After the Cleveland Cavaliers took a 29-point beatdown from the San Antonio Spurs, LeBron James comforted Kyrie Irving, who had just tied a season-low eight points on 4-of-13 shooting.
LeBron James comforted Kyrie Irving after the Cavaliers’ 29-point loss to the Spurs
Irving took to the court to get some shots up after Cleveland’s loss.
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“It’s a delicate time right now for our team,” James said after the loss, via ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. “A lot of people talking ... guys in the locker room. I’m not saying it’s for the bad. We’ve got a couple guys that’s shown leadership, some guys that’s been in the fray before that’s giving their opinions.
“I’ve learned over the season there’s a time and place for it. Certain situations. I kind of wait for the right time ... So my time will come.”
Irving was “very down” after the Cavaliers’ loss to the the Spurs on Monday night, according to Shelburne. You can understand why. His team was just outrun by a San Antonio team regarded as one of the oldest in the league. The Cavaliers scored just 74 points on 37 percent shooting. They couldn’t stop the Spurs from getting to the paint, a trend as they’ve built the league’s second-worst defense since the All-Star break.
And they ceded the East’s No. 1 seed to the Boston Celtics.
With a rightfully despondent locker room in tow, the 24-year-old All-Star point guard handled his emotions the way anyone else who lives the game of basketball would: He got up some shots.
The Cavaliers will get back on track — that’s what champions do. But it’s been a roller coaster ride for a team many thought had smooth sailing to its third straight finals appearance.
Cleveland is 5-9 in the month of March and lost five of those games by 12 or more points. The Cavaliers are at full strength, having seen J.R. Smith and Kevin Love return from surgeries. They are also integrating Deron Williams into the game plan and will need to call up Larry Sanders from the Canton Charge.
Yes, the Cavaliers’ defense is bad, but history shows they get things going when it matters in the playoffs. Head coach Tyronn Lue said he has a “secret plan” to fix Cleveland’s defense, but he’s holding back on it for the postseason. Maybe there’s a method to his madness.
But until then, Cleveland should just do what they’ve done best this season, and what Irving did after last night’s game. And it should be easy to do against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.
Get some shots up.
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