The Legend of the Slumpbuster!!! GAME 44: Sacramento Kings (17-27) at Cleveland Cavaliers (30-13)

[czvo]

Just saw the highlights... Basically had the game won 3-4 different times.

 

[Andrew]

Losing to the Sacramento Kings is never good, losing to the Kings after being up double-digits late and up 5 in OT is pathetic. Sure, it's just a 3 game losing streak in January and this team keeps that cushion on the 1 seed since the 2 keeps losing but at some point this shit has got to stop. I was expecting a statement game and all I got was a disappointing Wednesday night. This team expected to win and it showed, mentally this team is not in a good place right now.

I am not one to say the sky is falling because, in reality, this means nothing to the overall plan but its just frustrating seeing this team put forth this type of effort 3 games in a row. Sad thing is, you make your free throws you win the game. Day 1 of basketball drills made this team lose to the Kings at home.

1 game of Cleveland Cavalier basketball will get this team out of the rut they are in but at this point it's not a given against the Brooklyn Nets and that's truly sad.

 

[fujikuro]

The thing is, they HAD good effort after the initial start to the game. Even then, you could see they were trying to DO something. It just wasn't working. There's definitely a malaise over the team right now - can't stop throwing the ball away, can't hit a free throw to save their lives - even Love, Kyrie and James Jones, their best free throw shooters missing left and right. THIS game was one, though, that they seemed to try to bring defensive intensity to, but it wasn't working. Other teams know they are on their heels and therefore aren't intimidated at all. The only way they will get back on track is to get their act together on doing the small things, like diving for loose balls, taking care to not turn the ball over, hitting free throws, staying in front of your man, and making the extra pass. The little things are what have been missing for about a month now.

 

[DomCAVS95]

The thing is, they HAD good effort after the initial start to the game. Even then, you could see they were trying to DO something. It just wasn't working. There's definitely a malaise over the team right now - can't stop throwing the ball away, can't hit a free throw to save their lives - even Love, Kyrie and James Jones, their best free throw shooters missing left and right. THIS game was one, though, that they seemed to try to bring defensive intensity to, but it wasn't working. Other teams know they are on their heels and therefore aren't intimidated at all. The only way they will get back on track is to get their act together on doing the small things, like diving for loose balls, taking care to not turn the ball over, hitting free throws, staying in front of your man, and making the extra pass. The little things are what have been missing for about a month now.

Also playing the Nets in the next game helps. Surely they can't blow that one... can they?!

 

[fujikuro]

Gotta start building the good habits back up. They have time, but if they don't start putting the work in OFF the court, we're just going to keep seeing this kind of thing.

 

[Tyrone Slothrop]

17 of 34 at t he line. Let those numbers sink in. That is just pathetic. They were 9 of 18 the other day in regulation. That's 50% for two complete games. You won't win in the NBA like that. My 11 year old daughter is kind of excited, though. For the season she's shooting 60% from the free throw line. Anyhow, this can't keep up...can it? It's cost them two games already.

 

[Jstock12]

17 of 34 at t he line. Let those numbers sink in. That is just pathetic. They were 9 of 18 the other day in regulation. That's 50% for two complete games. You won't win in the NBA like that. My 11 year old daughter is kind of excited, though. For the season she's shooting 60% from the free throw line. Anyhow, this can't keep up...can it? It's cost them two games already.

Agreed. Although FTs isn't the only problem. Even if they made 27 of the 34, they beat Sacramento only by 6 points, at home. For a defending champion that would still be pretty underwhelming, especially right after losing against the Pelicans. I guess what I'm trying to say is there are much deeper issues that need to be addressed ASAP.

 

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Oh totally agree about that not being the only problem. Frankly, their defense right now is atrocious. It's just that FT's SHOULD be an easy fix and it absolutely sucks that an NBA team on high volume can shoot only 50% from the line.