Some days it is better to stay in bed. For the Cleveland Cavaliers, Thursday was one of those days. One day after beating the Sacramento Kings 97-93, the Cavaliers fell behind the Portland Trail Blazers 22-2 and were never really part of a 111-70 loss at the Rose Garden.
Perhaps the biggest news of the night happened after the game when the team held a closed-door meeting for over 30 minutes. The result, when head coach Byron Scott finally came to speak to the media, wasn’t a kind one for the beleaguered team.
“Our team is just so soft mentally its unbelievable,” he said.
Such has been a problem all season for a team searching for clues without LeBron James. Yea, even 8 months after taking his talents to South Beach, the Cavs still find themselves searching for clues on the floor. Thursday was a prime example.
The Blazers led 37-12 after the first quarter and 64-34 at halftime. Things looked like they were going to reach embarrassing levels when Portland scored the first 9 points of the 3rd quarter to take a 73-34 lead. As it was, Cleveland was outscored 25-11 in the 3rd quarter and trailed 89-45. The record-setting 58-point loss to the Lakers in December looked to be in reach.
Cleveland ‘rallied’, however, as Portland too its foot off the gas a bit, making the final score – a 41-point beatdown – look a little better.
The Cavaliers shot 35.6% from the field and managed just 6 assists. guard Baron Davis returned after leaving the team due to the death of his grandmother but played just 15 minutes before leaving the game with back spasms.
Ramon Sessions scored 14 points while Daniel Gibson added 12 for the Cavaliers. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 20 points to go with 11 rebounds to lead Portland.