Teams with LeBron James have begun taking a strange pattern, especially in recent years. A lot of times James’ team, whether it be the Miami Heat or the Cleveland Cavaliers, faces some level of adversity in the regular season only to overcome it and rip apart the Eastern Conference come playoff time when it actually matters. When a once in a generation type talent like LeBron James comes along, you don’t worry too much about what goes on in the regular season because you know that greats like him will show up when it matters most, in the postseason.
However this year, things may be a little different in the suddenly wide-open Eastern Conference. The Boston Celtics have taken control of the top spot in the East and the Washington Wizards could pose some serious problems of their own. To add on to the fresh talent the Cavs have to contend with, the team has really started to hit a rough patch over the past ten days, dropping four out of their last six including a 103-74 blowout loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
A lot of their struggles may have to do with re-incorporating key pieces J.R. Smith and Kevin Love after they missed extended periods of time due to injury but the erratic play of All-Star guard Kyrie Irving can’t be overlooked either. No one knows his own struggles better than Kyrie Irving himself, as he recently said he recognizes that his lackluster performances have been the downfall for this Cavs team over this recent losing stretch. Following from ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne:
“I had to face it, had to face the music,” Irving said Wednesday after the Cavaliers practiced in Chicago ahead of a game against the Bulls on Thursday. “I think we all had to do it. But me more importantly, I had to look in the mirror and just wasn’t doing enough. I need to demand more out of myself and do it at a high level…”
“I have to do my best as a point guard to integrate J.R. and K-Love and get our starting five back to having the continuity. It hasn’t been perfect, to say the least,” Irving said. “There’s definitely been some ups and downs and disagreements. But as adults and professionals we just have to figure it out. I think it just starts with our practice habits and what we demand out of each other. Just holding each other accountable.”
Irving said he’s particularly sensitive to anything that resembles complacency at this point in the season.
“You can’t rely in just thinking that one championship is enough,” Irving said. “It’s natural for human beings to just get comfortable. To rely on just having won a championship. But if you a muthaf—- you want two, you want three, you want four, like you say you do. And I want more. I’m going to go take it. My job as one of the leaders on the team is to bring my guys with me.”
With less than ten games remaining on the docket until the playoffs are upon them, Irving and the Cavs need to iron out their issues. The defense Cleveland has played hasn’t been anywhere near what we’re used to seeing from a squad led by LeBron and that could eventually come back to haunt them, especially considering the talent atop the conference this year.
With Smith and Love getting back up to speed and the defense lagging behind, Kyrie Irving needs to do everything in his power to get him out of this recent funk and getting himself back to the dominant, ruthless scorer he is.
