It's seven games into the Cleveland Cavaliers' season and they're looking worse than ever.
They're a measly 3-4, and although LeBron James is playing well, no one else is stepping up to the plate.
Despite a bevy of problems including lack of production on offense, the most obvious is the team's defense -- or lack of it. The team is slow to rotate to the open man, closeouts are half-hearted, and assignments are being blown left and right.
So far this season, the Cavs have put forth seven lackluster defensive efforts, most notably in their double-digit loss to the New York Knicks.
Head coach Tyronn Lue as an idea about what is causing the poor defensive effort. Here's what he told Joe Vardon of the Cleveland Plain Dealer:
"Guys got to get in better shape, we understand that. A lot of times when we make runs guys ask to come out because they're tired. It's got to be a balance, getting in shape, but also getting smart."
It also doesn't help that the Cavs are on average the oldest team in the NBA.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are the oldest team in the league at an average age of 30.1, and through 6 games on the season, it's showing.
— Cavaliers Nation (@WeAreCavsNation) October 29, 2017Lue also thinks there's another reason why the team hasn't quite hit its stride yet.
"The other interesting theory Lue introduced tonight: some of the Cavs' new players are struggling because playing alongside James is 'intimidating.'"
Whatever it is, this team need to figure it out quick, before they become the laughingstock of the entire NBA.