Desperate teams are dangerous teams. And Cleveland was desperate not to set a new all timeconsecutive loss record Monday night.
But the thing that trumps effort is talent — Dallas had a lot more of it and a desire not to be the first team to lose to the Cavaliers since before Christmas.
The result was a 99-96 Dallas win. And a new record of 25 consecutive losses (Cleveland broke the record of their own 1982 team). But was close.
Cleveland was down 10 with 2:35 left but Dallas had just two points the rest of the way and Cleveland had its chances. Antawn Jamison had a good look transition three with 1:20 left that would have tied the game at 97 and made the ending different, but it rimmed out. It goes that way. Cleveland was 3-of-14 from three for the night. There was Jason Kidd drawing a late charge in early offense on J.J. Hickson. There was an Anthony Parker long three with 6 seconds left that hit the front rim, but Cleveland got the rebound, threw it to Jamario Moon, who hesitated and passed as time expired rather than take the desperation three.
That pretty much sums up the Cavs streak. Missed shots, bad decisions, just not enough talent to overcome those things.
You could feel how bad Cleveland wanted it all game long — a very different place from earlier in this losing streak when the Cavs would roll over and lose by 55 to the Lakers. If you want a silver lining Cleveland fans, it’s that. This team is learning what it takes to win in the NBA the hard way.
You could see Cleveland’s desperation and energy early as the Cavs jumped out to 8-1 lead. Dallas started 0-8 from the floor (the lone point was a Peja Stojakovic free throw, he got the start in his first game as a Maverick). Dallas was coasting and settling for jumpers.
Then they settled down, started going inside and finding that there is no resistance in the paint from the Cavaliers. Dallas got up double digits and in the second quarter as Dallas could score but the Cavaliers could not maintain consistent offense.
Except Dallas did not do a good job exploiting the mismatches, and the results allowed Cleveland to hang around. Jamison cannot cover Dirk Nowitzki. Not even close. Yet Dirk was 5-of-11 shooting for 12 points.
The difference was talent — Dallas is the deepest team in the league and they can bring Jason terry off the bench to score 23 or Shawn Marion to drop in 17 (the team’s two leading scorers on the night).
Cleveland has to work so hard for all their shots. They are seeing the effort it takes to defend at the NBA level (they do it in spurts, but that’s an improvement, too). Dallas just has the guys that can create more with that effort.
You feel for Byron Scott, but he and the Cavs had to know coming in against a Dallas team that has won 9 in a row now this was a tough one. That same effort Wednesday against Detroit, Friday against the Clippers or Sunday against Washington and the outcome may well be different.