Defense and Depth Are Positioning Cavaliers for a Serious Title Run

Another test, another passing grade.

That was the result Tuesday night as the Cleveland Cavaliers locked down the Atlanta Hawks in the fourth quarter en route to a 95-84 win at Phillips Arena.

The spirited and steadily improving Hawks played with energy and determination for three quarters and trailed by just one point, 75-74, entering the final period.

But the Cavaliers, as they so often do, relied on their defense to put the game away. They held Atlanta scoreless for almost nine minutes to begin the fourth quarter, and the once-energized Hawks seemed perplexed as they limped to the final buzzer.

It was the fifth straight win for Cleveland, and 10th in their last 11 games. Don’t look now, but the victory placed the Cavaliers atop the Eastern Conference, a half-game better than Boston.

What’s been evident during this impressive run is that the Cavs enjoy more depth than their opponents. They’re legitimately 10 players deep, and all 10 could be a factor on almost any other roster in the league.

On Tuesday night, LeBron James never got into a rhythm offensively, scoring just 14 points on 6-for-20 shooting. But his talented teammates picked up the slack.

Mo Williams scored 20 points, his fifth straight game of 20 or more, while fellow starters Shaquille O’Neal and Anthony Parker had 10 apiece.

Delonte West was scintillating off the bench, contributing 17 points, including a stunning breakaway dunk over Josh Smith late in the fourth quarter. Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 15 points in 20 minutes.

It’s that depth that is separating Cleveland from its opponents, who have lately been running out of answers when trying to counter the Cavaliers’ rotation.

Williams is playing his best basketball since joining the team, averaging 17.3 points a game and better than 24 a contest during the recent winning streak.

Parker, obtained during the offseason to come off the bench, has instead filled a starting role quite capably, paving the way for West to contribute as a reserve, while Daniel Gibson gives Cleveland a fourth battle-tested guard.

O’Neal has settled into his 20-to-25 minutes a game, bringing a physical presence to the middle while getting plenty of rest for the postseason. Ilgauskas, meanwhile, finally appears comfortable with his reserve role.

More important, the contrast between their playing styles gives opposing defenses fits trying to match up with the two savvy veterans.

At forward, the trio of starter J.J. Hickson and reserves Anderson Varejao and Jamario Moon provide a nice complement to the versatility of James, who received his second Eastern Conference Player of the Week award of the season earlier this week.

Still ahead for the Cavaliers is the addition of Leon Powe, who continues to rehabilitate his left knee in anticipation of a possible February return to action. If Powe is able to return to form in time for the playoffs, Cleveland’s rotation will run 11 players deep.

That scenario may present problems for Mike Brown as he seeks to keep his troops happy with playing time. It will also make him the envy of fellow coaches around the league as Brown and his “one for all” Cavaliers position themselves for another run at the title.