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Cleveland Cavaliers: Five Losses That Defined the Season

By Matt Shantz

Feb 5, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving sits on the bench in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving sits on the bench in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 22, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bulls power forward Taj Gibson (22) celebrates a three-point basket by small forward Mike Dunleavy (not pictured) in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bulls power forward Taj Gibson (22) celebrates a three-point basket by small forward Mike Dunleavy (not pictured) in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

December 21-28, 2013

During this stretch, the Cavaliers lost four consecutive games to begin a six game losing streak…their first of two such losing streaks on the season.  What separates this stretch from others was the level of competition that Cleveland faced.  The Chicago Bulls (100-84), Detroit Pistons (115-92), Atlanta Hawks (127-125 OT), and Celtics (103-100) had a combined record of 52-62.

To make matters worse, the Cavaliers had lots of opportunity for rest as none of these games were back-to-backs.  Yet despite the favorable schedule, Cleveland still managed to lose all four games by a combined score of 43.  By the time the final buzzer rang in Boston on December 28, Cleveland was officially nine games below .500.

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