors 76 Knicks 54. Mavericks 104 D-League Select 88. Spurs 74 Nets 71. Pelicans 97 Wizards 81. Hawks 82 Nuggets 73. Bulls 84 Raptors 80. Celtics 91 Trail Blazers 85.

Hawks power forward Brandon Ashley had 18 points and 8 rebounds.

Thursday's WNBA final scores: 

Dream 76 Sparks 72. Liberty 64 Sun 57.

Friday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Trail Blazers shooting guard Allen Crabbe is out 4-6 weeks with a left ankle sprain (Click here for details).

#2. After officially signing Mirza Teletovic, Sonny Weems, and Ronny Price, the Suns waived guard Jerel McNeal (Click here for details).

#3. The Suns officially re-signed Brandon Knight (Click here for details).

#4. The Spurs officially signed Boban Marjanovic (Click here for details).

#5. Seth Curry may be nearing a training camp deal with the Pelicans (Click here for details).

#6. The Bucks have signed Rashad Vaughn to his rookie contract (Click here for details).

#7.The Nets officially signed Andrea Bargnani (Click here for details).

#8. The Pelicans officially signed Alonzo Gee (Click here for details).

#9.Gianni Antetokounmpo says he wants to stay with the Bucks forever (Click here for details).

#10. Magic forward Aaron Gordon underwent surgery for a fractured jaw (Click here for details and also click here  for commentary from Magic assistant coach Mario Elie about Gordon's development).

#11. Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson has entered an alcohol rehab facility (Click here for details).

#12. Michael Jordan will be inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame (Click here for details).

#13. Forward Adonis Thomas has signed a non-guarnteed deal with the Pistons (Click here for details).

#14. LeBron James hit a cool shot from his seat at Summer League (Click here to watch).

#15. Celtics point guard Marcus Smart jammed his fingers good, but he's likely ok (Click here for details).

Friday's NBA Summer League scores: 

76ers 100 Rockets 96. Kings 73 Heat 68 (OT). Cavaliers 78 Timberwolves 73. Jazz 84 Lakers 78. D-League Select 85 Nets 64. Knicks 83 Bucks 76. Wizards 97 Nuggets 89. Trail Blazers 72 Raptors 64.

Friday's WNBA final scores: 

Mystics 68 Fever 50. Lynx 84 Sky 66. Stars 65 Shock 58.

Saturday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Lakers, Rockets, and Pistons reportedly have interest in trading for Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson (Click here for details).

#2. Jason Collins says he is trying to help a former male tennis player come out of the closet (Click here for details).

#3. The Raptors officially signed Bismack Biyombo (Click here for details).

#4. Pacers small forward Paul George hopes to win MVP in the 2015-16 season (Click here for details).

#5. Jerry West told KNBR that the Warriors front office is "The most healthy environment I've been involved with since I've been in the NBA" (Click here for details).

#6. Sasha Kaun, currently a center for CSKA Moscow, may or may not come over to play for the Cavaliers. The Cavaliers are undecided about whether or not to give him a roster spot (Click here for details).

#7. The Pacers hit a snag in regards to signing Monta Ellis, but they still will sign him anyways (Click here for details).

#8. The Celtics have also hit a snag with signing a player of their own: Second-round pick Jordan Mickey (Click here for details).

#9. David West's contract with the Spurs includes a player option for the following season (Click here for details).

#10. The 76ers signed guard Scottie Wilbekin to a four-year deal (Click here for details).

Saturday's NBA Summer League scores: 

Spurs 96 Celtics 93. Hawks 91 Mavericks 83. Suns 91 Bulls 84. Pelicans 100 Warriors 91. Pelicans shooting guard Seth Curry had 24 points.

Saturday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Storm 86 Dream 73. Liberty 75 Mercury 73. Liberty guard Brittany Boyd had 13 points off the bench.

Note: The Fever-Sun game was canceled and has been rescheduled to be played on July 28 (Click here for details).

Sunday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Kyle Anderson of the Spurs has been named the MVP of the Las Vegas NBA Summer League (Click here for details).

#2. Nuggets point guard Emmanuel Mudiay is reportedly happy he didn't go to the Knicks to play in their triangle system (Click here for details).

#3. The Nuggets traded Ty Lawson to the Rockets (Click here for full details of the trade as well as my own analysis).

#4. The Nuggets will reportedly waive or trade Pablo Prigioni, whom they acquired in the Ty Lawson deal (Click here for details).

#5. Charles Barkley is getting tired of Warriors fans (Click here for details).

#6. J.R. Smith is probably going to regret opting out of his contract with the Cavaliers (Click here for details).

#7. K.J. McDaniels re-signed with the Rockets for 3 years, $10M (Click here for details).

#8. Tony Allen wants to play five more years and he wants all five of those years to be with the Grizzlies (Click here for details).

#9. Danny Granger may stay with the Pistons (Click here for details).

#10. The Spurs and Suns will face off in the Las Vegas NBA Summer League championship on Monday at 9:00 PM EST on NBATV.

Sunday's NBA Summer League scores: 

Spurs 75 Hawks 68. Suns 93 Pelicans 87.

Sunday's WNBA final scores: 

Lynx 79 Shock 72. Dream 93 Stars 82. Mystics 89 Sun 82. Lynx forward Maya Moore had 32 points.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord and like my Facebook page NBA Lord Nation for NBA news