Laura Hughes

[GreatGoo]

I'm sick for making excuses for Laura Hughes. Family troubles, injuries, getting back into the flow, etc.

He needs to step it up. I thought he was a slasher? All i see from him now is lazy mid range jumpers. And don't give me that crap about how he is more valuable to the team than stats show. His defense isn't that special and he doesn't create many plays for his teammates.

I know he had a good game against Philly but i think he needs to go. We are paying him a hefty amount to be Lebron's wing man and he hasn't done anything. And i don't even consider him the 2nd best player on the team.

[Guest]

I am a HUGE Hughes fan and he needs to start playing
He looks like shit.
His jumper is garbage and he isn't playing his game.
As far as getting rid of him, who would take him right now? Nobody.
Hopefully we'll see the slasher soon or this team is going nowhere.

[furls]

he gets a "check minus" from me. He has a huge contract and he is currently fluctuating between being the 4th and 5th most important player on this team. No one in their right mind would take his contract right now.

[sandlot33]

lets cut him and take the hit...he's garbage

[Guest]

Yeah, let's cut him, that's what we need. More minutes for David Wesley.
Give me a break

[swerb]

Hughes is a mess right now, and is a mere shell of the player he was his final season in Washington. Look at the numbers, it's amazing.

'04-'05 Washington - 22.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.7 apg, 2.9 spg, 43% FG, 78% FT

'06-'07 Cleveland - 15.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.3 spg, 41% FG, 66% FT

Hughes has never been a good shooter. This was masked in Washington with a team that played up and down, got out in transition, and had a very good point guard in Arenas, back when Arenas was still really a PG. I remember seeing a stat when the Cavs signed Hughes. In '04-'05, no player attempted more shots from the paint.

It's several things with Larry, who could still be a very good, tier below All-Star player in the right setting. But Im afraid it will never happen here.

One, he can't stay healthy.

Two, this offensive system is no good for him. The Cavs play conservative on D, which leads to less transition opportunities. Mike Brown knows nothing about offense and has an inexperienced coaching staff. They are using Larry wrong. Hughes needs to ideally play with a PG that can dribble penetrate and run, and put him in positions to score inside 16 feet.

Larry's getting frustrated, and settling for jumpers, which renders him useless, and incenses the fans.

Hughes is still the teams best perimete defender, and theres clearly still a role for him on this team, especially come playoff time. But I put his offensive ineffectiveness more on Roker and this coaching staff than Hughes himself.

[pup]

Slight threadjack here, sorry!

Heard some of Roker's post game today. Wow. Makes RAC seem in control. Makes Wedge sound like a quote machine. The most disturbing part had to be his explanation of why Sasha got zero minutes. It sounded a lot like Romeo talking about why JJ didn't catch many passes. He explains there just is not enough minutes for Sasha, Gibson, Snow, Hughes and Wesley.

So we have the Browns, one of the least talented teams in the NFL, and the Cavs who play like one of the least talented teams in the NBA, and we can't figure out how to use the talent we do have? Well, how about we stop giving minutes to Wesley and Snow. OK Snow can get 12 a night, but why is Wesley ever on the floor?

I don't care how good of a defensive team you think you have, your only chance to beat the Suns is to play enough d to slow them down and then outscore them. So, in need of offense we play our two worst offensive players while our guy that has on skill and it is to score gets zero minutes? Why> Because Wesley played some decent minutes Friday? Wasn't Sasha in for a lot of that run as well.

As much as I have backed RAC lately, it is quite obvious that the city of Cleveland is being destroyed by three of the worst head caches in their respective leagues.

[Dozen]

As much as I have backed RAC lately, it is quite obvious that the city of Cleveland is being destroyed by three of the worst head caches in their respective leagues

I agree, sounds like grounds for an article Pup

[pup]

agree, sounds like grounds for an article Pup

Or I could just kick myself in the balls for a couple of days! That would probably be funner

[mswerb]

Kicking yourself in the balls should NOT be fun.

[pup]

Kicking yourself in the balls should NOT be fun

I did not say it would be fun, just funner than rehashing the Wedge, Brown, Crennel years.

[Dozen]

I'm with ya, its more painful than ever right now. Then OSU gets swept up and were really reeling.

[leadpipe]

Slight threadjack here, sorry!

