So what should the Cavs try to accomplish in the final 28 games? Here's my list, in no particular order.
1. Be more consistently competitive. More wins would be nice but the main thing is to reduce the number of blowouts and double digit losses. Have a chance to win late in the game more often so the young players get the experience of playing in late and close situations.
2. Greatly reduce the huge scoring runs by opponents where the Cavs get outscored 19-4 (for example) in a 4-5 minute span. They've had a lot of losses where one awful 4-6 minute segment of a 48 minute game represented the difference in the final score. When the bleeding starts they need to learn how to stop it much quicker, before it puts them in a hole too big to crawl out of.
3. Come out stronger to start the third quarter. The Cavs are the NBA's worst third quarter team and most of it is due to playing poorly in the first few minutes. That has to stop.
4. Finish the game stronger instead of collapsing down the stretch. Learn to close out wins when they have a lead going into the last four minutes.
5. Better defense in the paint where the Cavs are the league's worst. Getting Drummond should help.
6. Continue the individual development by rookies Garland and Porter along with sophomore Collin Sexton, whose assist totals have been increasing.
7. A strong finish to the season by Love, Nance, and Osman.
8. Determine if Drummond is a significant help to the team and if the organization wants to try and extend his contract beyond next season. They may have to wait and see if they can draft James Wiseman before making a decision on Drummond.
9. Play better defense against the pick-and-roll, better man-to-man defense, and better help defense where if a Cavs player gets beat off the dribble a teammate picks up his man until the original defender can recover or switch onto the other opponent.
10. Lead the league in offensive rebounding with Drummond and Thompson killing it on the offensive glass.
11. Give Delly a last hurrah since he probably won't be back.
12. Unleash Tristan Thompson from the 3-point line (just kidding, I think).