The Odd Couple: LeBron James and Geno Auriemma

Mike Brown won a lot of basketball games in five years coaching the Cleveland Cavaliers. But the Cavs, despite having the best regular-season record each of the past two years, fell short of winning  the NBA finals.  Names like Duke's Mike Krzyzewski and the Laker's Phil Jackson are being tossed around, but no one is talking about the possibility of the coach of the team the President Obama called "the best team in sports."  

Geno Auriemma's name is not even mentioned in the Cavs head coach search conversation. A coach with 735 wins, an .858 winning percentage, and a 7-time champion is not mentioned as a possibility.  A coach currently on a 70 consecutive win streak can't get an interview.  

It appears that what Mike Brown lacks are Geno's strengths.

Mike Brown criticisms are often for failure to make adjustments.  Last year, Orlando baffled the Cavs using a pick and roll attack orchestrated by Hedo Turkgolu. Brown never made necessary adjustments, using a 6'3" Delonte West on the 6'10' Hedo.   This year ESPN's Bill Simmons was repeatedly baffled that Mike Brown refused to use a small line-up against the Celtics as it was very effective.

Geno, however is revered for his in-game adjustments.  For example, after only scoring 12 points in the first half of this year's NCAA championship, Auriemma's Huskies came out and dominated the second half in route to their seventh championship.  

Mike Brown's offense has yet to change, and some may say it never existed.  Lebron  James has complained about the team's lack of offensive imagination and identity.  Brown was repeatedly reluctant run any offense late in games, dependent on running clear-outs for LBJ.   Brown's rotations were a mess in the Celtic series, leading to the team's inability to get into any type of offensive rhythm, and players didn't seem to have any sense of their roles. 

Auriemma's offense teaches the fundamentals of p assing, ball handling, shooting, transition, and a half-court offense.  All of the before mentioned seemed not to be a priority in Brown's philosophy.  Geno uses the High-Post and the famed "triangle offense" as the backbone for a high scoring offense.  Geno's Cavs would not be reliant on clear-outs and fastbreaks.   Furthermore, every player knows their role and is committed to winning.

An uncertain future with James, the league's two-time defending MVP, eligible for free agency and expected to make winning his number one goal.  Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert seems to be committed to winning, evidenced by the statement released by the team after the firing of Mike Brown: "The expectations of this organization are very high and, although change always carries an element of risk, there are times when that risk must be taken in an attempt to break through to new, higher levels of accomplishment. 

Geno  Auriemma is a risk because he has yet to coach men on a high level.   However, as the Cavs stand before their most important off-season in franchise history a bold calculated risk awaits them ... and Lebron James's awaits their next move.