The fact that the Cavs lost wasn’t necessarily cause for alarm. The Rockets are one of the best teams in the Western Conference and pose significant matchup disadvantages for Cleveland. How they lost was the issue.
The Cavaliers came out of the gates flat, as if just showing up was enough to win them the game. This was a red flag for Cavs’ head coach Kenny Atkinson, who seemingly knew the outcome just a few minutes after tip-off.
“I rarely say this, but I thought the game was over in the first quarter,” Atkinson said postgame. “Their physicality, we weren’t ready for the fight tonight. I don’t know how else to say it.”
Atkinson’s assessment was accurate. The Cavaliers weren’t ready for this game and didn’t come out with the energy and effort they needed to. This is a team that hasn’t been able to turn the momentum around if they don’t come out as the aggressors. That said, it’s surprising to hear a head coach admit that after yet another disappointing loss.
The most frustrating part of Saturday’s game for the Cavs is the fact that it came on the heels of what was a good week. They won two straight games with convincing victories over the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans, before playing well enough to defeat the New York Knicks, but ultimately failing to do so due to poor late-game execution.
“I was encouraged after the Knicks game, because we were ready for the fight,” Atkinson said. “It wasn’t the same team that played the other night against the Knicks.”
The loss brings the Cavs’ record to 17-16. And while there’s still plenty of games left in the regular season, they’re running out of time to show that this group is capable of rallying and making a playoff push. Cleveland now sits eighth in the Eastern Conference and is eight games behind the Detroit Pistons for the top spot.