Time for LeBron James and the Cavs to Wake Up
By Luke Sicari
The honeymoon is officially over.
Despite some analysts predicting that the Cleveland Cavaliers will win 70 games this season, the team is currently sitting with a 5-7 record, on the heels of a 0-4 week. The team is just 2-4 at home, including two embarrassing losses to the lowly New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets.
But the record isn’t the biggest problem right now. The problems that the Cavs and head coach David Blatt face 12 games into a long 82 game season, I must add, go way beyond the underwhelming record.
There are many issues with the Cavaliers right now but they start with their leader, LeBron James.
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To say that James has been disappointing so far this season would be an understatement. Yes, James did win the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award for games played through November 10 and November 16, but nothing has gone right since then.
Let’s first take a quick look at James’ stats this week where, as I previously mentioned, the Cavs were 0-4. James averaged 18.5 points per game, 7.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds, had a 41% field goal percentage, a 66% free throw percentage and coughed up 4.5 turnovers a game. Now, while those numbers aren’t atrocious, they certainty aren’t the type of numbers we are accustomed to seeing James put up.
James has been known for being a tremendously effective shooter throughout his career but that hasn’t been the case this season. Too many times, not only this week but for the entire year, we have seen James stand around the three-point line and launch up lousy, unacceptable three-point attempts. We have also seen him, uncharacteristically, miss shots around the basket. Also, we have seen James settle for way too many jumpers, instead of using his strength and athleticism to get to the basket. For someone with James’ body, it is simply unacceptable for him to be jacking up unnecessary jump shots and it’s something the Cavaliers simply cannot have.
It goes far beyond the box score though. In fact, the stats aren’t even James’ biggest problem at the moment. The problem comes from the leadership standpoint. Before I continue, let’s take a step back and revisit James’ words in his ‘I’m Coming Home’ letter to SI‘, mainly focusing on this line- “I see myself as a mentor now and I’m excited to lead some of these talented young guys.”
So far, James seems the least bit excited about leading this team.
There is no way to get around the point that James has done a poor, dreadful job at being the leader of this ball club. Lets list off some examples of where James has gone wrong on the leadership aspect so far:
- Not running back on defense after missed shots, multiple times.
- Poor body language.
- A general look of dis-interest on the court.
- Not bringing the intensity on both ends of the floor
- Allowing the younger players to fall back into bad habits.
Now, while all of those points are major problems, I want to single out two of them; not running back on defense and allowing the younger players to fall back into bad habits.
Multiple times already this season, we have seen James put in no effort to run back on defense. In the Washington game for example, after a Dion Waiters missed a three, James stood under the basket with his head down for a couple of seconds, before slowly getting back on D. That isn’t the first time his done that this season, as we also saw it in the Portland and Toronto games. Now, what type of message is this sending to the younger players, who have never really given any defensive effort during their careers in the first place? Is James indicating to them that it is okay not to run back? That it is okay to hang your head after a missed shot? For someone of James’ stature to be doing this, on this team where he is meant to be the leader, is simply unsatisfactory and it is sending a horrible message.
Along with that, James has allowed players like Kyrie Irving and Waiters to fall back into their isolation, me-first basketball on too many occasions this season. James has stated this has been done on purpose, to show the team that if they go back into these habits, they aren’t going to win and he’s right. The message James is trying to get across is correct but the way he is trying to get that message across isn’t. Instead of allowing Irving and Waiters to play like they have, James needs to hold them accountable and let them know during a game that selfish basketball isn’t going to be allowed. If Irving over-dribbles or Waiters takes a low percentage shot, James needs to let them know about it during the next stoppage. If this means screaming at them, so be it. The players need to know what they can and can’t do on this team and James needs to start telling them.
Coach Blatt also needs to start taking charge.
It’s been a tough transition for Blatt so far but he needs to take some of that blame. Blatt hasn’t seemed to be able to grab the attention of his players and the players haven’t been playing hard for him. Blatt needs to start letting the players know, they can’t just show up to an arena and expect to win. Every team is going to hit the Cavs with their best shot and Blatt needs to start to get the Cavs to hit back. Also, when James doesn’t get back on defense or Irving over-dribbles, Blatt can’t be scared to give them an earful and let them know about it. Blatt seems to have been a bit soft on his team so far and it’s time for him to maybe thinking about taking a more authoritarian approach with this team.
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It isn’t just James and Blatt though.
The whole team needs to pick up the intensity and effort. You would be mistaken into thinking that you were watching last season’s team, with the lack of heart and effort the Cavs played with this week. Apart from stretches in the Spurs game and the first quarter of the Raptors game, the Cavs looked like they didn’t want to be on the court. For a team with championship aspirations, it all starts in the head. The Cavs need to have the correct mindset and start games with energy and intensity and maintain that throughout the entire game. They haven’t done that this season and it they’re serious about winning a ring that must change.
Everyone knew the Cavs would face some adversity this season but no one saw it coming this early and this intense. James has failed in his leadership role thus far. Blatt hasn’t been able to take a hold on the team. And the general effort, mindset and intensity has been lacking from the entire team.
The Cavs have slept walked their way through 12 games.
It’s time to wake up for the next 70 and beyond.