CHICAGO -- Depending how you want to frame it, following Thursday's 113-98 loss to the Chicago Bulls, the Cleveland Cavaliers are either heading into the All-Star break winners of 14 of their past 16 games or losers of two of their past four. Both are factual breakdowns of their recent schedule, but depending which way you slice it, the Cavs are either riding high or still have work to do to really prove themselves over the final two months of the regular season. The truth of the matter is both vantage points are important for this team right now. No, losing two times in the past week -- both on the road and both on the second night of back-to-backs -- should not take anything away from what the Cavs showed by reinventing themselves through the trades that landed Timofey Mozgov, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert and by the think-outside-the-box, two-week rest period to sit LeBron James and allow him to come back rejuvenated both mentally and physically. But symbolically, it shows there is still much left for Cleveland to accomplish this season. In a wide-open campaign, in which you could legitimately talk yourself into seven or eight teams being the favorites to win it all at this point, being the squad that stays extra hungry February through April could make all the difference in May and June. The loss to the Bulls was a reminder of some things that should help the Cavs down the road -- if they can correct them. "For us, we have to continue to play well," James said. "We're chasing our own self. We have an opportunity for us to get better every day, and as far as chemistry, we have a long way to go, as far as just continuing to build on what we need to do, as far as going into the playoffs. "But every game is another opportunity for us to get better, and I think tonight, we didn't take a step backwards, we just kind of, we didn't take a step forward. And we'll use the break to kind of re-energize ourselves and get ready for next week." There are micro issues on this team that need fixing, such as James' turnovers. He had eight of them against Chicago and has had five or more in six of his past eight games. "Some of them are attack turnovers," James explained. "A couple of them are just bad miscues. I got to do some ballhandling drills when I get back. Get my handle back right. But I'll figure it out, for sure. That cannot happen in order for us to win long-term if we turn the ball over." Simple enough solution on that one, especially since James' ailing right wrist certainly contributed to his ball control being askew, and he is about to get a week off to rest it. Another micro issue? Fitting Kevin Love in. So long as they're winning, it shouldn't matter so much, but then again, it's hard to say winning while Love is shooting under 40 percent from the field is optimal for this team's future. A more macro issue is the roster construction. Yes, the trades put the Cavs in position to be reckoned with, but their bench looked mighty flimsy with Love's absence (right eye abrasion) and Mozgov's foul trouble causing James Jones to play 30 minutes against the Bulls. That can only be corrected by Cavs general manager David Griffin. With the league trade deadline coming Thursday, a day before the Cavs get back to action, we'll find out soon enough if the GM can keep his momentum going when it comes to wheeling and dealing. The most complicated issue, which James alluded to, is chemistry. The Cavs have made major strides to instill a culture and establish an identity as to what they're about: a ball-sharing team that ramps up the defensive intensity in order to create more transition opportunities on offense. Although that development has been significant, it doesn't mean the problems over the first half of the season, when Cleveland started 19-20, have completely disappeared and therefore are irrelevant. Before the Bulls game, Cavs coach David Blatt chalked up those problems -- the ones involving him and his connection or lack thereof to his team -- to people in the media who "make up a whole lot of stories." It was a defiant quote from Blatt, who just a couple minutes before tried to remain humble, and referenced a John Wooden quote: "It's what you learn after you know everything that counts." Of course, after that, he made sure to remind the assembled reporters, "Me coming to the NBA for the first time, I'm in my learning curve, but I've coached a few games before, so I also have a wealth of experience to go on." A couple hours later, James was asked to assess the job Blatt has done, and he complimented him, but at the same time he revealed he only judges the guy by his NBA experience. "Well, I mean, he's growing, for sure," James said. "I mean, he's a rookie coach. It's just like a rookie player, every month you kind of get better and better and better. I think that's what he's been doing. For our team, he's been great. He communicates great. He pays attention to details. And as players, we just try to go out and, whatever he wants us to do, we try to implement it at a high level. I think every day is a learning experience for himself as well and just being his first year in the NBA, I think he's handled it well." James' words could apply to the Cavs team as a whole. It's their first time together. They're getting better. There are reasons to like what's going on. But let's not pop any champagne just yet. It's best not to get too swept up in the destination this team is headed for, because there is still plenty of road ahead that they'll need to navigate in order to reach that destination. "Of course there's excitement because for me, I love to play the game, and I understand what our team is capable of doing," James said when asked if the Cavs' future intrigues him. "I can sense it. But at the same time, you don't get too high on yourself, and you stay with the process and understand that you still have a lot of games to get better, and you can't shortcut that."
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