Two good teams with big goals. Two lengthening slumps. Two distinctly different apparent reactions and two different horizons.
The Cleveland Cavaliers – again – are turning into a mid-season melo-drama, with LeBron James starring as the straw that stirs the drink. They have lost six of their last eight games, three in a row, and consecutively to league also-rans—most recently at home to the lowly Sacramento Kings.
With better timing, the Toronto Raptors could have surged through the crack in the Cavaliers’ armour and into first place in the Eastern Conference.
No such luck.
The Raptors return home on Friday trying to end their losing streak at five games, their mid-season malaise now leaving them at 6-9 in their past 15. They’ve had Patrick Patterson, Lucas Nogueira and DeMar DeRozan out of the lineup for varying stretches and now they are trying to reintegrate Patterson and presumed starting power forward Jared Sullinger. After four games of spot duty, Sullinger looks like he’s at least four games away from peak form.
But for the most part, the Raptors’ ship seems like it’s remaining afloat. There are no evident signs of panic or frustration. Head coach Dwane Casey has chosen to look at his club’s inspired defensive efforts for long stretches of each of the past two games and see a glass half full.
“I love our competitive spirit,” Casey said after his club fought its way back into Wednesday’s game against Memphis after an uninspired first half.
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As for the Cavaliers? If the moat isn’t on fire, there is gasoline in the water.
After Cleveland’s loss to New Orleans Monday night despite the Pelicans playing without All-Star Anthony Davis, James sounded off publicly and on social media, demanding that moves be made in order to acquire “a F****n playmaker”.
It wasn’t the first time James has sounded off about the need for additional depth, but it was the first time he was so public and emphatic about it.
The Cavaliers cancelled Tuesday’s practice and Wednesday’s shoot-around. James met with general manager David Griffith and with his teammates, some of whom may have felt alienated by him running down the quality of the roster.
And then the Cavs went out and lost at home to Sacramento.
What is James upset about? Reports surfaced that his real beef is with owner Dan Gilbert, who may be getting gun shy about what it costs to keep James in championships. Cleveland’s payroll is $127.6-million plus a $27-million luxury tax bill. Last year Cleveland paid $54-million in tax.
No one has ever spent more on a basketball team.
But the real issue might be that, as a player, James is not the greatest general manager.
This is the third mid-season crisis Cleveland has faced since James came home from South Beach. Two years ago they shook up their roster with trades for Timofey Mozgov, Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith. Last season they fired head coach David Blatt and replaced him with the James-approved Tyronn Lue.
The Cavs have also paid top dollar for free agents Tristan Thompson (2015) and Smith (2016), both of whom are represented by James’ agent and business partner, Rich Paul.
The team won it all last June, and so every penny was deemed worth it. But making moves to bring in players that can help Cleveland get past the San Antonio Spurs or Golden State Warriors in a seven-game playoff series isn’t easy.
In constructing a roster that can help James win now – or, at least, win again — the Cavaliers are short of the kind of quality depth or draft picks that can get deals done.
They have already traded their first-round pick for 2017 and owe a protected first-rounder to Atlanta in either 2018 or 2019. They don’t have control of their second-round pick until 2022.
Most league sources believe the Cavaliers won’t realistically be able to get help until after the trade deadline when players get bought out and can be acquired without surrendering assets. Having James sound the alarm so publicly hardly gives the Cavaliers the option of even pretending to be dealing from a position of strength.
These are all data points that the Raptors’ brain trust is undoubtedly trying to plot into some kind of cohesive plan of action as they try to navigate a course from their own dog days’ low-point to the Feb. 23 NBA trade deadline and ultimately – hopefully – to a second crack and James and the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Are the Cavaliers vulnerable? Is this the Raptors’ time? Do they need to be bold and make a move on Cleveland? Or is the right approach to be more conservative with tweaks and adjustments to make sure they can maintain the No.2 spot in the East and hold off the lurking Celtics, Hawks and fast-moving Wizards?
The only certainty is that Raptors president Masai Ujiri and general manager Jeff Weltman have thought through everything. Mainly, because they always do.
But if there is an enduring theme to the last three seasons, it’s that Toronto has been rewarded for it’s patience—nearly every player on the Raptors’ roster is proof of that.
Kyle Lowry, who was announced as an Eastern Conference All-Star Thursday night, didn’t make his first all-star team until his ninth professional season.
DeMar DeRozan? He’s having a breakout season in Year Eight.
Lucas Nogueira spent two full NBA seasons doing nothing that suggested he would be an essential rotation player and sometimes starter in Year Three, but here we are.
Norm Powell was a 22-year-old rookie with a shaky jump shot and no position 15 months ago and now he’s averaging 14 points a game and shooting 40 per cent from three while starting this season as a reliable two-guard option who can guard three positions.
Terrence Ross’ controversial contract extension looks like a bargain now. Exercising true patience – not the half-a-season variety, but the kind that looks years into the future – has paid off for Toronto.
The Cavaliers are in a different situation. As James said in his comments on Monday night, he’s 32 and running out of time to lead franchises to titles. He’s got four, but needs three to pass Michael Jordan.
Yet after two years of going all-in, Cleveland might be running out ammunition. There may be no cavalry this time.
The Raptors may look at them as vulnerable to a quick strike, or more likely proof that their own slow and steady approach to acquiring and grooming assets might just work out.
