Cleveland Cavaliers: When Will the Record-Setting Losing Streak Finally End?
A 26-game losing streak, with 29ย games left in the regular season. How far will it go? Willย the Cavaliersย ever win another game?
All Clevelandย fansย can do is simply wait. Waitย for the right matchup that can giveย their teamย the best chance to finally win a game.
This of course is easier said than done, especially when your asking a city like Cleveland to wait, something they have been doing for the past 46 years without any kind of championship.
But when exactly will this game happen? Before or after All-Star Weekend?
No one can know for certain, but it shouldn't be a question of if it will happenโbut when.
Sure, the Cavaliers have played in some close games this season, but a loss isย still aย loss,ย and totally losing your track back to the win column is not only unacceptable, but absolutely embarrassing.
It's not that the Cavs haven't been scoring points, as they have averaged 94.4 points per game during the losing streak. What has been the problem is defense, where Cleveland has allowed 108+ points per game during the streak. Any team who gives up that many points have no shot at winning.
Cleveland NEEDS a win not only for the players, but for the city, the NBA, the die-hard Cleveland fans, and of course, to stop the laughter by No. 6 down in Miami. They will end the streak, but against what team?
Here is a breakdown of some upcoming games on the Cavaliers schedule. Note that eight of their next nine games will be in Cleveland.
Feb. 11: Cavaliers Vs. L.A. Clippers
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For the first time this year, the Cavaliers will play hostย to the L.A. Clippers on Friday night at Quicken Loans Arena.
Blake Griffin, the former first round pick by the Clippers back in 2009, has been a real spark for L.A. in his rookie season, averaging 22.6 points per game and currently is fourth in the NBA averaging 12.6 rebounds a game.
Guard Eric Gordon has certainly been another pleasant surprise for the Clippers, leading the team with a 24.1 point averageโeight more points than he averaged at the end of last season.
While the Clippers will come into Cleveland sporting a 20-32 record, the Cavaliers losing streak will likelyย be pushed to 27 games, as Griffin will look to have himself a game against the NBA's worst team.
Winner: Clippers
Feb. 13: Cavaliers Vs. Washington Wizards
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And if one former No.1 pick wasn't enough, John Wall and the Washington Wizards (14-37)ย will come to Cleveland on Sunday hoping to end a losing streak of their ownโa 25-game road losing streak.
The Cavs did take down the Wizards 107-102ย at Washington back on Nov. 6, but both teams have virtually disappeared from the win column since.
The Cavaliers actually haveย a legitimate shot to beatย Washingtonย once again, but they will have to do it without the likes of Anderson Varejao and possibly Mo Williams this time around.ย
While the Wizards have gone just 9-29 since Nov. 25, something tells me they will have no problemย finally ending theirย road losing streak, especiallyย in the hometown of Washington head coach, Flip Saunders.
Winner: Wizards
Feb. 16: Cavaliers Vs. L.A. Lakers
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Unlike in previous years, Cavs fans certainly won't have their calendars circled for Feb. 16, when the L.A. Lakers invade Cleveland for the first time this year. Then again maybe they will, if fans are hoping to see L.A. embarrass the Cavaliers once again.
Come on, we all seen the points (or lack there of), the trick shots, and not much of Kobe in the second half when the Lakers demolished the Cavs 112-57 back on Jan. 11 at the Staples Center.
I'll just cut to the chase.
Winner: Lakers
Feb. 23: Cavaliers Vs. Houston Rockets
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Houston star Kevin Martin scored 40 points the last time he faced the Cavaliers on Dec. 11, resulting in a 110-95 Rockets victory at the Houston Toyota Center.
While he probably won't need to put up as many points this time, Martin will once again need a big game in order to defeatย Cleveland for the second time this season.
The Rockets with a record ofย 25-29, have gone 8-6 in their past 14 games, which include victories against Boston, Atlanta, New York, and Denver.
Yes, the game may be in Cleveland, but with some key Cavs players battling injuries, Houston has a far greater chance of victory.
Winner: Rockets
Feb. 25: Cavaliers Vs. New York Knicks
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The Cavaliers' lastย victory came on aย 109-102 overtimeย win on Dec. 18 against the New York Knicks. Why not end the losing streak against them?
With the game in Cleveland once again, it realisticallyย looks to be the next game on the schedule with the best chance of victory for the Cavs.
The Knicks at 26-25 on the season, have been led by newcomer Amar'e Stoudemire, who has averaged 26.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
New York will not go down as easy this time around.
Winner: Knicks
Feb. 27: Cavaliers Vs. Philadelphia 76ers
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Philadelphia has given the Cavaliers 25 percent of their victories this season, losing twice to Clevelandย in earlyย November. Since then, the 76ers did retaliate with a 117-97 win of their own this past December.
