The Cleveland Cavaliers have had one of the worst starts to the season in the LeBron James era, going 3-5 in their first eight games. After changing up their roster over the offseason, big things were expected of the Cavaliers heading into the season even without Isaiah Thomas suiting up until December or January. But the lack of chemistry and defensive assertiveness, injury to a few key players has really slowed down the defending Eastern Conference champions. The loss of Kyrie Irving due to a decision he made in the offseason has spelled instant trouble for the Cavs, although they defeated the Boston Celtics on opening night, their lack of cohesiveness as a unit has been very clear from the get-go, and it is evident in their poor record.
Many have been wondering why the Cavaliers have started losing. After injuries to Isaiah Thomas, Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade and Iman Shumpert keeping them out of some preseason and regular season games, it’s clear to see why the Cavs are struggling, and with another injury, things aren’t looking any better.
Tristan Thompson suffered a calf strain
Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Tristan Thompson played just 14 minutes tonight, a lot less than his usual minutes after sustaining a calf strain in his left leg. He leaped forward for the ball on a play that caused this to happen and began walking slowly and gingerly on his left leg. He had only been able to tally two points, seven rebounds, and one block, up until that point and was unable to help his Cavs teammates pull off a victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.
The Cavaliers fell to the Pacers 124-107.
According to a report from NBA columnist for FOX Sports Sam Amico, Tristan Thompson left the Quicken Loans Arena after the Cavaliers loss to the Pacers on Wednesday night hobbling and on crutches.
#Cavs’ Tristan Thompson exited The Q walking gingerly, on crutches.
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) November 2, 2017
More worries for Cleveland
With current injuries to all-star point guard Isaiah Thomas, two-way shooting guard Iman Shumpert, and now the former ‘Ironman’ of the NBA Tristan Thompson, the Cleveland Cavs are not in very good shape.
Their next game will be on Friday night against one of their toughest Eastern Conference foes, the John Wall and Bradley Beal led Washington Wizards. It will be a game that LeBron James and his squad will not want to lose. Just last year the Wizards claimed that the Cavaliers did not want to see them in the playoffs, that was said just before Washington got defeated by the Boston Celtics.
But although it’s early in the season for the team from Northeast Ohio, it is still a worry that they are facing injury and chemistry problems that are leading to losses. King James, as the team's leader, always expresses his ambition to win, and losing four games in a row is wearing on the almost 33-year old. And depending on how the season goes for Cleveland, it could decide LeBron’s fate when he becomes a free agent in 2018.
