Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 trends from the 3-game losing streak

Bad Ball Movement

In every sport, there’s that one stat that often indicates which team will win a game. In the NFL, teams with fewer turnovers usually come out on top. In the MLB, patient teams that earn walks often reach the playoffs. And in the NBA, the top squads are the league’s best passers.

Prior to Jan. 8, Cleveland had recorded fewer than 20 assists on only eight occasions. The Cavs were 3-5 in those games. Cleveland only notched 18 assists against Toronto and 19 against Indiana. The Cavs are now 3-7 when recording fewer than 20 assists.

So the apparent trend of poor ball movement is cause for concern. When the Cavs dominated in November and December, players were unselfishly whipping the ball around the wing, cutting through defenses with crisp passes.

But the offense has become stagnant over the past week, with wings often waiting on the outside for LeBron to create. Take a look at this highlight reel from LeBron’s performance against Indiana.

James often goes commando, breaking away from the offense while his teammates stand statue still. In these plays, it works. James is able to carve through the Pacers defense for layups.

But on the game’s final possession, and during a crucial stretch in the third quarter, LeBron struggled shouldering the load. If the Cavs are going to climb out of the doldrums, better team play is a must.

Last year, the Cavs thrived on isolation basketball, but that was with Kyrie Irving and players comfortable going one-on-one.

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With Crowder, Thomas and now Korver for a full year, the Cavs are armed with players more comfortable in a system offense filled with screens, cuts and quick ball movement. So whether it’s through LeBron or not, that is where the offense must be tailored as the season winds into the dead of winter.