The Cleveland Cavaliers are going through a rough stretch at the worst possible time, winning just six of their last 14 games. Their inconsistency was at a peak this past week, trading wins and losses over their last four games. And, with a tough stretch looming, Cleveland won't be having any "get right" games anytime soon. Let's get you up to speed with the week that was and the week ahead with our Cavs Weekly update:
Standings:
The Cavs still have a one-game lead over the Boston Celtics, though the Cavs are two games ahead in the loss column. The third-place Washington Wizards and fourth-place Toronto Raptors are three and a half and four games, respectively, behind Cleveland in the standings.
This Week:
Cleveland started their current four-game road trip on Saturday when they went to LA. They started the back-to-back set against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday Night Primetime on ABC, but the Cavs chose to rest all of their marquee players and lost 108-78.
Everyone did play on Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers, and Cleveland needed all hand on deck. Even though the Lakers have the second-worst record in the entire NBA, the Cavs needed 46 points from Kyrie Irving, 34 from LeBron James and a double-double (21 points, 15 rebounds) from Kevin Love to get a narrow 125-120 win.
The final game of the week came on Wednesday at the Denver Nuggets, and it was one of the most disappointing games of the season for the Cavaliers. Despite 33 points from Irving, LeBron had a minus-30 plus/minus rating and the Nuggets got 56 points from their bench in a 126-113 victory over Cleveland.
Why It's Not Time To Panic:
Quite frankly, Cleveland's regular season has always been about getting to the playoffs with the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. A team coming off of two straight NBA Finals appearances can get bored in the regular season, and while their defense does raise cause for concern, it is very plausible that the Cavs are waiting to employ a new strategy or make adjustments until the postseason. Until they prove otherwise, this team has earned the benefit of the doubt.
What's Next?
Cleveland will try to get back on track tonight against the Charlotte Hornets in the first game of a back-to-back before returning home to face the Wizards on Saturday. Then, the Cavs have two weekday road games that will both be nationally televised by TNT - Monday against the San Antonio Spurs and Thursday against the Chicago Bulls. Read more Cavs news in the Chat Sports iPhone and Android apps.
What They're Saying:
Will the Cavaliers' Defense Really Prevent Them From Winning Another NBA Title? (NumberFire)
Kevin Love’s Progression Could Be The Difference-maker For The Cavs (Fansided)
Cleveland Cavaliers will try to flip the switch in the playoffs: Bill Livingston (photos) (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
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