Cavs: Mike Brown's Job Safe

[Thunder Dan]

Don't believe the NY tabloids.

CLEVELAND -- Two Internet reports surfaced late Wednesday that suggested Cavaliers coach Mike Brown's job is in danger after the Cavs' loss to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals. According to multiple team sources, those reports are false.

The current NBA Coach of the Year of course will return for his fifth season with the team. Brown, who has a career record of 211-117 in the regular season and has won seven of 11 playoff series, has been the most successful coach in team history.

Both the New York Daily News and the Pro Basketball News, an Ohio-based website, reported there was " infighting" and "disarray" within the Cavs' front office over Brown's future. The Cavs are indeed in a period of evaluation right now and are conducting meetings in which there is sometimes intense discussions. But Brown continues to have the backing of the organization's leaders and decision makers.

There was some frustration with Brown during the series loss to the Magic because of some of his defensive strategy decisions and adjustments. Some of the tactics he used to build a 66-16 regular-season record and a career playoff record of 34-20 before the Orlando series were not as effective.

This brought out plenty of critics both out front of and behind the scenes and will lead to plenty of evaluation by the front office and certainly Brown himself, who spends a large amount of time after each season grading his own performance. But on balance, Brown has proven to be one of the best coaches in the NBA over the last four years, especially at the defensive end and most especially in the playoffs.

Is Brown going to be under pressure to take the Cavs to the next level in the playoff next season? Of course. Everyone on the team will be under such scrutiny with LeBron James entering the final year of his contract. James himself will be under pressure to perform as well.

Yet such logic was not followed in the reports surrounding Brown yesterday.

The Daily News suggested not only that Brown's departure would be bad for Knicks fans because it would contribute to James' decision to stay with the Cavs, but also that the Cavs would look to Pat Riley of the Miami Heat to replace Brown.

It flies in the face of common sense that removing the most successful coach in team history - whom James has credited with improving his defense and helping him mature into a leader - and tossing a stable team into chaos would help James' re-sign with the Cavs. James has supported Brown firmly, especially over the last two seasons.

Second, Riley has said he's retired from coaching and he's the president, top basketball decision maker and part owner of the Miami Heat. Later this summer, he's going to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the Heat. Riley is going nowhere.

Neither is Brown.

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index....nd_cavs_h.html

[ginobili's bald spot]

And you are happy about this?

[Thunder Dan]

And you are happy about this?

I don't have a problem with Brown. He has a solid record, and has been good in the playoffs. The Cavs just ran into a team they didn't have the manpower to beat. I don't think there is a coach in the league that could have beaten the Magic with the Cavs players. The Cavs don't have the length to beat the Magic. It had nothing to do with coaching

[xtremesteven33]

If the Cavs can fill that 2 spot with a bigger athletic player and replace Big Z with a more athletic player they will be the best team in the NBA.

[KSeal]

This sucks for the Cavs, Mike Brown is horrible coach and that was so clear in the Orlando series. I could win 66 games and COY if you hand me LBJ in the east.

[layupdrill]

Brown isnt the problem.