Ever since LeBron James called the Cleveland Cavaliers fragile, they've looked as stable as anyone in the Eastern Conference.
After three straight blowout wins, the Cavaliers try to wrap up a home-heavy stretch with another complete performance Tuesday night against a Milwaukee Bucks team they're still looking up at in the Central Division.
A four-game skid capped with losses to Washington and Toronto by a combined 30 points led to James' frank assessment about the way Cleveland was playing, but nothing about the Cavaliers (8-7) has looked flimsy in the past week.
After beating Orlando by 32 points Nov. 24 and getting revenge on the Wizards with a 26-point victory Wednesday, Cleveland was able to let James sit out the fourth quarter in Saturday's 109-97 win over Indiana.
The Cavaliers shot 52.6 percent - their third straight game above 50 - but to James, it's what they've done on the other end that's triggered the turnaround. Three of Cleveland's past four opponents have shot 40 percent or worse.
"I think we're contesting more shots," said James, who on Monday was named the East's player of the week after shooting 51.0 percent in the victories. "We're understanding what the teams are running. I think we're just making a conscious effort of understanding how important every possession is defensively.
"It's a lot easier offensively when we defend, when you're not taking the ball out of the net, and we've done that the last few games."
They've also gotten Kevin Love more involved. Love put up 49 points on 16-of-23 shooting in the wins over the Wizards and Pacers, and also got to the line a total of 16 times after attempting only 19 free throws in his previous six games.
"I just think Kevin is such a good basketball player that when he's in the flow as he was (Saturday), you're going to see games like that," said coach David Blatt, who also lauded Love's defensive effort.
"He's buying into the system and into the principles. He needs to continue to do that and we need to continue to involve him the way that we are."
The Bucks (10-8) defended quite well in a three-game stretch wrapped around Thanksgiving, limiting opponents to 86.7 points per game and 41.7 percent shooting in a pair of double-digit victories over Detroit and a 103-86 win at Minnesota.
Those principles went out the window Saturday in their fourth game in five nights. Houston shot 50.6 percent, hit 15 3-pointers and outrebounded Milwaukee 44-32 despite playing without Dwight Howard in a 117-103 win at the Bradley Center.
"You've got to give multiple effort on the defensive end and take care of the ball on the offensive end, and we didn't do that," coach Jason Kidd said. "... We've got to get back to rebounding the ball."
Though Houston was without Howard, Milwaukee was missing John Henson (foot sprain) for a fourth consecutive game and Zaza Pachulia for a third straight. Pachulia is expected back Tuesday after dealing with the death of his grandmother.
If there was a bright spot for the Bucks, it came from Jabari Parker's 19 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Parker, whom the Cavs passed on with the No. 1 pick, made 13 of 14 free throws after getting to the line just 39 times in the first 17 games.
James, whose Cleveland teams are 12-1 at home against Milwaukee, figures to spend some time on Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Center Anderson Varejao, who sat out Saturday with a rib contusion, is expected to play as the Cavs wrap up an eight-in-nine home stretch.
