Halifax @ LFS, April 18

[CHris902]

135 - 104 for LFS.

Anyone watch the game want to give some ideas of how it went? Looks like Crookshank laid an egg and Les Berry went small a lot with the four bigs getting way less than a combined 96 minutes.

Congrats to the Cavs. Should be a fantastic series.

[bafloyd]

135 - 104 for LFS.

Anyone watch the game want to give some ideas of how it went? Looks like Crookshank laid an egg and Les Berry went small a lot with the four bigs getting way less than a combined 96 minutes.

Congrats to the Cavs. Should be a fantastic series.

I was at the game and more or less the Cavs played stifling defense and made virtually every basket tough for the first three quarters. The Cavs had several guys making plays and scoring, as seen on the statsheet by the spread in numbers.

I was surprised that Crookshank wasn't on the court more, and looked over at the bench a few times to see if he was hurt, but he looked fine. Strickland played a lot more than he should have, I honestly don't know how that guy makes rosters even in minor league ball.

Trying not to sound biased, but the Cavs looked like the more focused team and played with more intensity than I've seen in a while. If they can knock off Rochester at their place then the series should be done after two games.

[OKCAVS67]

Was at the game also. GPC was about 1/2 full. Not a bad crowd.

Cavs just seemed focus on winning this game. 14-1 before you knew it and they never looked back from there. Ref's didn't seem to be calling the ticky tacky fouls, let them play ball.

All in all, it was a good game. Halifax did try to make a game of it, but the Cavs just seem to be everywhere on Defense.

[CAVSFAN]

I was at the game in my usual baseline, front row seat. I thought it was a decent crowd, hoping for much more for the championship series. CAVS started out hot and really never looked back. When Halifax did make a couple runs it seemed to quickly shut down.

Looking forward to Roc coming to GPC. It should be a good series.

[not so fast]

I tried to tell you people in Halifax. you cannot win a championship with bennett. I know some think this is personal, but it is not.

He is a selfish kid, he is not a leader. his three point shooting in the last 10 games has been hovering around 13 percent, but yet he continues to jack up 3's.

If your point guard, on any team, is more concerned about his own personal numbers than the team winning, then you you will lose, certainly games against good teams.

That is why rashi johnson was the best guard in the pbl last year. He made his teammates better!

[misenern]

I tried to tell you people in Halifax. you cannot win a championship with bennett. I know some think this is personal, but it is not.

He is a selfish kid, he is not a leader. his three point shooting in the last 10 games has been hovering around 13 percent, but yet he continues to jack up 3's.

If your point guard, on any team, is more concerned about his own personal numbers than the team winning, then you you will lose, certainly games against good teams.

That is why rashi johnson was the best guard in the pbl last year. He made his teammates better!

Not really disputing much of what you said, but Bennett doesn't play the point on this team. So he doesn't dominate the ball as much as you'd think. But yeah, I think he is a great minor league player but he can't be the star on a championship team. It just won't happen in my opinion.

[not so fast]

Well if he is not a point guard in Halifax, then what is he? a two guard shooting 13 porcent behind the arc in the his last 10 games?

There are a lot of players that can play the two and surely do better than that.

I think your GM and coach fell in love with this kid for some reason, and he has been a problem anywhere else he has went. Thats his history.

If halifax had made two roster changes during midseason, they would have won the championship. There were plenty of players out there.

You need a better player personnel director in Halifax If you are going to win this thing next year!

[misenern]

Well if he is not a point guard in Halifax, then what is he? a two guard shooting 13 porcent behind the arc in the his last 10 games?

You got it man.

I'm not really arguing with you anyway, except for the fact that it seems like you think he has been a complete bust (correct me if I am wrong). After watching him for two years that's just not true.

But to your main points, I agree. He will be a good two guard on a middle-of-the-pack team. I don't think Halifax will be able to win if he is going to be a main piece on the team - I am with you. He IS a good PBL player, but you are right, there are better players out there.

And if the Rainmen want to win this next year, I think they should take a good look at the options out there.

[CHris902]

I won't dispute that Bennett is a problem (I've said it a lot over the last season and a half). He has a ton of raw talent and this year he said all the right things but when it comes down to it he's just a poor decision maker.

He plays two guard for Halifax. I think his constant three point shooting was in part a result of his getting super excited any time he touched the ball and jacking it up since this year there were lots of other guys who got more touches than him.

As for the personnel situation I think the organization needs to clarify who makes what decisions. My understanding was that Strick was "GM" and was responsible for bringing guys in and Berry was consulted but Andre ultimately had final say. It was an absolutely stupid situation and led to a lot of cases where fantastic guys came in and Levingston cut them immediately (Antawn Dobie, Taliek Brown, Corrie Underwood, etc.). Andre needs to get his nose out of the player decisions.

I'd love to see the following guys back:
Eric
Strick (in a further diminished on court role... i.e. almost never playing)
Turner
Ervin
Maybe Galimore and Mazur

If Ferguson wants to come back and come off the bench that'd be great too. Get rid of Bennett and Thomas.
Halifax need to upgrade their wing players with a super athletic guy who can defend and another shooter who can also defend. Ervin may end up having to move to the bench, too. His body is not going to last much longer.

[CAVSFAN]

Andre I met as I went to get a bottle of water yesterday. Talked to him for a minute and congratulated him on a successful season.

At halftime he and the Halifax coach sat and talked for probably 5 or 6 minutes before coach headed to the lockeroom. before the start of the 2nd half Andre called the team over by the baseline, I was about 10 feet away. he had the players huddled up. This reminded me of the Dallas Cowboy owner, Jerry jones coming down on the sideline during the games.

During the game Andre stood at the end of the players bench and every so often would walk over and talk to a player. He is certainly hands on.

[LandoG]

congrats to LFS Cavs and best of luck in the finals. Hope to see you back next year in Hfx.

[CAVSFAN]

congrats to LFS Cavs and best of luck in the finals. Hope to see you back next year in Hfx.

thank you. I think that the first 3 games with Halifax this year was some of the most competitive for the CAVS. Especially the ones in Halifax, both had people on edge of seats. halifax is a good team!!

[Juniper]

When you are giving up 135 points, you may want to look at the defensive end of things. You can score as much as you want, but if you can't play defense, you will never win. That is the thing with Rashi Johnson. Not only could he score and pass, he could play defense. DF is a fine offensive player, but to old to play good defense. There are other players out there, that can score, but can play defense as well. It looks to me Halifax is fine with being a 3rd place team every year. If winning more games then you lost, is a measuring stick, and you call that success. I am not sure that is my stick. I would not say Halifax had a good season, but I like winning Championships.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

...
During the game Andre stood at the end of the players bench and every so often would walk over and talk to a player. He is certainly hands on.

Wow! Andre did all that?!? Sounds like he was certainly a candidate for going back to his seat and waiting until after the game to talk with his players and coach. That's his problem. He's not Jerry Jones and doesn't have Jerry Jones money. What's up with all the grandstanding then neglecting to take care of the basics? This is becoming common in minor league basketball.

[CAVSFAN]

Wow! Andre did all that?!? Sounds like he was certainly a candidate for going back to his seat and waiting until after the game to talk with his players and coach. That's his problem. He's not Jerry Jones and doesn't have Jerry Jones money. What's up with all the grandstanding then neglecting to take care of the basics? This is becoming common in minor league basketball.

yes that is what he did.