Cavs finding positives and ways to deal with L’s in rebuild is right way to go about it

The Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly having their own way of dealing with losses and/or finding individual positives in this rebuild is the right way to go about their business.

Fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers ultimately knew that there would be plenty of losses in the 2019-20 season. It was a bit of a surprise when the Cavaliers initially started this campaign with a 4-5 record, but now, the L’s have been coming in a big way.

Cleveland has lost six straight games, bringing their record to now 4-11. The last five L’s have been of the blowout variety, too, and the Cavaliers were just blasted by the Dallas Mavericks on Friday 143-101.

More from King James Gospel

• 3 possible starting lineups for Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023-24
• The Cavaliers may have snagged a hidden gem in Craig Porter Jr.
• 4 players the Cavaliers should pursue in 2024 free agency
• 6 players Cavaliers might replace Jarrett Allen with by the trade deadline
• This stat is one to keep an eye on for Cavaliers’ Max Strus in years ahead

Dallas’ Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr. and others got seemingly whatever they wanted against the Cavs, who were clearly at a loss due to them being at a huge size disadvantage, and Cleveland is playing so many young pieces big minutes.

It’s again clear that the Cavaliers are just in the second year of their full-rebuild. Yes, star big Kevin Love still makes a difference, and I believe, should stick around in coming years.

Love’s inside-out presence should help Cleveland’s young pieces such as Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, Cedi Osman and Kevin Porter Jr. in their development.

Love, who is putting up 17.9 points per game, is also usually going to be Cleveland’s best defensive rebounder, and helps in most instances clean up possessions there, too. He has 11.8 boards per contest, mostly on the money end.

At any rate, the team, organization and fans are well aware that there’s going to be a bunch of L’s in the 2019-20 season. The team and seemingly organization reportedly having their own individual positives in regards to that and/or ways of dealing with it is the right way to go about it, though.

Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor touched on how Cleveland Cavaliers head coach John Beilein has found the bright spots in tough outcomes, and cited how things are better, to an extent, as compared to the 2018-19 season at this point. Again, it’s good as a fan to hear that Beilein is going to find positives in a year where the L’s will pile up in bunches, and that he has his own way of getting through a long season.

Here’s what Fedor said in that realm seemingly about Beilein, anyhow.

"“The Cavs are still two wins ahead of last season’s pace despite playing the seventh-most difficult schedule at this point. Their defense, the biggest impediment at the moment, is 25th in rating as opposed to dead last and historically putrid. Their starting five has statistically been one of the best in the NBA.Beilein has been searching for those positives. That’s his way.”"

Fedor also hit on how Love, who has been exposed to this sort of rough rebuilding predicament before in his days with the Minnesota Timberwolves, has his way of getting through it, too.

Granted, Fedor demonstrated how Love also touched on the Cavaliers can’t be content with losing, and that they need to keep giving their all and try to be more detail-oriented.

Anyway, though, Love, per Fedor, is “trying to crack jokes in the locker room so he doesn’t drive himself mad.”

That sort of thing is so important for a veteran leader to keep a mostly young group together in a tough stretch. I know, from a fan’s perspective, it’s rough seeing your team lose six straight games, and I’m sure from a player’s perspective, it’s the worst feeling.

That being said, it’s nice to hear that the buy-in is seemingly still there, and leadership from pieces such as Love and Tristan Thompson, along with Larry Nance Jr. plays a crucial role in that.

In regards to Nance’s way of finding the positive? It’s his unwavering loyalty to the Cleveland Cavaliers and him living out a dream, as Fedor highlighted.

"“I grew up thinking this was the greatest team in the entire world and I still believe that,” Nance said. “I got to see it win a championship, I’ve been with this team through the ups and downs so this being a down, it’s not something that I’m … obviously I really, really want to a big reason why things change and I want to help us do that, but at the same time it’s not the end of the world because I’m still living a dream. I couldn’t ask for anything better and so every time I get to put on this uniform and play for the Cleveland Cavaliers, why wouldn’t I play my hardest? I want to do good by this organization the way they did good by me.”"

From there, Fedor hit on Sexton seems to get his mind right in tough circumstances surrounding the rebuild in another way, and then touched on how the Cleveland front office is seeing Garland get better.

"“Sexton is reading books when he’s not in the gym working. The front office is clinging to the small signs of Garland improving, having scored double figures in five straight, including a career-best 23 points Friday night in the loss against Dallas.”"

Cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto essentially illustrated how Porter has shown glimpses of his potential to be a really nice player on both ends of the floor. That can be a positive for the front office, too.

Moreover, the Cleveland Cavaliers finding a way to deal with the tough circumstances surrounding a rebuild and see the pluses is the right way to go about it.

Nance’s outlook, especially with a six-game home stand coming up for the Wine and Gold, was awesome to hear as a Cavs fan. I’d also imagine that would play well in the locker room, too, and it shows that Jr. is always going to bring energy and grit when he’s on the floor.

Flipping the page after a tough outing, we’ll see if Garland can keep it going and if the Wine and Gold can be more competitive on Saturday against the Portland Trail Blazers.