But they couldn't sustain for 48 minutes, and a crucial 13-0 run to open the fourth quarter for Memphis was too much for them to overcome. The Grizzlies outscored Cleveland 29-21 in the period and handed the Cavaliers their 23rd straight defeat, tying an NBA record for most consecutive losses in one season.

After the Grizzlies made their first 10 shots of the game to open up a 24-16 lead, the Cavs responded with a 16-2 run to take a 32-26 lead at the end of the first quarter. They led at the end of the first, second and third quarters for just the third time this season and the first time since Jan. 24 against New Jersey.

J.J. Hickson sparked the first half run with 21 points and eight rebounds. He had struggled to get into a rhythm the last three games against some of the league's tallest centers (Dwight Howard, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Roy Hibbert), but was aggressive from the opening tip, drawing three fouls on Marc Gasol in the first nine minutes. He looked comfortable off the dribble, knocked down several mid-range jumper and grabbed five offensive rebounds as well.

The Cavs continued to lead throughout the third quarter until a Mike Conley three from the left corner gave Memphis their first lead since the first quarter. The Cavs scored the last four in the quarter, including a beautiful Ramon Sessions to Antawn Jamison pass in the final seconds, to take an 84-83 lead in the fourth.

That's when the Grizzlies took over. Behind Greivis Vasquez and Zach Randolph, they hit four of their first five shots from the field and opened up a 96-84 lead. The Cavs never really threatened after, pulling to within eight at one point, and were really sunk when Rudy Gay nailed a 33-foot three-pointer as the shot clock expired to put Memphis up 15.

The 23rd straight loss is the most in a row in one season since the Grizzlies (Vancouver version) did the same from Feb. 16 to April 2 in 1996. They're now one loss away from tying the most consecutive losses in NBA history (24: Cleveland Cavaliers, last 19 games in 1981-82 and first five in 1982-83).

They'll face Portland at home tomorrow night with one last chance to avoid going down in history as the face of ineptitude.

For more coverage of the Cleveland Cavaliers and their historical losing streak click here.

Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com

Or they watch the future possible cornerstone of their baseball team suffer a horrifying knee injury on a home-plate collision in the seventh inning of a four-run game.

Or they learn, in a season full of disappointment and despair, an ankle tweak of the player that most exemplifies the blue-collar and working-class nature of the city turns out to be a season-ending injury.

But after Tuesday night in Los Angeles, it's hard to imagine the Cleveland Cavaliers reaching further depths of putridity.

Fifty-seven points. The lowest in franchise history.

An unbelievably paltry 29.9 field goal percentage.

Didn't crack more than 16 points in a quarter.

Down 51 points after three quarters, the highest deficit after 36 minutes in the NBA in almost 10 years.

Four starters that finished with a plus/minus worse than -35.

No player with more than one made field goal after one half.

Seventeen consecutive losses away from Quicken Loans Arena.

Twenty-one losses in 22 games.

Byron Scott said his team was "scared."

Antawn Jamison said it was "definitely one of the most embarrassing moments that I've been a part of as far as basketball."

Mo Williams tweeted "this **** is embarrassing. I feel like I can't even show my face in Cleve."

It was one of the most disheartening and pathetic performances in the history of the game of basketball. That isn't hyperbole—these are professional athletes making extraordinary amounts of money in one of the most lucrative times in NBA history that walked on the court of the two-time defending champions with no heart, no will, no determination, no competitive streak in them whatsoever.

Breaking it down piece by piece, maybe a 55-point defeat doesn't seem that bad after all. Or at least not as bad as it could have been.

And yet, since around 1:00 am last night, the buzz around the Internet, TV and radio hasn't been centered about Cleveland's historically bad and shameful performance. Instead it's been focused on the tweet of a former Cavalier: LeBron James.

While the game was getting out of hand, James couldn't help but relish in his former team being absolutely throttled in epic fashion:

"Crazy. Karma is a b****.. Gets you every time. Its not good to wish bad on anybody. God sees everything!"

I'm not a LeBron James fan. I don't know him at all—never met the guy. The only judgments I can make about him are through what I perceive him to be on the court and in the media. I don't have a personal vendetta against the man so I won't take time out of my day to intentionally bash him for no valid reason.

