The essentials:

1. I was at the game Wendesday. It was the first game I've seen live in the post-LeBron era. And after watching this team in person, I can say for myself that this team loses as much as it does -- now eight in a row -- because they play no defense. They score enough to win, but they give up over 100 points in the vast majority of games.

2. Yes, they don’t have any good individual defenders outside of Anderson Varejao. But I'm talking team defense. Watching the Cavs is like watching the Phoenix Suns be really bad at being the Phoenix Suns. I put the blame on Byron Scott for the crippling lack of defense. You have to hammer it in to your players' skulls. Apparently he can't, or won't, do that.

3. You know things have gotten bad for your team when Andrea Bargnani can serve as master tormentor. The No. 1 overall pick from 2006 was unquestionably the best player on the floor Wednesday, scoring 25, adding 8 boards and burying a trio of three-balls.

4. A seven-point Bargnani spurt helped keep the Cavs from pulling away in the second half, after Cleveland had built a 12-point advantage after one quarter. When Bargnani shot free throws on a subsequent possession, he was booed on a level somewhere between DeShawn Stevenson circa 2008 and LeBron back in December. That's where we are. Andrea Bargnani kicks our butts and draws our ire.

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The Essentials:

1. The Mavs were without starters Caron Butler and Dirk Nowitzki. However, a midseason game against the lowly Cavs falls under the definition of "Games the Mavs should still win despite having two starters out of action." And win they did.

2. Anderson Varejao and Daniel Gibson were inactive for the Cavs with a cheek fracture and thigh bruise, respectively. Leon Powe started at center and Manny Harris started at shooting guard. They combined for four points and three rebounds. In other words, they matched Christian Eyenga's output from his first-ever NBA game.

3. Yep, that's right. Christian Eyenga received his first NBA regular season action, and responded with four points and three rebounds in 15 minutes. For some reason, he slung up a quartet of three-balls, missing them all, but he played his 15 minutes with energy and enthusiasm. As far as a first NBA appearance goes, it was OK. If this is also his 100th NBA appearance, you can dust off the "bust" tag and slap it on him.

4. Antawn Jamison is starting off the 2011 portion of his "For The Love Of All That's Good And Holy, Someone Trade For Me" campaign with a bang. On the heels of 19 points and nine rebounds on New Year's Day, Jamison attacked early and often against Dallas, racking up 35 points and 10 rebounds.

5. The Cavs shot 50 percent from the floor, after topping out at more than 53 percent after three quarters. That's laser-guided missile stuff from a team shooting 42 percent for the season.

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When inserting Manny Harris into the starting lineup doesn’t get you a win you know you’re in big trouble.

Byron Scott gave Harris the start Wednesday night in Charlotte when Mo Williams was scratched due to a hip flexor hoping the rookie from Michigan would light a fire under the Cavs.

It didn’t really work out all that well.

The Bobcats raced out to a big lead on the strength of (stop if you’ve heard this before) deadly three point shooting and they never really looked back until they became the Bobcats again in the final couple minutes and did their damndest to give the game away.

Luckily for them the Cavs would have none of that and accepted another defeat by a score of 101-92.

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The essentials of Tuesday's loss to the Magic at The Q:

1. The Magic (20-12) are really good at shooting the basketball. When you can't guard them, they're really, really, really good. Orlando hit 19 threes, a new record for a Cavs opponent. Honestly, all that was missing was Craig Hodges, metal racks and a money ball. Magic newcomer Gilbert Arenas hit five treys and led Orlando with 22 points.

2. Antawn Jamison scored 21 points in his "For the Love of All That's Good and Holy Someone Trade for Me" campaign, now entering its ninth week.

3.  Dwight Howard had 12 points and 6 rebounds. That's how little the paint meant in this game. Anderson Varejao played his arse off at the defensive end in the second half, and it still didn't matter.

4. Mo Williams (1-for-6 from three) continues to suck from beyond the arc.

5. J.J. Hickson continues to not be a future franchise cornerstone. Nine points and one made free throw in seven tries. He did have eight rebounds, though, which is average by NBA power forward standards. But 9 and 8 sounds a little more filling than 9 and 3.

"Why Am I Even Bringing This Up?" Dept.:

Wounded by Sunday's collapse against Minnesota, the Cavs (8-23) came out feisty against Orlando, battling them to a virtual draw through the first half, trailing 60-57 at the intermission. But….well, let's just say the Cavs aren't a Rubik's Cube kind of puzzle. More like something off "Blue's Clues." If you're Orlando, you try a little harder, make a few more plays, and the Cavs go away. They know they're bad. They know they can't hang with you. So just remind them.

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