The Cleveland Cavaliers Woes So Far

The Cleveland Cavaliers have only four wins compared to seventeen losses. The team has a record worse then the Detroit Pistons, the Orlando Magic, and the Charlotte Bobcats. After a  looking promising last year, Cleveland looked ready to at least compete for a playoff spot. They have taken a turn for the worse. I am very surprised by their downfall especially with the play of  certain players.

Anderson Varejao
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The team is getting very good production from it's best players. C Anderson Varejao is having a breakout season, averaging about 14 ppg and a league-leading 15.2 rpg. Of his 15.2 rpg, 6.1 of them are offensive boards. He is a candidate for NBA MVP and Most Improved Player. SG Dion Waiters, the fourth overall pick in the 2012 Draft, is averaging about 15 points a game. PG Kyrie Irving, last season NBA Rookie of the Year, is the team leader in points and assists per game with about 22 and 5 respectively. PF Tristin Thompson is also averaging about eight points and seven points per game.

Kyrie Irving broke his left index finger ten games into the season. Since then they have gone 2-10. They have beaten the Atlanta Hawks and the Philadelphia 76ers, both playoff teams, during this stretch. But, without Irving, they have lost to the 8-12 Portland Trailblazers the 7-12 Orlando Magic, the 7-14 Phoenix Suns, the 7-15 Detroit Pistons twice. You can't lose all five games against these teams. That is asking for trouble.

Cleveland's offensive has been OK, nothing spectacular, but not horrible. The defensive has not been very good. They are last in the league in opponent's field goal percentage with almost .490 percent. The reason is that  they do not have a shut-down defensive player. They really need someone with length on the outside to guard a team's best wing player. They gave up 26 points to Kevin Durant, 25 to Joe Johnson, 30 to LeBron James, and 25 to Josh Smith. 

Kyrie Irving
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Cleveland does have some good news, Irving should return soon from his injury. His return should spark the team to perform better. He will create more shots for his teammates and will not be afraid to take a jumper. Even when Irving returns, the Cavs have got to play very aggressive and with an edge.  Waiters must be a more efficient scorer. He can't have an average field goal percentage of .363. Jeremy Pargo will also need to continue his good production (11.9 ppg) as Irving's back-up. He needs to shot better. If they can't turn the season around, especially if they can't make a good run and end up around the 10th-11th seed, expect a high lottery pick for Cleveland.