Gene Smith still confident in Thad Matta as head coach
March 26, 2016USMNT forced into must-win after 2-0 loss to Guatemala
March 26, 2016Never has a good season by a Cleveland team felt so long, grinding and sometimes even miserable, but in the end this Cleveland Cavaliers team is playoff caliber. At least that’s what LeBron James is saying today with ten games left in the regular season.
Joe Vardon from Cleveland.com had the quote from shoot-around in New York as the Cavs get ready to face the Knicks.
“And obviously we’ve got 10 games left and I’m not going to shortcut that because we still can get better, but my whole mindset is getting these guys ready for the long run. I think we have enough, no I know we have enough and we just got to go out and do it.”
LeBron also used Twitter to hammer home the point that at least outwardly, he’s flipped the switch.
Focused! Let's make this run boys #TheLand #StriveForGreatness
— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 26, 2016
The Cavaliers are riding high in the eastern conference and seem poised to be an even more complete team than the one that fell short to the Warriors in the NBA Finals last season, and yet it’s mostly been joyless. When a team is measured against the best and has pre-season championship expectations, it’s easy to focus on only the negatives and hold them up as proof as to why they won’t be able to achieve the ultimate goal. It’s probably largely just being a victim of the moment, however. Once the playoffs begin and the teams are locked into the series structure, it’s a totally different ball game. Nobody knows this better than LeBron James, and despite the vicissitudes of the 2015-16 NBA regular season, with 10 games left on the schedule, LeBron James is saying the Cavaliers have the guns to fight the fight.
Obviously saying it and doing it are two completely different things. LeBron James’ leadership has come into question at times this season and recently his GM and coach spoke to him about the example he was setting, so it stands to reason that there are questions.
[Also See: LeBron James doesn’t get a free pass from officials]
At the same time, this is a team that went 14-6 in the NBA playoffs last year. The Cavs swept the Celtics, beat the Bulls 4-2 and then swept the Hawks as well. They scored two victories against the Warriors in those Finals with neither Kyrie Irving nor Kevin Love on the court. I know it’s been an awkward year for the team, but these are facts as the team heads into the playoffs. The Warriors and Spurs look amazing – maybe even unbeatable – but let’s not forget that the Warriors had 67 wins a year ago too. They came out on top, but it wasn’t always thought to be inevitable. The Warriors trailed Memphis 2-1 as well.
It’s good to see LeBron James change the message on the eve of the playoffs. No matter what has happened during the regular season, the Cavaliers have one of the most talented rosters in the NBA and some of the most talented individual players in the league. They’ve got a variety of skillsets from both stars and role players, veterans and younger guys. This is a team worthy of a title run, and it’s time for them to start talking and acting like it. They should expect to compete on the biggest stage this season and even if it’s another quote in a string of odd communications from LeBron James, it’s important for him to say it like Stuart Smalley’s daily affirmations have invaded his brain.