I could bring up the ideology that karma tends to work both ways so laughing and taunting someone that reached rock bottom probably isn't the best idea in the world.

I could bring up some "holier-than-thou" B.S. and quote various passages of the Bible that say "judge not, that ye be not judged" if God really is watching. But that's absurd.

I could bring up a widely accepted fact that, if karma is real and God does exist and is constantly watching, perhaps the result of a meaningless January basketball game isn't exactly high on their respective priority lists.

But when James decided to kick the Cavaliers when they were down, he deflected the topic of conversation back to himself instead of allowing it to remain where it belonged: on the exceptionally woeful semblance of a roster in Cleveland.

Every day that goes by, his preference to play in Miami looks more and more justified...and in reality it needed little justification in the first place. Ignore the fact that the Heat are steamrolling through the competition and instead focus on just how abysmal the Cavaliers have been.

Go ahead and re-read paragraphs five through 15. Even if he did feel a deep-seeded connection to the city of Cleveland and state of Ohio, would that be justification enough for a player considered to have the potential to be one of the greatest ever to toil away in his prime with a now-atrocious supporting cast that allows themselves to be blown out by 50 points?

Dan Gilbert's comments regarding James after the latter decided to sign with the Heat this offseason were vicious, tasteless and juvenile. It made James a somewhat sympathetic figure and only further justified his desire to leave.

And for everything James has been criticized for in the last six months (whether those criticisms were fair or unfair is another issue), the one thing you could say in his defense was that he was mature and educated enough to not start throwing darts back at an ungrateful owner and a tortured fan-base.

Until last night.

Those who are overly critical will take this opportunity to jump all over James and rip him to pieces for such a callous statement. And those who are faithful supporters will tell everyone to simply "get over it"—that it was just a tweet, not the end of the world.

That's where we are with LeBron James. Everything he does on the court and everything he says off it are blown out of proportion.

If he scores 40 points and tallies a triple-double, he's the most unstoppable player in the league history. If he misses a game-winning shot at the buzzer, he doesn't have the killer instinct or intestinal fortitude to carry a team in the closing minutes a la Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

Like it or not, this is how coverage of him takes place in today's society.

But for Cleveland fans, the sting of Jan. 11 won't fade away on Jan. 12 or Jan. 13 when the sports world loses interest in this particularly story and once again starts focusing on the latest Carmelo Anthony trade rumor.

For six months they've tried to develop a new identity and culture for their team. And it's a difficult adjustment for a city and region starving for a championship of any kind to go from perennial contenders with an anointed savior to the worst team in the NBA and the laughingstock of every basketball fan.

James had the opportunity to quietly bask in the failures of his former employer (not necessarily the Cavaliers team but Dan Gilbert). Instead he chose a way to further enhance his new villain persona.

That's his prerogative and I'm not here to judge it. But those suggesting that Cleveland fans stop whining about losing LeBron and quit lamenting about the past should know that it's difficult to do when James won't move on either.

Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com

OK, so that was on Nov. 9. But after a tumultuous offseason (and that's about as positive of a spin you can put on it) the city of Cleveland and the Cavalier faithful needed something to build on. They were ready to rally around this team, to embrace it in a manner unique to the way northeast Ohio typically supports their franchises.

Then the spokes started to wobble, the wheels began to loosen, and before you knew it the Cavaliers were riding around on four flat tires and any trace of hope that this team could show that they more than just a one-man band was long abandoned.

Eighteen losses in 19 games—their worst stretch since March of 1982 when they lost 18 consecutive games to finish the season.

Fourteen straight road defeats.

An 8-27 record that is, thanks to some recent wins from the Sacramento Kings, now officially the worst in the NBA.

An impending fire sale that is sure to blow up whatever is left of an ailing roster.

And seemingly little hope of finishing the season out of the cellar in not only the division but the conference as well.

However, it's not like the franchise is heading in an irreversible direction towards mediocrity. In hindsight they were probably better off struggling this year and not making a playoff run that could have delayed the rebuilding process by a year or two or, even worse, forced the front office to ink a few of these players to long-term extensions.

