SAN FRANCISCO – The limited number of people inside the Chase Center saw it. So did NBA viewers across the country – if they tuned in to a late-night game between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers in free fall. For those who missed it live, the moment is on all social networks.
There they were. Jarrett Allen and Collin Sexton. Two teammates yelling at each other, making mean gestures, waving their arms angrily, heading towards the visitor’s locker room as they were separated by two coaches and veteran JaVale McGee.
The optics were not great, especially for a team that had lost seven consecutive games at the end of the trip, it was in the midst of some Andre Drummond drama that led to fair questions about the team’s unity and spent the week trying to assure anyone that wanted to believe that they had not fractured.
The Warriors liked the show. They stayed on the court to watch the discussion. Stephen Curry started to laugh.
Since when is responsibility a bad thing? Sometimes discussions can be healthy. Sometimes, they come from a good place. I mean, it’s not like Allen violently threw a basketball at Cedi Osman’s (hey, Kevin Love) feet in the middle of an offensive possession in hopes of proving a point.
While the relationship between Sexton and Allen – important for the organization’s maturity – will now be placed under a microscope, the body language between them will be broken in the coming weeks and it is worth monitoring from now on, Monday’s heated verbal strife does not necessarily mean that players don’t like each other.
“They just had a conversation and I’m fine with that,” said Cavs coach JB Bickerstaff, after the 129-98 loss. “There was a situation on the floor and they needed to resolve it. I don’t think it was a big deal. When we entered the locker room at the break, it was all over. We discussed this and moved on. If you never have a conflict, you never have a resolution. It is normal to have a little conflict, as long as it leads to a resolution ”.
The bottom line is that someone – Allen or Sexton – spoiled the defensive coverage that led to an undisputed dunk for Draymond Green in the final minute. It seemed to be Sexton’s fault, although that is not so relevant. These communication failures and mental lapses have been a point of frustration during this complicated journey, as the Cavs lost their defensive identity in the first few weeks. If there is hope of ending this slippage, those moves should stop.
Allen knows that. Sexton too. Letting go without saying anything would have been worse. These problems must be resolved immediately – even if it means a temporary shouting contest in front of an interested audience.
“It’s basketball,” said Allen. “Tensions are going to get high. I’m not usually the person who starts screaming, but I was frustrated with everything and so Collin was there. We started to scream. But one thing you need to know, there is not a second that I would not fight for that guy. I went out and yelled at him. We found this out in the locker room. When we are out there, we will go to war for each other. “
Allen admitted that it was not just a move that angered him. He was also irritated by the referee over a prohibited call just before the bell. Of course, the constant loss is also not helping. Everyone is nervous. Cavs are being tested. Their defense is a disaster. The offense seems broken. The good vibes are gone.
“We lost what looks like 20 in a row, I just can’t get out of this little routine we’re in,” said Allen. “We have defenses in defense. Sometimes, once we play a perfect defense, in the next possession, we will mess up a little thing that will lead to another team’s bucket.
Responsibility also means looking in the mirror. When asked specifically how the Cavs can improve their ruined defense, Allen spoke about the defense of pick and roll and other sets that appear to be problematic.
“I have to be better, our guards have to be better,” said Allen. “Rear door cuts, you could see tonight, Draymond (Green) separated us in terms of rear door cuts. All the other teams are still behind the scenes and cutting us off. Just mental lapses at the defensive end. Sometimes we forget about coverage. Sometimes, we do something that we didn’t agree on in the pre-practice before. “
With Drummond being held back until the Cavs find a viable trade before the March 25 deadline, and Larry Nance Jr. sidelined with a fractured left hand, Allen is now the centerpiece of the defense. He needs to be the voice and hoop protector, the last line of defense if and when Cleveland guards are defeated by dribbling. That is a lot of responsibility. Sometimes it means pointing out errors. Whatever it takes – within reason, of course – to fix these flaws.
Even Sexton would agree with that. Hell, he said that after Friday’s loss to Portland, another game in which the Cavs lost more than 120 points.
“Right now, we’re talking and it’s not about trying to show your teammate,” said Sexton that night. “We all want a goal: to win. So, know that you are not coming from a bad place. We don’t have bad guys just saying things. If someone is saying this, they are sincere and want us to be better at it. You have to be responsible for your work, you have to make sure that your teammate is responsible.
Before the team’s trip, Allen and others talked about being an opportunity to learn about themselves. Well, they have. It just isn’t a good way.
“We still have a long way to go. I learned that we need to brake more during games. After we beat Brooklyn, we kind of slowed down a bit, ”said Allen. “And now that we have been on this trip and have lost all the games on this trip, I hope this can be a wake-up call for all of us.”
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