Entering the 2014-2015 NBA season there was plenty of excitement surrounding the Cleveland Cavaliers and their new look roster! With the four-time MVP award winner LeBron James leading the pack accompanied by rising star Kyrie Irving and an established all-star in Kevin Love, it seemed like the season would be full of highlight plays and nothing but winning. But some early season struggles put the team in quite a bind.
Two months into the season the Cavaliers record was just a mere 18-14 finishing up the month of December. This was not at all what fans nor the organization expected to see. When a team is losing that’s when rumors start, and the Cavaliers were losing far more games than anyone had expected which made them the center of attention for rumors.
There were rumors that Dion Waiters wasn’t happy with his role on the team. Then more rumors hit the surface that Coach David Blatt didn’t have control of the locker room, and finally rumors that Kevin Love wasn’t happy with the amount of touches he was getting on the offensive end. The Kevin Love rumors intensified to him wanting to split for Los Angeles after this season. But we all know rumors are often discussed with regard to misinformation.
While the rumors may have not been true, the Cavaliers decided to part ways with Dion Waiters during the first week of January. Although the Cavaliers traded away a talented shooting guard in Waiters, what they received in this three team trade proved to be more valuable.
The Cavaliers acquired J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert from the New York Knicks in a three-way trade. J.R. Smith has been the spot up shooter they needed to play alongside LeBron James. Smith has averaged 12 points while shooting close to 40% from three point range since he suited up for the Cavaliers. Shumpert has also been the best on-ball defender for the Cavaliers, something he’s been known for his entire career.
But the biggest mid-season acquisition was Timofey Mozgov. The Cavaliers who entered the season somewhat small on the frontline took a huge hit when Anderson Varejao went down due to injury. Mozgov has stepped into this lineup and performed especially well! While averaging 10 points and 7 rebounds, Mozgov’s biggest impact doesn’t show up in the box score. He is a mountain of a man in the middle and his presence in the paint is overwhelming for opposing offenses.
The entire Cavaliers new look roster didn’t play together until January 23rd against the Charlotte Hornets. Since then, the Cavaliers have won 21 of their last 27 games, while winning 12 straight at home!
With LeBron James sustaining his spectacular MVP caliber level of playing and Kyrie Irving erupting for two fifty plus point games this season, this Cavaliers team may be the best squad assembled in franchise history! Cleveland fans are witnessing greatness every time they step into Quicken Loans Arena, and this season may end with Cleveland winning its first Championship!
