Dion Waiters was playing however, and he made sure people were aware of that fact. Early in the 2nd quarter, the rookie drove to the basket and threw down a powerful dunk over the “Birdman” Chris Andersen. Waiters finished with 16 points, but the Heat snuck out of Cleveland with a 96-95 victory.

We all thought the Cavs’ misfortunes in the late 80s was purely a result of the Greatest Ever, MJ himself, bursting onto the NBA superstardom scene in a long series of destroying Cleveland with his legendary clutch play, including the oft-mentioned running jumper against the Cavs on a series-clinching buzzer beater in 1989 (known as “The Shot”).  Turns out a full-on curse spanning two and a half decades has translated all the way to this day, most infamously when today’s greatest NBA player, LeBron James, decided to take his talents to South Beach.

And in their latest morale blow, the Cavs blew a 27-point lead that just so happened to be against LeBron and the reigning NBA champs in the 4th quarter. Because, you know, the Cavs could use more gut-wrenching, soul-crushing defeats – especially against a former legendary ally that betrayed them.

Mar 20, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) walks to the bench during a timeout in the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Worst of all, LeBron once again showed the Cavs fans – in Cleveland – what they’ve been missing since his departure, posting another triple-double with 25 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.  Not quite his monster 48-point performance in his first return to Cleveland since The Decision, but impressive nonetheless.  When Cleveland showed some resolve after their severe implosion, they cut Miami’s lead to one with just under five seconds left in the game.  And to add insult to injury, the refs made a very dubious call after the ball went out of bounds with two seconds left; the video replay showed LeBron knocking the ball out of bounds, yet possession was somehow granted to the Heat.  Cleveland had one more shot to send the game into OT, but CJ Miles’ three-point attempt clanked off the rim – a fittingly symbolic imagery of the continuing misfortunes of this team.

That just seems to be the trend with this Cleveland franchise – they show glimpses of hope, but there just seems to be one bad break after another that sets them back.  The fact that this perceived curse spans the generations of Michael Jordan AND LeBron James speaks volumes about how eerily bad the Cavs’ luck has been for several years.

This is the latest misfortune of yet another rough season for Cleveland post LBJ.  We all know how bad they’ve been since LeBron’s departure.  Hell, some even argue that David Stern felt so bad for them that he fixed the 2011 lottery to help Cleveland land their newest promising All-Star in Kyrie Irving.  Their bad luck has translated to both long and short-term affairs – the long-term ones being free agency (or lack thereof) and health (another lack thereof), the short-term being in games.  Even in the game vs. Miami tonight, their two best players (and arguably their two lone bright spots) in Irving and Dion Waiters were out with injuries.  Irving will likely sit out the rest of the season with an injured shoulder, an injury which took major zest out of the Cavs’ season.  And despite Irving’s All-Star season up to that point, the Cavs were still among the league’s worst.  Now without both Irving and Waiters, as well as a prior season-ending injury to Anderson Varejao, it’s difficult to imagine a positive outlook for the rest of the season and beyond.  When it comes to both in-game luck as well as health, the Cavs can never seem to catch a break.

The lesson here is, if you think your team has had some bad luck, you would be wrong – unless you are in Ohio.  And for all the sports analysts that will ramble on and on tomorrow about how this streak will affect the Heat, please stop and consider talking about the worst of Miami’s victims during this winning streak.

To all Cavaliers fans:  you will always have my deepest sympathy.  That is, until you get 25 years of good luck to balance the last quarter-century out.

After falling down by 27 points at one point in the 3rd quarter, the Heat stormed back to eventually win 98-95 and extend their streak to 24 games.

A scary moment took place early in the 4th quarter, however, as a fan rushed onto the court. He appeared to be a LeBron fan, wearing a shirt with a message saying “We miss you.” While it appears he had no malicious intents, (LeBron even gave him a high five) it was still disconcerting to everyone watching.

Mar 5, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving (2) during a game against the Utah Jazz at Quicken Loans Arena. Utah won 109-100. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Despite Kyrie Irving still being bothered by a sore knee, the Cleveland Cavaliers have no plans currently to shutdown their star point guard. Head coach Byron Scott told reporters on Thursday that he would consider pulling Irving so that he could get healthy but a new report suggests that there was a miscommunication between Scott and Irving.

Irving missed three games with a hyperextended knee after banging knees with a teammate in practice two weeks ago. However, he played 38 minutes in Wednesday’s win over the Utah Jazz finishing with 20 points and 10 assists. He is expected to be in the starting lineup Friday night against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Irving prompted Scott’s comments after he told reporters that the only way he would get better would be to sit out the rest of the season. The Cavaliers say that they will continue to monitor Irving’s knee and he will continue to receive treatment. At this point it looks like he is just dealing with ongoing soreness and isn’t risking future injury.

Irving has missed 14 games this season but 11 came due to a finger injury earlier in the season. He is averaging a career-best 23.2 points and 5.7 assists this season and was named to the Eastern Conference All-Star game for the first time.

Dec 15, 2012; New York, NY, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving (2) gestures after scoring during the third quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Knicks won 103-102. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Good news for the Cleveland Cavaliers today, as it appears that Kyrie Irving will return to action tonight. Irving has missed the last three games after suffering a hyperextension of his knee. According to the New York Time’s Howard Beck, however, he should be able to go tonight against the New York Knicks.

Kyrie Irving listed as probable for tonight’s game vs. Knicks, per AP report. Irving missed last three games w/hyperextended knee.

— Howard Beck (@HowardBeckNYT) March 4, 2013

The Cavs aren’t making a playoff push or anything, but it’s always nice to have the team’s best player back in action, especially for the fans. Tonight is also Kyrie Irving bobble head night in Cleveland, which would have been a bit weird with Irving sitting on the bench.

