Factory Of Sadness
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Cleveland Cavaliers’ talent falls short to that of the Golden State Warriors

By Ryan Rosko

Jun 4, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) shoots against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) during the first half in game two of the 2017 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 4, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) shoots against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) during the first half in game two of the 2017 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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When push comes to shove, the Golden State Warriors have the Cleveland Cavaliers’ number in so many ways.

From their lack of on-ball defenders to their insistence on adding pieces that don’t fit the main focus of their season, the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ roster is hurting. After coming back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Golden Warriors last season, all that Cleveland needed to do was to make sure they stayed a step ahead of them.

The core returned, but Cleveland added piece to help them get to the 2017 NBA Finals, rather than actually winning it. Sure, it has only been two games and the series is technically not over, but come on.

Barring a Warriors’ injury, there does not seem a legitimate chance of Cleveland coming back into this series. I hope I am wrong, but the proof is in the pudding.

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No team can hold steady as changes to rosters are a must. Yet, look at what Golden State and Cleveland did respectively. The Warriors added one of the best players in the league in Kevin Durant. He joined an already potent starting lineup led by power forward Draymond Green and guards Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry.

The Warriors also already had a pretty solid bench too.

Meanwhile, Cleveland went about adding guards Deron Williams, Kyle Korver, Dahntay Jones, and forward Derrick Williams. Those players are average talents at best and the majority of them are just a fraction of what they once were.

This season’s roster for Cleveland was built to beat teams like the Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, and the Boston Celtics. Somewhere, somehow, they did not do enough to stop all the options Golden State can throw out at them (at last to this point).

Power forward/center Tristan Thompson has been an embarrassment. According to basketball-reference.com, Thompson is averaging just 4 points and 4 rebounds so far. I am actually kind of surprised those numbers are even that much.

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For as much hype and praise he gets regarding his game (but not by me), one would believe that he is one of the better layers in the NBA! The reality is that he is not and in fact is an overrated player who did not at the time and still does not deserve the five-year extension that he signed.

Between that and forward LeBron James‘ persistence to opt out frequently to obtain the most cash possible for the following season also hurts the Cavaliers’ flexibility to acquire the best possible 15 players.

If the Warriors don’t go all out on max deals or close to such contracts and still acquire Durant, there is no reason Cleveland cannot to do the same thing. Luckily, they have general manager David Griffin. Without him, adding certain pieces to their roster may not have been possible.

James would be wise to learn from former San Antonio Spurs big man Tim Duncan. The one-day NBA Hall of Famer regularly took less money for the sake of a better overall team. The Spurs were able to do what Golden State is doing.

Yes, Cleveland does to a degree go about making similar moves. However, at the end of the day it is all about the results.

Some of Cleveland’s players would be great fits for them if their play was that of five to eight years ago, but not now. Had the Cavaliers not re-signed Thompson or at least gave him less than what he was given, maybe, just maybe that added resource to help slow down Durant could have been added.

Adjustments have to be made, but in this series, it may be too late. Looking ahead (regardless of this series’ result), Cleveland must take a long look at the long-term potential of their roster. Not only that, but compare it to the Warriors and look back at past dominate championship winning teams’ rosters.

Next: Are the finals over after two games?


To put themselves in a position to perhaps be linked to the 2000’s Los Angles Lakers or the Spurs’ dynasty that was led by Duncan all of those years, James should take less money. Cleveland’s preference to add players who are either over the hill and/or falls short of what they could bring to the court on a regular basis also must stop.

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