Not many people expected the Cleveland Cavaliers to be sitting in fifth place in the Eastern Conference two months into the season. When you build a SuperTeam, 5th place is not where you set your sights … and Cavs fans are grousing about it.
But when you have a new coach, two imported superstars who have to change their games, a franchise cornerstone (Kyrie Irving) who is not the franchise cornerstone anymore, there are going to be growing pains. And that is what the Cavs are experiencing now — though they have shown flashes of dominance during their four- and eight-game winning streaks.
So the message to Cavs fans is this … be patient. And if you need a reminder of what real patience looks like, take a look at the championship starved fans in New York, where the Knicks lead the NBA in losses in the first year of Phil Jackson’s team presidency. If Jackson made one major mistake this season, it was predicting a playoff appearance for his hapless band of knuckleheads.
Those were two of the topics of discussion today in this interview with Gregg Giannotti on CBS Sports Radio. Enjoy.
Chris Sheridan is publisher and editor-in-chief of SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter.
I’m more concerned about the loss of Anderson Varejao, than any shortcomings of Kevin Love.
They have to pick up someone. I assume a nice injury exception is coming, but not sure how it can be used. Andray Blatche is in China, and his successful team may go far into the playoffs. Miami also is interested in Blatche, and so might Nets (who own his Early Bird rights), if Lopez is traded, without bringing back a Center. Blatche focusing on defense isn’t his priority, but the guy is talented, and has at times been a rim protector.
Come February, Andrei Kirilenko will be available. Its not clear if Phila will wave him, as he doesn’t want to play there. I like him much more than Ray Allen. AK47 can’t shoot much from mid range, but he either gets fouled or makes a nice pass driving to basket. And he creates chaos for the opposition on defense.
Obviously coach Blatt likes Kirilenko, but he will need to play a few games, to get back in shape. If he chooses to play for Phila. then they will try to trade him for a return. AK is devoting his time to his pregnant wife.