The Cleveland Cavaliers have gone a LONG way from where they were at the start of the season. From a team who couldn’t seem to beat the worst team in the NBA, the New York Knicks, to being solidified as the 2nd place team in the Eastern Conference. It’s been a roller coaster ride, but who wasn’t expecting that when you have an All time great (LeBron), a first year NBA coach (David Blatt), and two superstars who are learning not to be the number one guy (Kevin Love & Kyrie Irving). Things can be a headache.
Now, the Cleveland Cavaliers are 2nd in the Eastern Conference, but it is still a tight race between Cleveland, Toronto and Chicago, so things can change. David Blatt wants them to solidify 2nd place, LeBron wants health.
According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com:
“We got to finish in second place,” Blatt said Monday after the Cavs’ 106-92 loss to the Miami Heat. …
“The coaching staff, if that’s what they want, but for me, I never play for seeding. I just play,” [LeBron] said. “And wherever at the end of the season we land, I’m ready. Just get me in the playoffs. Get me in the playoffs, I feel like I can win on anybody’s floor. I feel like I can win at home. I’m that confident in my ability and our team’s ability. So I’ve never in my 12-year CAREER
played for seeding. That’s just not how I work.” …
James has different goals for the Cavs in the last month of the regular season.
“Health,” James said. “Health and chemistry. We got to continue to build our chemistry. We’re a young group, as far as cohesiveness on the floor. So we got to continue to build that, and we got to be healthy during the playoffs.”
I understand the concern that LeBron James has, and he is completely right. LeBron is entering the later stages in his career, and while his performance hasn’t decreased, he wants to make sure it stays that way. Coach Blatt, on the other hand, wants to take advantage of other teams being weak, (Toronto struggling, Chicago injured). The drama and fun continues in Cleveland.
