The King isn’t dead, yet
Reports of the demise of the four-time defending Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers might have been exaggerated.
The Cavs started the year 5-7 with what was by far the worst defence in the entire NBA (113.1 points allowed per 100 posssesions), lost iron man Tristan Thompson to injury, Derrick Rose to self-doubt, unsuccessfully tried to shoe-horn Dwyane Wade into the starting lineup, and had to watch as Kyrie Irving played incredible basketball for a Boston side that was running away from the rest of the Eastern Conference.
Since then, consider that: The team has won 12 straight, with the league’s eighth-best defence and fourth-best offence in that span; LeBron James has not slowed down, is somehow shooting better than ever, in the midst of an MVP-worthy campaign; Kevin Love has flashed his old Minnesota form; Wade has morphed late in his career into an elite reserve alongside a red-hot Kyle Korver; All-star Isaiah Thomas should make his Cavs debut later this month; Rose has returned, Thompson isn’t far behind him and Jae Crowder, one of the league’s biggest disappointments so far, is even showing a pulse this month.
That’s not to say Cleveland’s ascension is a done deal and that the run will continue. Working Thomas, a high-usage player who needs the ball in his hands as frequently as possible, back into the mix will be a challenge. Even when Cleveland was struggling, the offence remained elite – all without Thomas. The defensive improvements have been the biggest factors in the turnaround and the 5-foot-7 Thomas is one of the poorest defenders in the NBA because of his lack of size and strength.
Plus there’s the Rose issue (he’s another awful defender and he can’t do many of the things on offence that made him a star in the past anymore either) and finding the right fit for Thompson without throwing Love off and trying to make the Wade-Rose pairing effective, even though both lack outside range.
Meanwhile, flying a bit under the radar, Utah has won five straight and Rudy Gobert, one of the best centres in the game, has returned with a bang from his injury. Gobert blocked a couple shots, hauled in 10 rebounds and helped the Jazz hold John Wall-less Washington to 69 points on Monday night in an oh so close 47-point victory.
Utah has stayed in the playoff race despite a run of injuries so far, and now should assert itself as a quality team (Utah is one of five teams ranked in the Top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
THE REF SHOW
Baseball has a big problem with its umpires thinking they are part of the show and the last thing basketball needs is that line of thinking spreading to its own referees.
Some officials have been too quick on the trigger when it comes to ringing up technical or ejecting players and it came to a head the other day when Shaun Livingston and Courtney Kirkland got into it.
Livingston got a game suspension, while Kirkland, in a clear sign that the NBA believed he was in the wrong, was taken off of the schedule for a week.
Raptors head coach Dwane Casey has been fined $25,000 a couple of times in the past for his statements about poor officiating and he and some of the players talked earlier this season about referees needing to step back sometimes instead of escalating confrontations.
That would be good. Players shouldn’t be free to berate or rain abuse on officials, but should be given some leeway for heat of the moment frustration.
Kevin Durant said he was thrown out too quickly when he and DeMarcus Cousins got the boot in Monday’s win over New Orleans. The Finals MVP has been tossed from three of his past 18 games.
CURRY BANGED UP
The bad news for NBA fans is that two-time MVP Stephen Curry injury and has been ruled out for Wednesday’s game. With his history of ankle issues, that’s always a big deal. However, the Warriors don’t think it is serious.
Another top player, San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard, is expected to make his season debut later this week. Somehow, the Spurs have won two thirds of the time so far without the team’s top scorer and best defender. Most consistent organization in sports.
Sticking with Top 5 players, New Orleans and Anthony Davis dodged a bullet when it was revealed that his groin injury did not involve any structural damage.
On the role player front, the struggling Los Angeles Clippers will get both Danilo Gallinari and Milos Teodosic back soon, though Blake Griffin is out long-term again.