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Larry Drew Criticizes Cleveland Cavaliers Defense Following Double-Digit Loss
- Updated: December 16, 2018
The Cleveland Cavaliers have struggled on both sides of the ball this season, but Cavs head coach Larry Drew believes that the defensive unit has been particularly lacking.
Following the Cavs’ 128-105 defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, Drew made it clear where he wants to see his squad improve.
Drew says #Cavs starters have not been a sound defensive group with the type of physicality necessary at the beginning of games. As far as offensively, says that the ball sticks too much. Need more swing swing, movement.
— Spencer Davies (@SpinDavies) December 16, 2018
In the loss, the Cavs managed to lead, 36-29, after one quarter, but were unable to sustain that competitiveness. In the second quarter, they were outscored, 36-22. While the Cavs found themselves down just four points entering the fourth quarter of the game, the contest quickly turned into a blowout as the Sixers outscored them, 39-20, in the final frame.
One of the clearest reasons for the Cavs’ decline on the defensive side can be tied to the departure of veteran forward LeBron James this past July. As a result, the Cavs embarked on a rebuilding process that escalated after the team’s slow start and subsequent dismissal of former head coach Tyronn Lue.
The firing of Lue came after the Cavaliers lost all six of their first games of the season. Since then, little progress has been made when it comes to the team’s success on the court. Injuries to key players coupled with trades of once-valued veterans has created a constant stream of new players into Cleveland’s rotation. That has made it next to impossible to establish a set lineup during the opening period of games.
Regarding the offensive woes, those issues are likely to remain as long as the ones on defense are still present.
Noticeable improvement isn’t all that likely this season. It seems clear that the Cavaliers hope that the current reshaping of their roster and the addition of talent during the offseason will help remedy this concern.
The Cavs’ defense will be tested greatly in the near future as they set to begin a three-game road trip on Tuesday night in Indianapolis.
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