That's not what fans want to hear—nobody enjoys losing by 15 at home to Toronto or squandering a double-digit fourth-quarter lead against the lowly Timberwolves. But in reality these are lumps the organization (and fans) will have to swallow in order to transform themselves back into perennial playoff contenders by the mid-2010s.

That's not an excuse for a lack of progression and development, though. And in a season full of disappointment and despair, the player who has regressed and most closely emulated the way the Cavaliers season has unfolded is J.J. Hickson.

On opening night he outplayed Kevin Garnett (Kevin Garnett!) and helped engineer an upset over the defending Eastern Conference champions.

He hit double-digit points in eight of the first nine games, cracking 15 or more points six times, and put in a career-high 31 points on an efficient 11-of-17 shooting against Atlanta.

Then he began to fade. Opposing scouts and defenses took away his strengths (i.e. his right-hand dribble-drive) and the confidence and swagger he displayed early in the season looked like a distant memory.

This is clearly evidenced by his struggles with his mid-range jump shot, which looked smooth and fluid in November and now is virtually nonexistent. His effective field goal conversion stands at a paltry 32.3 percent yet it's nearly from where half of his field goal attempts come.

When he was a starter for the first 20 games of the season, it was the opening five that struggled to play with any consistency. Now that he's been moved to the bench, it's the second unit that routinely is outscored and puts the team in deficits that are often too great to overcome.

For the season his plus/minus sits at minus-202, the worst on the team and second worst in the entire NBA (DeMar DeRozan "leads" at minus-231). Plus/minus isn't a foolproof statistic but in this case it backs up the obvious: the Cavs are actually worse when Hickson is on the floor.

The decline in his overall production has coincided with Antawn Jamison's increased scoring and playing time over the last month.

Kenny Smith on Inside The NBA made a great point last night talking about Sacramento's position players. Since they have players with similar skill sets at multiple positions, when one guys plays well and produces, the others typically don't.

That same idea can correlate to the Cavaliers as well and it makes sense why you rarely see Hickson and Jamison both playing well. While their offensive skills are actually quite different, they're both the same build and have the same weaknesses when it comes to defense and rebounding.

But if one guy is scoring, communicating defensively and providing a spark while the other is in a funk and making several key mental lapses a game, who do you think will earn more playing time?

Not helping Hickson's cause are the discrepancies between him and coach Byron Scott. The two haven't seen eye to eye about Hickson's role and there have been minor quaffs between them all season, the most recent coming on Monday when Hickson missed a mandatory practice and Scott benched him for Wednesday's game vs. Toronto.

It's a catch-22. At age 22 and being initially designated a much bigger role in the organization, not just this year but in the foreseeable future as well, Hickson needed consistent minutes to grow more comfortable in the system, learn from mistakes and become a valued rotation player.

Scott isn't just going to give playing time to guys who don't deserve them—he needs to play guys that are focused and mentally sharp. And right now that doesn't include Hickson.

The team isn't playing for the now, they're playing for the future. And they've already invested more in Hickson than anyone else on roster by refusing to include him in any potential deals at the last two trade deadlines.

Were expectations a bit too high for the third-year forward? Probably. But again, that's not a viable excuse for showing minimal signs of progression and development.

The Cavs kick off a five-game road trip at Golden State tonight...and will do so without Booby Gibson (ankle), Anderson Varejao (ankle), Leon Powe (knee), Anthony Parker (back) and Joey Graham (quad).

With a third of the roster out and his primary competition for playing time being Ryan Hollins and Samardo Samuels, Hickson has to take advantage of this opportunity. He has to be disciplined and aggressive in his approach, meaning the days of standing at the three-point line when shots go up instead of attacking the glass must be gone.

You can't write a player off in his third year. Especially when this is (or was supposed to be) his first season as a featured player instead of the last option on a 60-win team. In the "win-now/what have you done for me lately" world that is the NBA, draft picks routinely don't get a fair chance to pan out.

This could be Hickson's time to show his value. But if he doesn't show signs of improvement and displays the same tendencies that have resulted in him riding the bench, then perhaps his future with the Cavaliers isn't a certainty.

Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com

Dunking when there are thousands of eyes watching you is quite different from just naturally doing it in the course of a game. But the fundamental principle is the same: Get a full head of steam, leap like a gazelle in the air and slam it down. Simple yet elegant.

It goes beyond dunking as well. NBA athletes are more durable, stronger and faster than they've ever been.

What sets them apart, however, is their leaping ability. Over the course of any NBA game, some player is going to either get on a fast break and jump a mile in the air, or be in a completely stationary position and explode off the ground like a rocket.

Trying to figure out which players have the best in-game leaping ability is like trying to settle on one model from the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show you'd want to go out with—you're going to make a great choice no matter what, but in the end you're just happy to see all of them.

So, let's try to count down the top 25 leapers in the league today, with a few caveats. First, guys like Kobe Bryant, Baron Davis and Shawn Marion didn't make the cut—in their heyday, they easily make the cut, if not the top 10. But they're past their primes and they've just gotten lost in the shuffle with so many explosive athletes.

Second, there are few centers on the list. So, apologies to the big fellas, but few have you ever have the need to jump two feet above the rim. And it's more fun to see the little guys go sky-high.

For your enjoyment, I've added links to a video of each player showing off his skills. Most are dunks, but only because they exemplify leaping ability better than most other videos—don't worry, this won't turn into a "best dunker" list.

Let's get it started at No. 25...

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But, to quote the phrase Lee Corso made ever-so-popular—not so fast my friend!

This year has had plenty of disappointments and surprises, from the emergence of guys like Russell Westbrook and Roy Hibbert to the struggles of O.J. Mayo and the no-shows of players such as Baron Davis.

Fortunately this year, the surprises have far outweighed the disappointments. Almost every team has a player or two that's exceeded expectations and there are plenty of teams that have caught us off guard with their strong play (New York, New Orleans, and Indiana, to name a few).

However, there are several instances of players or teams not living up to our expectations. And it's not just that we consider them busts for our fantasy leagues either—we expected certain guys to make a significant contribution or take the leap into the next tier, but it just hasn't happened yet and doesn't appear like it's going to.

So what coaches, players, and teams have failed to live up to the hype?

Let's count down the top 15 disappointments in the NBA so far as we head into December and get ready for the new calender year.

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Unfortunately, the story that night won't be about basketball but rather the intense emotions and actions of fans and players toward a former Cavalier.

Maintaining focus and not getting caught up in the frenzied media coverage or subplots is instrumental for Cleveland heading forward.

The schedule won't allow for distractions—they just came off of a four-game in five-night stretch, host the Boston Celtics before Thursday's showdown, and then immediately go on the road for three games in four nights—the start of a stretch where they play seven of their next eight games on the road.

So when they kicked off a difficult five-week stretch by getting blown out at Indiana and scoring just 34 points in the first half against Milwaukee, things weren't looking promising.

But behind some hot shooting from Mo Williams, the usual strong production from the bench, some increased defensive pressure, and a second-half resurgence from J.J. Hickson, the Cavs bounced back to beat Milwaukee and Memphis at home, giving Byron Scott some solid foundations to build on.

Cleveland's had one of the easiest schedules in the league—only five of their first 16 opponents have a record above .500.

That will change shortly as they can look forward to games against Boston, Miami (twice), Chicago (twice), Oklahoma City, Indiana, New York, Utah, Atlanta, Orlando, and Dallas.

Let's look at a few key players and areas that will be a major factor in determining how we evaluate the Cavaliers when the schedule flips to 2011.

Mo Williams

In the offseason Williams pleaded with the front office to not be traded, even posting a message on his Twitter account saying "I'm not ready to go."

In the midst of last week's losing streak, he certainly didn't play like a guy with anything to prove, averaging 11.0 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.5 turnovers.

He also hit just one three-pointer in that stretch and attempted only five free throws.

He's come to life recently, however, putting up 70 points (47.4 field goal percentage), 25 assists, 13 rebounds, and eight three-pointers in Cleveland's last three games.

He was the catalyst in Wednesday's second-half comeback win vs. Milwaukee (including hitting the game-winner at the buzzer) and had two big buckets in the final 90 seconds to hold off Memphis last night.