While Philly does sport a 24-28 record, the 76ers have currently gone 7-3 over their past 10 games, thanks in large part to the face of the team, Andre Iguodala.
The six-year standout has averaged 14.6 points per game, going over double-digits in points 13 of his last 14 games.
With a loss to Philadelphia, Cleveland would become winless in both January and February. The Sixers do have one of the worst away records in the NBA, so the Cavs losing streak could come to a halt.
Still, it's hard to see the Cavaliers going 3-1 against a team.
Winner: 76ers
March 2: Cavaliers Vs. San Antonio Spurs
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The worst team in the NBA facing the best team in NBA with a 44-8 record.
Sure, anything is possible, as six of the Spurs eight losses have come on the road, but the odds are certainly against it.
San Antonio won 27-of-30ย gamesย earlier in the season between November and December, which included a 116-92 victory against the Cavaliersย in San Antonio in late November.
Even with the game in Cleveland, it will all be San Antonio once again.
Winner: Spurs
March 4: Cavaliers @ New York Knicks
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The Knicks will face the Cavaliers again a week later. New York has been a very streaky this season, winning 13 of 14 games inย December before losingย seven of eight just one month ago.
New York will have one thing their side in this matchupโMadison Square Garden, where the Knicks have gone a respectable 14-11 on the home court.
We know how intense some of those New York fans can get with their slew of No. 1 Stoudemire jerseys.
Winner: Knicks
March 6: Cavaliers Vs. New Orleans Hornets
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Cleveland fell just short to the Hornetsย this past November 108-101 at New Orleans. This is not a real surprise, considering New Orleans is currently 20-7 at home this season. They will travel to Cleveland for the first time this March.
While the Hornets do have a 12-15 away record, they are currently 7-5 in their last 12 road games, causing them to become even a bigger threat at Quicken Loans Arena. They are led by the player they call CP3; Chris Paul has averaged 16.5 points and 9.8 assists per game this year.
The Cavaliers did not contain Paul as nearly as they hopedย in their last meeting, as he ended up withย 15 points and 10 assists. There will be a buzzing going on in Cleveland, but it will most likely be all Hornets.
Winner: Hornets
March 8: Cavaliers Vs. Golden State Warriors
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Golden State (23-28)ย will give the Cavaliers their next big opportunity forย a win, as they currently hold a dismal 6-18 road record this season. Now, will this be the Cavaliers first victory since Dec. 18?
The Cavs lost to the Warriors 116-98 a month ago on Jan. 7 at Golden State. The Warriors, led by star Monta Ellis averaging 25.4 points and 5.5 assists a game, will create problems against Cleveland's weak defense once again.
In his first game against the Cavaliers, Ellis led Golden State as he scored 32 points with 10 assists. Certainly something that will need to change if Cleveland has any chance in this contest.
Winner: Warriors
March 9: Cavaliers @ Milwaukee Bucks
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Milwaukee holds a 1-1 record against Cleveland this season. The Bucksย most recent game was a 102-88 victory over the Cavaliers three weeks ago.
Bucks forward Corey Maggette and center Andrew Bogut have created a nice duo for Milwaukee, as both players have averaged over 13 points per game this year.
It also should be noted that out of the Bucks 20 wins, 12 of them have come at home.
Looks like the Cavs may be out of luck once again.
Winner: Bucks
March 13: Cavaliers Vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
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The NBA's current leading scorer averaging 29 points per game, Kevin Durant will look to make some thunder of his own when Oklahoma City (33-18)ย travels to Cleveland in the beginning of March.
The Cavaliers not only were beaten badly against the Thunder, 106-77 back on Dec. 12 at Oklahoma City,ย but Oklahoma Cityย have also currentlyย won 20 of their past 31 games.
While they do have a 15-10 road record, Durant and Russell Westbrook will be too much to handle for a spiraling team like Cleveland.
Winner: Thunder
March 16: Cavaliers @ Sacramento Kings
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Now we have ourselves a winner!
Like the Cavaliers, the Sacramento Kings have definitely had their fair share of struggles this year as well.
Currentlyย sitting in last place in the Western Conference with a 12-37 record, the Kings hadย a stretch earlier this seasonย where theyย dropped 20-of-22 games through the month of December. Before going onย the losing slide, Sacramento defeated the Cavs 107-104 back on Oct. 30 at the Q.
Being that it will be the day before St. Patrick's Day, maybe the Cavaliers can get a little Irish luck on their side and end the losing streak in Sacramento this March.
If they do in fact knock off the Kings, the streak will end at 38 losses in a row.
If not, well there's always the Cleveland Indians. Right?
Winner: Cavaliers
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