NBA Halloween: Playing trick-or-treat with 2017-18 early season trends

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs will be fine with a healthy Isaiah Thomas: Trick

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 3-4. They’ve lost by double-digits to the Magic, Knicks and Pelicans, and dropped another home game to the Nets. But as long as they have a healthy LeBron James, they should be fine in the East, right?

Well, that depends on what your definition of “fine” is. Because as much as the offense will benefit from the return of a healthy Isaiah Thomas, he (and Derrick Rose) will do nothing to help the NBA’s 27th-ranked defense. This was an issue last year, and it’s not going to get any better with heavy minutes going to IT, Rose and Dwyane Wade.

It’s only October, and it seems like every year we panic about the Cavs’ coasting before King James steamrolls his way through the East to yet another Finals. But if the goal is to actually win a title and overcome that Bay Area juggernaut, Cleveland’s abhorrent defense is a major concern — and it’s one that Thomas’ return might make even worse.