The Cavaliers have taken baby steps, small moves toward improvement in recent games. They’ve seen victories finally come in a tiny bunch, and the struggling top draft pick experience a breakthrough moment.
But nothing has qualified as a significant leap forward until they finally accomplished one feat not seen by a Cleveland basketball team in nearly four years: Winning four straight games.
The Cavaliers battled the equally struggling Detroit Pistons to the bitter end Wednesday at the Palace of Auburn Hills, finally swiping a 93-89 victory behind 25 points and 15 rebounds from Tristan Thompson, and 23 points from Kyrie Irving.
The last time the Cavaliers won four straight during the regular season came March 8-24, 2010, when they won eight consecutive – and had a certain player who left Cleveland behind.
“It should feel good for the guys because they definitely have earned it,” Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. “They’re trying to do the right things. It’s not always pretty, but it feels good to be on the winning end of some of these games.”
Two monstrous Thompson dunks in the final 1:31 and back-breaking Irving 3-pointer with 27.2 seconds remaining helped to secure the victory.
The Pistons lost for the first time since head coach Mo Cheeks was fired Sunday. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, have not lost since general manager Chris Grant was fired.
The difference in the Cavaliers locker room from two weeks ago is palpable – even as they are at 20-33 heading into the All-Star break.
“There’s a lot more smiling,” Irving said. “It’s just a lot more fun. There’s been a burden that’s just kind of been let go from all of us.”
It didn’t look as if the Cavaliers were headed toward a joyous post-game locker room when the Pistons used the strength of big men Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe and Josh Smith to take as much as a 13-point lead in the first half.
The Cavaliers were without starting center Anderson Varejao, who missed the game with a sore back, his second straight absence.
Click here to read more of this story.
About Marion Online Sports