Jan 7, 2013; Rosemont, IL, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Byron Scott against the Chicago Bulls during the second quarter at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Cavaliers have opened the season 9-29 despite the dominant play of Kyrie Irving and the resurgent rebounding Anderson Varejao. The talent on the Cavs’ list is from championship calibre, or maybe even playoffs quality, but second last in NBA for wins behind the Wizards is laughable and represents a much further problem with the Cavaliers organization beyond the standard rebuilding pains.

Often, firing a coach from their post is a poor way to scapegoat an individual when a team has a multitude of personnel issues on the roster and in the front office (what’s up, Mike Brown?), but in the Cavaliers’ case it is definitely the best way to move forward. After three years of not just failure, but embarrassing record-breaking failure, the Cleveland Cavaliers must part ways with Byron Scott if they hope to move from stalling to progressing any time soon.

The ultimate goal of any time that is developing is fundamentally to improve, and the Cavaliers have failed to do so as a team this season while they manage to do so individually. In the first season after LeBron James left for sunny South Beach, the Mo Williams/Antawn Jamison led Cavaliers sat at 8-30 after 38 matches, while improving to 15-23 at the same mark the following season under Kyrie Irving and the veteran Jamison. The following season, they’re one missed Kyrie Irving jump shot  away from matching the horrendous start to the 2010-11 season.

During that season, not a single player averaged more than 20 points per game, nor did a single Cav pull down more than 10 boards per game (Varejao came close with 9.7 in his 31 appearances). This wasn’t a situation like the championship Detroit Pistons, where the talent pool was balanced and deep – it was a team built to accommodate a star and a contract like LeBron James, only it lacked LeBron James.

The turnaround the following season yielded two more truimphs and eighteen less defeats in the lockout compressed season. They were the only team, along with Indiana, Minnesota and the Clippers, to improve their record in spite of the shortened season. Personnel wise, the Cavaliers didn’t drastically improve. While Kyrie Irving was the huge new face, the Cavaliers lost the duo of Baron Davis and Mo Williams from the season prior and also dropped Ramon Sessions at the deadline; which meant Irving alone couldn’t justify the huge swing in record. Tristan Thompson, drafted fourth overall, didn’t make a huge impact in his maiden season.

Entering the second year of the Kyrie Irving Era in Cleveland, expectations were growing. Although the loss of Antawn Jamison was always set to hurt the Cavaliers’ offense, it provided a chance for Kyrie Irving to up his scoring (check) and rookie Dion Waiters to dazzle (inconclusive) while giving increased time to rebounding sensation Tristan Thompson to expand his game. The addition of former Jazz guard C.J. Miles also gave the Cavaliers a unique scoring punch that gave them one of the better young backcourts in the NBA.

Despite the roster overhaul, built mainly through the draft, the Cavaliers are still struggling. Byron Scott was brought in to help foster Kyrie Irving’s development given his success in New Orleans with Chris Paul and likely has retained his position because of Kyrie Irving’s impressive leap after his Rookie of the Year debut season. Even if the hype behind Scott’s ability to develop a young point guard is to be believed, Irving has done enough on his own to demonstrate he is here to stay regardless of who’s calling his plays.

When the crosstown Cleveland Browns fired Coach Pat Shurmur, Bryon Scott told CBS Cleveland he was surprised with the move.

“Just watching them I think they made leaps and bounds over last year. They have a lot of good pieces, they have a good quarterback, a good running back, and some good receivers, and a solid defense.” he said, justifying Shurmur’s case to keeping his job.

That opinion didn’t gel with the ideas of the Browns’ front office, but Scott better hope the Cavaliers feel differently.  The Cavaliers also have a lot of good pieces, they have a very good point guard, a good Center, and some good prospects and a not-at-all-solid defense, and his failure to get them to improve as a team this season in spite of their individual improvements should see Bryon Scott join Pat Shurmur on the unemployment line.

Dec 19, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce (34) shoots the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving (2) during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Pistons (7-21) 91 @ Raptors (8-19) 97

• Leading scorers: DET – Greg Monroe 35, TOR – DeMar DeRozan 23.
• Jose Calderon didn’t have a triple double, but did drop 17 dimes (along with 7 points) in this game, with only 2 turnovers.
• Ed Davis continues to make the most out his new starting gig with 11 points (5-7 FG), 9 rebounds and 2 blocks.
• The Raps had 26 assists on 35 made field goals (74.3% assist rate).
• They also finished with only 6 turnovers for the entire game.
• Greg Monroe had a monster game and was one of only 2 Pistons that scored in double figures (Stuckey 13). Monroe finished with 35 points (14-22 FG) and 10 rebounds.

Nets (13-12) 86 @ Knicks (19-6) 100

• Leading scorers: BKN – Joe Johnson 17, NYK – Carmelo Anthony 31.
• The Knicks did it again. But “it” I mean scored 100 points, made 11 threes and had only 7 turnovers for the game.
• Melo returned to score 31 (12-22 FG).
• Tyson Chandler had a nice game with 16 points, 12 rebound and 3 blocks.
• J.R. Smith played 37 minutes off the bench and finished with 19 points (7-11 FG), 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
• Double doubles from Deron Williams (16 pts, 10 asts) and Brook Lopez (16 pts, 10 rebs).
• Kris Humphries + Reggie Evans = 0 points (0-3 FG) and 11 rebounds.

Wizards (3-20) 83 @ Magic (12-13) 90

• Leading scorers: WAS – Nene 20, ORL – J.J. Redick 17.
• Not the greatest shooting night for Big Baby and Afflalo (12-36 FG), but they got the job done with 12 and 15 to bring the Magic to within one game of .500.
• On the flip side, Redick and Moore had 32 points off the bench and combined to shoot 11-19 and 7-11 from behind the arc.
• Jordan Crawford had a “Jordan Crawford” night with 19 points (7-16 shooting) and 7 turnovers.
• No stat necessary for this… talk about a murderer’s row starting lineup for the Wiz: Martell Webster, Earl Barron, Emeka Okafor, Shaun Livingston, Jordan Crawford.

