Dribbles: Suddenly, Cavs Are Team With Some Issues

Random dribbles on the Cavaliers on the heels of their disappointing 107-98 home loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday.

1. These are not the best of times for the Cavaliers. Since that nine-game winning streak and their utter domination in January, the Cavs have looked … well, average.

2. Most nights, they look like a team that won’t get out of the first round of the playoffs. Again.

3. Granted, Donovan Mitchell has missed time — and as we relayed, will miss at least the next three games with a bum knee.

4. The Cavs are not the same, period.

5. Fans are quick to point out that the sudden drop in consistency just happens to coincide with the returns of Evan Mobley and especially, Darius Garland.

6. I’m not about to put the entire blame on those two. But I will say this and it comes without a hint of hesitation — the offense has looked sharper with Mitchell running the point. 

7. Don’t get me wrong, Garland is still a good player and I’m a fan. But he just hasn’t been the same since missing all that time with a broken jaw, and perhaps understandably so.

8. So I’m not trying to spread doom about the future. I’m just telling you what I’ve seen lately. And after scoring at least 100 in 31 straight games, the Cavs have now failed to reach that mark twice since the All-Star break.

9. What’s frustrating for the Cavs is they know they can be better than this. We all saw it when they won 17 of 18 to kick off 2024. But Garland and Mobley returned, and suddenly they are sputtering. You can’t be mad at the fans or media for pointing that out. If you’re going to be mad about it, you can start with yourselves.

10. Now think about this — the Knicks didn’t have All-Star power forward Julius Randle or small forward OG Anunoby, a borderline All-Star. Then they lost All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson to a knee injury in the game’s first minute. And they still beat the Cavs on their own home floor.

11. That’s what is known as less-than-ideal.

12. And now think about this — the Cavs host the East-leading Boston Celtics on Tuesday. Boston just beat the Golden State Warriors by 52, and it wasn’t even that close. The Cavs have looked anything but ready for that type of opponent. 

13. By the way, Cleveland (39-21) has dropped to second in the Central Division and third in the Eastern Conference. Still pretty good, but it’s not about the standings. It’s about how you’re looking in the final month before the playoffs.

14. The answer: Just OK, at best. Certainly not as good as you could be.

15. Obviously, the Cavs need Mitchell, and Caris LeVert, who has also missed the last two games (elbow sprain). But they also need to show the resolve and cohesion they displayed before the All-Star break. Why those things are missing is truly anyone’s guess. It’s for coach J.B. Bickerstaff to figure out and make the changes accordingly. 

16. So yes, everyone is frustrated. But the Cavs can get it turned around. They can start by beating the Celtics. That’ll have you feeling real good quickly. It wouldn’t hurt to beat the West-contending Minnesota Timberwolves, who come to town on Friday. The Cavs also have a road game against the Atlanta Hawks sandwiched in there on Wednesday.

17. Time to panic? Most certainly not. Time to make some adjustments? Probably. The Cavs don’t have to win 17 of 18 all the time, but they do have to keep this thing from spiraling. In this league, it means nothing if you play your best basketball of the year in January. The Cavs say they know that. Now they have to go out and prove it.