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NBA Power Rankings Week 19: April review and the rising Phoenix Suns

By Corey Rausch

Apr 13, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) and Devin Booker (1) against the Miami Heat in the second half at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) and Devin Booker (1) against the Miami Heat in the second half at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

29. Cleveland Cavaliers

Last Week: Lost to Washington Wizards 119-110, Lost to Toronto Raptors 112-96, Lost to Orlando Magic 109-104, Lost to Washington Wizards 122-93, Lost to Miami Heat 124-107

This Week: 5/4 vs. Phoenix Suns, 5/5 vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 5/7 at Dallas Mavericks

Perhaps unsurprisingly given their ranking, the Cleveland Cavaliers can only categorize April as embarrassing. They finished the month 23rd in offensive rating and 22nd in defensive rating with a record of 4-11. The Cavaliers lost the last five games of the month to move into prime tanking real estate.

The Kevin Love story blew up for a few days and for good reason. After many unprofessional outbursts last season, seeing something like that happen again in a rare close game is terribly frustrating. Some fans appear willing to accept the reasons for an injury and missed foul calls as enough reason but eventually, the truth becomes he is handling the situation as poorly as possible. A breakup needs to happen but finding the avenue for that is tricky, to say the least.

There was some feel-good stuff from the month, to be fair. Darius Garland has become what the Cavaliers hoped he would be when he was drafted in the top five. In April, he averaged 20.5 points, 7.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game. The fit between him and Sexton is still suspect, but both are clearly solid NBA players. Finally, the Cavaliers finished the month by signing Anderson Varejao for the rest of the season, theoretically to retire after not have played in the league since February 2, 2017.