If there ever were an example of Cleveland’s dysfunction, of proof that something just isn’t right about this Cavaliers team, this was it.
Watching LeBron James spend three quarters dominating the game, and the last searching for a ball that never came his way. Seeing the Cavaliers exhibit a lack of fire and energy and putting themselves in holes they should never have been in.
Seeing a squad with designs on the NBA title wilt down the stretch against one of the worst teams in the league.
Yes, Cleveland’s 104-95 loss to the Nets told a lot.
“I don’t think we started the game with a lot of energy,” said James, who said he still loves the games but gets mad at his team’s effort. “We expended a lot coming back in that third quarter just trying to get back into the game. … Then we had a rough start to the fourth that gave them momentum back. I don’t know if it’s taking them lightly or our approach, but we definitely didn’t have the right approach,’’
King James had plenty to be mad about Thursday, with the Cavs set to face the Knicks Saturday.
“What bothers me is our effort sometimes and making sure our guys are understanding the moment that we have,’’ James said. “That’s the only time I can get a little frustrated, because I understand the moment that we have.’’
James had a game-high 30 points, but after having all those points on 13-of-14 shooting through three quarters, he went a scoreless 0-for-2 in the final stanza.
The Cavaliers led 92-90 with 6:11 left in the game but saw the Nets go on a 14-0 run.
“We’re just not playing hard for 48 minutes,’’ said Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue, who didn’t want to go into his earlier chastisement of James, but clearly had some strong words for his star last weekend.
James said in a Bleacher Report story published Wednesday he wanted to team up with Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul.
“I really hope that, before our career is over, we can all play together. … At least one, maybe one or two seasons — me, Melo, D-Wade, CP — we can get a year in,” James had said. “I would actually take a pay cut to do that.”
He drew the ire of Cavaliers general manager David Griffin over the comments, and already had received a lecture from Lue over talking to Wade at halftime of Saturday’s loss to Miami while Cleveland was getting hammered by 21.
“I just told him we can’t have that, being down like we were and him being the leader,” Lue told Cleveland.com. “Just me being a competitor, I didn’t like it. We had a long talk about it. It was good. He understood, he apologized, and he’s been great.”
Lue’s message?
“I just need to do more. I’ve been able to do that — except for tonight — for the most part,’’ James said.
Asked if that meant leadership or basketball-wise, he replied, “Everything.”
Though James has been stellar of late, the rest of the Cavaliers shot 26-of-73.
“I started my postseason mindset a little bit earlier this year, just understanding everything we’ve been through this year, both on and off the floor,’’ James said. “I just want these guys to understand how important this moment is.”
But on Thursday the Cavaliers (51-21) took a page out of the Nets’ book and wilted down the stretch. They were just 10-of-38 from 3, with Kyrie Irving 6-of-22 from the floor and big man Kevin Love 5-of-14.
“I just think we’ve got to understand how important our process is,’’ James said. “It’s not always about the wins and losses, it’s how important our process is and to continue to take steps forward and forward and forward and tonight we took a step backwards. And we can’t afford to do that late in the season like this.’’