NBA power rankings week 13: Halfway mark, OKC Thunder hold steady

Cleveland Cavaliers:

Offense: (105.8) 24th
Defense: (114.6) 29th
Net: ( minus -8.8) 29th

Games Week 13 (0-4): Lost vs. Lakers: 99-128, Clippers: 103-128,  Grizzlies: 109-113, Bulls: 116-118
Games Week 14 (3 games): Mon vs. Knicks | Thurs vs. Wizards | Sat vs. Bulls

Slippage across the board in all three key categories for the Cavaliers this week and substantially so. The fact they had to play the two powerhouse LA teams certainly didn’t help and while they tried to hold their own against the rising Grizzlies and fellow Central division Bulls they failed on both counts.

The resulting effect was an 0-4 sweep week and signs this squad probably has much further to climb before they get out of the lottery grouping.

After a week of turmoil, it’s not surprising the team faltered this week. There were odd moments this week too with Tristan Thompson getting ejected for giving his buddy Jae Crowder a friendly smack to his behind as he walked by. Crowder played it up and TT hit the showers early.

In the match versus the Bulls, the Cavs put up a 40 point second frame to take an early lead but then faltered in the second half and lost a heartbreaker by two points.

The body language of the players is equally telling as Kevin Love constantly appears to be slump shouldered in virtually every match. Thompson’s antics aside he also seems to simply run through the motions albeit while putting up decent stats.

As the trade deadline looms Thompson is the more likely to be moved based on the contract situation. And the ongoing questions of playing Darius Garland and Collin Sexton together won’t go away. At least Garland (3.7) has broken the three assist average marker while Sexton ranks fourth on the team and only because Jordan Clarkson was traded to Utah does he climb that high.