Jazz (14-13) 84 @ Pacers (14-12) 104

• Leading scorers: UTA – Derrick Favors 16, IND – Gerald Green 21.
• The Pacers got very solid games out of the Georges. Paul George finished with 20 points (9-13 FG), 11 rebounds and 4 blocks and George Hill finished with 20 points (8-13 FG), 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
• Gerald Green gave the Pacers 21 points off the bench in 23 minutes.
• The Jazz had a less than stellar performance from Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap. The two combined for only 11 points on 3-15 shooting.

Cavaliers (5-22) 91 @ Celtics (13-12) 103

• Leading scorers: CLE – Kyrie Irving 22, BOS – Paul Pierce 40.
• Paul Pierce had a hell of a game. He scored 40 points on an incredible 13-16 from the field, including 6-7 from downtown and 8-8 from the free throw line. He also grabbed 8 boards, had 5 assists and 3 steals.
• The Celtics as a team shot 59.7% from the field.
• All five Cavs starters scored in double figures, which didn’t include Anderson Varejao, who did not play in the game.
• Tristan Thompson did have 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Thunder (21-4) 100 @ Hawks (15-8) 92

• Leading scorers: OKC – Kevin Durant 41, ATL – Jeff Teague 19.
• 12 straight wins and counting for the Thunder.
• Kevin Durant went off in Atlanta with 41 points (14-23 FG) and 13 rebounds.
• The other Thunder player in double figures was Russ Westbrook with 27 points and 11 assists.
• Thunder were 19-20 from the free throw line.
• Jeff Teague had 19 points and 9 assists for Atlanta.

76ers (12-14) 103 @ Rockets (13-12) 125

• Leading scorers: PHI – Nick Young 21, HOU – James Harden 33.
• James Harden continues his prolific free throw assault, going 17-18 from the line in scoring his 33 points.
• The Rockets shot 56.0% from the field and were 30-36 from the free throw line.
• Omer Asik posted a double double of 17 points and 15 rebounds.
• For Philly, Dorell Wright had a really solid game with 20 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists.

Bobcats (7-18) 104 @ Suns (11-15) 121

• Leading scorers: CHA – Kemba Walker 27, PHX – Shannon Brown 26.
• The Suns shot a blazing (no pun intended) 60.7% (17-28) from downtown.
• Shannon Brown (20 pts, 4 rebs), Jared Dudley (20 pts, 5 asts) and Goran Dragic (21 pts, 11 asts) all scored over 20 for Phoenix.
• Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had a beat of a game with 25 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals.
• MKG and Kemba Walker both shot 9-14 from the floor.
• Yes, that’s 13 straight losses for the B-Cats.

Bucks (13-11) 80 @ Grizzlies (17-6) 90

• Leading scorers: MIL – Brandon Jennings 26, MEM – Zach Randolph 15.
• Z-Bo and Marc Gasol combined for 27 points and 29 rebounds.
• The Grizz outrebounded the Bucks 56-44.
• The Bucks only recorded 11 assists in the game.
• Brandon Jennings had 26 points, but it took him 26 shots (9-26) to get them.
• Monta Ellis was frozen, shooting 1 for 14 from the field.

Warriors (17-9) 127 @ Kings (8-17) 131

• Leading scorers: GSW – Stephen Curry 32, SAC – DeMarcus Cousins 24.
• The Kings had 7 players score in double figures.
• They shot 50.0% from the field and 57.9% from three.
• Jason Thompson had 10 points and 15 rebounds.
• Steph Curry had 32 points (7-12 3PT) despite fouling out of the game.
• David Lee and Jarrett Jack filled it up as well, putting up 29 and 28 respecively.

Hornets (5-20) 77 @ Clippers (19-6) 93

•  Leading scorers: NOH – Robin Lopez 22, LAC – Blake Griffin 18.
• The two teams combined to shoot 6 for 39 from behind the arc.
• Chris Paul put up a double double with 10 points and 12 assists.
• Robin Lopez had 22 points and 9 rebounds.

Dec 1, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Portland Trail Blazers small forward Nicolas Batum (right) celebrates after making a three-point basket in double overtime in a 118-117 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-US PRESSWIRE

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Nets (11-5) 89 @ Heat (12-3) 102

• Leading scorers: BKN - Andray Blatche 20, MIA – Dwyane Wade 34.
• I have to admit, I was beginning to worry a bit about Dwyane Wade, but he proved me wrong tonight with 34 points on 14 for 20 shooting.
• LeBron only had 21 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists.
• Ray Allen had 13 points (5-7 FG) off the bench.
• In Andray Blatche’s second start of the season, but put up 20 points (8-12 FG) and 8 rebounds.
• Down 9 points at the half, the Heat used a 52-30 second half to easily put away the Nets.

Trail Blazers (7-10) 118 @ Cavaliers (4-13) 117 – 2OT

• Leading scorers: POR – Damian Lillard 24, CLE – Alonzo Gee 22.
• Damian Lillard, looking calm and collected, led the Blazers with 24 points, 11 assists and 6 rebounds.
• Nic Batum had 22 points on 7-15 shooting (3-4 3PT), including the game winning corner three ball (pic above).
• Anderson Varejao contined to dominate the glass with 17 rebounds (he also had 19 points and 5 assists).
• Tyler Zeller collected his first NBA double double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

76ers (10-7) 88 @ Bulls (8-7) 93

• Leading scorers: PHI – Jrue Holiday 23, CHI – Luol Deng 25.
• Luol Deng had his best game of the season with 25 points (10-16 FG), 7 rebounds and 7 assists.
• Joakim Noah was close to a triple double with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists.
• Thaddeus Young also filled the stat sheet with 22 points (10-16 FG), 7 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 blocks.

