Cleveland Cavaliers News

LeBron James and the Cavaliers want to run, run, run. Coach Mike Brown isn’t ready to let his team loose.With their offense sputtering during a rough patch in an up-and-down season, some of the Cavaliers, most prominently James, are questioning the club’s defense-oriented philosophy.

James, whose scoring average is down five points from last season, believes the Cavs would be better off playing at a faster pace, pushing the ball up the floor to quicken the game’s tempo, and, to score more points.

Larry Hughes has the same opinion, as do other Cleveland players.

That contradicts Brown’s offensive style: a deliberate, half-court flow of screens and patience he learned working on San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich’s staff — a system that helped the Cavs advance in last season’s playoffs.

James, though, feels it’s time for a change. It’s time to run.

“I think so,” he said. “We’ve got enough athletes where we can get up and down the court. At times the coaching staff feels the same way, at other times, no. We’re kind of playing basketball for the playoffs. Our offense is geared toward half-court basketball instead of getting out and running.”

James said he has told the coach that, too.