It has been a rough start of the 2017-18 season for the Cleveland Cavaliers so far. The Cavaliers made a couple of significant roster changes this past summer, hoping to narrow the gap between themselves and the Golden State Warriors. But, it seems that all of the roster changes they made are affecting their team chemistry this season and their overall team performance on the court. The Cavaliers hold a 5-7 record after the first 12 games of the season, and they are at the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference standings right now.
Key Cavs players out with injuries
As it is already well known, the Cavaliers acquired Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder and Ante Zizic from the Celtics in exchange for Kyrie Irving this past summer. Thomas had a career-year last season with the Celtics, averaging a career-high 28.9 points per game on 46 percent shooting. The Cavs are surely hoping to get similar production from Thomas once he's back on the court, considering he's been sidelined due to a hip injury for more than 2 months now.
Thomas is yet to play a single game for the Cavaliers this season, and the team expects him to be back on the court sometime around January. His absence, along with Tristan Thompson's recent injury and Derrick Rose's knee issues, has had a lot to do with the way the Cavaliers have performed so far.
There's no denying that, having a healthy Isaiah Thomas back in the lineup, will once again make Cleveland look like a contender. On Thursday night, before the game against the Houston Rockets, LeBron James also commented on isaiah thomas' impact once he returns.
LeBron doesn't want to put pressure on Isaiah
The Cavs faced the Houston Rockets on Thursday night in Houston, and before the game, LeBron James talked to the media.
He was asked about his team's slow start so far in the season and also about what will it mean having Isaiah Thomas back in the lineup. "IT (Isaiah Thomas) is definitely a big piece of what we want to do, but IT hasn't stepped out on the floor in a Cavs uniform yet," said LeBron. He then went on to say: "We know what he's capable of doing, but he hasn't played with us, so we don't want to put that type of pressure on him, even though he loves it."
The level of respect LeBron has for Isaiah Thomas is more than apparent as he seems to be looking forward to playing alongside Thomas.
James is also aware that a lot is expected from Isaiah Thomas once he's back on the court, but he is also aware that his absence is not the only issue for the Cavaliers. LeBron also said in his pregame interview that having a lot of new players on the team has also affected the Cavaliers' performance so far in the season. "I would say probably since my first year in Miami (this is the first time) having this many new bodies," James said.
One thing is for sure, LeBron is doing his job the best he can so far. Throughout the first 12 games of the season, James is averaging 29.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 8.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
