The Cleveland Cavaliers have little reason to panic, but LeBron James knows the three-time reigning Eastern Conference champions to improve before the playoffs.
Following a 102-88 loss to the Boston Celtics, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, James said he’s always concerned about other teams getting better but is more focused on Cleveland progressing.
“The East is pretty damn good this year, and right now we’re not so good. [We were] great, [now] not so good. See what happens next. But you’ve always got to be concerned with the competition, for sure.”
LeBron pointed out the Celtics, Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat as top competition in the East.
To lose so decisively when former Cavs guard Kyrie Irving only has 11 points stings, and Cleveland trudged through its second-worst shooting game of the season. The team hit a meager 34.8 percent from the field, as well as 25.0 percent beyond the arc.
But, again, nobody should panic.
Isaiah Thomas recently returned from a hip injury, so the Cavs are now learning how to play with another All-Star. There is a learning curve, and it will require some patience.
Plus, a midseason slump is seemingly a yearly occurrence for Cleveland, which has dropped five of its last seven games. The Cavs encountered a rough 2-6 stretch in January last season, too.
Cleveland will eventually adjust to Thomas being in the lineup. A long winning streak will overshadow this brief skid. LeBron and Co. will likely be the popular pick to advance through the East and reach the NBA Finals.
The Cavs aren’t a great team right now, no. But it doesn’t matter yet.