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The longer this goes, the more difficult it is becoming to ignore. The Cavaliers did not play particularly well in any game on their recently-concluded West Coast trip in large part because they aren’t moving the ball and they’re turning it over far too frequently.
All of these problems are correctable, but for now they are certainly problems. They’ve had more turnovers than assists in four of their past five games and five of their past seven. They’ve cracked at least 20 assists in just one of their past nine games and they’ve slumped to 20th in the league in assists. That is troubling.
It’s even more startling when compared to the Golden State Warriors, who played one of their finest games of the season Monday in dismantling the Cavs 126-91. The Warriors average 31.3 assists per game — which matches the Cavs’ season-high of 31 assists, which was set in the season opener against the New York Knicks. The Cavs have passed for 30 or more assists six times. The Warriors have done it 27 times in their first 41 games.
Draymond Green had a triple-double, including 11 assists, in Monday’s lashing of the Cavs. Steph Curry had 11 assists, Kevin Durant had five, Andre Iguodala had five and David West had three. Add it all up and it was the fifth time the Warriors have passed for 37 or more assists in a game. The Cavs haven’t done it once all season.
“It’s a dangerous team,” LeBron James said of the Warriors. “They got so many different options, so many guys that can not only create for themselves but they do a great job of having guys that can create for others. I said it before, when you have Steph and KD and Draymond and Iguodala, Livingston, Zaza (Pachulia), those guys can create for other guys. It always keeps the defense off balance.”
Part of the problem the Cavs face is only two ball-handlers who can create for themselves and others in James and Irving. That’s why general manager David Griffin said on the road trip that he isn’t necessarily seeking another point guard for this roster, but more importantly a playmaker who can put the ball on the floor and create shots for someone else.
When James and Irving start playing too much isolation, it destroys any rhythm of the offense. Coach Tyronn Lue has said on multiple occasions there is a difference between good iso and bad iso. Bad iso is when guys just dribble the ball down, try to break down his defender one-on-one and put up a shot while eight other guys on the floor stand and watch.
That’s what has been happening too frequently since the start of the new calendar year. The Cavs blew big leads on this recently-concluded road trip against the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns, but held on to win because those are two of the worst teams in the league. Even their win at the Sacramento Kings wasn’t overly convincing because they kept letting the Kings back in the game.
Against the Warriors, however, turnovers and a lack of ball movement can be poisonous to winning. James likened turnovers against them to an interception returned for a touchdown in football because it’s almost assuredly a basket at the other end. The Warriors scored 37 points in transition Monday primarily off turnovers.
When the Cavs cut a 22-point deficit to 14 late in the second quarter Monday, they had a chance to make the Warriors sweat at halftime. Instead, James turned the ball over after dribbling it down the floor, which led to a Klay Thompson dunk. Thompson got up inside Irving on the defensive end and blocked his shot, leading to a dunk by Durant. Within 21 seconds, the Warriors’ lead went from 14 to 19. Soon thereafter it was 26 and the game was over. The Cavs and Warriors conclude the regular season 1-1. Now they’ll wait perhaps for an NBA Finals threequel in June.
“They won one game,” Lue said. “I didn’t think it was coming like this (so lopsided), but they played well. Give them credit. That’s what champions do. They lost four in a row (in the series) five of out six. They played like a team with its back against the wall. They punished us.”