After Sunday afternoon’s 117-115 home loss to the Atlanta Hawks, the Cleveland Cavaliers have now lost five of their last six games. There have been several contributing factors in the Cavs’ recent slump — maybe none more prevalent than their slow starts and lack of first unit production. Cavs guard Dwyane Wade, who recently accepted a bench role, brought these points to light in an interview last week, and Kevin Love agrees.
Wade, now a three-time champion and 12-time All-Star, recently told reporters that he is “waiting for the day the first unit can blame the second unit” for blowing a lead.
Kevin Love was forced to leave Sunday’s game in the first half due to an illness. However, after being evaluated by medical staff, the 6-foot-10 double-double machine says he will be OK.
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“K-Love,” as he’s known, spoke to several members of the media with regards to Dwyane Wade’s first unit comments after Monday’s practice session.
“I saw what Dwyane said,” Love said. “He’s exactly right. It would be nice if we were able to get on the second unit one time for giving something up, but that hasn’t been the case. … We just can’t keep putting ourselves in a situation like that.”
Wade and Love have a solid point. Time and time again, the Cavs have allowed opposing sides an early advantage. In fact, Cleveland, now 4-6 and fourth in the Central Division, gave up 37 first quarter points to the Hawks in Sunday’s loss. As most hoops fans know, playing from behind is not ideal.
Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue had similar sentiments, but he says it’s not just the starters.
“I mean, it’s not just the starters,” coach Lue said after Monday’s practice. “It’s all of us. We all have to get better, and we all have to put in the work to get out of this hole. So the starters understand that they have to play better — they know that — but it’s all of us.”
The Cavs have struggled on the offensive floor as well. Among the NBA’s 30 teams, Cleveland ranks 25th in 3-point percentage (33.4 percent) and is tied for 16th in 3-pointers made per game (10.2). If their shots start falling, we’ll be singing a different tune.
The Cavs will be back in action on Tuesday night when they’ll host the Milwaukee Bucks inside Quicken Loans Arena for the second of four meetings between the two teams this season. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST with NBATV, Fox Sports Ohio, and Fox Sports Wisconsin having live broadcast coverage.
