The Cleveland Cavaliers have lost three games in a row and dropped out of first place in the Eastern Conference for the first time in nearly a month. Shooting guard J.R. Smith says the Cavs need to start showing more effort on the court if they're going to turn things around.
"I think we just got a little too lax thinking because we're the Cavs and we got 'Bron and Kevin and Kyrie and Shump, the players that we have, [the opposition is] just going to come out here and not play as hard as they would against any other team, but we got to realize that people are going to play harder than that. This is a big game for them every time we step on the court. They're just trying to get a marquee win. And when we realize that and take that into consideration, we'll be better."
Some members of the team thought their travel schedule has contributed to their recent slide as the last two of those losses came on back-to-back nights during a road trip. However, forward Tristan Thompson echoed Smith's sentiments, imploring that the Cavs need to get back to basics:
"We got to watch film, we got to get back in the gym together as a team and just find an identity," he said. "I think we're going to get every team's best game, and we got to understand that, and we can’t be surprised when a team comes out and knocks down a couple shots or plays or does things that statistically they're not great at. Because every night, a team is going to get pumped up. I remember being in that same position when I was on a team that wasn't playing for much. When you play against the top dogs, that shot you usually don't make for the rest of the season, you make it that game. So we got to be prepared for that."
Cleveland's next game is at home against the Portland Trail Blazers tomorrow night.
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