When LeBron James departed for the Los Angeles Lakers this past offseason, expectations for the Cleveland Cavaliers plummeted. Cleveland was just one year removed from losing Kyrie Irving, their star point guard.
Losing James added to the story that became the rise and fall of the Cavaliers.
And this season has been rough, no doubt.
The Wine and Gold lost Kevin Love just four games into the season with an injury that would hold him out until February. Tyronn Lue, Cleveland’s head coach at the time, was fired a few games after that.