Wednesday is Isaiah Thomas‘ birthday and the Cleveland Cavaliers have come forth to bring the point guard gifts. The first is birthday well wishes in Instagram that had the comments closed to prevent fans from cracking jokes at his expense.
And the second is Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue telling him his criticisms of the Cavs coaching staff are wrong. A day after Thomas said the Cavaliers “go their separate ways” when adversity hits and that the Cavaliers struggle with making adjustments, Lue said his apparent coaching criticisms are incorrect.
Thomas has been very critical of the team’s inability to come together and defend during a recent downturn, but when Lue — who missed the second half of Tuesday’s loss against the Magic with an illness — was informed of Thomas’ comments on the team’s inability to adjust, he wasn’t having it.
Ty Lue when informed of Isaiah Thomas’ critique of the Cavs coaching staff’s inability to make in-game adjustments: “That’s not true”
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 7, 2018
On one hand, what exactly is Lue supposed to say here? Of course he’s going to defend his coaching staff and his team. Saying the Cavs can’t adjust in-game is a huge indictment of his coaching ability and the control he has over the roster. The other hand is possibly much grimmer for Thomas himself. It’s still ridiculously early in his Cavs tenure, but with each passing day, it seems like he’s not clicking with the team.
The 2017-18 Cavaliers seem to have a minor crisis a day so far this season. As the trade deadline looms large, it seems like something has to change in Cleveland or nothing much of value will come out of this year.
