I grew up a Cleveland Cavaliers fan and have stuck with the team through the glory days with he-who-should-not-be-named, to the games after “The Decision,” to the team’s recent rebuilding around Kyrie Irving.
However, at times, I cannot stand Cleveland fans, including myself, because we are so used to losing that we are quick to “throw in the towel” after poor performances.
Irving, who began his third NBA season last week, is a franchise’s dream player to build around, despite his history suffering freak injuries. And being a former top NBA Draft pick, he should be a team’s most valuable asset.
But because of the Cavs’ fall from glory after the 2011 playoffs, drafting a superstar has not been enough to place the team back into contention.
Actually, Cleveland won the No. 1 pick after this past season’s NBA Draft lottery and selected another top pick, but he has not shown the same promise as Irving.
Anthony Bennett, a 6-foot-8 forward from UNLV, has not scored a point through his first four games wearing the Wine and Gold, and fans are already calling for his demotion from the Cavs to the NBA Developmental League.
This is ridiculous.
Yes, Bennett has missed each of his 15 shot attempts, including eight from beyond the arc, but Cleveland doesn’t need Bennett to be a superstar — it already has one. Actually, the Cavs don’t even need Bennett to start.
He’s a luxury for the Cavaliers, because he isn’t being asked to lead the team. He’s playing behind Tristan Thompson, a potential future All-Star, and belongs to the same team as another top pick. He wasn’t the most popular player before playing a game, as Irving was.
I have to think that it’s only a matter of time before Cleveland fans are chanting “M-V-P” when he steps to the free-throw line with his team leading in the fourth quarter. He just needs to get the monkey off his back and get comfortable with himself.
Despite his struggles, the Cavs split their first four games of the season and are on pace to finish 41-41, which would be the team’s best finish in four seasons, but there are also 78 more games to be played.
Let’s just settle down and enjoy some quality basketball for once.
cl027410@ohiou.edu
@ChadLindskog
