The Cavaliers can't win them all. But still, Saturday's loss in Charlotte is the reason why I think the Cavs are yet a step behind true elite status in the NBA.
After impressive wins over Washington and San Antonio to start the season, the Cavs had a major letdown Saturday. As happened many times last season, they treated a game against a league dreg like a scrimmage, and it cost them.
File this under the same heading with last season's embarrassing losses to Atlanta, New York, Golden State and the overtime skin-of-their-teeth win over the Bobcats.
Truly great teams not only get up to play other great teams, they also take care of business and beat the teams they are supposed to beat, even if it isn't the most adrenaline-stimulating opponent, even if it's the second night of back-to-backs.
At the end of the season, when Cleveland is jockeying for postseason positioning with the other top teams in the East, losses like Saturday's are what will cost them.
I hate to look at it like Saturday's loss essentially cancelled out Friday's spectacular win in San Antonio, but it really does.
The Cavs won't reach the uppermost echelon of NBA teams until they learn to not have these letdowns against lottery teams.
1 comment:
This was a classic 'trap game' not being made any easier by the travel schedule.
I am trying to make excuses? Maybe, but I really think that this wouldn't have happened later on in the season.
There were long stretches of time where Adam Morrison was guarding LeBron and he didn't attack.
But you're right, this does cancel out that great SA win. What's the point of beating a good team if you then lose to crappy one?
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