The Cleveland Cavaliers did not have much cause for joy on Monday night.
Cleveland suffered a 129-98 drubbing at the hands of the Golden State Warriors, shooting just 38.9 percent from the field and going 8-for-30 from beyond the arc. Two Cavs youngsters also engaged in verbal sparring.
Collin Sexton and Jarrett Allen got into a heated argument as they walked to the locker room. Allen suggested after the game he was merely venting frustrations, and that Sexton happened to get in the way:
“It’s basketball,” Allen said, via Chris Fedor of cleveland.com. “Tensions are going to get high. I’m normally not the person to start yelling, but I was just frustrated at everything and then Collin happened to be there. We started yelling. But one thing that you guys need to know, there’s not one second I wouldn’t fight for that guy. I went out and yelled at him. We figured it out in the locker room. When we’re out there, we’ll go to war for each other.”
Fedor noted the argument might have stemmed from a blown defensive assignment in the final minute. But Allen said the Cavs’ lackluster performances as of late are starting to grow more exasperating:
“We’ve lost what seems like 20 in a row, we just can’t seem to get out of this little rut that we’re in,” Allen said, via Fedor. “We have lapses on defense. Sometimes, one time we play perfect defense, the next possession, we will mess up a small thing that will lead to another team’s bucket.”
The Cavs have lost eight in a row, and 10 of their last 11.
Cleveland had been one of the stronger defensive teams in basketball early in the season. But they have shriveled on that end, with opponents averaging 122.7 points against the Cavs in February.
This is a young and evolving roster. If anything, it might be better for core pieces like Allen and Sexton to vent their frustrations because it shows they care and are intent on improving.
Both players will hope to help the Cavs end their losing skid in due time.