LeBron And Cavs Have Right Coach In Mike Brown

All the pieces aren't in place, but it doesn't look as if that matters to coach Mike Brown. His Cavaliers are playing about as well as any team without a legitimate NBA center can play these days, and for God's sake, what might Brown's team play like once a real center does show up?

That's a question that only the postseason might be able to answer. In a lot of ways, his Cavaliers are a different team altogether than the one Brown led into the NBA Eastern Finals last season against the Orlando Magic.

For one thing, these Cavs are deeper. Brown can dip into his bench and find a useful piece from one to 12. In Antawn Jamison, Brown has found a premium power forward. Complementary players in Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker were not there for Brown a season ago either.

He also has a more seasoned J.J. Hickson, and Jawad Williams has been more than stagehands for Brown.

"We stress playing the right way," he says.

Pay no attention to the fact that Brown hasn't had the Delonte West of a year ago or that the flashy Daniel Gibson has been pushed to the end of coach's rotation. The team hasn't missed them.  

Ask Brown about this team, and he almost ignores the fact that center Shaquille O'Neal, a summer acquisition, is injured and sidelined until the playoffs or that Zydrunas Ilgauskas, a key part of the Jamison trade, is sitting and awaiting the official go-ahead to re-sign.

But even when Z returns, will Brown need him?

Maybe not these fine-tuned Cavs.

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