A little more than two weeks ago, the Cleveland Cavaliers were heading to Milwaukee for a match-up against the Bucks. At that point, the Cavs were rolling. They were sitting atop of the Eastern Conference with a record of 8-1, riding an eight game winning streak heading into the Bucks game. Cleveland were moving the ball, playing good defense and with Kyrie Irving and Iman Shumpert still sidelined, things seemed as if they could only get better for Cleveland.
On the team bus to Milwaukee though, LeBron James must have found something he hasn’t happy with. Maybe it was because he felt the Cavs were just winning on talent alone and not playing great basketball. Maybe he felt his other Cavs teammates were falling into the trap of feeling like they’re entitled to a free pass to the NBA Finals after coming so close last season. Whatever it was, James wasn’t satisfied and he took it upon himself to come up with an idea to help. Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group has the details:
"Over the last few games, the Cleveland Cavaliers have not been partaking in the starting lineup introductions. Instead, they’re already in a huddle with coach David Blatt wedged in the middle going over the game plan.They’re ignoring the lineup presentation altogether, and the Cavaliers have one of the best pregame introductory presentations in the league. The players’ lack of involvement isn’t intended as a knock to anyone. It’s about setting the appropriate tone.Tristan Thompson said last week LeBron James approached them with the idea on a bus ride to the BMO Harris Bradley Center before they took on the Milwaukee Bucks. The four-time MVP often comes up with creative ways to form deeper bonds with teammates, especially if he believes it has the potential to translate to success on the court."
James’ idea made complete sense and even I had a breakdown of why it was a good idea to bring a more business-like approach to Cleveland basketball. The Cavs seemed to be cruising during their 8-1 start and James wanted the team to play better and be hungrier and more professional. There is nothing wrong with that. Championship teams need to have a certain extend of professionalism and a business-like approach about them.
As the past couple of weeks have rolled on though and the Cavs continue to skip the pre-game introductions and take this all-business approach, something has gone wrong. Cleveland has fallen into a mini-slump, losing three straight games and playing their worse basketball of the season. The ball has stopped moving, as the Cavaliers have moved back into the ISO ball offense that plagued them last season, they have been turning the ball over at an alarming rate and the defense has been horrible as of late.
After two and a half weeks with the Cavaliers working under this new approach introduced by James, this question can be asked with merit- is this all-business approach that James has introduced working for Cleveland?
With Cleveland’s slow starts, poor defense and lethargic play ever since this change in mindset has been taken in the Cavs locker room, it is safe to say that James may need to ditch his all-business approach that he has attempted to introduce in Cleveland.
The Cavs simply don’t have the players to be all business and professional 24/7.
The NBA is a long season. 82 games over seven months and then the playoffs for another two months after that is an extremely long time to not have fun. At the moment, it seems like Cleveland isn’t having fun playing basketball. There is no jumping up and down and getting hyped up on the bench when a big play occurs. There is no smiling or laughing on the court and the player’s tone and demeanor during pre and post game interviews seems dull and bored.
Now, let’s be clear. There definitely comes a time when an all-business approach must be taken in the NBA. There is a time when all the fun and games need to end but that time isn’t in December. That time is in May or June, during the playoffs. To undertake this all-business approach throughout the entire NBA season is simply too much.
Take the 22-0 Golden State Warriors for example. You won’t find a team currently enjoying themselves more in the entire league or perhaps the entire sporting landscape (maybe instead of Monmouth’s bench). The Warriors are always jumping up and down on the bench, laughing on the court but they’re playing unbelievable basketball at the same time. It is possible to have fun and win in the NBA and the Cavs need to figure this out. In fact, they figured it out last year but James’ new approach simply isn’t working at this stage.
James used this approach many times during his days with the Miami Heat and it worked because the Heat had the personnel who can deal with that environment for a prolonged period of time. The Cavs don’t have that. Look at the players Cleveland employ- Tristan Thompson has been known as a joker and someone with one of the best senses of humor on the team. J.R. Smith is as flamboyant as they come, personality wise. Iman Shumpert, like Smith, is known for his funky wardrobe decisions and off-court rapping career. Kevin Love can get extremely down on himself when things don’t go his way, so a healthy, fun environment is something he needs. Mo Williams was apart of the Cavs teams during James’ first stint in Cleveland, when Cleveland was known as one of the league’s funniest teams to be around.
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James’ philosophy behind this new all-business approach to Cleveland basketball makes sense in theory and there will come a time in the season when it is needed but that time simply isn’t now. The Cavaliers roster isn’t built with players that can match James’ greatness and his pursuit for perfection everyday in everything they do. The Cavs players need to have fun and let loose sometimes but James’ all-business approach isn’t allowing them to do so and growling and death staring his teammates after every bad play certainly doesn’t help. It’s time for James to ditch this new approach he brings to the Cavs, for now at least.
What do you think about how the Cavs have handled this season?