SB Nation Cleveland - NBA Power Rankings 2012: Cavaliers Rank 21sthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48841/cleveland-fave.png2012-03-05T16:44:34-06:00http://cleveland.sbnation.com/rss/stream/25770162012-03-05T16:44:34-06:002012-03-05T16:44:34-06:00NBA Power Rankings 2012: Cleveland Cavaliers Drop After 5 Losses In A Row
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<p>Even with <span>Kyrie Irving</span> back in the lineup, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> fell to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a>, a team that had lost seven consecutive games. Now, the Cavs are riding their own five-game losing streak and dropping spots the latest weekly power rankings.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/3/5/2845928/nba-power-rankings-2012-bulls-heat-thunder">SB Nation's own Tom Ziller</a> has Cleveland ranked 21st, while Marc Stein of ESPN moved the Cavaliers down three spots this week to No. 24. Here's what <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/powerrankings" target="_blank">Stein had to say</a> about the Cavs:</p>
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<p>The deep, dark secret of Cleveland's season is that as much as they want Kyrie to flourish and develop the way he has, management won't be crushed to have another high pick in June. Which is the sort of thinking that is surely nursing the Cavs through their first five-game skid of the 2011-12 campaign.</p>
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<p>While Cleveland seemed to have outside shot at sneaking into the playoffs before the All-Star break, the Cavaliers surely appear headed to the lottery once more this season.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Cleveland Cavaliers, head over to<a href="http://www.fearthesword.com/"> Fear The Sword</a>. For more on the NBA in general, go to the SB Nation NBA hub at <a href="http://sbnation.com/nba">sbnation.com/NBA.</a></i></p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-cavaliers/2012/3/5/2847401/2012-nba-power-rankings-cleveland-cavaliersTommy King2012-02-20T19:20:59-06:002012-02-20T19:20:59-06:002012 NBA Power Rankings: Cleveland Cavaliers Rank 23rd In Tom Ziller's Latest Edition
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<p>Despite the stellar play of rookie point guard Kyrie Irving, and having played the last six games in the friendly Quicken Loans Arena, the Cleveland Cavaliers dropped two spots in the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/2/20/2809709/nba-power-rankings-knicks-heat-spurs">weekly power rankings of the esteemed Tom Ziller of SB Nation</a>.</p>
<p>Here's what Ziller had to say about the Cavaliers:</p>
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</p>
<table style="margin-top: 8px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; border-collapse: collapse; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-top-color: #aaaaaa; border-right-color: #aaaaaa; border-bottom-color: #aaaaaa; border-left-color: #aaaaaa; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: #ffffff; " border="1" cellpadding="2" width="600">
<tbody style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; ">
<tr style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; ">
<td style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: middle; "><b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; ">23.</b></td>
<td style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: middle; "><b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; "><a style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c52126; " href="https://www.fearthesword.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cleveland Cavaliers</a></b></td>
<td style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: middle; "><b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; ">12-17</b></td>
<td style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: middle; "><b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; ">W: IND, SAC; L: MIA</b></td>
<td style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: middle; "><a style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c52126; font-weight: bold; " href="http://www.fearthesword.com/" target="_blank"><b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; ">Fear the Sword</b></a></td>
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<tr style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; ">
<td style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: middle; " colspan="5">Who cares about wins and losses? <a style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c52126; font-weight: bold; " href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/1/24/2730568/lebron-james-cavs-signing">LeBron is coming back</a>! Right?</td>
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<p>Ziller's comment, thought meant to be humorous, is quite telling of the state of affairs in Cleveland. Aside from Irving, and the recently injured Anderson Varejao, there isn't anything truly noteworthy about the Cavaliers. Cleveland is just 3-3 in its last six games, which were all home games.</p>
<p>Luckily for the Cavs, the next three games are also at home, with the next two coming against No. 21 Detroit and No. 29 New Orleans. Also, Irving proved he is fully recovered from the concussion that sidelined him for three games by sinking the game-winning free throws Sunday night against the Sacramento Kings. As Marc Stein of ESPN said in <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/powerrankings/_/year/2012/week/8" target="_blank">his weekly power rankings</a>:</p>
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<p><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; background-color: #ffffff;">It wasn't the sort of dazzling drive he delivered to beat Boston and Dallas, but Kyrie's two FTs with 0.4 seconds left Sunday night to finish off Sacramento marked the third time in Cleveland's past five victories that the rook -- after missing three games due to that concussion -- served up the Cavs' game-winning points.</span></p>
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https://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-cavaliers/2012/2/20/2812979/2012-nba-power-rankings-cleveland-cavaliers-kyrie-irving-antawn-jamisonTommy King2012-02-06T21:27:15-06:002012-02-06T21:27:15-06:00NBA Power Rankings 2012: Cavaliers Rank 21st
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<p>For more on the Cleveland Cavaliers, go to <a href="http://www.fearthesword.com/">Fear The Sword</a>. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NBA hub at <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba">SBNation.com/NBA</a>.</p> <p>After posting the worst record in the Eastern Conference last season, the Cleveland Cavaliers are now just half a game behind the <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Milwaukee Bucks</a> for the final playoff spot almost a month and a half into the season.</p>
<p>So while they have not progressed into the upper echelon yet, Cleveland is taking more than baby steps, and Tom Ziller has pegged the Cavaliers at 21st in the latest edition of <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/2/6/2774721/nba-power-rankings-super-bowl-catchup">NBA Power Rankings at SB Nation</a>.</p>
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<td><b>21.</b></td>
<td><b><a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cleveland Cavaliers</a></b></td>
<td><b>9-13</b></td>
<td><b>W: DAL; L: BOS, ORL</b></td>
<td><a target="_blank" href="http://www.fearthesword.com/"><b>Fear The Sword</b></a></td>
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<td colspan="5">
<span>Kyrie Irving</span> has been amazing, <span>Anderson Varejao</span> is every fan's trade machine subject (non-Dwight edition) and the Cavaliers' future is looking much, much brighter than it did a year ago. Thanks for the No. 1 pick, Clippers!</td>
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<p><br>It will be tough to be this high when the rankings arrive next week. The Cavaliers have a tough back-to-back this week, as they travel to face <span>LeBron James</span> and the <a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Heat</a> on Tuesday and then host Chris Paul and the <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Clippers</a> on Wednesday. In any event, both should be fun tests for sensational rookie Kyrie Irving.</p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the Cleveland Cavaliers, go to <a href="http://www.fearthesword.com/" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #912b21; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Fear The Sword</a>. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NBA hub at <a href="http://sbnation.com/nba" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #912b21; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">SBNation.com/NBA</a>.</i></p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/2012/2/6/2777733/nba-power-rankings-2012-kyrie-irving-anderson-varejao-chris-paulAlex Boeder