Thunder (14-4) 100 @ Hornets (4-11) 79

• Leading scorers: OKC – Kevin Durant 20, NOH – Ryan Anderson 21.
• Russell Westbrook’s assist numbers continue to be steady with another 10 in this game to go along with his 18 points.
• Kevin Martin provided the bench punch with 19 points on 6-13 shooting.
• The Thunder led in fast break points 18-4 for the game.
• Ryan Anderson led the Hornets again with 21 points and 10 rebounds. As usual, he attempted a ton of threes (3-11).

Jazz (9-9) 116 @ Rockets (8-8) 124

• Leading scorers: UTA – Gordon Hayward 21, HOU – Patrick Patterson 20.
• The Rockets spread their offense out in this game as 7 players scored in double figures and all of them had at least 13 points.
• Patrick Patterson led the Rockets again with 20 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks.
• Omer Asik was his usual efficient self with 14 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks.
• Gordon Hayward contined his bench success with 21 points on 8 for 12 shooting.
• The Jazz backcourt of Mo Williams and Randy Foye went 15-28 from the field for 36 points and 13 assists.

Celtics (9-8) 88 @ Bucks (8-7) 91

• Leading scorers: BOS – Paul Pierce 19, MIL – Larry Sanders 18.
• Larry Sanders didn’t just lead the team in scoring. Coming off his triple double in the last game, he put up 18 points (7-11 FG), 16 rebounds and 5 blocks in this game.
• Drew Gooden, Tobias Harris and Sam Dalembert all registered DNP – Coach’s Decisions in this game.
• Jason Terry did his best Rajon Rondo (suspended) impression with 15 points and 11 assists in 40 minutes.
• An impressive win for the Bucks, as the Celtics started this game out with a 17-0 lead.

Grizzlies (12-3) 95 @ Spurs (14-4) 99 – OT

• Leading scorers: MEM – Marc Gasol 20, SAN – Tony Parker 30.
• After “resting” on Thursday against the Heat, the Spurs three amigos were at it again. Parker (30 pts, 6 asts), Duncan (27 pts, 15 rebs), and Ginobili (10 pts, 6 asts, 6 stls) led the Spurs to victory over a tough Grizzlies squad.
• While those three were dominant, the other three starters in DeJuan Blair (0-0 FG), Gary Neal (4-16 FG) and Danny Green (0-7 FG) were pretty bad from the field.
• Zach Randolph (17 pts, 12 rebs), Rudy Gay (15 pts, 10 rebs) and Mike Conley (18 pts, 12 asts) all had double doubles for Memphis.
• The teams combined to shoot 11 for 44 from 3-point range.

Pistons (5-13) 77 @ Mavericks (8-9) 92

• Leading scorers: DET – Brandon Knight 20, DAL – O.J. Mayo 27.
• After trailing at the half, the Mavs outscored the Pistons 50-29 in the second half.
• O.J. Mayo (6-9 3PT) and Vince Carter (4-6 3PT) were incredible with their long distance shooting.
• Elton Brand had a solid game off the bench with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks in 28 minutes.
• Greg Monroe had 15 rebounds, but struggled with his shot, going 4-17 from the floor.
• Jason Maxiell had 10 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks.

Kings (4-12) 81 @ Clippers (10-6) 116

• Leading scorers: SAC – Marcus Thornton 20, LAC – Jamal Crawford 17.
• The Clippers had 7 players score in double figures, all between 11 and 17 points.
• The next phase of Chauncey Billups’ return was 6 points (2-5 FG), 2 rebounds and 3 assists in 18 minutes.
• The Clippers shot 54.7% and had 12 steals to the Kings 2.
• Jason Thompson was the more effective King, according the box score at least. He had 16 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists.

Pacers (8-9) 92 @ Warriors (10-6) 103

• Leading scorers: IND – David West 23, GSW – Klay Thompson 22.
• Steph Curry put up his second 20 and 10 in two games with 20 points and 11 assists in this game.
• Jarrett Jack had an extremely efficient game with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
• For the Pacers, David West continued his solid play with 23 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals.
• Paul George was held scoreless in the entire game, going 0-7 from the field and he did not make it to the free throw line at all.

November 13, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Danny Green (4) celebrates the Spurs 84-82 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Wizards (0-6) 76 @ Bobcats (3-3) 92

• Leading scorers: WAS – Trevor Ariza 19, CHA – Ramon Sessions 21.
• When Trevor Ariza is your only player in double figures with 19 points, you know you’re in trouble.
• The Wiz shot a woeful 29.8% (25-84) from the field, including the Beal/Price combination of 3 for 23.
• The Wizards had a 72% assist rate (assists on 18 of 25 made field goals).
• Ramon Sessions led the Bobcats from the bench (30 minutes) with 21 points and 5 assists.

Knicks (5-0) 99 @ Magic (2-5) 89

• Leading scorers: NYK – Carmelo Anthony 25, ORL – J.J. Redick 18.
• The Knicks “quality” shooting contined with a 48.8% (41-84 FG) effort.
• In what might be considered a small miracle, Ray Felton managed to put up more shots than Carmelo, 23 to 21 (though Melo outscored him 25 to 21).
• J.R. Smith with another solid game in putting up 21 points (9-14 FG), 4 rebounds and 3 assists.
• Nik Vucevic with another double double (12 pts, 10 rebs).
• Moe Harkless finally broke though with some numbers. In 19 minutes, he had 10 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks.

Raptors (2-6) 74 @ Pacers (3-5) 72

• Leading scorers: TOR – DeMar DeRozan 15, IND – George Hill 18.
• The Raptors scored 5 points total in the 4th quarter… andstillwon.
• Out of nowhere, Jose Calderon recorded a triple double with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
• Coming off an insane 60 minute game the night before, DeMar DeRozan played another 40 minutes and scored 15 points in the victory.
• Interesting stat here: George Hill (who had 18 points) has led the Pacers in scoring in 4 of their 8 games.
• Paul George and David West combined to shoot 6 for 26 from the floor.

Cavaliers (2-6) 101 @ Nets (4-2) 114

• Leading scorers: CLE -Anderson Varejao 35, BKN – Deron Williams 26.
• Anderson Varejao had an absolute monster game with 35 points (16-21 FG) and 18 rebounds.
• Kyrie Irving wasn’t too bad himself with 34 points and 8 assists (14-14 from the free throw line).
• The stars finally came out in Brooklyn: Deron Williams (26 pts, 10 asts), Joe Johnson (25 pts, 5 rebs, 6 asts) and Brook Lopez (23 pts, 7 rebs, 4 blks).

Trail Blazers (3-5) 103 @ Kings (2-6) 86

• Leading scorers: POR – Damian Lillard 22, SAC – James Johnson 16.
• Lillard led the Blazers with 22 points and 9 assists.
• J.J. Hickson recorded another double double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
• The Blazers were on fire from outside, shooting 14-27 for 51.9% (Lillard 5-6).
• The Kings meanwhile, were 1-11 from behind the arc.
• Jason Thompson had 8 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks in what might be considered the Kings best all around stat line.

Spurs (7-1) 84 @ Lakers (3-5) 82

• Leading scorers: SAN – Tony Parker 19, LAL – Kobe Bryant 28.
• Tim Duncan contined his assault with 19 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks.
• Tony Parker, who was a game-time decision, finished with 19 points and 7 assists.
• Only 8 turnovers in the game for the Spurs.
• Another solid shooting performance from Kobe (12-19, 28 points) wasn’t enough to handle the Spurs at home.
• Dwight (13 pts, 15 rebs) and Pau  (10 pts, 10 rebs) both had double doubles.

Nov 5, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dion Walters (3) reacts after making a 3-point basket against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center. The Cavaliers defeated the Clippers 108-101. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Wow. I’m still trying to catch my breath after witnessing that display of utter “cold-bloodedness” last night.

We’ve all had the opportunity to witness (pardon the Cleveland pun) Kyrie Irving’s radical 4th quarter brilliance last season. Heck, we’ve already experienced it this season, as Irving scored the Cavs last 13 points in Milwaukee on Saturday night, only to come up short, thanks to Brandon Jennings’ buzzer beating ways.

Kyrie did it again last night in Los Angeles, with a game-clinching three ball in the game’s dying seconds. Though on this night, he also had some help in the form of his fellow 20-year old, rookie backcourt teammate Dion Waiters. Both of these young studs showed that there is no age minimum on making a statement. The statement was simple: The backcourt of the Cleveland Cavaliers is in great hands for years to come.

All the Cavs backcourt duo did was walk into the Staples Center and rip the hearts out of the Los Angeles Clippers and their Hollywood-dwelling fans. Slashing the lane and kicking it, or drilling long 26 foot daggers, you name it, they did it. The victims included one Chris Paul, famously known for his own 4th quarter heroics time and time again. Paul is older and wiser, but no less fearless than Irving, or perhaps Waiters, given last night was the standard. That’s what they’d like you to know.

Like “ball,” the numbers don’t lie, and they break down like like this: The two combined for 52 points on 18-40 shooting, including an incredible 11-19 (58%) from behind the arc. They also dished out 11 of the team’s 23 total assists.

What the numbers don’t show, perhaps the more important factor, is that these guys had zero problems handling the ball and handling the burden (I’m sure they would call it otherwise) of taking the final shot(s) in what is often a very hostile environment, last night included. It’s very telling that two 20-year olds can handle pressure in such a smooth fashion. Not only do they handle it, they make it extemely exciting to watch. I personally get chills when Kyrie has the ball at the end of the game, he seems unstoppable. The clutch shots and the active hands on defense that caused plenty of problems while the Clippers tried desperately to dig out of hole after hole.

Waiters is a different type of player than Irving, positionally and instinctively. He loves to shoot the ball. The more dramatic the shot or the occasion, the more he seemingly likes it. Remember, we have only a handful of games to judge this, but with some guys you can just tell. Big shot after big shot in the final period, Waiters looked like he was in his element out there, rookie or not.

All of these elements are a sign that the Cleveland Cavaliers are going to be fun to watch this season, and next, and the one after that.

Are they going to make the playoffs this season? Most, including myself, would say it’s very unlikely. Will Irving and Waiters have their share of bad shooting nights, taking ill-advised shots at the worst of times? Of course they are, you can count on it. But those will be growing pains, we all have them. The greater point is that they’re willing to take those shots without questions asked and understanding the consequences. Kyrie has they keys to this team and he knows it. Despite often being left unsatisfied, those are the expectations of a #1 overall draft pick in this league. He takes the ball, embraces the moment and makes you watch without blinking, or hold your breath like I did earlier.

The Cavs are still very much planted firmly in “rebuilding” mode, but despite only a short time having passed since LeBron left town, the Cavs have something special coming. You can feel it. Just like you can feel it when Kyrie has the ball in his hands, like something exciting is always going to happen. If we’re talking upside, this backcourt possesses some that is off the charts. They have a situation where they can put the Cavs back on the map. Are they there yet? No, and it might take a couple of eventual acquisitions to complete the transition from rebuilding to playoff contender. But people are starting to pay attention.

Irving (last season) and Waiters are out to prove the word “rookie” is simply just a measure of tenure. Last night’s slaying of the Clippers was a prime illustration.

