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The Cleveland Cavaliers dropped yet another spot in Seth Rosenthal's NBA power rankings, as they come in this week at No. 28.
Without Kyrie Irving, the Cavs have struggled to keep their head above water, losing nine of 11 games. The losing streak continued this past week as Cleveland faced the Detroit Pistons twice, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Chicago Bulls and lost all four games by an average of 11 points.
Along with Irving, rookie Dion Waiters missed all four games last week with injury, further depleting an offense which already ranks near the bottom of the NBA in scoring. Rosenthal writes that with Irving and Waiters sidelined, Cleveland Cavaliers basketball is an ugly sight to behold.
The Cavs without Kyrie Irving are pretty bad. The Cavs without Kyrie Irving AND Dion Waiters are like a very dark, deeply disturbing traveling interactive theater art piece.
At the other end of the rankings, Rosenthal's entire top 10 remained the same with only the order of the teams changing. The San Antonio Spurs held onto the top spot after a perfect, three-win week, while the Oklahoma City Thunder moved up to No. 2, replacing the Memphis Grizzlies who fell to No. 4. The New York Knicks at No. 3 and the Los Angeles Clippers at No. 5 round out the top five.
Hoping to get back Irving and Waiters this upcoming week, the Cavs face the Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks, ranked Nos. 20, 19, 13 and 3, respectively.