All is NOT well in Cleveland

Even their fist-bumps are out of sync...

Earlier this week reports surfaced that LeBron James was bracing himself for “a long process” as he begins the task of taking his newly formed Cleveland Cavilers and developing them into a perennial championship contender.

Not even two weeks into his first season back, it’s clear that BronBron has his work cut out for him.

To say the Cavs have merely stumbled out of the gate in the early going, is putting it lightly.

Sure, struggles are often a part of the process for any team, especially ones put together as quickly as this one but any time a LeBron-led squad is put on the court, they're going to be placed under the microscope. Like a high-powered digital LCD-microscope.

Add to that mix fellow All-Stars, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, and this group will continue to face a plethora of unrealistic expectations for the entirety of the 2014-15 season.

To that point... this past week we “witnessed" (see what I did there?) the media storm that follows when things don't go according to script. Following the team's 101-82 loss in Portland, the media was going crazy with initial reports that James and his point guard, Kyrie Irving, had an exchange of words in the locker room.

Eventually someone close to the situation came out to say the conversation was dubbed a “healthy” one and that LeBron just wants 'Uncle Drew' to be a better facilitator for the team. Still, I can't help but wonder how long LeBron will allow his young pupil to run the Cavs offense at an ineffective rate before finally taking over himself.

I can't be the only one who is thinking this either. Which is why what happened the following night is so interesting...

With the Cavs trying to avoid opening the season 1-3, another low point was reached when Gordon Hayward drilled a right-wing jumper at the buzzer to give the Jazz a 102-100 victory.

So why is this so awesome to watch? Well it seems as if the talk from LeBron went completely unheeded. Against the Jazz, Kyrie Irving dropped 34 points on 23 shots but also recorded a massive GOOSE EGG in the assist column despite being on the floor for 45 minutes!

Not exactly a confidence booster for fans and LeBron alike, expecting to see Kyrie facilitate the Cavs offense which currently ranks as one of the NBA's most selfish.

Be patient, Cavs fans. At least if the team continues its struggles, we'll be in for an entertaining ride!

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Oh, Deron.

When Toronto Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri famously yelled "F Brooklyn" during a pep rally prior to game one of the playoffs, nobody would have suspected that Nets point guard Deron Williams was thinking, "Hell ya bro".

In an article published by Dime Magazine yesterday, the under-performing Williams made it clear he's not happy living in New York, and still goes back to Utah (the city where he spent the first five and a half seasons of his career) every summer and much prefers the lifestyle there.

“I’m not going to lie. I don’t really feel so much like a New Yorker. I grew up in an apartment in Texas where you could send your kids outside like ‘yeah, go play in the sun.’ Here it’s more challenging. The process of getting them into school is a nightmare. Even private schools where you pay are an ordeal. In Utah, you just send your kids to the first public school in the area because they’re all great. Truth is, we enjoy getting away from the hustle and bustle and going back to Utah every summer. It’s a relief to take that timeout. No traffic. No crowds. My daughters still have their friends there. There’s a big backyard. They go to the pool; the playground and they jump on the trampoline. Kids running wild and free here…? I don’t think so.”

When asked how a 'New Yorker' is defined, Williams pissed off a few million people.

"New Yorkers are tough. Or at least they think they are.”

This brings up an even larger question for me.  Clearly this type of commentary coming from the man who was acquired to be the franchise's cornerstone is disconcerting - but is it wrong?

Members of the media often complain about athletes who give canned, shrink-wrapped, sterile answers to every question.  When an athlete does speak their mind, and it's something unexpected - they get roasted.

While I respect the honest of Deron Williams to state that he doesn't think New York is a great fit for his family, I also realize that it was probably a stupid decision to say that a month or so out from hitting the hardwood at the Barclays Center.

Message boards and social media have already erupted with calls of "TRADE THAT FAT BASTARD" or "Can we please get Derrick Favors back?

Williams has a massive contract where he is due $40 million over the next two seasons, and has a $22.3 million player option for the 2016-2017. 

Considering he will be hard pressed to earn half of that come 2017-2018, it should be expected that Williams will look to play out the string; but since that contract is nearly untradeable, perhaps Williams is letting us all know that he is so unhappy with his quality of life that he is willing to opt out early.

One thing is for sure.  If Williams thought life was hard in New York before, buddy ain't seen nothin' yet.

Bravo Deron - you brave, stupid, sunamabitch. 

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