Hey, everyone. It’s Donyell – checking in from the road. I hope everyone had a great Christmas.
It was nice to get a win over Miami on Christmas Day. We’ve been struggling a little bit lately. Obviously, we just need to start coming out and doing the things we did last year and even earlier this year.
We’ve gotten away from our defensive schemes. I think a lot of people wanted to see offense, but we went to the Finals playing defense, and that’s what we have to get back to. Teams have been shooting the ball well and coming out in the first quarter and getting a lot of confidence.
I think once we realize that when we get our defensive mindset back, we’ll get back to the way we’re used to playing. Fans want scoring, but they have to realize that to win a Championship, you’ve got to play defense. You look at last year, we were one of the top defensive teams and right now, we’re near the bottom. We have scorers and we know we can put points up. For us to win, we have to play defense. It’s very simple.
Sometimes to snap out of a stretch like this it just takes one or two games. We had that losing streak in the middle of the month, but right now we’re winning one, losing one, winning one, losing one. And it might take just a two-game run to turn this thing around.
It’s still relatively early in the season, and if you look at the East, it’s still bunched up – and anyone can emerge. You can look at it today and say that Boston and Detroit are the two teams that have the advantage, but it’s bunched up and, in a long season, anything can happen.
You look at last year, when Orlando started 10 games over .500 and barely made the Playoffs. You just have to continue to play and work hard, come to practice every day, and hopefully continue to get better.
We’re not oblivious to the fact that fans have been unhappy with our play at times. We are, too. But we look to each other for support when things get rough. We have the same team back this year – and we’ve said it for the last three years: the only people that really believe in us is us.
When things are going right, fans are cheering; when they’re going wrong, they boo. But the guys in this locker room are going to be here through thick and thin, win or lose. That’s what we realize – that it’s going to be us 15 guys and the coaching staff that’s going to turn this thing around. We have to come in, work hard, get better, help each other’s game, get healthy and try to get back into the hunt.
I’m not going to sit here and say that fans booing doesn’t affect us. And it can get frustrating as an athlete. It’s the fans’ right to boo – and we all realize that – but it can get frustrating. It’s a difficult thing, but that’s the way fans are and it’s our job to play through it. Most of us have been through these situations before and we just have to push it out of our minds and keep playing hard to try and work through this.
I’m really excited to get back out there and help my teammates. My wrist is getting there and I’ve been released to shoot the ball. I’m starting to get back to shooting and I’ll be released for contact within a week or so. And once I get to the contact, it’s just about getting some shots up and getting in game shape.
I’ve been doing cardio, but that’s a big difference from playing basketball. So right now, it’s getting some shots up and once I get released for practice, it’ll just be a matter of time.
It feels pretty good, but obviously, I haven’t shot in almost a month-and-a-half, so right now it’s a little difficult. But it’s starting to come along. I just have to get into a rhythm. Shots now are easy, because I’m by myself. But I have to feel comfortable with guys running at me and on the move, getting banged and things like that.
It gets a little sore now, but that’s just from not using it. But I think it’s slowly getting better every day. And pretty soon, I’ll be back. By then, maybe we’ll get this thing rolling, start getting some wins and get back to business in the East.
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5 comments:
Donyell, hook me up with LeBron. I kow the Cavs will get back on track when you get back. I live in New York and I'll be cheering for you against Dallas tomorrow. Good luck to you, LeBron, and all the Cavs! You are the best!
Hey Donyell, Hope you get well soon. Anyway, I just wanted you and the guys to know that there are definately fans that always support you through thick and thin. It's funny, sometimes you hear fans booing and you wouldn't think they were watching the team that looks the closest to getting them a championship that they haven't been able to celebrate since the 60s. And some people are just negative, like Stephen A. Smith. But I think there are more people that realize that it's not always as simple as we wanna believe it is, winning games, and we're patient with you guys. It's so easy to blame, wheather it's Larry, or any other team member. Only cause it's kinda scary. After 37 years of never getting where we need to, we finally get to the Finals, and it seems like coming out of that experience, the next step was in our reach, and to be struggling so early, it's frustrating. But coming from a true Cleveland fan, we do support you guys. I'm in tenth grade, and I play basketball and I realize someitmes, it's not something you can put your finger on. You just have to continue to execute. Last year, there were alot of doubters, and the fact that you guys got so far, despite early predictions just proves that sometimes believeing in yourself is key. And after seeing the season I saw last year, I definately believe. And it's good to hear you guys and working hard. Good luck. Have fun, and remember, Cleveland loves all 15 of you all.
Peace
What a quack u are Donyell! First lumping all fans in with the ones that boo is pretty damn dumb, but I wouldn't expect anything less from u. Secondly it can be frustrating to here fans boo... cry me a river, imagine how it feels to pay what little money people do have on a ticket to see their beloved cavs come out with no heart, and looking like they never saw a basketball in their life. I love the game of basketball, but I got to be honest a lot of players in this league make me sick (including u) and should be counting their blessings they are playing in the money first premadonna era and not back in the old days when players like larry bird would call themselves every name in the book and worry about how to fix the problem instead of crying about the fans reaction to their poor play.
Plus it isn't like the season just started. My god were more than a third of the way through the season and were outside looking in after going to the finals last year... so if u dont think the fans have a right to voice their opinion yet stay true to their team then your dumber than I even already thought u were.
Fans aren't boo'ing the CAVS, they are boo'ing a lack luster effort from players such as Larry Hughes. Please tell everyone on the roster that those boo's aren't meant for everyone. Just the players who don't play with the heart and effort that their contract warrants.
Thanks
I think it's ridiculous for fans to boo the team. Real fans don't boo - no matter what is happening in the game. Of course none of us want to see the team lose, but every team loses games. True fans are with the team win or lose, and I am proud to say that I am one of those fans!
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