It is probably tough to be a Cleveland Cavalier player today at practice because coach Byron Scott will likely work them like dogs after last night’s embarrassing performance against the Miami Heat in LeBron James’ homecoming.
Yes, the Heat are a more talented team than the Cavs with three all stars on the roster, but what is disappointing is the wine and gold players did not match the intensity of their opponents, let alone the fans.
It was an unacceptable performance and it makes you, and probably owner Dan Gilbert wonder about the make up of the players on his roster.
It’s one thing to lose, it’s another to joke around with the opponent as he is beating you.
There are many Cavs players who need to look in a mirror today.
There is no question that this game meant more to the fans than it did the players, but maybe it shouldn’t have. After all, James basically told them they weren’t good enough when he decided to leave the franchise to go play for the Heat.
When James was hanging around the Cleveland bench near the end of the second quarter and was engaged in banter with Daniel Gibson and some other Cavalier players, it was not cool.
One of the Cavs’ veterans, such as an Antawn Jamison or a Leon Powe, should have stood up and sternly told the opposing player to get away from his bench.
That would have sent a message to James and also his teammates.
Both Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller on TNT were critical of how the Cavs bench behaved.
Yes, it’s a new generation and it is tough for old school people to identify with how the younger generation handles things.
Sometimes, change isn’t for the good.
Fans need to know that their team wants to win. Last night, supporters of the wine and gold have to think their team was more interested in seeing their friend again.
One of the criticism of the wine and gold over the past few seasons was the lack of a killer instinct, and that was when LeBron James was on the team. That showed once again last night.
That’s why the Lakers win. Kobe Bryant is a stone cold killer. He wants to beat you, not be your buddy. His teammates say the same thing about him. However, that’s why he’s a winner of five NBA championships.
Unfortunately for the NBA, there aren’t a lot of players with that personality any more, everybody wants to be everyone else’s buddy.
It the same trait that Michael Jordan had, Magic Johnson had, Larry Bird had, and Isiah Thomas had.
Recently, Thomas was interviewed in The Sporting News and he said the reason he doesn’t get along with ex-players like Bird and Johnson is because he beat them.
He still has the fire and he’s been retired for 15 years.
Check out Jordan’s Hall of Fame induction speech. He still wants to win. He wasn’t out to make friends.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have to look at themselves today to see if they have that quality. They certainly didn’t show it last night and it was an unacceptable performance.
JK
Cleveland Sports Perspective 