Cleveland Cavaliers Continue to Struggle With Identity
By Shane Phillips
@ShaneRantSports
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
It was an expectation that the Cleveland Cavaliers would automatically be a wrecking ball to start the season. Given the amount of hype surrounding LeBron James and the new proclaimed “Big 3,” it should not come as a surprise that success is expected. James knows it all too well from his time in South Beach with the Miami Heat and the experience with the Cavs is all too similar. The Heat struggled with its “Big 3” to start, and so is Cleveland.
Two nights after James and Kyrie Irving combined for 65 points in a 102-100 loss to the Utah Jazz, the Cavaliers took a much different approach against the Denver Nuggets. James and Irving only combined for 34 points, but got the supporting cast involved with 17 assists and seven players put up double figures. This collective effort led to an impressive and much-needed 110-101 victory.
Cleveland ended a four-game road trip with a victory and improved to 2-3. However, it is quite evident that the Cavs and James are suffering an identity crisis. Against the Jazz, they only had six assists as a team and three players put up double figures.
It will take some time for James, Irving, Kevin Love and the rest of the team to mesh. The problem is that James needs to figure out who he wants to be. Does he want to sit back and let Irving run the show like Wade did for James in Miami? Or does the “King” want to reclaim his crown and return as the hero to Cleveland? The development of the Cavs will be a big topic in the NBA all season long.
Shane Phillips is an NBA Writer at www.RantSports.com. Follow Shane on Twitter @ShaneRantSports, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also email Shane at [email protected].
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