CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs entered this season with championship aspirations. Instead, they’re 15-12 and struggling against teams they should handle easily. What gives?
According to the latest Wine and Gold Talk podcast featuring host Ethan Sands and cleveland.com columnist Jimmy Watkins, the Cavaliers aren’t fighting the Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards or any other team around the league – they’re fighting themselves.
“I think this is less about Cavs versus Bulls and this is more about Cavs versus Cavs,” Watkins declared on the podcast, cutting to the heart of Cleveland’s struggles. It’s a powerful assessment that shifts focus from external opponents to internal demons.
The podcast revealed a team in crisis, one where talent isn’t translating to wins. A recent loss to the Hornets came after what should have been a reset – a week off, reported reality-check film sessions and players-only meetings.
What makes the situation particularly alarming is the longevity of the problem.
As Watkins emphasized, “This is beyond a funk. This has lingered far too long for it to be waved off at this point. Like, I am legitimately concerned.”
Perhaps most troubling is the apparent disconnect between acknowledging issues and solving them.
When Dean Wade was asked about the team’s inconsistencies after practice, his response was telling: “I’m not real sure. I don’t know. We’ve had a lot of guys in and out, had some bad bounces here and there, people not shooting well.”
This uncertainty from within the locker room reflects a team without clear direction.
The Cavs’ struggles are compounded by Evan Mobley’s injury, which will sideline the defensive standout for two to four weeks.
Statistical analysis paints an even more concerning picture. One-third into the season, the Cavaliers’ metrics place them closer to the struggling Charlotte Hornets than to Eastern Conference contenders like the New York Knicks. They’re shooting more 3-pointers than any team in the league while ranking 28th in 3-point percentage – a recipe for disaster.
The solution seems simple yet elusive: consistent effort.
“Even shorthanded, this team currently constructed, if it just gives you a baseline level of effort for four quarters, it should beat these teams comfortably,” Watkins argued.
Yet that baseline effort remains sporadic at best.
As Cleveland prepares to face Chicago, a team ranking second in pace and ninth in defensive rebounding percentage, they face a perfect test of their internal fortitude. Can they finally conquer their biggest opponent – themselves?
“I am legitimately concerned,” Watkins concluded. “I think my expectations are evolving for what this team can be until I see Cavs vs Cavs, them conquer whatever’s going on on the inside.”
For Cavaliers fans, the wait continues for a team that consistently plays up to its potential rather than down to its opposition – a team that finally defeats its toughest rival: the reflection in the mirror.
Here’s the podcast for this week: