NBA Rumors: Cleveland Cavaliers Eye New Strategy; LeBron James, Tristan Thompson Urge Kevin Love, JR Smith to Play Harder

By Mitch de Leon
Tristan Thompson
Tristan Thompson and the Cleveland Cavaliers have yet to reach an agreement on the NBA star's future in the team. Wikimedia Commons/Erik Drost

The disappointing performance of the Cleveland Cavaliers in their game against the Toronto Raptors left fans of the NBA team wondering how the LeBron James squad will turn their season around. The night saw Kevin Love and the rest of his team struggle to make the strategies of David Blatt work. However, something appears to be missing from the once promising squad as the team keeps racking up losses this NBA season.

"It's all mindset," explained James, referring to the missing aspect in the playing style of the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to ESPN. The former Miami Heat star went on to say, "It comes from within. I've always had it; my upbringing had me like that. It's either you got it, or you don't."

"We have to hold each other more accountable, we have to play better," James said. "And we will. But I don't think we improved tonight."

Meanwhile, Tristan Thompson is noting yet another issue in the playing style of the Cleveland Cavaliers. According to the Canadian basketball star, the King James squad should be wary of the fouls they incur during games. That is, Thompson advised his team against indirectly helping out their opponents via free throw points. Consequently, the Cleveland Cavaliers star that they should also ensure that their shots enter the basket for them to benefit on the fouls called in their favor.

"If we're going to foul, we got to make it count," Thompsonshared. James' right-hand man added, "I'm not saying hurt anyone, but you can't give up and-1s. That's not acceptable. That's on the bigs. That's on me, K-Love [Kevin Love], Andy [Anderson Varejao], that's on us when we play soft."

Thompson further noted, "When we're playing soft, I take that onus on myself. That's what I'm here to do. That's why I'm here. To play physical, make it tough for guys, rebound, set hard screens and be a force in the paint. So, this is totally on me. I've got to be more physical in the paint and protect the paint."

The same sentiments - work hard for the benefit of the team - had been shared by Thompson before the start of the 2015 NBA regular season. Following the completion of his tumultuous contract negotiations with the Cleveland Cavaliers throughout the offseason, Thompson immediately joined the training camp alongside Iman Shumpert, JR Smith, Mo William and of course, James himself.

"When you have good vets - we have great vets like Bron, James Jones, Andy (Anderson Varejao), Mo Williams - they can just help you, reel you in and (let me) do what I'm here to do," said Thompson then, according to The Star. He added, "(That) is play hard, set screens and do the little things."

  • North America Chinese Evangelical Seminary year-end report highlights significant ministry progress

    North America Chinese Evangelical Seminary year-end report highlights significant ministry progress

    As the year draws to a close, Rev. James Liu, President of the Chinese Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), reflected on the seminary’s remarkable growth and ministry development over the past year. Dedicated to providing theological education to Chinese Christians, CESNA continues to uphold its mission to remain faithful to the gospel and nurture believers. This year’s achievements span academic, ministerial, and outreach endeavors, fostering spiritual growth and advancing missionary wo

  • Woman pastor analyzes: How Chinese gender culture shapes female ministers’ roles in churches

    In traditional Chinese culture, deeply ingrained notions of gender roles, often expressed as "male strong, female weak," significantly influence the position of women in society and the church. This issue is particularly pertinent for female pastors navigating their roles in ministry. Rev. Dora Wang, Ph.D., from China Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), recently addressed this topic in a seminar, sharing her insights on the challenges women face in ministry and proposing strategies to su

  • 4th Christian art biennale in Hong Kong concluding with record reception

    The fourth Christian Art Biennale, titled “The Splendor of Beauty in His Land,” opened on December 22 at Tseung Kwan O Methodist Primary School in Hong Kong and will conclude tomorrow, January 1. The 10-day exhibition has drawn enthusiastic responses, surpassing previous years in attendance and impact.

  • 2024 report from Wycliffe Global Alliance shows status of Bible accessibility worldwide

    Wycliffe Global Alliance has published its 2024 Global Scripture Access Report, unveiling the latest status of Bible accessibility worldwide. The annual report is compiled using data from the Alliance’s partner organizations, including SIL International, the United Bible Societies, and others.

  • A Christian’s proper response to the sugar-coated bullet of influencer fame

    Today, I came across a thought-provoking story about a 2016 internet influencer from the U.S.. The case of Nicholas Perry raises a sobering question: Is it worth sacrificing oneself in the pursuit of views?

Top Stories