3 big questions for Cavs team rolling into All-Star Weekend

#1: Are these bad first quarters by Cleveland a new trend?

It sure seems that way after the Cavaliers have played several games where they haven’t had a lead early. In fact, this month of February, Cleveland hasn’t led in any of their six games after the first quarter. Yet, they have a 4-2 record. Even with that success with the final outcome, it’s definitely a trend that will not be a good one to keep going.

The last two games especially have been brutal. The team gave up 47 points to the Pacers in quarter number one on Friday and then in the loss to the 76ers they gave up 36 points.

The Cavs can’t expect to keep giving up lots of points and expect to keep making these outrageous comebacks. That was pretty evident in the Philadelphia loss, especially with a veteran like Kevin Love, who has been making it a regular habit to start knocking down three-pointers, after coming off the bench to help his team stay in games. Against Philly, he ended up with only two points and went 0-for-4 from the floor.

Granted it was one of the few times that Love hasn’t delivered, but it showed just how important a player of Love’s stature is on a very young team still learning how to win. Without the 14 points and 7.3 rebounds a game average, then the Cavs have trouble on their hands.

It’s important the team gets back to winning that opening quarter like they were doing consistently in the month of December. That month the team was regularly the team jumping out to the big lead.

Now with LeVert on the team, and players like Lauri Markkanen, whose been a starter for the team, out at the moment with an injury, it’s been taking much of the quarter for the players on the floor to get into any type of rhythm and flow of the game. I’d suspect the game tonight in Atlanta will be a better one for the team and the team will certainly put more pressure on themselves to get off to a more aggressive start. Let’s hope that has a positive outcome for the Wine and Gold.