The Cleveland Cavaliers are getting good at this back-to-back thing. The Wine and Gold improved to 15-2 on the back half of back-to-back games with a workman-like win over Vince Carter and the New Jersey Nets. For the Cavs, it was the 25th win on the road, a mark that improves a team record with every win.
The Cavaliers also tied another team mark, this time it is total wins with 57. The Cavs won 57 games twice - 1988-89 and 1991-92. This team is all but insured of breaking that mark with 12 games still remaining.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Zydrunas Ilgauskas who became the Cavaliers all-time leading shot blocker.
While LeBron was LeBron(30-11-8) and Anderson Varejao had a double-double(16-11), perhaps the star of the game for Cleveland was the defense. After struggling on the defensive side of the ball during the 3-game West Coast trip 10 days ago, the Cavs got back to what they do best during the previous 3 games at The Q.
It continued against New Jersey, as the Cavs D held the Nets to 88 points on 41% shooting. From behind the arc, the Nets were just 3-18(16.7%). All in all, a solid late season win for a team trying to nail down home court advantage. In the words of Mo Williams, the Cavaliers came in and did what they were supposed to do.
Up next, this same Nets team, this time at The Q on Wednesday Night.
GO CAVS!