Cavs Aware Slow Starts Need Addressed, But Far From Uneasy

Coach J.B. Bickerstaff isn’t overly concerned after the Cavaliers’ had their four-game winning streak snapped Saturday vs. the 76ers.

After all, that came on the second night of a road back-to-back, not to mention a night after the Cavs exhausted themselves in coming back from 21 points down to beat the Pacers.

That said, the Cavs’ recent habit of starting slow — especially on the road — could be considered a bit more worrisome. Nothing major, but something that can afford to be cleaned up. Right, coach?

“Obviously that’s something we’ll make sure we fix,” Bickerstaff told reporters. “I don’t think it’s a consistent thing. I think there were two different circumstances, obviously both playing on the road, one team with a new nucleus that they put together Thursday night (Pacers) and then a team that I believe treated this like a playoff game with a message, a point to prove (Sixers).

“So we’re going to face all these different circumstances, and as a young team that’s still growing, we gotta learn from them.”

Bickerstaff is right in that it’s not been a “consistent thing” for the Cavs. He is also correct when he says the Cavs are a young team. The nucleus of Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and the rest weren’t supposed to be this far, this soon.

So the occasional lesson is expected, even appreciated. As much as fans would like to see it (and sometimes even expect it), no one in NBA history has gone 82-0.

What matters is you learn from the losses and use those lessons to stay in games and give yourself a chance to win. This year’s Cavs have proven that’s who they are.

That is true even in losses, such as the ones to league MVP candidate Joel Embiid and the suddenly hard-charging 76ers.

“We try to come out every game with intensity,” Garland said after the game. “They were just more aggressive. I mean, they wanted this game more than we did. They see us close to the top.

“So we got a target on our back. I’ve been saying that all year. We have a target on our back, people are going to come out aggressive try to be their best.”

Starting faster should help the Cavs overcome that truth.