The marketplace is misreading this total by betting it up. Their mistake is understandable since LeBron James has been on fire and the Cavaliers are red-hot. The Cavaliers have successfully now assimilated new faces into the rotation - but that has worked, too, on the defensive end.




Cleveland is much improved on the defensive end. The Cavaliers have given up an average of 93.8 points during its last five games. That average could be even lower, but the Cavaliers have built up huge leads so they didn't have to play with great intensity down the stretch. That happened against Utah and Charlotte, who scored a combined 57 points in the fourth quarter of blowout losses. It occurred, too, during last night's Cavaliers' victory over the Pistons when 22 points were scored during the final 54 seconds because the Pistons started fouling on ever Cleveland possession when the score was 93-83 in favor of the Cavaliers.




Portland's offense could be off. Because of a postponed game against the Nets, the Trail Blazers haven't played since Saturday. That's too long of a layoff at this point of the season.