No, I haven't completely lost my mind, and I'm not going to tell you that the Cav's will be a one or a two seed in the playoffs, but they are definitely better than what they have displayed on the court thus far. The players that have been here a while, Mo Williams, Anderson Varejao, and Bobby Gibson, have needed to adjust to head coach Byron Scott's style of running a team. Not that Mike Brown's style was that different, but it's a tough change regardless, and takes time to fulfill.
And it also doesn't help when six of your 15 players are either newcomers, or were acquired mid season in 2009-10. These guys including Antwan Jamison, Ramon Sessions, Ryan Hollins, Manny Harris, Joey Graham, and Leon Powe, who was with the team to start the 2009 campaign, but did not see playing time until after his injury.
Practices with new teammates don't guarantee that they've learned how to play with each other; that takes game time. Games are dramatically different than practices, even though coaches can draw up situations resembling that of a game during a practice, it just is not the same type of atmosphere. These guys need to get to know each other through the adversity of an 82 game schedule, which is known to be a lengthy, and sometimes painful process.
No wonder these guys don't trust each other.
But trust can be gained. It's not something such as the talent level isn't there. It's a chemistry that must be developed through experience, and sooner or later, it will come. The Cavaliers have been one of the better NBA teams in the second half of the season, and one would expect their performance to pick up shortly after the All-Star break.
Sooner or later, coach Scott's philosophies of fundamental basketball will sink into the Cavaliers thick heads. Scott preaches passing the ball and making sure everyone on the court gets their share of action and does their fair share. With a lack of a certain All-Star on the court, the Cav's have no choice but to simplify their game plan and make the most of everyone's talents.
The players have their responsibilities in adapting and learning what coach wants from them. They've proven to be coachable thus far, and willing to listen to what wisdom and knowledge their elder manager has to offer. Not one player on this Cav's team puts themselves before the team, so the trust is for sure to come in the near future.
But at the same time, coach Scott has responsibilities to his players. The entire unit as a hole must believe in his mentalities, so instilling a confidence level in all of his players is a must; not just for the Cav's but for anyone in the NBA. The coach is involved in everything that the team does; every minute of every practice, and every minute of every game. The players have to be heads up and the coach needs to draw up the x's and o's that suit his team the best. The rest of the season will test this team to the very limit, and they've need every ounce of energy and ability they have to get back to post season form.