The Cavs need a go-to scorer in crunch-time and Williams is clearly the most qualified to fill that role. While the late-game execution is seemingly the same as when LeBron James dominated the ball in the fourth quarter in year's past (clear out and let one guy create), it's refreshing to see that Williams does have a sense of the moment and can spark the team offensively in the final minutes of a close game.

That said, it's probably unlikely that he'll continue this pace for the rest of the season—he's a streaky shooter that sometimes goes through multi-game stretches where he can't make anything.

When he's not hitting shots, he has to find other ways to contribute, whether it's through dribble penetration, setting up teammates, or—gulp—defense.

Still, his recent play suggests that he's healthy and happy—a good sign for the Cavs.

Team Defense

A few defensive statistics:

—In wins, opponents are averaging 93.7 points per game. In losses, opponents are up to 104.1 points.

—In wins, opponents shoot just 44.4 percent from the field. In losses, the opposition is a blistering 47.5 percent.

—In wins, opponents are shooting 36.0 percent from the three-point line and connecting on 5.7 makes. In losses, that percentage jumps up to 41.1 and opponents make 9.2 three-pointers a game.

—Other than the Nov. 5 win against Philadelphia, the Cavs have given up two 30-point quarters in wins as opposed to nine 30-point quarters for opponents in losses.

—Opponents have been held under 99 points in six games. Cleveland is 5-1 in those contests.

This isn't anything mind-blowing. When you play good defense, you usually win (or have a chance down the stretch). When you don't, you lose.

Typically the Cavs give up a majority of their points in quick spurts. For example, Philadelphia scored 45 points in a 14-minute stretch, Orlando scored 35 points in 11 minutes, San Antonio scored 41 points in 13 minutes, Memphis had 49 points in 18 minutes—you get the picture.

In the Mike Brown era, when the Cavs were struggling on offense, they could rely on their defense to keep them in games. But that's not the case this year—when they struggle on offense, it usually carries over on defense.

Seven of the next 12 opponents are in the top 12 in points per game. This will only put more pressure on the Cavs to buckle down defensively and make opponents work for their field goals instead of giving up points in bunches.

J.J. Hickson's Inconsistent Play

If you can predict which J.J. Hickson will show up a nightly basis, I'd like your help in purchasing some lottery tickets.

Through the first nine games, Hickson was the player he showed flashes of last year and in the Vegas Summer League, becoming one of Cleveland's most reliable players with 16.0 points (50 percent shooting) and 5.7 rebounds (1.5 offensive).

And in the last seven games he hasn't scored in double-figures once, sat out the majority of fourth quarters, and is averaging 8.0 points (41.1 percent shooting) and 5.1 rebounds (.7 offensive).

When the season started he showed great improvement on his jump shot, stepping out from 15-18 feet, and looked a bit more comfortable taking defenders off the dribble and attacking the offensive glass.

But his glaring lack of confidence has affected his play recently—he's timid, he's taking delayed jumpers that are out of his range, he's not attacking the rim with any purpose—he's playing the way he did last year, when he knew if he made any little mistake that Mike Brown was going to take him out.

This is Hickson's third year so there will be rough patches. This is his first extended time as a featured player—last year he had the luxury of being the fifth option on offense.

Defenses are now adjusting to his strengths and tendencies and forcing him into situations where he's not comfortable. Right now he's clearly not flowing in the offense and he's always been a questionable-at-best defender.

The coaching staff would love to see him find other areas in which to be productive.

Last night against Memphis was a perfect example—he struggled initially but in the fourth quarter he was tenacious and aggressive on both ends, scoring six points in the final three minutes.

If you're struggling on offense, you can still make an impact by boxing out, grabbing boards, playing strong defense, or getting to the offensive glass. That's something J.J. is still learning.

On the bright side, Antawn Jamison has excelled recently during Hickson's struggles.

Starters vs. Reserves

Cleveland's starters have averaged 50.2 points per game this season, one of the lowest of any starting units in the league.

On the other hand the bench has been tremendous with 44.9 points—some of the NBA's best production from reserves.

Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy may have said it best: "People love to put (bench scoring) up on the ticker. All that means sometimes is that your starters stink."

In this case, he may be right.

The Cavs have had three or more starters score in double-digits just five times this year.

Not coincidentally, they're 4-1 in those games.

Five times this year they've had just one starter reach 10 or more points (0-5 in those contests). And the bench has outscored the starters eight times this year.

Part of this is strategic—Scott loves bringing Ramon Sessions and Daniel Gibson, two change-of-pace guards, and Jamison off the bench because of their scoring capabilities—especially against the opposition's second-unit.

But the starters need produce more.

Getting Mo Williams back in a rhythm will help in that department and Joey Graham is much more aggressive offensively than Jamario Moon.

If the starters can begin to increase their scoring, it will take more pressure off the bench since they're usually playing from behind.

It's nice to have balanced scoring but guys like Parker, Graham, and Hickson need to get on track with the team in the next few weeks.

Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com

Almost every team has played 15 percent of their regular season schedule...so that means everyone's favorite topic--trade rumors--will be creeping into headlines more and more as the contenders are separated from the middle-of-the-pack teams in the next few months.

Thanks to the departure of LeBron James from Cleveland, the antics of Carmelo Anthony and the supposed requests/demands of Chris Paul, this summer set the stage for superstars and marquee players to switch teams as easily as low-to-mid level players.

It seems inevitable that a few big-name guys will be dealt before February's deadline. And the name that has been on the watch list of several contenders dating back to last season isn't Anthony or someone like Steve Nash, but Philadelphia 76ers' swingman Andre Iguodala.

Iguodala signed a six-year, $80 million contract with Philly in 2008 and is owed $40.6 million through 2013, with a $15.9 million player option in 2014. The Sixers were eager to pair him with free agent Elton Brand in hopes of creating a dynamic inside-out tandem that would lead the team back to prominence in the Eastern Conference.

We all know how that's worked out.

But Iguodala's strong play in the FIBA World Championships, where he was utilized primarily as a defender, rebounder and role player rather than a guy who creates for himself and others with the ball in his hands a majority of the time, showed he could have substantial value and thrive as the second or third wheel on a perennial playoff team.

When Philadelphia drafted Evan Turner second in the 2010 NBA Draft, it only further complicated Iguodala's future as a Sixer. Do they go forward with two players who have a very similar skill set or do they cut their losses with Iguodala, stockpile young talent and draft picks, and go forward with a foundation based around this year's No. 2 pick?

If the Sixers do decide to part with him, they won't find a shortage of buyers. Here's a quick glance at five teams that have been linked with Iguodala not just in the last few weeks but dating back to last year's trade deadline, and what their chances are of landing Philly's versatile small forward (starting in alphabetical order).

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They were 1-3, the second-half defense (much like last year) was non-existent, and offensive execution in the fourth quarter was...not sharp, to say the least. Players were unsure of where to be on the floor and no one looked comfortable with the ball in their hands during crunch time.

But there was one major element missing in those first four games: the starting point guard.

Kind of an important position to have, especially in close games. And especially considering that the guy who would always have the ball in his hands down the stretch in a close game is gone.

Now that Mo Williams is back in the rotation, the Cavs look like they have four of their primary fourth-quarter options set: Williams, Bobby Gibson, J.J. Hickson and Anderson Varejao.

Varejao was a part of every Cavs team that advanced to at least the second round of the playoffs since 2006.

Gibson has been a part of four of those games and already stepped up on the biggest of stages, scoring 31 points on just nine field-goal attempts in Cleveland's series-clinching Game 6 win over Detroit in 2007.

And Williams, though his postseason struggles in '09 and '10 are well documented, still was a leader of back-to-back 60-plus-win teams.

This is a core that's used to winning. Not only that, but they know how to finish close games. Maybe they weren't the ones taking the game-winning shots or running the fourth quarter offense, but they've seen how it's done.

They showed it last night in Philadelphia.

The Cavs jumped out to a 19-point first-half lead but quickly let it dissipate thanks to some shoddy defense. Jrue Holiday and Lou Williams consistently broke down the guards and that created shots for Philly's post and wing players.

