Cleveland Cavaliers: Win in Atlanta May Be The Turning Point
By Ben Belden
Was a recent win by the Cleveland Cavaliers the opportunity for the organization to help get itself back on track to winning the NBA Championship?
After losing in the 2015 NBA Finals, the 2015-2016 season has been filled with drama for the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the 2016 calendar year, the Cavaliers have endured the firing of their head coach and the speculation of a Kevin Love trade.
More recently, there has been rumors of LeBron James considering leaving Cleveland once again, should the Cavaliers fail to make a deep postseason run. However, amid the drama and speculation, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been able to do something that has gotten somewhat swept under the rug: With seven games left in the season, the Cavaliers matched last season’s win total of 53.
Cleveland eclipsed that mark with their win Friday night in Atlanta over the Hawks. All of that success came despite the notion from many that the sky is falling in Cleveland.
For the Cleveland Cavaliers, much of the noise that has spewed as a result of inconsistent performances, frustrating losses to less talented teams, and unnamed sources leaking information on players’ mindsets is merely hyperbole. In March, the Cavaliers demonstrated domination at times, but questions remained when the team would falter against the league’s less successful teams.
One common denominator in the embarrassing losses has been the Cleveland Cavaliers’ play in back-to-back games. Three of the Cavs’ most frustrating losses –a 94-85 loss in Utah on March 14, a 122-101 loss in Miami on March 19, and a 104-95 loss in Brooklyn– were the second night of back-to-back games.
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For the Cleveland Cavaliers, the most likely scenario is the notion that the Cavaliers are bored with the drone of the regular season. That is likely the case rather than the notion that they do not possess the mental fortitude to perform under the pressures a playoff run would provide.
Evidence of the former notion was evident in the Cavaliers’ Friday night game against the Atlanta Hawks. Once again facing a back-to-back on the road, the Cavaliers set out to face one of the NBA’s hottest teams.
Entering Friday night’s game, the Hawks had won 12 of their prior 15 games and were once again playing the type of basketball that earned them the East’s number one seed last season. Early in the game, the Cleveland Cavaliers dominated, moving the ball on offense, pressuring the Hawks on defense, and were scoring in transition.
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The Cavaliers took a 21-point lead at one point, before falling victim to a narrative that has plagued them all too many times, as of late. Early in the third quarter, the Hawks went on a run, almost instantly cutting the Cavaliers’ lead to eight points early in the third.
Instead of relying on the ball movement that helped them balloon their lead, the Cavaliers resorted to isolation ball, resulting in contested perimeter shots, turnovers, and run-out opportunities.
Playing that way eventually gave the Hawks the lead and set up what proved to be a very entertaining fourth quarter of playoff-atmosphere basketball. However, the third quarter debacle may have set up what will prove to be a turning point for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
On the road, facing a talented team that had just delivered its best blow to the Cleveland Cavaliers, James and company endured everything the Hawks had to offer. The Cavaliers won 110-108 in an overtime battle, which proves the mental fortitude of this team.
Coming into Friday’s game, according to many people their mental fortitude had yet to manifest itself. Furthermore, the Cavs were able to win in spite of lackluster offensive performances from Kyrie Irving and J.R. Smith, who combined to go 9-for-35 from the field.
The Cleveland Cavaliers fell short of their NBA Title goals last season, largely because of injuries. This year, they are as healthy as they have been entering the last two weeks of the regular season and the playoffs.
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At the end of the day, the Cavaliers are becoming a team who can compete at the high stakes of the NBA Playoffs. Friday’s win in Atlanta may be a game fans point to as a turning point in the Cavaliers’ season as they continue to pursue a title in June.