Despite Isaiah Thomas’ emphatic — and, to be sure, reasoned — denial that the Cavaliers are imploding, only the most partisan observers would dare conclude that things haven’t taken a turn for the worse. When a team meeting in which fingers are pointed becomes necessary and is then followed by an unconvincing victory, fissures can’t be dismissed as part and parcel of any franchise’s long and arduous trek to success. Theirs are deep-rooted and systemic, and not even their prodigious talent base starring an All-World figure looks to be enough to stem their swoon.
Granted, the Cavaliers aren’t new to drama; every year since LeBron James returned to the fold in 2014, they have had to weather highly publicized storms. They then seem to gather themselves and subscribe to a collective cause once they see themselves at a crossroads. And so they have wound up not so much as overcoming their dysfunction as riding them en route to three Finals stints and one championship (and, of course, in record-setting, come-from-behind fashion).
This time, though, the travails don’t just feel different. They are different, complicated in no small measure by a significant roster turnover that has rocked both their identity and their culture. And so their quest to do battle for the Larry O’Brien Trophy yet again has hit hurdles so high that not even James’ best season since the turn of the decade appears enough to overcome. The All-Star break is just around the corner, and yet they’re still adjusting to each other, still struggling to buy in, still, well, detached.
If there is any optimism, it’s grounded on three inherent truths: 1) James is James, and his capacity to lead — as proven by his personal streak of seven consecutive Finals stints — trumps adversity; 2) the Cavaliers are stacked, and, at the very least on paper, built to provide a variety of productive lineups in the pace-and-space era; and 3) there remains time to correct flaws in what looks to be a solid foundation.
Unfortunately, nothing the Cavaliers have done of late gives cause for hope. They’re splintered on and off the court. Under the klieg lights, their offense — once a reliable crutch, if nothing else — has skirted with mediocrity and is no longer able to hide their glaring lack of effort on the other end of the floor. In private, they’ve resorted to backbiting and pettiness, going so far as to sell otherwise-innocuous moments as slights to an inviting media, and anonymously to boot.
German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once said, “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” Which should be good news for the Cavaliers, because whatever “that” is hasn’t snuffed the life out of them yet. And as defensive as Thomas may have been yesterday, even he subscribed to the notion that the best version of themselves lies ahead. “I know in this circle and this team, everybody believes in each other, and everybody’s in here for it to work and for us to be playing in June. That’s the ultimate goal.” Depending on perspective, he’s either right or simply blowing hot air.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is the Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Basic Energy Corp.
