Cavaliers still going through growing pains

(Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports)

Following the theme of ruined homecoming, Kevin Love returned to the city he grew up in Tuesday with his new team, only to suffer a 101-82 defeat at the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers.

Unlike Lebron James who played poorly in his homecoming, Love shined for the Cavs connecting on five shots from deep and getting his accustomed double-double, ending the game with 22 points and 10 rebounds.

While Love continued to be a bright spot and the most consistent Cavalier of the season so far, that was about the only positive thing to take away from this game.

Starting the game 10-for-10 from the field, the Cavaliers’ offense was a thing of beauty early on, but then the rest of the game happened.

After the sizzling start, the Cavaliers would connect on only 21 of its next 75 shots, finishing the game with a lowly 36.5 percent from the field. As for the Cavs defense, they didn’t do too much better allowing the Blazers to shoot nearly 50 percent from the field.

One thing is clear: For the Cavaliers to enter the conversation of elite, this team still has much work to do on both ends of the floor.

Three Things:

1. Lebron must lead

Let’s be clear about one thing, this team will only meet its potential and go as far as Lebron leads them. Now in Cleveland as a two-time champion, Lebron is the clear leader of the team. While it’s encouraging to see Kevin Love play well, Kevin Love will not lead the Cavs deep come spring, he’s already had that chance several times and failed. Lebron James ended the game with only 11 points but more disheartening was the second half he had, where he failed to score and only took four shots.

2. The backcourt must step up

Dion Waiters said in the offseason that he thought himself and Kyrie Irving posed the best young backcourt in the league, but so far they aren’t proving that statement to be correct. Against Portland, they combined to go 6-for-28 from the field and through three games are a combined 27-for- 79 from the field. That’s 34 percent and quite frankly will not cut it.

3. Rebounds equal wins?

Through three games, the Cavs have lost each game that they were outrebounded in. With rebounding forces such as Love, Anderson Varejao, and Tristan Thompson, this team should not be losing the battles of the boards often but it is interesting to know that they have been beaten twice already this young season. Keep an eye out on this statistic as the season goes on.

Statline of the night: Damian Lillard. 27 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists.

Three seasons in, Damian Lillard has already established himself as a big-time playmaker. Coming into the game averaging 13.7 points on 26 percent shooting, Lillard shaped back into form and was a problem for the Cavs on the defensive end all night. Quite ironic that the player cut from Team USA Basketball this summer was the best player on the floor, beating out Team USA members Lebron, Kyrie, and Love.

What is next: Nov. 5, on the road in Utah against the Jazz, 9:00 p.m. EST.