Random dribbles on the Cavaliers' 106-92 road loss to the Miami Heat on Monday:
1. LeBron James and the Cavs have experienced better nights. That's about all you can say when it comes to this one. The Heat had it. The Cavs did not. And welcome to life in the NBA, where an 82-game regular season has a way of taking a toll.
2. The Cavs looked sluggish right from the start. The Heat looked fired up to face their old friend LeBron. Add it up, and you have an ugly first three quarters -- or more accurately, a first three quarters where the Cavs looked like they'd rather be anywhere else.
3. This was the fourth and final road game of a tough trip. It started in Dallas. The Cavs won easily. Next was San Antonio. The Cavs won miraculously. Then it was Orlando on Sunday. Again, the Cavs won easily. Finally, it was time for Miami.
4. I got tired just typing all that. I can't imagine what it would be like to actually have to play in the games.
5. James and Kyrie Irving both admitted the Cavs were exhausted, with James saying everyone's legs finally "caught up with us." That was quite evident, as the Heat moved at one speed, and the Cavs could barely move at all.
6. The fourth quarter was a little better. James came to life with a couple of thunderous dunks and 13 points. He finished with a team-high 26. He stuck it out despite a sore knee, a sore wrist and basically "hurt all over," he said. But at least LeBron said it with a smile. He understands this is life in the NBA and that you do your recovering in the summer.
7. After being named Eastern Conference Player of the Week, Irving proved to be mortal. He scored 21 points, but went just 5-of-15 shooting. Kyrie averaged 37.3 in three games last week. Yes, 37.3. But on Monday, he was the best example that the Cavs had lost the pep in their step, and frankly, that's OK.
8. Irving admitted that the ultimate goal "was to go 4-0" on the trip, but 3-1 can still be considered a success. He seemed genuinely excited when it was mentioned the Cavs' next two games are at home. "It will be nice to sleep in my own bed," he said, smiling.
9. Kevin Love missed his second straight game to rest. As I wrote last week, it's pretty evident his back spasms acted up, at least a little bit, in the win over the Spurs. In the third quarter of that game, Love went up for a shot, got fouled, got the rebound, and got fouled again. The refs decided they weren't calling fouls on that particular possession. Either way, it messed with Love's back. Not bad, but enough that the Cavs wanted him to take a little time off. He should return for Wednesday's home game against the Brooklyn Nets.
10. Tristan Thompson (seven points, eight rebounds) always does a solid job starting at power forward in Love's absence, but it was quite evident the Cavs missed Love's ability to space the floor with perimeter shooting. And Thompson has done a bang-up job off the bench, and obviously, was removed from that role. It's almost as if he's more comfortable and confident playing in reserve.
11. Dwyane Wade (32 points) has been a beast for the Heat lately, averaging 28 points in the five games prior to Monday. Like Luol Deng, Udonis Haslem and other members of LeBron's old team, Wade seems to get especially motivated to play the Cavs. But I can tell you which team will get further in the playoffs, and it ain't Miami.
12. The Cavs get another shot at the Heat, in Cleveland, on April 2. They've done a nice job avenging losses, often in a big way. So that could be one to watch.
13. The Cavs (43-26) have still won 24 of 30 since Jan. 15 and have still won 22 of 23 when scoring at least 100. But no way were they hitting 100 on this night. They were on fumes.
14. Cavs coach David Blatt said after the game that holding on to the No. 2 playoff seed is more important than resting guys just for the sake of it. "We need the second seed," he said, before adding it wouldn't come at the players' health.
15. In other words, look for James and Irving and Love and others to keep playing (or at least a combination of the two) until the Cavs get closer to the end of the regular season April 15. Chicago and Toronto, the other teams close to No. 2 in the East, are running out of time to make up ground.
16. Timofey Mozgov added 10 points and five boards. James Jones played 31 minutes off the bench, but shot just 2-of-8 for six points in his old stomping grounds.
17. Mario Chalmers scored 16 points off the Heat bench, while rookie Shabazz Napier didn't get in the game. It will be interesting to see which one of those two the Heat (30-36) keep in the offseason. With Goran Dragic all but guaranteed to return as the starting point guard, it's hard to imagine the Heat keeping both Chalmers and Napier.
