The Cleveland Cavaliers’ season is turning into the overly-scrutinized circus we all knew it would inevitably become.
Following a 19-point loss Tuesday night in Portland, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving reportedly jawed at one another about the Cavs’ sputtering offense.
(LeBron apparently also shot his young teammate a look “in disgust” following a blown defensive assignment.)
And though James was pleased with Irving’s 34-point performance Wednesday night in a defeat to the Utah Jazz, LeBron is still unhappy about the way his team is playing.
Per ESPN:
The discussion was seen as healthy, sources said, with the veteran James voicing concerns about the direction of the Cavs’ offense. James scored just 11 points against the Blazers and did not score in the second half, and he was often not a part of the offense. Cleveland is off to a 1-3 start following a last-second loss to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.
James addressed Irving to discuss the way he’d been dominating the ball in the early going of the season. Irving is averaging just 3.8 assists thus far. He scored 34 points in the 102-100 loss Wednesday to the Jazz but had no assists in 45 minutes of playing time. […] Irving hasn’t had an assist in more than six quarters, and he’s taken 36 shots in that span. The Cavs tied a franchise-record low with six assists, four of them from James, against the Jazz.
“For us, it was a growing process that we have to go through,” Irving said Wednesday. “It sucks right now. For us, we’re still young, and I’m still learning what’s going on.” […] “Well, I mean, as far as [Irving’s] scoring, it was big time. He made all the shots we needed to keep us in the game,” James said (about Irving’s play against Utah.) “He made some great plays down the stretch, finished above the rim. It was great.”
Related:
LeBron James Says He Won’t ‘Allow’ the Cavs to Be Selfish
Report: David Blatt Wants LeBron James and Kevin Love to ‘Eat’ First
