After losing to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night, LeBron James was understandably displeased with his team’s effort. The Cavaliers committed a season-high 25 turnovers that led to 30 Grizzlies points. With the playoffs about six weeks away, LeBron doesn’t feel the Cavs are currently ready for the postseason.
(via Ohio.com):
“I can sit up here and say that we’re a team that’s ready to start the playoffs tomorrow, but we’re not,” James said. “We’re still learning, we still have things that happen on the court that just, that shouldn’t happen. But then you look and see our guys are still learning how to play winning basketball, so you kind of put it in perspective.”
Just on the talent they possess, the Cavaliers are ready for anyone in the Eastern Conference, and that might even be linked to LeBron’s concerns. The Cavs have LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love, and not one team in the East can contend with their personnel pound for pound. Subconsciously knowing that could be hurting the team’s effort.
If the Cavs want to be anywhere close to ready for the Golden State Warriors in a potential Finals rematch, they have to be readying for a major statement in the Eastern Conference playoffs. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reacted to LeBron’s concerns today, saying he thinks LeBron isn’t happy about knowing that he’ll have to carry the Cavs in the playoffs.
Despite the cast of talent, LeBron still has to be super in order for the Cavs to win a title. He was that kind of super last year without Kyrie Irving (after Game 1) and Kevin Love and fell short in six games. This will be Irving and Love’s second trip to the playoffs in their careers. LeBron is looking for his team to sharpen up and be ready to hit a high gear as he typically does for the postseason, and as he knows, he’s going to have to lead them there.