An Andres Nocioni three-pointer from the corner gave the 76ers a 98-91 lead with six minutes to go and it looked like the Cavs' third-quarter blunders and lack of firepower in a half-court offense would cost them their fourth straight game.

But for a six-minute stretch to finish the game, everything clicked. The offensive sets were crisp, the defense was intense and the core of Gibson, Williams and Varejao all stepped up when it mattered most.

Bobby scored 10 consecutive points in 2:03, including a fantastic layup where he drove the length of the court and went right at Jrue Holiday to re-claim the lead for the Cavs.

With a one-point lead in the final two minutes, Byron Scott drew up a fantastic play out of a timeout. They ran a pick-and-roll with Gibson and Varejao, but the coaching staff knew Tony Battie wouldn't have the speed to meet Andy at the hoop. So Gibson passed to the top of the key to Williams, who fired a bullet to a still-rolling Varejao for a reverse dunk.

A few defensive stops and four straight points from Mo Williams gave the Cavs a seven-point lead—game over.

Byron Scott asked fans to be patient before the season began. This isn't a team that's going to compete for a championship soon but his system allows them to be in contention to win several games. It gives them a slightly larger margin for error.

Despite what the 123 points on the scoreboard suggest, the players aren't quite acclimated to Scott's system. It's a process that will take time—maybe it takes a year, maybe it's just a few months.

But when they finally get there, they have a nucleus that knows how to finish close games. That's one distinct advantage they have over young, rebuilding teams such as Washington, New York, Philadelphia and Toronto.

And as long as they keep growing more comfortable in their roles and in the system, they can be a challenger for one of the final two playoff spots in the East.

Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com

The aftermath of "The Decision" may not be soon forgotten in Cleveland, but the rest of the country (and the world) would slowly let the negative aftermath of that fateful July night seep out of the back of their minds as they got nightly glimpses of James' greatness on the court. Each triple-double, each rim-rattling dunk, each incredible no-look pass would allow casual observers of the sport to forgive—after all, he only made one mistake.

The unveiling of his new 90-second Nike ad certainly didn't hurt either.

A wonderfully crafted spot that is more of a rebuttal to James' critics than it is an actual commercial for Nike products, LeBron took a huge first step in reinserting himself back in our lives...in a positive way, instead of how we interpreted him this offseason.

There's only one thing that stood out as a bit odd: James asked, "should I accept my role...as a villain?"

Even though it's obviously a hypothetical and rhetorical question, he knows the answer—a resounding no.

He doesn't want to be the bad guy. He wants us to like him, to admire him and to respect him. You can't blame him; he's been adored since his high school days.

Fortunately for James, he still has many, many years to work himself back into the public's good graces. It won't be difficult as long as he stays on the right path and continues to conduct himself in his usual dominant manner on the basketball court.

Here are a few suggestions for our former King on how to keep building from the positive PR momentum generated from his Nike commercial.

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The rebuilding process is a long and arduous one. It would be a fantastic story if the city could rally around a team that could make its way into the postseason this year and put to bed the constant "LeBron was a one-man show" argument that many have used as the reason he went to Miami. It would be a significant morale boost to the fans, the team and the organization.

But in the short-term, that fleeting feeling (which would most likely result in a first-round exit in the playoffs) isn't as important as maintaining a consistent direction to have the team back in a competitive position in three or four years.

It's a fine line to traverse. The Cavs have enough talent and potential to win games so there's not enough justification to simply blow the roster up and start from scratch. At the same time, there probably isn't enough talent to maintain a strong nucleus that will be able to compete with teams like Chicago and Miami in the next few seasons.

In the words of Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel, they've just got to find ways to keep getting better every game.

There have been plenty of bright spots to focus on: Bobby Gibson seems to be thriving in his role, giving the Cavs a legitimate scoring option off the bench. Byron Scott said his system was tailor-made for a player like Gibson and through three games that prophecy appears to be accurate.

Despite a poor game against Toronto, Ramon Sessions has excelled in the two games at Quicken Loans Arena, being aggressive off the dribble and using his quick first step to get to the basket.

