Watch: 10 moments that sum up Cavs' terrible loss to Rockets
The Cleveland Cavaliers need fixing fast.
Cleveland was demoralized on its home court Saturday, surrendering 120 points to the visiting Houston Rockets in a 32-point blowout loss - on national TV, nonetheless.
After scoring the first basket, the Rockets never relinquished the lead, and Cleveland's night quickly went from bad to worse to downright miserable.
Here are 10 moments that summed up the Cavaliers' disastrous showing:
Wade loses superpowers
Wade wants to join in on the Cavs fun. pic.twitter.com/o96llvVgpu
— arcusD (@_MarcusD2_) February 4, 2018
Dwyane Wade was once one of the most fearsome slashers in the NBA. Now, not so much.
What's help defense?
#JamesHarden making it look easy. pic.twitter.com/mu7r5T7EmW
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) February 4, 2018
James Harden blowing by Tristan Thompson really should've been expected here, but the rest of the Cavaliers' defense didn't seem to mind.
Defending the pick-and-roll is too complicated
I would love to credit the Rockets for this play, but look how pathetic that Cavs defense is. Is Isaiah Thomas even trying? pic.twitter.com/WQ8H2E5JA7
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 4, 2018
Thompson and Isaiah Thomas looked lost on this simple pick-and-roll, allowing Clint Capela to stroll to the rim.
Half-court heaves are too easy
The #Cavs did not come to play any defense tonight #Rockets pic.twitter.com/N09NUpEc36
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 4, 2018
Cleveland really let Harden dribble it at half court for five seconds before throwing the easiest alley-oop pass of his life.
What's help defense? The sequel
This is pretty hard to explain. #Cavs are simply not trying to guard, not even a little. #rockets pic.twitter.com/35Y3yAaG5S
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 4, 2018
The King isn't exempt from blame after he and J.R. Smith watched Luc Mbah a Moute get to the rim with ease.
J.R. gets tossed aside
J.R. Smith apparently didn’t get #LeBron’s defensive memo. Inexcusably awful. #cavs #rockets pic.twitter.com/bRhsYTgbzh
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 4, 2018
Look, Nene Hilario isn't an ideal matchup for Smith, but that doesn't excuse his half-hearted defense - or the rest of the Cavaliers' failure to help him out.
Booed off home court
Cleveland heads into the half down 26, LeBron James angrily hurls an innocent basketball, and the boos are unleashed at Quicken Loans Arena.
No one can stop ... Ryan Anderson?
We s👀 you RYNO! pic.twitter.com/JXsiXhAzAB
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) February 4, 2018
Ryan Anderson is absolutely a threat from outside, but he absolutely shouldn't be doing this to your interior defense.
Chris Paul runs wild
Look at this sequence by the Cavs. pic.twitter.com/eT39zP8PTU
— 𝑹𝒆𝒚-𝑹𝒆𝒚 (@TheNoLookPass) February 4, 2018
There's a lot to point out here, including Channing Frye's body language after Derrick Rose's miss and Chris Paul dancing around Rose before beating three Cavaliers to a rebound.
Booed at home ... again
Cavs get loudly booed on their home court again against Rockets pic.twitter.com/U9wxmImbl5
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) February 4, 2018
Being booed at home is one thing, but twice in the same game? Yikes. It was that bad.
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