Cleveland Cavaliers Aren’t NBA Finals Ready Quite Yet: And That’s OK
Nov 2, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Injured Cleveland Cavaliers guards Iman Shumpert (left) and Kyrie Irving (right) watch warm ups before action against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Injuries and Roster Shuffling
Kevin Love recovered from last season’s shoulder injury, but now he’s the focal point of the offense and everyone is learning to play in a Love-Centric world. Where to get him the ball, when to get him the ball, and what to do when he’s in the game.
Kyrie Irving broken knee cap isn’t ready to go quite yet, and free Agent acquisition Mo Williams is doing his best to fill in as a scorer.
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But the reality is that while he and LeBron have a history together, the rest of the team isn’t the team that played around him last time he was in Cleveland. Then there’s JR Smith and Iman Shumpert. Last season Smith kept Shumpert on the bench because of his proficiency in hitting the 3. However, Smith has struggled to find his shot in the early going, and he has to prove himself again after wilting in the NBA Finals. Meanwhile Iman Shumpert, the defensive stopper, is recovering from a wrist injury suffered on the first day of training camp.
To bottom line it: the Cleveland Cavaliers to be 8-3. I’m not concerned about their season yet, and fans shouldn’t be either. This team is at a different point than the Golden State Warriors. expected Both are picked to return to the Finals and both squads are among the NBA’s elite, bringing it every night.
The Cavs just haven’t peaked yet, and that’s OK. It’s only November!
If the Warriors didn’t have Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, or Draymond Green this season, let alone two of them, I highly doubt they would be 11-0. Their execution and effort every night might be a little off in the same way that the Cavaliers are experiencing. We’ll see what the story is come April.
Next: What does need to Improve?