The Cleveland Cavaliers have had a somewhat disappointing start to the season with a 1-2 record through three games. This had to be expected considering all the parts that were added to the suddenly championship-caliber team.
LeBron James, who had yet to mature into the leader we see today during his first stint with the Cavs, had some interesting remarks about the team (via ESPN.com).
We have to understand what it takes to win,” James said. “It’s going to be a long process, man. There’s been a lot of losing basketball around here for a few years. So a lot of guys that are going to help us win ultimately haven’t played a lot of meaningful basketball games in our league.
When we get to that point when every possession matters , no possessions off — we got to share the ball, we got to move the ball, we got to be a team and be unselfish — we’ll be a better team.
Some may take these comments as a bit of a shot at his teammates who were on losing Cavs teams of the past, but in reality they are the words of a leader that is noticing some issues on his new team.
James continued…
There’s a lot of bad habits; a lot of bad habits have been built up over the last couple of years and when you play that style of basketball it takes a lot to get it up out of you,” James said. “But I’m here to help and that’s what it’s about.
This could potentially be a reference to the starting backcourt tandem of Dion Waiters and Kyrie Irving, who shot a combined 6-of-28 from the field in a 101-82 loss to the Portland Blazers on Tuesday. Both seemed to take some ill-advised shots, especially early in Cavaliers possessions.
In reality, LeBron is 100 percent correct here. Cleveland needs to move the ball better on a consistent basis in order for all the talent on the team to pay off. And that ball must move through LeBron James, especially considering he’s the one that will end up making it all work moving forward.
There doesn’t seem to be much panic coming from James here. He expected some growing pains early in the season. And looking back to his first season with the Miami Heat, early struggles were to be expected here.
Let’s just hope other young Cavaliers stars don’t take these comments out of context.
Photo: NBA.com