Lue safe as coach for now

CLEVELAND — Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue has a long list of immediate concerns.

It appears keeping his job shouldn’t be one of them.

Despite the team’s lack of cohesion and its recent slide in the win-loss column, the Cavs have no immediate plans to replace Lue, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Sunday.

The status of Lue, who led the team to a championship in 2016 and appearances in the NBA finals the past three years, came into question after Saturday night’s 32-point home loss to Houston, the latest blowout suffered by a team in disarray. However, Lue’s job isn’t in danger because of the need for “keeping continuity” at this challenging time, given Cleveland’s roster overhaul and injuries, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday because of the sensitive nature of the situation.

Cleveland has lost 12 of its past 18 games, and star LeBron James and his teammates have been beaten by at least 24 points in four games during the span. They were booed by fans in Quicken Loans Arena almost from the start of the game against Houston, and after it was over, Lue and several of his players challenged the team’s level of effort and trust.

“We didn’t have no fight,” Lue said.

Said James: “I’m at a loss for words.”

Point guard Isaiah Thomas said the struggle is internal.

“We’re not together on both ends,” he said. “There’s a lot of one-onone on the offense end, maybe because we don’t trust each other. And then on the defensive end, it’s the same thing. Guys are put on islands and there’s no trust. I mean, if you don’t trust something — I don’t know.”

A search for answers has yielded no solutions during this prolonged slump, and Cleveland has looked overmatched against the league’s elite.