The Cleveland Cavaliers showed signs of growth on Christmas Day, even though they were defeated by the New York Knicks. There was hope that the energy and fight from that game would carry over to when they face the Houston Rockets, and apparently, it did not. The Cavs lost 117-100.
The Cavs reverted to their old ways and found themselves in a hole early. Head coach Kenny Atkinson tried to find the answers and even blamed it on Christmas.
“I rarely say this, but I thought the game was over in the first quarter,” Atkinson said via Spencer Davies of Clutch Points. “Their physicality, we weren’t ready for the fight. I don’t know how else to say it. Encouraged after the Knicks’ game because we were ready for the fight, but [Saturday], call it what you want. Christmas hangover? I have no idea. It’s hard for me to [describe]. It wasn’t the same team that played the other night against the Knicks.”
The main problem with the Cavs seems to be the effort that they’re putting out on a nightly basis. Against the Rockets, it felt like they didn’t have any resistance, and they couldn’t match their physicality.
“It’s tough. It’s a concern factor because it’s the how,” Donovan Mitchell added postgame. “It’s not the loss; I think it’s the how. We’ve got to figure it out. I think the concern factor is the how, not the losses specifically. If we matched their physicality or played 48 minutes of tough basketball and did all the different things like we did in New York, and we just didn’t come out on top, then so be it. But to have a week where the process was really great and then to come here and play like this is definitely tough.”
The Cavs have now lost two straight, and are 17-16 on the season. Despite this being almost the same roster from last season, this just doesn’t look like the same team that was at the top of the Eastern Conference.