As the perennial powerhouse in a thin Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to win at least around 55 games each season. That hasn’t been the team we’ve seen so far during this young season though, as the Cavs have stumbled out of the gates with a sub .500 record of 3-4 through the first 7 games.
They have a completely rebuilt roster and it’s likely the team is just going through growing pains as they continue trying to gain chemistry and mesh as a unit. Whatever the cause may be of these early season woes, the Cavs wanted to iron them out before they became problematic.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Cavs recently addressed any issues they were having in a productive ‘air-it-out’ type meeting, a meeting team leader LeBron James was very vocal in:
Off to a 3-4 start and struggling to live up to the standard set en route to three straight Eastern Conference titles, the Cleveland Cavaliers held an air-it-out meeting with the entire team prior to practice Tuesday…
LeBron James was a “vocal” participant in the meeting, a source present on Tuesday told ESPN, but he was not the lone voice.
“Most everyone spoke,” the source added. “Was very productive.”
Along with LeBron, star forward Kevin Love also had plenty to say about the sluggish start we’ve seen from Cleveland:
“I just think we’ve had moments in previous seasons where we’ve had this conversation I feel like where just our rate of play, our pace of play is even more so what I’m talking about, maybe ‘out of shape’ is the wrong word. It’s just getting into our sets, secondary offense and miss or make, getting the ball out and pushing it. I think that’s more than anything what I’m trying to say.”
“I’m not saying that guys are taking plays off, but just (not) going super hard, we have the luxury of being able to put guys in different spots and a really deep roster where we don’t have to necessarily log 30-plus minutes, even the starters. So just go hard; if you’re tired, ask for a sub.”
“I think it was good for us, I think it definitely lightened the mood and it was definitely a get-to-know-you moment with a lot of guys. … I think in some odd way it will definitely help us.”
With so much basketball left to play and LeBron, Love and the Cavs being no stranger to adversity, it should be fully expected of them to right the ship and come out on top in the Eastern Conference come season’s end.
