Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dwyane Wade spoke about the team’s disappointing 3-5 start despite being the Eastern Conference favorites this season. According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Wade said other teams are not afraid of the Cavaliers anymore, saying they come here to “whip our butts.” Wade stressed that the season is early and he’s confident that the Cavaliers will eventually figure it out and regain their fearsome form at some point. The Cavaliers are tied for 12th place in the Eastern Conference ahead of only the Chicago Bulls (1-5) and Atlanta Hawks (1-7).
After starting 3-1, the Cavaliers lost four straight against teams that are not expected to contend this season, including the New York Knicks, New Orleans Pelicans, Indiana Pacers, and the Brooklyn Nets. Four of Cleveland's five losses this season have come by at least 17 points. The absence of Kyrie Irving is evident in the Cavaliers’ lack of scoring this season. Last season, the Cavaliers were fourth in scoring but now, they are just 17th with an average of 105.0 points per game. The Cavaliers’ defense is also miserable, giving up 111.9 points per game to opponents, good for 27th in the league. The Cavaliers are hoping that the return of Isaiah Thomas will shore up their offense. Until that happens, the Cavaliers will have to survive with their current lineup.
Wade compares Cavs to 2013-14 Heat
According to Wade, the current Cavaliers squad is in the same situation as that of the Miami Heat during the 2013-14 NBA season. That Heat team reached their fourth straight NBA Finals despite finishing with a 54-28 record, good for just second in the Eastern Conference. Wade likened that team to a “bad marriage” where the players have been around each other for four straight years and the “jokes weren't funny no more.” That team reached the NBA Finals, but they lost to the San Antonio Spurs in five games.
After that season, LeBron James returned to the Cavaliers and led them to three straight Finals appearances, including an NBA title in 2016.
Sleepless nights for coach Tyronn Lue
Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue admitted that he hasn’t slept for days amid the team’s 3-5 start, per McMenamin. However, Lue believes that the losing streak will serve the Cavaliers in the long run, saying it will make them a better team.
Lue added that it’s better to lose now than struggle late in the season. As of now, Lue is trying to solve the slump by finding the right combination in his lineup that will click, both on offense and defense.
