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."

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