The team as a whole is averaging 93.3 points—nothing to boast about, but don't forget they've been playing without their starting point guard, and probably their most prolific scorer, Mo Williams. A player who is more comfortable pushing the tempo than playing in the half court (like in Mike Brown's system), Williams' presence won't slow the team down on the offensive end.

And as with most inexperienced teams (especially one that lost their franchise player), there have been areas where they've struggled as well—team defense and rebounding immediately spring to mind.

But the serious lack of production at the small forward position really stands out...and it's a problem the Cavs haven't had in about seven years.

Jamario Moon has gotten the nod at starter in the first three games. Offensively he's not doing much—6.3 points, five rebounds and an 18.2 three-point percentage...on nearly four attempts per game. The typical rule of thumb is if you're not a good three-point shooter, you shouldn't keep hoisting up shots from behind the line.

To his defense, he's never been known as a great scorer or shooter, just a consummate role player that gives his team tough defense and a solid presence off the bench—but not necessarily a guy you want starting and playing 30 minutes a game.

The production from the reserves isn't that much better. Jawad Williams is a similar player to Moon—not nearly as athletic but known more for his defense than his offensive game. And he's a below-average rebounder and passer.

Joey Graham has only seen four minutes in one game so far and it doesn't appear as if he'll be a part of the rotation anytime soon.

Unless the front office pulls the trigger and makes a trade (and even if they do, nothing is happening soon), it appears Moon and Williams will be two guys heading forward. But the Cavs do have one more option:

Start Antawn Jamison at the 3.

There are several pros and cons to the move. Obviously the most notable cons are that Jamison's stats (6.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 31.8 field goal percentage) this season are no more impressive than Moon's, he's 34 years old, he's a bad three-point shooter, he's not as good of a defender as Jamario and there's no way he can keep up with small forwards like LeBron, Kevin Durant or Paul Pierce night in and night out.

Byron Scott nearly gave Jamison the starting spot at power forward over J.J. Hickson, but the third-year player's improved focus and tenacity in practice during the final week of preseason earned him his spot. Jamison is a true professional and would never publicly speak out about the decision, but he wants to start.

When asked about Scott's decision to have him come off the bench, Jamison simply said, "It is what it is." When a player with a background like Antawn says something like that, you can translate it to "I'm not very ******* happy about it."

But Scott liked having a veteran presence like Jamison off the bench and thought a scoring combination of him and Gibson would be difficult for an opponent's second unit to match up against. On paper it's a great theory...until you remember that Jamison was horrible as a reserve for the Cavs last season and that trend is continuing into 2010-11.

Antawn's a scorer. He needs the ball to be effective. He's fallen in love with shooting three-pointers this year (nine attempts in 65 total minutes) almost because it's a way for him to create instant offense.

The flip shots, the awkward leaners, the sneaky reverse lay-ups and the runners and floaters that tortured the Cavs when Jamison was with the Wizards are nowhere to be found.

It's quite possible that Jamison has simply lost his step. He is 34. He has logged over 900 career games and over 33,000 career minutes. And maybe one of the craftiest scorers of this generation just doesn't have enough left in the tank to consistently compete anymore.

But we won't know for sure if he keeps coming off the bench. Fifteen to 20 minutes a game isn't going to give any answers.

It would be a gamble but one that the Cavs ultimately might have to make. It won't be as simple as just trading him—the market for a bench player in his mid-30s that averages single-digit points and will make $15 million next year is pretty slim.

Who knows, maybe he'll become the scoring spark the Cavs need at small forward.

Maybe a forward combination of him and Hickson will complement each other's games—the athleticism and aggressiveness of J.J. combined with the maturity and mid-range game of Antawn.

Maybe his rebounding ability (poor/average this year, but he hasn't averaged less than eight rebounds as a starter since 2005) combined with Varejao's will improve one of the worst teams on the glass this year and allow someone like Hickson to leak out in transition more.

Or maybe we'll realize Antawn doesn't have it. If so, they'll move him back to the bench, restrict his minutes and wait until next season to try and find a buyer for his expiring contract.

Basically they'd be in the same situation they are now. Isn't it worth taking that chance when there's virtually nothing to lose?

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