If there was a statistic called the “media coverage vs. actual relevance ratio,” the L.A. Lakers would rank second only to Tim Tebow over the last few months. Never has a lifeless, 16-21 basketball team garnered so much analysis, nor supposedly “turned a corner” on more occasions. Chalk up last night as L.A.’s latest awakening, as they finally ended a brutal six-game losing streak by brutalizing our poor, defenseless (literally) Cavaliers, 113-93.

It was just a month ago that Cleveland (9-30) got perhaps its signature win of the 2012-13 campaign, surviving a 42-point onslaught from Kobe Bryant to beat the Lakers at the Q, 100-94. Kyrie Irving was the star that night for the Cavs, but he also had considerable help from Anderson Varejao (20 pts) and a hot-shooting C.J. Miles (28 pts). Flash forward to last evening at Staples Center, and the change in scenery proved more than just geographical. With Varejao out for the next two months and Miles tossing bricks like a disgruntled construction worker (1-of-9 from the field), the needed ingredients for an upset were no longer in stock.

To add to the Cavalier obstacles, Dwight Howard—who wasn’t expected to suit up after missing the three previous games with a shoulder problem and just general non-committal sissiness—wound up putting his shorts on and dominating Cleveland’s makeshift frontcourt of Tristan Thompson (10 pts, 8 rbs) and Tyler Zeller (6 pts, 5 rbs). In 30 minutes on the court, Howard point-blanked 9-of-11 shots, scoring 22 for the night with 14 rebounds. This took some pressure off NBA scoring leader Kobe Bryant, who tallied 23 points in just 28 minutes.

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On March 7 last season, the Cavs went into Denver and won on a Kyrie Irving layup with time expiring.  Irving went coast-to-coast and willed his team to a win.  Things did not work out so well for the Cavs on their lone trip to Denver of the season.  The table was set for Irving to work some magic and help help his team secure the win, but it was not meant to be.  For starters, Irving was a game time decision because he was feeling ill.  Irving had some fanstastic baskets and moves in the game, but it was fairly evident that he wasn't playing to the best of his abilities due to his illness. 

Irving finished the game with 28 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals.  Irving needed 26 shots to get his point total.  Either Irving was affected by being sick and altitude or he was paying homage to Dion Waiters' shooting abilities.  Regardless, this was not the strongest performance that we've seen out of Irving.  Irving played hard, but it was not enough.  Kyrie Irving had all 7 of his assists in the first half. 

The Cavs started the game off on a good note.  They led by a score of 30-23 by the time the first quarter was over.  In fact, there were multiple times in the second quarter where the Cavs were up by 11 points.  Once again, the big early lead did not matter.  The Cavs often times find themselves outclassed and facing teams with more talent.  It Is possible for them to sneak a win or two against elite temas throughout the season, but they do not stand much of a chance in winning if they do not play a near perfect game.

For example, Kosta Koufos scored his career high against Cleeland.  This is a guy who has been in the league for 5 years and who has played 219 games.  In nont of those games did he ever score 21 points.

The most interesting matchup with Tristan Thompson and Kenneth Faried.  They are both similar players.  Thompson's defense is superior to Faried's, but the latter is better on the offensive end of the court.  Faried plays with a lot of energy, is constantly boxing guys out and going after every single rebound.  It is not outlandish to say that he may eventually lead the league in rebounding.  Faried had 17 points on only 7 shots.  The Nuggets average 1.20 points per shot and Faried had 2.42 points per shot against the Cavs.  Thompson played reasonably well himself, but his 16 points and 7 rebounds are overshadowed by Kenneth Faried. 

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The Cavaliers got some bad news early on Wednesday when it was revealed that Anderson Varejao’s heretofore mysterious knee injury is in fact a split muscle, one that will require surgery and keep him out of the lineup for at least 6-8 weeks.

They also played a game Wednesday night. Usually that’s also bad news. But not this time- sparked by a red-hot shooting night from Kyrie Irving, a crisp overall offensive effort and uncharacteristically tight defense, Cleveland punched out the slumping Atlanta Hawks in surprisingly decisive fashion, 99-83. The win snapped a six-game losing streak at Quicken Loans Arena and lifted the Cavaliers to a rootin-tootin’ 9-28 on the season. It was also their second win of the season over the Hawks, who dropped their fourth straight.

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While it lacked all the hype and pageantry of the BCS National Championship Game, tonight’s Cavs vs. Bulls matchup delivered a pretty comparable viewing experience—which is to say, a dull, relentless, one-sided steamrolling: Bulls 118, Cavaliers 92.

With any halfway respectable NBA ballclub, a night like this would lead to angry calls for coach Byron Scott’s job and declarations that the proverbial “wheels have come off.” But in a city far more interested in the offseason activities of its other two pro teams than the midseason performance of its basketball squad, the Cavaliers’ ship of horrors sails onward into the fog essentially unnoticed— like the echo of a whisper of a rumor. 

Playing without Anderson Varejao yet again, Cleveland (8-28) stood little hope on the road against the division leading Bulls (19-13), who’ve already handled the Cavs easily in two prior meetings at the Q this season. Still, Chicago is far from a juggernaut in their current Derrick Rose-less limbo, so it seemed worthwhile for Kyrie and company to at least show up at the United Center and give it a go. 

As it turned out, a forfeit would have done more for team pride. Despite jumping out to a 30-22 first quarter lead behind the outside shooting of Kyrie Irving and his now everyday starting backcourt mate C.J. Miles, Cleveland watched Chicago erase that deficit in less than two minutes early in quarter #2, as a Luol Deng three-pointer was followed-up by back-to-back Marco Bellinelli triples, giving the Bulls a 33-32 edge. Bellinelli would wind up scoring 13 points in the second quarter alone, as Chicago maintained a narrow 53-50 edge at halftime. An hour later, that rocky second period would look comparatively like the salad days.

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