Cavaliers' LeBron James: 'I got to do a better job'
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James said he needs to do a better job for the team to rebound from its 5-7 start to the season, ESPN's Dave McMenamin reports.
The Cavaliers have lost four straight games, and James has averaged just 18.5 points, 7.0 assists and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 41.2 percent from the field.
"We got a 4-game losing streak so I stink," James said. "I'm not doing my job. I got to do a better job"
In Cleveland victories this season, James is averaging 32.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.8 assists. In defeats, he is averaging 19.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game.
James' shooting percentage has dropped significantly this season. After increasing his field-goal percentage each of the past seven seasons, he has fallen to 46.7 percent shooting this year, the second-lowest mark of his career.
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Cleveland has struggled to integrate new pieces this season under first-year head coach David Blatt. Offseason acquisition Kevin Love said he is still trying to find himself in the team's offense nearly one month into the season. Love is averaging 16.5 points and 9.9 rebounds while shooting just 40 percent from the floor this season.
Despite joining James and Love with fellow All-Star Kyrie Irving, the Cavaliers are scoring 101.8 points per game, which is No. 13 in the league.
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Cleveland has also had issues defensively. The Cavaliers are a below-average team in terms of rebounding and shot-blocking and are No. 25 in scoring defense this season.
The Cavaliers host the Orlando Magic (6-9) tonight at 7 p.m.
- Paul Palladino