Oct 17, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Nick Young (1) and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson (1) go for a loose ball during the fourth quarter at the Wachovia Center. The Sixers defeated the Cavaliers 113-99. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Wizards (1-4) 101 @ Raptors (3-1) 104

• Leading scorers: WAS – Trevor Booker 12, TOR – Landry Fields 15.
• I’ve been waiting to jump all over Kyle Lowry’s first game as a Raptor. The result: 14 points (4-10 FG), 6 assists, 3 rebounds and 3 steals.
• Jose Calderon and John Lucas backing him up: 17 points, 11 assists, 1 turnover.
• Jonas Watch: 8 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks.
• Jordan Crawford continues to get his shots up. Another 14 FGA’s in this game, along with 7 assists. Huh?

Cavaliers (3-3) 99 @ 76ers (3-1) 113

• Leading scorers: CLE – Kyrie Irving 23, PHI – Nick Young, Maalik Wayns 19.
• The Sixers made 12 of their 25 3-point attempts in this game (48%).
• Maalik Wayns (who should easily sure a roster spot) and Nick Young combined to shoot 14-22 off the bench, scoring 38 points.
• Interesting line for Spencer Hawes (a center) in this one: 4 points on 1-10 shooting, 2 rebounds, 7 assists.
• Another solid Tristan Thompson game with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 3 more blocked shots.

Grizzlies (2-2) 102 @ Rockets (3-2) 109

• Leading scorers: MEM – Mike Conley Jr. 18, HOU – Kevin Martin 22.
• Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol struggled shooting in this one, a combined 5-23 from the field.
• Mike Conley led the Grizz for the second straight game in scoring with his 18 points.
• Jeremy Lin’s shooting woes continued (only 3-9) but he did chip in with 12 assists and 4 steals.
• I know it’s still preseason, but does anyone have the odds on Kevin Martin winning the scoring title? I may just entertain that prop bet. 22 points again tonight.

Suns (2-1) 100 @ Mavericks (2-2) 94

• Leading scorers: PHX – Jared Dudley 16, DAL – Chris Kaman 16.
• Markieff Morris with a dreadful  2-14 from the field.
• My Jae Crowder love continues to grow. In 26 minutes he had 10 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals and 3 blocks. Impressive stuff yet again.
• Dirk missed his 3rd straight game with a knee injury (which Mark Cuban isn’t worried about at all).

Nuggets (3-1) 80 @ Trail Blazers (2-2) 97

• Leading scorers: DEN – Kenneth Faried 17, POR – Wesley Matthews 19.
• Very unlike the Denver Nuggets to only score 80 points in a game. However, shooting only 38% (27-71) overall and 10% (2-20) from downtown will not help the cause.
• Kenneth Faried was the only Nugget in double figures in scoring (17). He also had 11 rebounds.
• Solid game for Blazers backup point guard Nolan Smith with 9 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists in 31 minutes of action.

Warriors (4-1) 98 @ Kings (2-1) 88

• Leading scorers: GSW – Stephen Curry 19, SAC – Isaiah Thomas 13.
• The Kings three highest scorers, Cousins, Evans and Thornton combined to shoot just 8-32 (25%) from the floor.
• Embarrassingly, the Kings managed only 9 assists for the entire game and shot a terrible 3-21 from three.
• David Lee continues his stellar preseason with another double double (16 pts, 14 rebs), despite only shooting 5-18 overall.
• Steph Curry led the team again with 19 points (also 5 rebs and 4 assists) before fouling out of the game.

Jazz (3-2) 94 @ Clippers (2-2) 96

• Leading scorers: UTA – Randy Foye 17, LAC – Blake Griffin 23.
• Monster game for DeAndre Jordan with 11 points, 16 rebounds and 3 blocks. Now, if he could only make some damn free throws (5-13).
• Real nice game also for Blake Griffin with his 23 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals.
• Jamaal Tinsley got the start in this one and while he dished out 7 assists, he had 0 points (0-5 FG).
• Jeremy Evans had 4 blocked shots in this game, one of which may have led to the most exciting highlight(s) of the preseason so far.

October 8, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Utah Jazz guard Mo Williams (5) passes the ball back to forward Paul Millsap (24) against the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Utah Jazz 83-80. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Real Madrid (N/A) 95 @ Raptors (1-0) 102

• The Raptors second unit were the true stars of this game, especially in the second half. Linas Kleiza, Amir Johnson, Terrence Ross and John Lucas were a combined +67 while the starters (Bargnani, Gray, DeRozan, Fields, Calderon) finished a combined -34, all of them being in the minus.
• Jose Calderon had a typical Calderon-esque assist-to-turnover gem with 8 assists and only 1 turnover.
• Raptor rookie Quincy Acy’s line: 0 minutes, -3 (what the box score doesn’t tell you is that he entered the game with 18 seconds left. Trust me, I was there).
• Real Madrid’s Nikola Mirotic had a nice ball game and stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks before fouling out.

Siena (N/A) 85 @ Cavaliers (1-0) 92

• Cavaliers rookies Tyler Zeller and Dion Waiters’ preseason debut went like this: 6-14 FG, 18 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists.
• Cavaliers outscored Siena 46-24 with points in the paint.
• Siena’s backcourt (featuring former NBA player Bobby Brown and Matt Janning) put this line up: 13-32 FG, 10-21 3PT, 43 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists.

Jazz (0-1) 80 @ Warriors (2-0) 83

• Looks like sophomore Enes Kanter is pushing to be “freed” from his bench role. In only 24 minutes, he posted a double double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks.
• Starters Al Jefferson, Gordon Hayward and the re-acquired Mo Williams combined to shoot 6-27 (22%) from the field for only 18 points.
• David Lee logged a somewhat surprising 36 minutes and had an excellent game for the Warriors, posting 19 points (9-14 FG), 14 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals.

