The Cleveland Cavaliers got a little energy boost after making all the trades just before the deadline. But they have seemed to hit a little wall. They have lost two of the last three games, including a 110-94 loss at home on Sunday against a short-handed San Antonio Spurs team.
After the game, LeBron James wasn’t happy, especially with the officiating of the game.
“We are at a point now where we protect the shooter more than the driver. There is no reason I should be going to the line four times in a game when I drive 100 times to the paint. I am getting hit and slapped and grabbed and what not. But we protect the shooter, that’s what it’s turned into. Chicks dig the long ball, and that’s what it’s about.”
Because he is such a strong guy and can finish through a ton of contact, sometimes the referees don’t give him the benefit of the doubt.
Danny Green, who isn’t much a driver and really likes to shoot the long ball shot eight free throws in the game, compared to James who only had four. LeBron James also played 17 more minutes than Green.
That was not what lost the game for the Cavaliers, but it didn’t help as they fell to the Spurs 110-94. In the fourth quarter, the Cavs defense just collapsed, as they got outscored 34-20 in the final period.
Even without all the foul calls though, James still had a huge game. He put up 33 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists, finishing only one assist shy of the triple-double. The rest of the team struggled through, and only two other guys finished in the double digits in scoring.
The Cavs are still trying to get the new guys incorporated, and it has led to some growing pains that they hope will be sorted out by the time the playoffs roll around.
Cleveland will look to bounce back this Tuesday when the Cavs host the Brooklyn Nets at Quicken Loans Arena.