Deflated, short-handed Cavs routed

By Tom Reed

Cleveland Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND

A week ago, The Q was at full throat, the Cavaliers slaying the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks, a surprising season pregnant with possibilities.

Anderson Varejao was building an All-Star portfolio with another double double and Kyrie Irving was delivering his second game-winning basket in seven days.

A week later, Irving sat concussed at the end of the bench next to Varejao, whose right hand was encased in a soft cast. The Q was reading-room quiet and a familiar whiff of last season wafted over the court.

With their best two players out of the lineup, the Cavaliers were a deflated, defeated bunch and the Philadelphia 76ers showed no pity in a clinical dismantling, 99-84.

The Cavaliers have lost by greater sums this season, but those setbacks usually reflected either a lack of execution or effort. This was simply a paucity of talent. Varejao’s three-headed replacement of Semih Erden, Samardo Samuels and Ryan Hollins combined for eight points and 11 rebounds.

But given the untimely news of Varejao’s fractured right wrist, which hit teammates like a sucker punch two hours before tipoff, coach Byron Scott graded the performance on a slight curve. He sensed his club was down before the game and its mood never brightened.

“Obviously, the energy wasn’t there from the start to the finish of the game,” said Scott, whose team was playing its fourth game in five nights. “I kind of expected that. Just kind of watching guys in the locker room when Andy was there.

“It’s like I told the guys, ‘This is the NBA, guys get hurt and it provides opportunity for others and you just have to be ready to play. Hopefully, we will get over this little hangover and be ready to play Wednesday.”