LeBron James and his boys have work to do.
Despite having a respectable start to the season, the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers fell, and fell hard. They slugged along the finish line with a dismal 11-14 record after the All-Star break, compiling a 51-31 win-loss total.
With the 82-game regular season all wrapped up, they have yet to silence the number crunchers of the modern, metrics-crazed NBA.
The Cavaliers finished 21st out of 30 in defensive efficiency, even falling as far as 29th, right next to the forgettable Brooklyn Nets. Last season, they were top 10 in the league’s stingiest defenses.
Then there is the ever-nagging problem of injuries. Key players such as Kevin Love, JR Smith and Kyle Korver have all rode the bench for around 5 to 10 games apiece due to various ailments. To add insult to injury (or injuries), newly-acquired center Andrew Bogut broke his leg 57 seconds into his Cavaliers debut. Originally acquired as a replacement to the also-injured Chris Andersen, the Australian big man was soon waived to make room for Larry Sanders, who was also waived a week later for Edy Tavares.
This jarring personnel shift caused the Cavaliers to deal more players than any other team this season. A staggering 21 players have suited up the wine and gold colors for at least one game. Even at the very last week of play, the roster was not set in stone. Management deemed it right to waive defensive specialists Sanders and DeAndre Liggins (who had played 61 games) to sign Tavares and 36-year old Dahntay Jones.
In comparison, the Celtics, who leapfrogged the Cavs to take the number one seed in the East, did not move any players for the entire season.
Going into the playoffs, team chemistry should be addressed quickly. One loss at home could spell doom against their first round opponents, the scrappy Indiana Pacers, the no. 7 seed whom they meet in Game 1 at 3 am Sunday Manila time.
As proven by their rivals in Golden State who won the title in 2016, a strong bench produces wins – convincing, blowout wins. The new guys should know their roles well as the leaders mesh with them.
Leading a transient roster, this is the perfect time for sophomore head coach Tyronn Lue to showcase what he can do with a full season. He had already been placed under scrutiny when he somehow let his team blow a 26-point lead in the final quarter to the Atlanta Hawks in the midst of their terrible final season stretch.
Last, and most importantly, LeBron James should take charge once again. While it may seem unfair to ask for more from the player who has produced career-high stats with an aging body, such is the responsibility of a superstar. In a season full of road blocks and speed bumps, James has been the battering ram paving the way to success for his teammates. At a time where they need him the most, he should not implode like he did in 2011.
The chance to solidify a legacy will soon vanish if they don’t act now.
Cleveland, the clock is ticking. – Rappler.com
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