Blogs > Cleveland Cavaliers Blog

Find out the scoop on the CAVS from award-winning sports writer Bob Finnan.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Game 76: Magic at Cavs

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (24-52) 91, ORLANDO MAGIC (19-59) 85
Quicken Loans Arena
Sunday
Radio/TV: WMMS (100.7 FM)/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: Even though the Cavs have won two in a row, it's still a little premature to say they've turned the corner.

The Cavs need to keep playing hard in order for Coach Byron Scott to hang onto his job. They might not have played real well on Sunday, but they played hard. Games where the team sleep-walks is a black mark on Scott's resume.

The Cavs shot just 36 percent from the field - their lowest field-goal percentage in a win all year. They actually shot .35955 from the field. They hadn't shot under 36 percent in a win since April 6, 2012, vs. Toronto.

The Magic is the second-worst team in the NBA. They have now lost five in a row overall, 11 in a row on the road. They are 7-46 in their last 53 games. The point is: Don't get too giddy about the win.

The important thing is the Cavs once again played with some spunk.

The finished 3-1 vs. the Magic this season. 

Cavs power forward Tristan Thompson continued his torrid play. He destroyed the Celtics on Friday with 29 points and 17 rebounds, both career highs. He followed that up with 15 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks on Sunday.

He's playing like a future All-Star. That's really saying something after where he came from. He looked totally lost last year. I commend GM Chris Grant for that selection.

Speaking of budding stars, Magic forward Tobias Harris belongs on that list. He had 26 points and 12 rebounds on Sunday. He was acquired from Milwaukee on Feb. 21 in the J.J. Redick deal. Since coming to Orlando, he's reached double figures in scoring 20 times. He's reached 20 or more points six times, including a career-high 30 points vs. Washington on March 29.

LAST GAME: The Cavs defeated Boston on Friday, 97-91.

UP NEXT: The Cavs travel to Indiana at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Bankers Life Arena.

STARTERS
SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Tobias Harris (6-8, 226)
PF Tristan Thompson (6-9, 227) vs. Andrew Nicholson (6-9, 250)
C Tyler Zeller (7-0, 250) vs. Nikola Vucevic (7-0, 240)
SG Wayne Ellington (6-4, 200) vs. Maurice Harkless (6-8, 210)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Beno Udrih (6-2, 203)
INACTIVE LIST 
Cavs - C Anderson Varejao, G Dion Waiters
Magic - F Glen Davis
OFFICIALS
Joe Crawford, Sean Corbin, Leroy Richardson


0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home