The Cavs made two moves at the trade deadline that dramatically changed the look of their team by replacing Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Iman Shumpert, Dwyane Wade, Channing Frye, and Derrick Rose with Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., Rodney Hood, and George Hill.
If the first game since those trades is anything to go on, Cleveland made the right decision. The new-look team's 121-99 blowout victory over the Boston Celtics on Sunday already has fans salivating about the thought of a deep postseason run. Of course, predicting this team's future after just one game is very premature, but something does look different about the Cavs.
Dahntay Jones, a former Cavs shooting guard from their 2016 championship run, described the post-trade change as: "The difference between selfish and selfless players."
Jones isn't the only one who noticed the Cavs' improved chemistry.
George Hill spoke with NBA TV after the game and said, "It's fun. Tonight showed that all the guys out there are having fun playing for one another on the defensive end and the offensive end. We haven't gelled yet, but if it looks like that, then I think we have the chance to be something special."
After appearing visibly happier and more excited about his teammates throughout the game, LeBron James told Doris Burke, "The attention to detail tonight was at an all-time high for the first time this season. We got some players that can go out and get their own, that's pretty smart, and they picked it up like they've been here all year."
Later, James explained, "I know the guys that are here are very excited about this opportunity. It's my job to as the leader of this team to make sure that I acclimate the new four guys to be around a culture that's built around winning."
Whether the blowout win was a fluke or a sign of a dramatic turnaround for this team, the Cavs (and their fans) were feeling a lot better about things tonight.
