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Find out the scoop on the CAVS from award-winning sports writer Bob Finnan.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Game 57: Wizards at Cavs

WASHINGTON WIZARDS (28-28) 96, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (22-35) 83
Quicken Loans Arena
Sunday
Radio/TV: WTAM (1100 AM)/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED?: For the first time in quite a while, I'm starting to think the playoffs might be a figment of our imagination.

They have to make up five games with 25 to play with the toughest part of the schedule still to be played. Have you looked at their schedule in March?

They have now lost two in a row with rough games against Toronto and at Oklahoma City coming up. Their biggest problem is the fact that three of their top seven players are sidelined with injuries.

That includes their starting center in Anderson Varejao. Tyler Zeller and Spencer Hawes are capable players, but neither of them provide the kind of rebounding and defense that Varejao provides.

Dion Waiters is the Cavs' best shooting guard. He should have been starting all along, in my opinion. Like I've written numerous times, the Jarrett Jack experiment has run its course. Coach Mike Brown has to start Jack right now. There are no viable options.

But when Waiters and C.J. Miles return - that could be a while judging from the way Miles is limping around - one of them should be inserted into the starting lineup.

Jack is a backup player, a good one at that. He can't hang with many starting guards, especially explosive ones like John Wall and Bradley Beal.

Right now, when Brown dips down into his bench, the only perimeter options are Alonzo Gee and Matthew Dellavedova, and neither one of them can make a shot. He has rookie Sergey Karasev on the bench, but he refuses to play him when it matters.

On the bright side, newcomer Hawes is getting more comfortable with his new surroundings. He finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds on Sunday.

He's now averaging 11.5 points, 11 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in his two games with the Cavs. They'll definitely take that.

Tyler Zeller has remained in the starting lineup. He had six points, four rebounds and a block in the first quarter. He didn't have a point, rebound or block thereafter. Now you know why he played seven minutes the rest of the game.

UP NEXT: The Cavs host Toronto at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Quicken Loans Arena.

STARTERS
SF Luol Deng (6-9, 220) vs. Trevor Ariza (6-8, 220)
PF Tristan Thompson (6-9, 236) vs. Nene (6-11, 250)
C Tyler Zeller (7-0, 250) vs. Marcin Gortat (6-11, 240)
SG Jarrett Jack (6-3, 200) vs. Bradley Beal (6-5, 207)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 193) vs. John Wall (6-4, 207)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs - C Anderson Varejao, G Carrick Felix
Wizards G/F Glen Rice
OFFICIALS
Mike Callahan, Bennie Adams, Scott Twardoski

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