Will there be coaching changes for the Cavs this summer?

The biggest issues the Cleveland Cavaliers have had for the last two years, a lack of both championship-level defensive habits and attention to detail, come down to coaching. But is Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Ty Lue the coaching problem?

The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t been a great defensive team for a long time but this season has been the worst in recent memory.

They give up the fourth-highest points per game average to their opponents (110.1) and have the third-worst defensive rating (111.9) in the NBA.

They rank in the bottom-third of the league in opponent’s field goal conversions per game (41.8, 25th), field goal attempts per game (88.5, 24th), field goal percentage (47.2 percent, 24th), three-point percentage (36.8 percent, 21st), three-pointers converted per game (11.9, 28th), three-pointers attempted per game (31.9, 29th), assists per game (25.7, 29th) and turnovers per game (13.6, 27th).

These numbers were better last year but still nothing noteworthy, as the Cavaliers were ranked 20th in opponents points per game (107.2) and 21st in defensive rating (110.3).

They were 26th in opponent’s field goal makes (40.9) and attempts (88.8), 16th in opponent’s field goal percentage (45.8 percent), 24th in three-point makes (10.4) and attempts (28.7), 18th in opponent’s three-point percentage (36.1 percent), 29th in opponent’s assists per game (24.7) and 28th in opponent’s turnovers per game (12.6).

To translate, the Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t stopped teams from getting into the lane, collapsing the defense and scoring.

They haven’t put enough pressure on ball-handlers and their defensive rotations have left a lot to be desired.

The Cavaliers, who have hardly been healthy all year and had one of the oldest rosters in the NBA for the past two years prior to this season’s trade deadline, have built-in excuses but still should have to be better than that.

In fact, since the trade deadline, the Cavaliers have performed better thanks to their newfound youth, activity and length on the perimeter but there are familiar issues that plague the team.

Since February 11th, the debut of their revitalized roster, the Cavaliers have allowed 109.9 points per game (17th in the league), 40.7 field goal conversions per game (19th in the league), 89.4 field goal attempts per game (24th in the league), 45.6 percent shooting from the field (11th in the league), 11.1 three-point conversions per game (tied for 19th in the league), 30.9 three-point attempts (tied for 22nd in the league), 36.0 percent from three-point range (14th in the league), 24.4 assists per game (tied for 17th in the league), caused 13.4 turnovers per game (tied for 24th in the league) and have a defensive rating of 109.0 (18th in the league).

The difference in the field goals converted and attempted, shows that the team is better at defending shots but that they’re still being taken at a high rate. Teams are still finding it too easy to generate assists and the ball pressure still hasn’t forced opposing offenses to make enough mistakes.

These improvements are due to the change in personnel more than improvement from the coaching staff. A statement made because the Cavaliers have yet to exhibit the focus they need on defense for a full game.

They’re 7-7 since the debut of their new additions and all of those games have been played without Kevin Love, their leading rebounder and second-leading scorer. Six have been played without Tristan Thompson, who hasn’t lived up to his billing on defense this year but is one of the team’s best rebounders. Three have been played without Cedi Osman and two have been played without Rodney Hoo, two players instrumental to their perimeter defense.

At full health, those wins enter the double-digits and with more time to gel, the defense can work on a string and players can play instinctually. These things help players with their attention to detail. As does practice.

The biggest issue Lue has had is stubbornly sticking with players but with his benching of J.R. Smith, he seems to be growing as a coach. He receives a lot of flack nationally but if there are any changes to the coaching staff it might come down Mike Longabardi, the man responsible for the Cavaliers’ defensive schemes.

Here’s what LeBron James had to say about Longabardi’s role in 2016, just after Lue replaced David Blatt as the team’s head coach and left an opening at defensive coordinator (er cleveland.com‘s Chris Fedor:

"“Well, Coach Lue, he wants us to defend but he’s not the voice of our defense,” James said. “Coach Longo (Mike Longabardi), he’s our defensive coordinator. He gives us the game plan. Coach Lue definitely makes his inputs throughout the course of the game, if he wants to change on a game-to-game basis or throughout the game, but our gameplan comes from our defensive coordinator and whatever he wants to do, we’re able to learn on the fly.”"

If they’re looking at a replacement for Longabardi, who is no doubt in Cleveland because of his familiarity with Lue, they should look at hiring James Borrego.

Borrego is an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs whose ability to improve a team’s defense is noted throughout the league.

It’s been even more notable this season as the Spurs rank 1st in the league in opponent’s points per game (99.3) and 3rd in defensive rating (104.3) despite one of the best defenders in the league, Kawhi Leonard, missing 60 out of the team’s 69 games this season.

Borrego credits former Cavs coach Mike Brown as a major influence. Coincidentally, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst credits Brown for James’ early defensive development. James praised Brown’s defensive coaching prior to the 2017 NBA Finals.

All things considered, Borrego could be a great hire, especially with James’ affinity and respect for the Spurs organization. Maybe an offer to be the top assistant coach could fit his fancy.

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*Unless otherwise referenced, stats gathered from www.basketball-reference.com