Heard some of Roker's post game today. Wow. Makes RAC seem in control. Makes Wedge sound like a quote machine. The most disturbing part had to be his explanation of why Sasha got zero minutes. It sounded a lot like Romeo talking about why JJ didn't catch many passes. He explains there just is not enough minutes for Sasha, Gibson, Snow, Hughes and Wesley.

So we have the Browns, one of the least talented teams in the NFL, and the Cavs who play like one of the least talented teams in the NBA, and we can't figure out how to use the talent we do have? Well, how about we stop giving minutes to Wesley and Snow. OK Snow can get 12 a night, but why is Wesley ever on the floor?

I don't care how good of a defensive team you think you have, your only chance to beat the Suns is to play enough d to slow them down and then outscore them. So, in need of offense we play our two worst offensive players while our guy that has on skill and it is to score gets zero minutes? Why> Because Wesley played some decent minutes Friday? Wasn't Sasha in for a lot of that run as well.

As much as I have backed RAC lately, it is quite obvious that the city of Cleveland is being destroyed by three of the worst head caches in their respective leagues.

Snow can't get 12 a week.

[Mr. MacPhisto]

he gets a "check minus" from me. He has a huge contract and he is currently fluctuating between being the 4th and 5th most important player on this team. No one in their right mind would take his contract right now.

You'd be surprised. The contract is pricey so we'd have to take some junk in return, but Hughes is still a very good defender and his offensive game would improve in a system that better fits his skills. A team that runs more could be very happy with Hughes. I could truly see Seattle taking an interest though the 3PT shooting hurt him in that situation.

He does still have value and there are tons of overpaid players in the NBA. We could get a deal; it's a question of if it will really help our team.

[leadpipe]

This is all true when he PLAYS. Most NBA teams not named Cavaliers understand that if you're hurt 3 of 4 years you're probably going to be hurt in the near future. This is a common theme when talking Cavalier trade, that is, not only do you need to deal the player, but also his contract. If every single player on the team wasn't signed to a ridiculous contract this would be less of an issue.

[pup]

Snow can't get 12 a week

Minutes, not points.

[consigliere]

Hughes is a mess right now, and is a mere shell of the player he was his final season in Washington. Look at the numbers, it's amazing.

'04-'05 Washington - 22.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.7 apg, 2.9 spg, 43% FG, 78% FT.

Man, talk about buyer beware. How many times do players put up career numbers in a contract year.....then seem to just settle once they get that new mega-deal? Amazing.

I've never been a big Hughes fan....although at the time he was the BPA to sign after Redd and Allen re-signed with their teams. Unfortunately, once again, it appears we missed on yet another FA in this town like the Browns and Indians do often.

(P.S. I hate Larry Hughes. I wouldn't shed a tear if he were traded.)

[GreatGoo]

I just want everyone to know that i still hate Laura Hughes with a passion.

Thanks for your time!

[Birdman]

Everyone time he touches the ball I feel the need to shout out "Hughes Blows" or something similar. I am surprised when he makes a shot, even a FT.

[swerb]

He just won't stop taking jumpers.

It's only a matter of time before some disgruntled season ticket holder in the first two rows charges the court and tackles him after one of those pull up, off balance, flat line drive 19 footers.

[Guest]

At least my prediction of him playing 70 games might happen.

[leadpipe]

He had one good year in his career. This looks to be only his second healthy one. You don't improve your jumper at his age. The Cavs signed him to a ridiculous contract. He is untradeable because of this. When he's making 14 million in 2010 we'll really be pissed.

That is all.

The Cavs.

[consigliere]

At least my prediction of him playing 70 games might happen.

I had to chuckle when I heard the pre-game and Hughes was scratched....I thought back to this post today. The timing was unreal....

Just when you think you are out.....Hughes pulls you back in.

[Guest]

I wanted to jinx him and it looked like it worked
Unreal

[leadpipe]

Our over/under at work for the amount of times Hughes goes in and out of the line-up with injury is 4. Looking like a pretty solid line right now. I still think a pinkie or little toe injury will sideline him sometime yet this month.

[Dozen]

At least my prediction of him playing 70 games might happen.

I had to chuckle when I heard the pre-game and Hughes was scratched....I thought back to this post today. The timing was unreal....

