Charles Barkley on Cavs: ‘They don’t have no dawgs’

Charles Barkley has never been one to mince words. And after watching the Cavaliers blow a 29-point lead in their season opener, he wasn’t about to start.

The Cavs fell to the 76ers, 114-106, on Thursday night, despite leading by 24 at halftime. Philadelphia came roaring back behind Tyrese Maxey, and Cleveland looked awfully familiar in the process.

Barkley saw a team with plenty of talent, but not necessarily the type of personality needed to withstand that sort of challenge.

“Well, the problem is they don’t have no dawgs,” Barkley said on Inside the NBA following the game. “They got some good players, some really good players, but you have to have a guy who imposes his will on the game.”

Fellow analyst Kenny Smith offered a similar assessment, suggesting that playing with effort and playing with physical force aren’t necessarily the same thing.

Smith’s point was that the Cavs can play hard, but when the game slows down and becomes more physical, they don’t always have the strength or presence to dictate what happens.

That’s a pretty strong assessment after one game. Then again, this isn’t exactly a new concern.

The Cavs experienced a similar meltdown against the Knicks in Game 1 of last season’s Eastern Conference finals, squandering a 22-point fourth-quarter lead.

Barkley and Smith also discussed the Cavs’ frontcourt, with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen coming under scrutiny for their lack of consistent physical play.

Both are talented big men who can look dominant for stretches, but can also be pushed out of their comfort zones when opponents increase the pressure.

Donovan Mitchell finished Thursday’s loss with 32 points, but scored just two in the fourth quarter. Mobley finished with 18 and Allen added 14.

The Cavs have plenty of scoring, size and experience. They also have championship expectations.

But Barkley’s point was fairly simple. Having good players is one thing. Having someone who can impose his will when things start getting difficult is another.

And after Thursday’s second-half collapse, the Cavs have already given their critics something to talk about.

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