The Cleveland Cavaliers started this season with a 5-7 record, then rattled off 18 wins in 19 games. Now, however, they find themselves mired in a bit of a funk, as they dropped eight of their last ten. All is not lost, though. And Cavs superstar LeBron James has a two-part plan to help his teammates improve on the defensive end of the floor.
“Got to compete,” James told Cavs Nation’s Nikki Goel after Wednesday morning’s shoot-around at Cleveland Clinic Courts. “Show up to work like it’s your last day. Then at the end of the day you live with the results.”
“We have to take on the 1-on-1 challenge,” James added. “Then we have to communicate.”
James is right to point out defensive inefficiencies. The Cavs have simply struggled against the NBA’s top-ranked teams this season. In fact, Cleveland holds a 1-6 record this season against the top three teams in both conferences.
There could be another adjustment period looming on the horizon for the Cavs, as Derrick Rose (ankle) and Iman Shumpert (knee) are nearing returns from injury. There is still time to right the proverbial ship, and head coach Tyronn Lue says everyone was in high spirits at Wednesday’s practice.