Pacers add to Cavs' misery
By Brian Windhorst, Beacon Journal staff writer
INDIANAPOLIS - The so-called playoff run has become a backpedal.
It was another game, another kick in the teeth for the Cavaliers on Wednesday. Another blow in the playoff standings, another tiebreaker loss, but not just another reaction from LeBron James.
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The reinsertion of Jeff McInnis into the starting lineup couldn't overcome the loss of Zydrunas Ilgauskas to injury, as the Cavaliers were hammered 98-77 by the Indiana Pacers.
It was the 15th loss in the past 22 games and the fourth in the past five under new coach Brendan Malone. The Cavaliers are two games behind the Pacers for the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference and just a game ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers for the seventh seed.
More dangerously, the Cavaliers are just 2 ½ games ahead of the New Jersey Nets for the eighth and final playoff spot.
All the losing, in conjunction with the general instability within the franchise over the past six weeks, has led to frustration with McInnis' recent benching, rumors surrounding the job security of general manager Jim Paxson and the new ownership of Dan Gilbert being the main targets.
It finally led to James getting some things off his chest.
"We lost our coach, we get new players, we get new ownership and now Pax might be getting fired," said James, who had 20 points in the loss. "It's been difficult. We just stopped playing our No. 1 point guard for no reason and as a team we didn't know why. The chemistry has all been shifted. That bothered me. You got (McInnis) sitting on the bench and we're losing."
McInnis scored 10 points and handed out six assists in 31 minutes in the game, his first action after being benched for two games. Malone said he was benched because he didn't accept his role of backup when Eric Snow was named the starting point guard.
"I've got to stay positive, but we are headed in the wrong direction right now," James said.
Semantics were rather useless in this one. Without Ilgauskas, who missed the game with a dislocated finger, the Cavaliers (38-36) struggled on offense.
The Cavaliers were able to execute their offense, but unable to find the hoop. They shot 28 percent in the first half, missing no less than 14 shots from three feet and in around the rim.
Robert Traylor, who started in place of Ilgauskas, was 2-of-9 shooting for six points. Drew Gooden, who played with a strained left shoulder, had 10 points and 10 rebounds but was 3-of-13 from the floor.
It allowed the streaking Pacers, who got 17 points from Reggie Miller and 23 from Stephen Jackson, to jump out to a large early lead. The Cavaliers lost by 19 points or more for the fourth time in the past nine games.
After the Cavaliers lost by 31 to the Nets on Tuesday, Malone stood up and took the blame for the loss by saying it was a flawed game plan. This time, he tried to put lipstick on the pig.
"I was happy with the effort and our defense," Malone said. "It was a big improvement over last night. I thought there was effort tonight; I thought there was execution. We just didn't make shots."
The Cavaliers have lost the season series and tiebreakers to the team in front of them and the two teams directly behind them in the standings.
"I know time is running out," Malone said. "But we're still in the playoffs and the master of our own destiny."
Messages for Brian Windhorst can be left at 330-996-3819 or [email protected] Check out Windhorst's Cavaliers Weblog at http://clevelandcavs.blogspot.com.
I watched him play against the bulls in the first half
he would not drive he settle for 20 foot jump shot
doug collins said the first the coach wrote james a note and said james you are unguardable if you drive
JUST MAYBE THE COACH KNOWS MORE THEN JAMES
and then doug collins said he needs to learn how to attack the double team
HE IS PART OF THE PROBLEM NOT THE HOLE PROBLEM WITH THE CAVS!
every day when i wake up in the morning i say a prayer and ask god to make the cavs lose so that they wont make the playoffs
simply bc of the fact that all 82 cavs games have been nationally televised this season and im ing sick of it
LeBron James is the future.
Sorry.
not in cleveland
livingston 2 years greater then james
Mark my words, 10 years from now Wade's career with or without Shaq will exceed James.
Wade, #3 in the hyped class will prove to be the class of a talented class.
I think Bosh could be the best of the draft class when its all said and done
He has a chance to step into the KG / TD class of players if he keeps developing like he has his first 2 seasons. Dominant bigs are always better then dominant perimeter players
I dont think lebron will win a championship for a long time, if at all. I dont think he has the fire inside him like jordan did, everything lebron has has been handed to him.
Lol... oh please... like any kid that can play like that doesnt have stuff handed to him...
Jordan wasn't exactly a hardship case.
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