Storyline: Something has to change–and change soon–if Cleveland wants to pour champagne this summer.
One of the most talked about side-plots to the NBA in 2017 is the Cleveland Cavaliers and their role players. It started with LeBron James saying that they need more help, especially in the backcourt, if the Cavs are to get back to the Finals.
James’ comments split the NBA community into two sides: those who agreed with LeBron and want the Cavs to improve the roster and those who want LeBron to stop whining and just play basketball.
Source: TNT
One analyst and former player in particular, Charles Barkley, had rather strong comments for LeBron. Chuck said this on-air at TNT: “Inappropriate. Whiny. All of the above. The Cleveland Cavaliers, they have given him everything he wanted. They have the highest payroll in NBA history. He wanted J.R. Smith last summer, they paid him. He wanted Shumpert last summer. They brought in Kyle Korver. He’s the best player in the world. Does he want all of the good players? He don’t want to compete? He is an amazing player. They’re the defending champs.”
LeBron responded just how you would expect a man who has reached his breaking point to respond: “I’m not going to let him disrespect my legacy like that. I’m not the one who threw somebody through a window. I never spit on a kid. I never had unpaid debt in Las Vegas. I never said, ‘I’m not a role model.’ I never showed up to All-Star Weekend on Sunday because I was in Vegas all weekend partying. All I’ve done for my entire career is represent the NBA the right way. Fourteen years, never got in trouble. Respected the game. Print that.”
Courtesy: hoopshabit.com
So who’s right here?
At first glance it’s impossible to not notice the BIG money the Cavs have spent. The starting 5 brings in nearly $100,000,000… the highest in the league. The bench gets another $30,000,000.
But here’s the problem: they’ve spent the money, but aren’t getting results.
The Cavs’ bench is terrible. They’re the only bench in the league to be ranked in the bottom four in points (28th), rebounds (29th), assists (28th), steals (29th), blocks (29th), and field goal % (27th).
You can’t win a championship with performances like that. And you can’t win championships with just your starters.
LeBron isn’t wrong.
Barkley did make an interesting point when he said this is essentially the same team as last year’s group. Yes, but…that doesn’t justify not needing more help.
The bench was notoriously bad throughout last year’s championship run. Outside of Jefferson coming off the bench for 5.7 ppg, you had Shumpert shooting 30% and getting only 3 ppg; Mozgov playing 5 mpg and shooting 33%; Delly only getting about 5 mpg; and Frye scoring 2 total points. Mozgov and Delly aren’t even on the team now.
The defense isn’t the only problem…only the biggest. There’re are still a few pieces–I’ll name three of them–that need to mesh in order for the Cavs to make a title run.
Courtesy: Sporting News
Kyle Korver hasn’t fit into the offense the way they had hoped. He isn’t shooting well and that’s exactly what they brought him in to do.
J.R. Smith is still out with injury.
The defense has been slacking, especially Kyrie and Love.
Overall, the Cavs need to pull it back together. Effort, chemistry, and defense is something that can be taken care of internally. I’m not worried about any of those things. What worries me is the terrible bench.
You can’t question that the Cavs are a very top-heavy team. They have one of the top ‘Big 3’ combos in the league in James, Irving, and Love. Once JR Smith is healthy (and hopefully back to himself for the playoffs), the Cavs can be dangerous. If Korver gets back into his rhythm, and someone on the bench steps up in the playoffs, this team can’t be beaten in the East.
Courtesy: Yibada
There have been rumors flying around that new players may join the team; and the name Deron Williams has popped up. Williams is the type of veteran backcourt player who can fill in and help take this team to the next level.
Is Williams the missing piece for LeBron and his Cavs’ squad? Who knows?
But something has to change–and it has to change soon–if Cleveland wants to pour champagne this summer.
