Dribbles: Cavs have won three of four, defense back in Top 10, but …

CLEVELAND — Random dribbles ahead of the Cavaliers’ home game vs. the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.

1. The Cavs have had their starters back and together for four straight games. They’ve won three of them. One of those wins came against the Atlanta Hawks a week ago, perhaps the Cavs’ most complete game of the season.

2. Then they lost two nights later at home to the lowly Portland Trail Blazers, blowing a 16-point lead in the process.

3. It seems fans can’t forget about that one, because it was so stunning. The way the Cavs lost was also fairly disappointing. They bounced back two nights later and won at Detroit, which these days, ain’t hard to do. But they won a game they were supposed to, and that’s all that matters.

4. As I said on the Mark Price podcast (link), people tend to focus on the negative in sports. For the Cavs, that’s the loss to Portland.

5. I tend to focus on trying to keep perspective — though admittedly have not always done that through the years when it comes to the Cavs and NBA. But reality is, there are still 62 games to go. I’m not going to get too worked up about a loss (or a win) in November/December when we’ll be doing this until at least April. As Price said on his podcast, you have to focus on the long game in the NBA.

6. The bottom line is always your record, and right now the Cavs (11-9) have some catching up to do in the Eastern Conference. Not a lot, but some. They could start with a young and suddenly confident Orlando team that has been one of the NBA’s early pleasant surprises. 

7. Of note is the fact that each of the Cavs’ previous four opponents had losing records. Orlando (14-6) gives Cleveland a shot to beat someone who’s on the rise.

8. Defensively, the Cavs haven’t been quite as good as last season — yet. But as John Schuhmann of NBA.com mentioned, they’re finally back in the top 10 in that category. The Cavs have held each of their last four opponents under 110 points per 100 possessions.

9. Overall, the Cavs have been solid, but not great, for the past two weeks. If they were a high school student, I’d be giving them a B. They are striving for an A, and the good news is, they have the ability to get there. But man oh man, what a stretch they’re facing.

10. The Magic are obviously no joke. And the Cavs haven’t been great at home (far from it). After tonight’s game, they visit the Miami Heat on Friday, then to Orlando on Monday, then two against the Celtics in Boston (next Tuesday and Thursday). That, folks, is what’s known as a gauntlet.

11. The Cavs know all this and understand it’s a chance for them to make some noise. “We have to show people that we are one of the contenders in the East or in the league,” forward Isaac Okoro said at practice, via Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. “These games coming up — Orlando, Miami and Boston — some of the top teams in the East right now, so beating them would be huge for us.”

12. Well said. Now all the Cavs have to do is stay on their current trajectory and maybe take it up a notch. There’s plenty of time. As for the loss to Portland, no big deal. The Indiana Pacers also lost to the Trail Blazers at home, and a week later they’re in the In-Season Tournament Final Four and the talk of the NBA. The Cavs have no desire to be the talk of the NBA right now. They want to be there in May and June. But coming up with some ways to win over the next week sure wouldn’t hurt.