A loss to a genuinely bad team without their best player was the last thing the Cleveland Cavaliers needed right now. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened on Monday night.
It’s been a rough for the Cavs as of late, and what should have been a get right game against a Brandon Miller-less Charlotte Hornets team turned into a complete disaster.
The final differential may have only been 12, but that’s not an accurate indicator of how this game went. Charlotte was once up by 33 against Cleveland and could have won in complete blowout fashion if they wanted.
Again, the Hornets were without their best player in Miller. This cannot be stressed enough. A result like this against a title contender? Sure. Whatever. File this under “it happens” and move forward. Against a bottom of the barrel Hornets team? Completely unacceptable.
It’s clear that something isn’t working. Personnel or coaching wise, a change needs to be made.
Kenny Atkinson
If there has been anyone on the hot seat before the season began it’s Kenny Atkinson. What once began as a welcome change from JB Bickerstaff has grown stale and tired.
Under-performance and disappointing outcomes can only be tolerated for so long before a team is forced to make a change. Yeah, it’s early in the season, but the Cavs haven’t exactly looked like title contenders much less a team that deserves a play-in spot.
If the Cavaliers continue to play in this fashion, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Atkinson let go.
James Harden
Perhaps the least popular player on the current roster right now. James Harden was acquired late last season for Cleveland’s championship push. While that fell short, the Cavs were counting on Harden’s play making ability to make a difference this season.
This is less to do with Harden’s skill and more to do with overall fit. It seems like trying to solve a puzzle without the right pierces and trying to make it work anyway. Harden may be better off on a team that doesn’t have to share the backcourt with a player of Donovan Mitchell’s caliber.
Granted, this has been a team wide failure, but removing a key part of that from the equation may be all they need to fix it.
Blow it all up and start over
By far, the most popular overreaction on the internet. The Cleveland Cavaliers blowing it all up and building a new foundation is a bold idea, but it’s not without merit.
Eventually, any core grouping of players runs their course. It seems like this version of the Cavs is nearing that point if they haven’t already.
It’s not realistic to consider (for now), but it is something worth monitoring should the struggles continue. This Cavs team is supposed to be far better than what they’re showing right now. Cleveland cannot afford to lose any more games to short handed basement dwellers if they are to avoid the complete and total free fall they appear headed toward at this exact moment.
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