Cavs’ New Year’s Resolution: Stop Playing Safe With Minutes
We know you are about to make one, so we made some for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their New Year’s Resolution.
Now that the holidays are coming to and end, and everyone has done everything they could in 2015, it’s time for people across the United States to begin the yearly tradition of saying what they “will” do in 2016.
For most, cutting back on work, losing a few pounds, and exercising are the yearly goals. But for the Cleveland Cavaliers, it needs to be something a little different. In 2016, it’s time for the Cavs to stop acting like they are playing with a bunch of 40-year-old men and finally let their stars do what they are paid to do, play basketball.
Only three players on the entire Cavs roster average more than 30 minutes per game. This wouldn’t be a problem if one of the players wasn’t J.R. Smith.
It’s understandable that the Cavs wanted to rest their stars because players like Kyrie Irving, Iman Shumpert, and Timofey Mozgov have dealt with injuries this season. That’s done and over with though. These players have all come back and, besides Mozgov, have all looked like their fully healed and ready to go. So it’s time to stop holding them back!
When players like Mo Williams and Matthew Dellavedova have played more minutes than Kyrie Irving since Irving’s return, it starts to raise question on whether he’s able to be let off the chain yet, and he is.
Remember when Irving was known for how dominant of a three-point shooter he was? Well maybe it’s time for that become a threat for a struggling Cavs’ offense again. Because when Dellavedova is leading the team in three-point percentage, it leaves a lot of worry for the team’s ability to score.
Yes, Cleveland’s defense is one of the best, if not the best, in the NBA. However, we all watch as the Golden State Warriors, once again, made the Cavs wish they could produce more offense and not have to rely on low scoring games.
When it comes down to the playoffs, and possibly the NBA Finals, the Cavs aren’t going to be able to beat teams like the Warriors, the San Antonio Spurs, or the Oklahoma City Thunder by playing tough defense. They need to find ways to score and they have the players that could do that playing minimum minutes.
It isn’t like the Cavs have all these old players in their starting lineup that need to be rested in order to compete in the playoffs. In fact, LeBron James is the oldest player in the starting lineup when the team uses Irving, Shumpert, James, Love, and Mozgov. (Still true with Tristan Thompson starting now.)
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There isn’t any aspect of this team besides Mozgov that needs to be rested. Let the older players like Mo Williams and J.R. Smith rest so they’re able to play well in the playoffs while the starters begin to wreak havoc on the NBA.
The Cavaliers need to allow players like Irving to lead the team in shooting percentage and let LeBron control the team. Right now, it’s all placed on LeBron’s hands to carry this team, when it doesn’t need to be like that.
Instead of holding them back, it’s time for the Cavaliers to go into 2016 in the way they’d like to finish it. The best team in the NBA.