Where Do Cavs Stand After Tough Road Trip, Third Straight Loss?
What figured to be a difficult road trip going in turned out to be tougher than the Cleveland Cavaliers could handle.
The wine-and-gold won the first game of the getaway over the Miami Heat, then proceeded to drop three straight games to the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics combined.
"You're obviously disappointed every night you lose," Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said following the 116-107 defeat at TD Garden on Thursday. "There's no silver lining or scapegoat because of opponent and how tough it was. You're disappointed with the loss. It's our responsibility to go home, regroup. We've got four games at home, and we need to take care of business at home."
Now just one game over the .500 mark at 13-12, the Cavs are all of a sudden in another slump after seemingly finding a rhythm. You can credit the teams they had to face — literally top-of-the-standings squads in the Eastern Conference — but it is another example of the inconsistency Cleveland is trying to overcome.
Bickerstaff was asked directly about how far away the team is from the place it wants to be.
"I don't think we're far away. We're still waiting to be complete, but I think we've shown what we're capable of and the level that we can play at," Bickerstaff said. "This is a really good basketball team that we played [Thursday night] on a home court where they take advantage of the momentum and the crowd.
"Let's not be deterred by what we're facing. But, I do think we're a good basketball team. We need to get whole. I think we're not far, but it's just gonna take the commitment from one another to get there."
Jarrett Allen doesn't deal in hypotheticals, rather focusing on the present.
"That's an interesting question. I don't think you can put a stamp on how far out into the future that is," Allen said. "Honestly, I believe it's just one step at a time as a team. Getting over the next hurdle and then the next hurdle and just improving."
Dec 14, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Georges Niang (20) reacts after a call as they take on the Boston Celtics in the second quarter at TD Garden.
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Maybe it wouldn't be as daunting of a task if the hurdle Allen speaks of was more defined.
"Conjoining together. Just trying to figure out where we can improve," Allen said when asked about it. "Whether it's kicking it out, anywhere honestly. Defense, offense. I don't have a specific one right now. Just everything."
The Cavs will be back in action on Saturday night vs. the Atlanta Hawks, a team that has had its fair share of ups and downs and was on the receiving end of a wine-and-gold blowout the last time the two met.
