The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Three games in and Cavs’ defense is already leaky
Three games deep into the new season, and the Cavaliers are struggling on defense.
Not coincidentally, they also are winless.
Against the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 21 at Quicken Loans Arena, in the home opener of the 2018-19 season, the Cavs hit rock bottom in a 133-111 loss to the Hawks.
Starting quickly on offense, the Cavs built a 22-7 lead with just under five minutes remaining in the first quarter.
From there, however, it was all downhill for the Cavs as Atlanta torched them from long range, short range and mid-range.
The Hawks, who like the Cavs came in 0-2, put up 40 points in the second quarter to take a 64-60 lead at halftime.
After the teams washed in the third quarter, the Hawks went back to work against the Cavs’ nearly non-existent defense.
Opening with a 16-5 run in the fourth quarter, the Hawks out-scored the Cavs in the quarter, 41-25, to complete the rout.
The Hawks shot 49 percent from the field overall and a blistering 46.8 percent from 3-point range (22 of 47).
Atlanta rookie guard Trae Young scored a gamehigh 35 points and made quick work of all the Cavs who tried to check him.
The fifth overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft out of Oklahoma also had 11 assists as the Hawks had six players score in double figures.
Cavs coach Tyronn Lue was not happy in his postgame meeting with reporters.
“We let them have two 40-point quarters. You can’t do that,” Lue said, speaking barely above a whisper.
Lue went on to say the Cavs need to “clean up” every aspect of their approach to defense.
The blowout at the hands of Atlanta followed road losses to Toronto (116-104) and Minnesota (131-123).
In both of those setbacks, the Cavs gave substandard efforts in individual and team defense. They have been a step slow getting to shooters at the 3-point line and porous at the basket.
“Our effort level wasn’t there (on defense), especially at the 3-point line,” veteran forward Kevin Love said in the quiet of the Cavs locker room after the poor outing against the Hawks.
Love added that the Cavs will need to regroup on defense going into their next game at home against the Brooklyn Nets on Oct. 24. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.