LeBron James Caught Cursing During Loss, Says Cleveland Cavaliers Are ‘Fragile’
The Cleveland Cavaliers are mired in a four-game losing streak that includes three straight at home against the Denver Nuggets, the San Antonio Spurs and the Toronto Raptors. The last setback against the Raptors appears to be taking a heavy toll on the team as its leader LeBron James is showing signs of frustrations.
The Cavaliers were up 18 early in the first quarter early only to see their lead vanish and be tied up with the team from Canada, 65-65 with just 6 minutes left in the third quarter. The Raptors led by Lowry and new acquisition Lou Williams, who exploded for a career high 36 points, put the game away for good with a huge run to end the third canto at 81-67. Cavaliers coach David Blatt opted to rested his starters early as the team lost, 110-93.
James is at the centre of the quandary as the team is battling chemistry and defensive issues. The two-time NA champion's frustration was prevalent during a moment in the third quarter when he was caught on camera hurling expletives. After the ball went out of bounds as it was tipped, James was captured mouthing the words, "You've got to cut! F***!"
The four-time Most Valuable Player did not stop with his in-game frustrations and vented some more post-game. He relayed that the team is in a fragile state this early in the NBA season.
"We're a very fragile team right now," James said to ESPN. "Well, we were a fragile team from the beginning. Any little adversity hits us, we just shell up. That's something that will come with experience."
While James relayed his exasperation with the way things are going this early for the Eastern Conference team pegged by many to be competing for the NBA Finals as it has assembled a new Big Three in James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, the former Miami Heat superstar is maintaining positivity as he looks back on the different low points in his career, including the NBA Finals loss to the Mavericks and recent failure against the current NBA champion San Antonio Spurs.
European coach Blatt has a lot of work to do given that the Cavaliers are currently sitting at the bottom half of the league in point allowed, a clear indication of the team's defensive ineptitude. The coach has already moved young player Dion Waiters to the bench for veteran Shawn Marion but that has not been able to solve problems mainly penetration and clogging the lane. The Cavaliers have many assets such as Wiaters and soon-to-be restricted forward Tristan Thompson plus the expiring contract of Brendan Haywood but it is unclear if the team will make moves any time soon.