CLEVELAND _ Two of the sharpest criticisms general manager David Griffin leveled against his team recently was its complacency and inability to establish a defensive identity. The two certainly seem to be related.
As the Cavaliers begin a new month, they hope to develop a new mindset while entering and exiting the All-Star break. They continue to sag toward the middle of the pack in defensive field-goal percentage and defensive rating, numbers that historically indicate aren't good enough for teams trying to win a championship.
Lately, however, the Cavs are showing signs of progress _ although the sample size is too small to draw any concrete conclusions. Still, they rank second in the league in defensive field-goal percentage over their last four games, holding opponents to 43.3 percent shooting. Their defensive 3-point percentage also ranks in the top 10.
That stretch includes limiting Russell Westbrook to a 7-of-26 shooting night and holding the Timberwolves, who have been winning more than losing lately, to 31 percent shooting in the second half Wednesday.
It isn't much, but it's a start.
"We know long term, for us to be as good as we would like to be, we have to defend," LeBron James said.
The Cavs struggled defensively at times last season, too, but put it all together as they rounded into playoff form. Coach Tyronn Lue is hopeful for a repeat this year. Lue has already acknowledged the Cavs aren't a good defensive team and often have to outshoot their mistakes. But they displayed a grit and toughness last season that is presently missing.
"We want to be tough, we want to be gritty," Lue said. "We don't have a lot of shot-blocking, so we have to make sure we're there to help situations and be able to make a multiple effort to get back out to shooters."
James referred to Tristan Thompson this week as "the one rim protector that we have." Thompson is averaging a career-high 1.2 blocks per game and only this year is growing into the role of a shot blocker. He's the only healthy, true big on the roster for now, although Kevin Love may return from back spasms for Saturday's game against the New York Knicks.
They have another 7-footer in Channing Frye, but he plays more like a guard than a post defender.
The Cavs are in the market for another post defender, but may have to wait until after the trade deadline to find him. For now, Lue is determined to turn the defense around with the pieces they have. He has emphasized getting back defensively and limiting transition points, which the Cavs have done a better job of lately.
"We've just got to keep working," Lue said. "We're just got to keep getting better, gonna keep working at it and we'll be fine."
