3 big questions for Cavs team looking to close out regular season strong

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LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

#1: Why aren’t the Cavs playing better defense?

I’ve heard the excuse from those that follow the team that part of the reason the team is struggling on defense has a lot to do with Jarrett Allen being injured. Throw in too the fact that Dean Wade is also out now with a knee injury and that does have some to do with the terrible defense we are seeing by the Cavs.

However, they’re 72 games into the season and at this point, if the team is coached well, they should be playing even better defense, regardless of the players out on the court. Either the players aren’t putting in the effort as they should on a nightly basis, they’re getting tired too often because it is a lengthy season, or the coach needs to prioritize working harder on that end of the floor to get better results.

As much fun it is to see the young Cleveland team push the tempo on offense, they also need to slow down the other team, cover their man better, and find the ball in transition defense. We aren’t seeing much of that at the moment and that is frustrating.

I’m not sure if the young Cavaliers team just got caught gawking at the great LeBron James of the Lakers the other night because he was having his way all night long on the court as he was driving downhill by the lackluster perimeter defense and getting any shot he wanted. Why doesn’t the coaching staff change up their plans and try maybe double-teaming James and at least get the ball out of his hands and make someone else on the Lakers beat you for extended stretches?

Considering where both teams are in the standings, it was one of the most disappointing losses by the Cavs all season long. As much as the players lost the game, the Cavs coaches have to do a better job of preparing this rather young and still fragile team when games are on the line.

The team has had more success in the past when they were keeping opponents under 100 points a night. That would be a first step in getting back to securing more wins in the next few weeks.