Apr 23, 2012; Memphis, TN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving (2) shoots the ball during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-US PRESSWIRE

Kyrie Irving
Resume: 18.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.1 steals, 30.5 minutes, 47% FG, 40% 3PT, and 87% FT… Team record in games played: 17-34 (4-11 without)… 1st Team All-Rookie, Rookie of the Year

Hey, I’m just going to need a minute to take my foot out of my mouth. Can someone give me a hand? Oh crap, none of you are actually near me. Okay, just a second.

Alright, I’m good now. I guess I shouldn’t have been so anti-Kyrie Irving for so long. Well, you live and you learn, and I learned the hard way. I’ve been taking shots at Kyrie for over a year now, starting back in June 2011 when the draft rolled around and I claimed that it made no sense for Cleveland to use the number one pick on a guy who played only 11 games in college and the consensus number 2 pick (Derrick Williams) ripped through Irving’s Duke Blue Devils in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament like he was the Tasmanian Devil. Even once the season was under way I continued to go after Kyrie, calling him “a quarter of a star” in an Eastern Conference power rankings post. Let me make some perfectly clear: Kyrie Irving is a full star. It took me a while to realize this and it has been a little bit of a shock to me, but I’ve finally seen the light. Why does this shock me? Well…

1: He never looked like a sure thing at the college level. Granted, he was dealing with an injured Sgt. Hulka throughout the year and I may have had my Duke blinders on, so I probably brought this on myself. Anthony Davis looks like a sure thing to me. Derrick Rose looked like a sure thing to me. Blake Griffin looked like a sure thing to me. Adam Morrison looked- eh, just forget I said anything.

2: He’s 1 month younger than me. This might not seem like that big of a deal, but for the first time in my life a star player in the NBA was born after I was. That’s sort of depressing in a weird way. I get jacked up to play intramural games once a week… he’s battling the best players in the NBA on a nightly basis and succeeding even more than the biggest Kyrie Irving fan could’ve expected. Nobody could’ve predicted that Kyrie would not just lead all NBA players in clutch stats, but do it by such a wide margin. Per 48 minutes of Clutch Time (4^th quarter or overtime, less than 5 minutes left, neither team ahead by more than 5 points) Kyrie Irving averaged a ridiculous 56.4 points per game. The only other player in the league to average more than 50 was Kevin Durant. The third highest was Carmelo Anthony at 43.6 per 48 minutes of Clutch Time. It doesn’t end there though, Irving shot 54% in Clutch Time, better than anyone else in the top 15 in scoring. Add in the mix 67% from three-point range (again, better than anyone in the top 15 in scoring) and 89% at the free throw line, and you already have a resume being built as one of the best late game players in the league.

3: He’s handling this fame and success remarkably well, coming off as a cool, humble and savvy kid. He even starred in Pepsi Max’s Uncle Drew commercial, which would’ve made just about any player in the league look like the coolest dude alive.

4: Let me just state this one more time: Kyrie Irving is one month younger than me and he’s already one of the top 25 players in the NBA. If you didn’t believe that what he did during the season was enough, then all you needed to do was listen to what people (including some of the best players in the world) were saying about him during the Team USA vs. USA Select Team scrimmages over the summer. The word floating around was he was lighting Team USA up, and he was even good enough to challenge Kobe Bryant to a one on one game for $50,000 and not have it seem totally ridiculous.

Let me say it one more time so I can hopefully get the taste of my own foot out of my mouth… Kyrie Irving is a full star, and he will be for a very long time.

Apr 28, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls injured point guard Derrick Rose (1) is helped off the court by medical staff during the fourth quarter in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at the United Center. The Bulls won 103-91. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-US PRESSWIRE

• DERRICK ROSE, PG, Chicago Bulls
  Last season: 35.3 MPG, 21.8 PPG, 7.9 APG, 23.10 PER
  I get it, listing Derrick Rose as the Bulls’ X-Factor is weak and certainly not my attempt to be labelled a rocket scientist anytime soon. We can claim we believe in the Bulls even without him (record-wise, this checks out to a certain degree), but let’s be honest, they go as far as he takes them. Trying to pin down an exact time at which Rose will make his season debut is anyone’s guess, and trust me there are scattered reports. I’ve heard some say Christmas, some mid-March, others say he’ll miss the entire season and some (though the name escapes me) are saying he’ll be ready for opening night. Take your pick. The bottom line is that Derrick Rose is one of the most important players in the Eastern Conference and league, let alone his own team. So while it seems simple to state this, I’m of the opinion that his team doesn’t even make the playoffs if his return is closer to that mid-March date. Is D-Rose an X-Factor? It’s arguably that he is THE X-Factor. The rocket scientists concur.
• 

  Jan 6, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao (17) prior to the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center. Cleveland defeated Minnesota 98-87. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE

  ANDERSON VAREJAO, C, Cleveland Cavaliers
  Last season: 31.4 MPG, 10.8 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 18.93 PER (25 games)
  Kyrie Irving is the Cavs best player, hands down, it’s not even disputable. However, “best” and “important” can sometimes carry different weightings. Anderson Varejao represents the Cavs entire defensive identity. His energy and relentless hustle encapsulate what this young team should try to be on the defensive end. Varejao’s 2011-12 season was over in early February, during which he acculated 14 double-doubles in 25 games. With some extremely young players (Thompson, Samuels, Zeller, Leuer) behind him in the depth chart, the Cavs NEED Varejao to stay on the floor and be that embodiment of defense if they want to contend for a playoff spot in the East. Varejao’s offensive numbers will look even better this season as well, playing a full schedule with Irving running the show.

