PORTLAND, Oregon. – The winter storm warning that caused a treacherous bus ride to Moda Center was the least of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ concerns on Friday night.
Cavs spoke of how a team awakens after their shameful defeat two nights earlier. Coach JB Bickerstaff expected a different and more enthusiastic group. Not a lot. Cleveland was crushed by Portland, 129-110. It is the sixth defeat in a row, taking the Cavs to the third worst historic of the Eastern Conference.
With the Trail Blazers coming from an emotional and exhausting victory on Thursday night against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Cavs needed a quick start. Instead, they opened the game on 2 of 11 on the pitch. Six minutes were enough for the game to be lost. Cavs lost 22-4 in the middle of the first quarter – and failed to recover.
“Obviously, we are going through a difficult phase at a difficult time against very good teams,” said Bickerstaff. “These teams are coming up, playoff teams that are looking forward to each victory and know that we are in this routine and are trying to attack us early so as not to give us confidence. We just have to keep competing, we have to be together and we have to find out. “
Andre Drummond broke away quickly after a couple of initial mistakes. He capped another miserable night glued to the bench in the last 17 minutes. Drummond scored eight points from 3 of 9 shots to go with five rebounds and two assists. The Blazers overcame the Cavs by 20 points in 17 minutes with Drummond on the floor, continuing an unpleasant trend during this skid.
“We need him to be the best version of himself,” said Bickerstaff of Drummond. “This is on us as coaches, this is on our team collectively to help you be the best version of yourself. Much of our initial success was due to the way he played on both ends of the court. We have to do the job of helping him get back to that level, because we need him to play that way. “
Jarrett Allen, returned to the reserve position after two games, finished with 22 points and six rebounds. Collin Sexton scored 25 inconsequential points.
Cleveland, the league’s best defensive team at one point earlier this season, had no answers for the short-handed Blazers to play without CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic. Columbus-born Gary Trent Jr. led the way with 26 points. Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points off the bench in 20 minutes. Enes Kanter scored 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Damian Lillard added 20 points and nine assists.
The Cavs knew that this trip would be a test. They would learn a lot about themselves. They have. It is not a good path.
Suddenly, a fun and promising start disappeared completely. They are completely lost, with a lot of conscience to do before they hit rock bottom – if they’re not already there.
Making progress
Reserve guard Matthew Dellavedova, injured, who has not played this season because of a severe concussion, trained on the team’s premises on Friday afternoon. Dellavedova tweeted about the session, saying he believes the injury was more related to the neck and “I can’t wait until the boys come back from the trip”.
Bickerstaff spoke to Dellavedova on Thursday.
“I’m really happy that he’s feeling better,” said Bickerstaff. “The most important thing for us is that he is feeling better. You think about the price on you, not only physically, but mentally, and for him to be in a better place, that’s the only thing that matters. We’re going to work on the basketball game, whatever it is, but I’m really happy that he’s feeling better. From the conversations we had, he definitely improved a lot. We hope this continues and we will work on the basketball piece from there. “
Next
The Cavs will make their third stop on this five-game trip when playing against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night. Tip is set to 10 pm
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