The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Cavaliers finally find a way to win one at home with their new lineup
Give Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue points for being honest.
“I’m panicking now,” Lue said Feb. 27 before the Cavs edged the pesky Nets, 129123, at Quicken Loans Arena.
There are several layers to his answer.
Two days ago, Isaiah Thomas said the Cavaliers were in “panic mode” when they shipped him and Channing Frye plus the Cavs’ own 2018 draft pick to the Lakers for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. at the Feb. 8 deadline.
Lue was asked to respond to Thomas’ remark. Lue’s panic doesn’t come from no longer having Thomas and five others dealt at the trading deadline.
He is panicking because he is basically in training camp mode with only 22 games left in the regular season. The next time the Cavaliers have back-toback days without games isn’t until April 7-8, and that means getting Clarkson, Lance, George Hill and Rodney Hood up to speed in time for the playoffs is going to be the biggest test of Lue’s career.
“I’ve never experienced this before, but I like what we have,” Lue said. “I like what we’ve done as far as the moves.
“These guys will be able to pick it up. When Kevin (Love) comes in, it will be another adjustment period. We’re just going to continue to keep working and figure it out.”
Love, recovering from a broken hand, is expected to be out another month at the least.
The Cavaliers beat Boston and Oklahoma City in the first two games after the trade. They made it look easy, too good to be true. And it was too good to be true.
Ironically, the Cavaliers are 4-0 on the road, but were 0-2 at home before slipping past the Nets, now 20-42. The more games Brooklyn loses, the better the Cavs’ chances are of getting a high pick with the Nets’ first pick in the draft this year.
But that’s a topic for another column.
The four new Cavaliers are trying to fill in as role players. Lue needs someone to be a lieutenant to LeBron James — a player who isn’t afraid to step out and assert himself. Hill took a step in that direction with 26 points against the Nets. Hood’s jumper with 40.2 seconds remaining put the Cavs ahead to stay, 122-121,
For the most part, though, James’ presence is so dominant it’s as though no one wants to take over, even if only for a few minutes a game, the way Kyrie Irving did so often the last three seasons when he and James were together. To that end, Lue said five plays were added for the new players at practice Feb. 26.
“Rodney needs touches, and Jordan,” James said after the shootaround Feb. 27. “We’re trying to make sure we get the ball to those guys because they are high-powered and can score the ball very efficiently and make shots.”
Hood admits he is still trying to find his niche. He has played in six games since the trade. He has made 26 of 66 shots from the field, with 11 of 26 coming from 3-point range.
“I just have to find myself, how I fit in with the other guys,” Hood said after the morning shootaround. “We’re still trying to figure that out, especially with the second unit. From that perspective, I have a little way to go, but just the energy and playing hard, especially, I think I’ve been doing a good job.”
Beating the lowly Nets doesn’t mean the problems are solved, but it’s a start.
Schudel can be reached at JSchudel@News-Herald. com; on Twitter: @jsproinsider