• 

  Mar. 16, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detroit Pistons guard (3) Rodney Stuckey controls the ball against Phoenix Suns guard (31) Sebastian Telfair at the US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Pistons 109-101. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

  RODNEY STUCKEY, SG, Detroit Pistons
  Last season: 29.9 MPG, 14.8 PPG, 3.8 APG, 17.62 PER
  When I tell you that the Detroit Pistons backcourt is thin, I’m talking LeAnn Rimes thin. The days of Billups/Hamilton are long gone and now they have Stuckey and Brandon Knight, a second year player, representing the guard situation. Listed on their depth chart right now in the backup roles are the undersized Will Bynum at point guard and rookie Kim English at shooting guard. Scary would be an understatement. Stuckey is the key to this mess. While Greg Monroe will take over as the number one option on offense, Stuckey (with his 5 years of NBA service and slight production drop last season) is the default leader in the backcourt. Even though Brandon Knight improved over the course of his rookie season and will now assume a bigger role in the offense, I think Stuckey has a near obligation to bring his numbers up and better match up with the other premier shooting guards in the league. If not, the Pistons go from bad to worse.

• 

  May 8, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers shooting guard George Hill (3) dribbles the ball against Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson (14) during game five in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeated Orlando 105-87. Mandatory Credit: Michael Hickey-US PRESSWIRE

  GEORGE HILL, PG, Indiana Pacers
  Last season: 25.5 MPG, 9.6 PPG, 2.9 APG, 15.77 PER
  Sometimes it simply comes down to the weakest starter being the most important piece of the puzzle. While he’ll replace Darren Collison and split some minutes with newly acquired D.J. Augustin, George Hill is expected to take over starting point guard duties in Indiana. Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert, David West and the improving Paul George comprise one of the strongest starting combinations in the league. George Hill is the only question mark, and that could be considered reaching. Historically, Hill has never been a big assist guy (2.5 per game over 24.8 MPG in his career), but that may change this year, given that he will be responsible for being the primary playmaker and the guy with the responsibility to get the ball to the first four scoring options mentioned above. If Hill averages another 25-30 minutes per game, expect his assist number to shoot up. With his added ability to score when necessary and even defend a bit, expect Hill to help push the Pacers deeper into the playoffs.

• 

  April 13, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings (3) during first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-US PRESSWIRE

  BRANDON JENNINGS, PG, Milwaukee Bucks
  Last season: 35.3 MPG, 19.1 PPG, 5.5 APG, 18.46 PER
  This is the year that Jennings needs to take the next step, and I’m not talking about scoring. At 19.1 PPG, he’s proven he can score. I wrote earlier that I didn’t think Jennings was an elite point guard, because of his lack of assists and his spotty shot selection, and I completely stand by that. Perhaps a more crucial attribute that Jennings needs to strengthen for his team to succeed is his leadership. He needs to be the catalyst to bring this team together. Between himself and his star backcourt teammate Monta Ellis, scoring the basketball is easy. The Bucks have solid role players but really no real star talent elsewhere on the roster. Jennings needs to facilitate, distribute the basketball and reassess his shot selection. That is what’s going to help this team climb into the playoff picture in the East, not dropping 35 points on 13 for 31 shooting. If he grows, the team grows.

• Jonas Valanciunas has a buyout in place; however that agreement will not allow him to come over until after next season. This should scare away some teams that are looking to make an impact right away with their picks; such teams would include Toronto at 5, Detroit at 8 and Charlotte at 9. If he slips passed Cleveland at 4 Valanciunas could be in for a slide
• Despite reports of the contrary, Cleveland has not guaranteed Irving that he will be their pick at number one. Although it remains likely that this will be the case, picking Williams would severely shakeup the top of the Draft board. (more…)

Personally, I like to think of it as ‘Slash leaving the wedding in the November Rain video to dominate the guitar solo in the middle of the desert’ good, but that’s probably just because I’m a nerd.

I was sent this post, which basically introduces a new stat specifically calculated to measure exactly how effective Dirk’s game was last night (Hint: it was insanely effective).

Here are some additional bits to chew on:

• Josh Hill with Pippen Ain’t Easy takes a look at last night’s Bulls loss to Miami.
• Sam McPhee from King James Gospel reviews the game from Miami’s lens.
• James Grayson from Swarm and Sting has news about Hornets Assistant Mike Malone and the Golden State Warriors.
• Charles Barkley speaks out about Rick Welts.
• Kyrie Irving elects to skip the NBA Draft Combine. His agent is reporting that he’s working out on his own, suggesting that the Cavs are already set to draft him #1 overall.

Want more NBA discussion? Be sure to follow the crew on Twitter: Blake Lovell (@theblakelovell), Steve Rivers (@TheKidSkoob), Steven Gelis (@thatsthedagger), Marco Romo (@SerenityNowDDL), Andrew Lynch (@snghoops), Dan Jepperson (@Kobesmokey).

We now have the official draft order for the upcoming NBA Draft:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
3. Utah Jazz

(more…)

For today’s report, I’ve highlighted a few important news items in the world of the D-League and included a list of all the D-League Call Ups and Assignments so far this season. Enjoy!

(more…)

As for the other game, the Orlando Magic were great defensively in a 89-75 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Like most have said, the Lakers looked tired, and the Magic just took it to them in the second half.

You can bet that some of yesterday’s games had an impact in our power rankings this week, so let’s get right to them! (more…)

Maybe you tried to make yourself believe that “F/OT” meant something other than “Final/Overtime.” That’s understandable. After all, the Cavs had lost 26 straight heading into the game.

But now that streak has been put to rest. And we no longer have to worry about a Streak vs. Streak showdown when the Cavs host the Wizards tomorrow afternoon at Quicken Loans Arena. Instead, it’ll just be Streak vs. Please, Don’t Let This Be The Start Of A New Streak. Or something like that. (more…)