Just when you think you are out.....Hughes pulls you back in.

lol ME TOO

[jdrake10]

Greatgoo,

Good topic.

You are dead on about Hughes offensively. I don't know why he is not slashing more? He doesn't seem injured any longer; marital problems are the norm in life so that is no excuse for a professional. Plus he is getting his touches and choosing the jump shot so the flow thing is no excuse either.

Defensively, I feel he is as good at anyone in the league at jumping the passing lanes and at tipping entry passes. Basically he likes to steal the ball and that is where he puts his defensive energy. But his position defense is poor so he is hardly a lock down defender. He has shown he cannot slow down a good scorer.

[Guest]

How'd he do last night?

[swerb]

Good. Real good from what I read this morning.

He was due for a good game after about nine bad ones in a row.

[Guest]

They just have to put him in the right situation.
We all know he isn't a jumpshooter.
Let him run the point, Gibson play the 2

[Dozen]

He's prolly gonna get some time there since Gibsons out 2 weeks.

[swerb]

He played the 1 in Golden State and failed miserably. A little bit in DC too at the beginning. Hes not a guy that can play 30 minutes a night at the point game in and game out. He doesn't have the skill set to do so.

But if it means less jumpers, Im all for it in spots, especially with Boobie out.

[consigliere]

Let's be real here. Hughes at the 1 from time to time is nice. But on a regular basis, he will eventually be exposed. No thanks.

We need a LEGIT PG.

[Dozen]

Yeah, but I want to see how this plays out. They arent gonna get one this year so maybe this could be the best option for now.

[Guest]

I agree Dozen
As long as I don't see too much Snow and zero Wesley

[Dozen]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvOm7dPS0Uw

[furls]

Every time I see that it brings a smile to my face.

[leadpipe]

Let's be real here. Hughes at the 1 from time to time is nice. But on a regular basis, he will eventually be exposed. No thanks.

We need a LEGIT PG.

This is true.

He is what he is. The best we can hope for is that come playoff time he's relatively hot from the field and healthy. To assume he's going to be much different with a position change is a reach. A true point guard would really, really help. Incidentally Hughes is one of the players a true point would help.

[Guest]

Another good game versus a solid team.
Keep Laura at point

[Dozen]

agree

[Guest]

Maybe this dude isn't so bad after all.

[Dozen]

Maybe this dude isn't so bad after all.

They are playing alot better with Hughes at the point .no doubt. Z has been showing up as well. Shannon Brown can flat out play in this league. They just need to remain consistant and healthy. If they do that they sure as hell could contend for the East.

[Birdman]

He's still shitty.

[Guest]

He's still shitty and the Cavs have zero talent except for Lebron.

[Birdman]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/gamelog?statsId=3251

Check out Larry's numbers and let me know how you think this guy is any good. I will give you that he has had a more positive effect on games since moving to the point but his numbers are still pathetic. I would argue that he plays to his expectations about 2-3 times per month.

He does manage to score at times but unfortunately needs about 15 shots a game to average 15 pts. The most pathetic number to me is that this guy is shooting 66% from the line.

Numbers aren't everything but it's hard to argue against statistics this bad.

[leadpipe]

I think what has helped Hughes the most is taking Snow's job. Christ, it opens up the lane for he and the rest of the team. That being said, he is who he is. A position change isn't going to make him much better or much worse. Hughes at the point instead of Snow, and Sasha getting increased minutes at the expense of a hump like Damon Jones, these things have made the Cavs better.

[consigliere]

Anyone care to explain why Laura was out for the last quarter and a half tonight? I don't believe he is hurt...but curious why Brown went with Snow down the stretch. Man is Hughes inconsistent.

[Dozen]

Next to Drew Gooden.

[leadpipe]

Anyone care to explain why Laura was out for the last quarter and a half tonight? I don't believe he is hurt...but curious why Brown went with Snow down the stretch. Man is Hughes inconsistent.

You are asking for an explanation to a question you already know the answer to. The guy shot about 25% with zero assists from the point guard position.

So many things go on during these Cavs games I have no explanation for. When Z's night isn't coming easy like tonight he gets 16 shots, other nights he looks good early and you don't even know he's on the roster in the 2nd half. Pavlovic takes one shot inside the arc. Donyell Marshall skipping his thirties and going directly to his sixties.

[Guest]

Best player on the court today