The Cleveland Cavaliers are again hogging the NBA headlines, this time, for all the wrong reasons. After looking primed to take the league by storm collecting 18 out of 19 wins in late November and early December, Tyronn Lue the Cavs have since fallen off with their attempts to successfully integrate Isaiah Thomas into the starting lineup.
These growing pains were anticipated, but after experiencing back-to-back blowout loses on the road to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Toronto Raptors, the Cavs have reached an all-time low. The frustrations are nearing a boiling point, and it has become evident to see as the Cavs’ leaders, including LeBron James, have ripped into the teams’ effort during timeouts midgame.
For all the talent the Cavs have on their roster, the lack of success as of late could be caused by nothing more than just plain effort. Their defense has been atrocious to say the least, and more than a couple of players are severely underperforming.
Since James came back to Northeast Ohio, the Cavs have always had an up and down January, but now is not the ideal time to go through these struggles as their Eastern Conference rivals continue to pick up wins.
With all that being said, both James and Lue have preached patience, stating that it is indeed a long and gruelling season. Despite the talent in this group, it’s going to take more than just showing up though, and Lue eluded to something else that raised a few eyebrows in his post game interview.
Obviously frustrated with the result, Lue touched on the need for perhaps some of his players to put their own “agendas” aside for the betterment of the Cavs moving forward.
“We gotta be better,” Lue said after the game, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “Until we play better defensively and offensively, until we share the basketball. And if guys have agendas, we’ve got to get rid of those agendas and play the right way.”
Lue didn’t elaborate on his forceful comment. What he means by it is yet to be determined but perhaps it will send a much needed message of sacrifice throughout the locker room.
It’s likely that all the pieces will slowly click back into place sooner rather than later, because this team is far too talented to allow it to continue. Until then, Cavs fans will be left frustrated with the lack of desire and defensive intensity.
The Cavs travel into Indiana tonight for the last game of their road trip in the hopes of steadying the ship.