The Tyronn Lue era started with a thud, just as the David Blatt era ended. The Cavaliers played one of the most uninspired games of the season and lost to the Bulls, 96-83. Despite getting the change in leadership they reportedly craved so much, Cleveland continued to be an inconsistent team trying to find a groove, maybe because that's just who they are, at least at this point in the season.
NBA scores 2016: David Blatt wasn’t the problem with the Cavaliers and 3 other things we learned
No matter who their coach is, it will take time for the Cavaliers to click like they did at the end of last season.
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Had this loss happened under David Blatt, it would have been taken as a proof that the players had quit on him. After a good start, the Cavaliers were out-hustled inside and the bench contributed next to nothing. They inexplicably went 9 for 22 from the free throw line and missed their last 16 field goal attempts of the first quarter, showing how feast or famine their offense can be. The 17 assists on 35 made baskets shows how dependent on the stars the team is to score instead of getting buckets by moving the ball and executing. Even the body language was poor.
Aside from the free throw woes, those were the problems they had against good teams when Blatt was roaming the sidelines. General manager David Griffin has once again claimed that the change was made to improve the morale in the locker room and to get the most out of this roster. There’s a chance this is as good as they can be while they figure out their identity after weathering several injuries to start the year and not being able to reach the level they showed last season was what’s bringing everybody down, not Blatt.
Drawing conclusions from just one game would be silly, of course. Cleveland was going against a talented Chicago team on a night in which Pau Gasol was inspired. The outside shots were falling. The defense, buoyed by Taj Gibson and Jimmy Butler, was phenomenal for long stretches. Nikola Mirotic had one of those games in which he can't miss and looks like a future star. Chicago is inconsistent and prone to swings in which everything clicks before it all falls apart -- often within a game -- but they managed to play well for the majority of the night and earned the win.
After the game, Lue made it a point to prove that change is coming. He mentioned that Cleveland will play faster and he held players, including the stars, accountable for not being in optimal shape for that style. He seems determined to transform the Cavaliers in the next three months and get them ready for the playoffs at the peak of their game. The talent is there for them to cruise through the East and Lue could absolutely be the right man for the job for years to come. Griffin probably made the right call.
Expecting to see a lot of instant improvement, however, seems like a recipe for disappointment. Until the players rediscover what made them special as a team last season, it might not matter who sits on the bench with the clipboard.
End of the line: David Blatt dumped by the Cavaliers
3 other things we learned
No other teams with playoff aspirations have been decimated with injuries as much as the Pelicans and the Hornets. New Orleans started the season missing almost its entire big man rotation and has lost both Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans to injuries at different points in the season. The Hornets, meanwhile, are missing Al Jefferson and his backup, Cody Zeller, as well as Nicolas Batum. Oh, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist hasn't even made his season debut since suffering a shoulder injury in preseason.
Somehow, however, they are still in the playoff picture. New Orleans got great contributions from P.J. Hairston, Jeremy Lin and Kemba Walker and got a win over the Knicks that leaves them just two games out of the eighth spot.
With almost half the season left to be played, both teams have a shot at the postseason. They might ultimately fall short, but that doesn’t mean their resiliency is any less impressive.
The Suns have some exciting young talent
The Suns beat the Hawks in a thriller on an Archie Goodwin buzzer-beating three-pointer. Not long ago, Goodwin was barely seeing the court, but on Saturday injuries forced coach Jeff Hornacek to start him for the second time this season, and the 21-year-old wing delivered. He finished the game with 24 points, four assists, two steals and two blocks and came through in the clutch despite being a career 23-percent three-point shooter.
He's not the only player who is making the most of the opportunity to prove his worth. Devin Booker wasn't efficient on Saturday but still pitched in 15 points and has looked like a potential star at times. Alex Len, meanwhile, is producing both when he starts alongside Tyson Chandler and when he comes off the bench. He had 16 points, 12 rebounds and six assists on Saturday and is slowing shedding the "bust" label.
The losses will keep on piling on -- the win against the Hawks snapped a six-game losing streak -- but at least Phoenix is getting a glimpse at the future and it’s promising.
DeMarcus Cousins deserves to be an All-Star
DeMarcus Cousins finished 10th in All-Star votes among frontcourt players in the West and with his reputation, he might miss the festivities altogether, as the coaches could be reluctant to vote him in. It would be a shame, though, because he's most definitely a star. Against the Pacers he had a career-high 48 points in just 29 shots and pulled down 12 rebounds to lead the Kings to their fifth win in a row.
Cousins is not just putting up hollow stats on a bad team. His Kings have the eighth best record in the West and would be making the playoffs if the season ended today. When he has not been available they have been 1-7 this season and the Kings are 10 points per 100 possessions better when he’s playing as opposed to in the bench.
Sure, he has attitude problems and his shot selection is far from ideal but there are not 12 players better than him in the West right now. Get that man to Toronto, NBA coaches.
Play of the night
Suns' Archie Goodwin hits last-second, game-winning three to beat Hawks pic.twitter.com/bRlaD3ypuX
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) January 24, 2016
Archie Goodwin for the win!
2 fun things
Final scores
Hornets 97, Knicks 84 (At the Hive recap | Posting and Toasting recap)
Pelicans 116, Bucks 99 (The Bird Writes recap | Brew Hoop recap)
Timberwolves 106, Grizzlies 101 (Canis Hoopus recap | Grizzly Bear Blues recap)
Bulls 96, Cavaliers 83 (Blog a Bull recap | Fear the Sword recap)
Suns 98, Hawks 95 (Bright Side of the Sun recap | Peachtree Hoop recap)
Nuggets 104, Pistons 101 (Denver Stiff recap | Detroit Bad Boys recap)
Trail Blazer 121, Lakers 103 (Blazer's Edge recap | Silver Screen and Roll recap)
Kings 108, Pacers 97 (Sactown Royalty recap | Indy Cornrows recap)
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