SALT LAKE CITY: The addition of one of the league’s best 3-point shooters did little to help the Cavs’ issues with turnovers and assists Tuesday night. In fact, Kyle Korver didn’t even make a 3-pointer in his debut.
LeBron James scored 29 points and Kyrie Irving scored 20, but the Cavs’ problems in Utah continued with a 100-92 loss to the Jazz. The Cavs committed 18 turnovers after they had 20 in Sunday’s win at the Phoenix Suns.
Ball movement continues to be an issue as well. The Cavs did not have an assist in the second quarter and finished with 15. They’re now averaging 15.8 assists in their past six games.
The Utah mountains historically have not been kind to James and his mates. Despite his best efforts, James has lost his past six games in this arena. In fact, the trio of James, Irving and Kevin Love are now a combined 10-22 inside Vivint Smart Home Arena.
Lue downplayed the Cavs’ recent low assist figures prior to the game, dismissing it to poor shooting. Three of those six games with the low assists occurred while Irving was out with his hamstring problem.
“We’ve missed shots we normally make,” Lue said. “But it’s part of the game.”
The Cavs trailed by 15 at the half Tuesday before James scored 10 in a row and 13 of their first 19 to start the third quarter. James’ burst briefly gave the Cavs a 60-58 lead before the Jazz scored the game’s next 16 points to again take control.
The Cavs shot just 29 percent on 3-pointers (9-of-31). Love endured a difficult 4-of-14 shooting night overall (2-of-6 on 3s) while Korver was 0-of-2 on 3s. He scored two points in his debut and shot 1-of-5.
Korver was thrust into the game without a practice or shootaround. The trade between the Cavs and Atlanta Hawks wasn’t finalized until after the team’s morning walkthrough, leaving Korver to come in cold. The Cavs won’t have a shootaround before Wednesday’s game at the Portland Trail Blazers, either, and they’ll take Thursday off following back-to-back games.
That leaves Friday’s shootaround prior to their game against the Sacramento Kings as the first time Korver will be on the floor with his new teammates in a non-game situation. James, however, gave Korver simple advice on how to fit in with this team.
“The first thing I told him when he walked into the locker room the other day was, ‘If you want to fit in, shoot the ball every time you get it.’ Shoot the ball as soon as it touches your hands,” James said. “Shoot it. We don’t care.”
James named five players who have “the ultra-green light” to shoot: J.R. Smith, Love, Korver, Channing Frye and James Jones.
“Then you got a green light in Kyrie and a flashing light in myself,” James said. “I got to make sure I get everybody involved so I can decide if I want to stop at the light or if I can kind of just cruise through there. So the fluorescent light guys, they can do whatever they want. They have no other responsibilities besides letting it go.”
Jason Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Cavs blog at www.ohio.com/cavs. Follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/JasonLloydABJ.