The Cavaliers dropped a tough game to the Phoenix Suns last night. They lost by 7. It was their sixth consecutive loss and their 10th defeat in 12 games. They still can't play defense. Markieff Morris went off for 35 points (the fuck?). And the Suns' lead was in the double-digits for most of the game.
Then there's two other nuggets: LeBron James pushed David Blatt, ostensibly to help his coach avoid receiving a technical foul AND the media took another steaming dump on the team today.
Let's start with the first thing. Blatt was arguing with a ref over a perceived blown call. James was arguing with the same ref over the same call. Blatt got fired up. James pushed him away from the ref. In one, practiced and unified voice the two men later said, "We were trying to avoid receiving a technical foul. No one did anything wrong. The media is exaggerating this."
That may be true. But it won't be the last time the media "exaggerates" something about this team. Speaking of....
Then there's two other nuggets: LeBron James pushed David Blatt, ostensibly to help his coach avoid receiving a technical foul AND the media took another steaming dump on the team today.
Let's start with the first thing. Blatt was arguing with a ref over a perceived blown call. James was arguing with the same ref over the same call. Blatt got fired up. James pushed him away from the ref. In one, practiced and unified voice the two men later said, "We were trying to avoid receiving a technical foul. No one did anything wrong. The media is exaggerating this."
That may be true. But it won't be the last time the media "exaggerates" something about this team. Speaking of....
Brian Windhorst dropped a second tome on the dissolution of the team's trust in Blatt. Some of it seems like it could be distorted for sensationalism, some of it seems like the smoke to the team's fire.
Here are some nuggets from his piece (found here):
Here are some nuggets from his piece (found here):
It isn't just the casinos that are agape at how this is playing out -- the Cavs were 4-15 in their past 19 games against the spread coming in to Tuesday -- so are league scouts, executives and rival players.
They see players appearing to run different plays than the bench calls, see assistant coach Tyronn Lue calling timeouts literally behind Blatt's back during games, and hear Cavs players openly talking about coaching issues with opposing players and personnel. Not once, not twice, but frequently over the past several months.
Not to be outdone, everyone's favorite #WojBomb(er) dropped his own column blasting James. Of course, blasting James is Woj's second best talent as a basketball writer.
The title of his article should tell you more than enough about how it reads: "Cavs need LeBron James to show leadership he promised"
But if you would like a nugget from his piece, here it is:
The title of his article should tell you more than enough about how it reads: "Cavs need LeBron James to show leadership he promised"
But if you would like a nugget from his piece, here it is:
It's a roster that'll require James' greatest intangible skill of all: team builder. He should've been with the Cavaliers through his rehabilitation, whatever he says about the healing powers of warm weather. Much more than talk about it, James needs to live the commitment now. He needs to be engaged on the floor and in the huddles. Leading is every day, all day, and he's largely been absent in that way for the Cavaliers.
This is what a sub-.500 record at the (almost) halfway point of the season will get you: A boatload of shitty commentary about your play and off-court antics. I imagine tonight's PTI and Around the Horn will feature a combine 30 minutes of: BUT LEBRON JAMES SHOVED DAVID BLATT. BUT LEBRON JAMES SHOVED DAVID BLATT. BUT LEBRON JAMES SHOVED DAVID BLATT. BUT LEBRON JAMES SHOVED DAVID BLATT.
Prep yourself mentally for that one.
Now, does this ascending handful of fecal matter hold any water (bad image) whatsoever?
Probably. Tristan Thompson just rejected a massive contract extension that was, at the very least, a huge overpay on the part of the Cavaliers. Love allegedly stormed out of the arena last night after not playing in the fourth quarter. Lue calling timeouts does undermine Blatt, and that is happening.
But you know what makes all of this go away?
Winning.
If this team starts winning, it won't matter who calls timeouts. When you win, your assistant coach is empowered. It's hegemony for the people. Man, how fucking Spurs-like and democratic. Blatt does whatever is necessary to get a win. LeBron is a team-builder and GM David Griffin is a genius.
So the cure is easy. And Thursday's game should be a quick injection of relief, all the Cavs have to do is beat the doldrums-bound Los Angeles Lakers.
Let Swaggy P win and the shit will really start spraying.
Prep yourself mentally for that one.
Now, does this ascending handful of fecal matter hold any water (bad image) whatsoever?
Probably. Tristan Thompson just rejected a massive contract extension that was, at the very least, a huge overpay on the part of the Cavaliers. Love allegedly stormed out of the arena last night after not playing in the fourth quarter. Lue calling timeouts does undermine Blatt, and that is happening.
But you know what makes all of this go away?
Winning.
If this team starts winning, it won't matter who calls timeouts. When you win, your assistant coach is empowered. It's hegemony for the people. Man, how fucking Spurs-like and democratic. Blatt does whatever is necessary to get a win. LeBron is a team-builder and GM David Griffin is a genius.
So the cure is easy. And Thursday's game should be a quick injection of relief, all the Cavs have to do is beat the doldrums-bound Los Angeles Lakers.
Let Swaggy P win and the shit will really start spraying.