Streaking in the Wrong Direction

The Cleveland Cavaliers lost their 14th in a row tonight against the Phoenix Suns as things just continue to worse in Cleveland. Daniel Gibson returned to the lineup after missing 5 games with an ankle injury, but even his 16 points weren't enough to change their fate. The Cavs got some solid performances from the rest of their depleted lineup as Antawn Jamison scored 23, J.J. Hickson had 16 points and 15 rebounds and Ramon Sessions had 19 points 4 boards and 8 assists starting in place of the injured Mo Williams. But Grant Hill had 27 points and 12 rebounds, Channing Frye had 18 points, Steve Nash had 15 points and 15 assists and Marcin Gortat had 16 points and 12 rebounds (both season highs) as the deeper, more talented Suns prevailed. Is there hope for snapping their losing streak any time soon? Their next 7 games:

vs Milwaukee (15-24)
at Chicago (28-14)
at New Jersey (11-31)
at Boston (32-9)
vs Denver (23-17)
at Orlando (27-15)
at Miami (30-13)

Their two best chances are Milwaukee and New Jersey, but even those won't be easy. Cleveland beat Milwaukee 83-81 back on November 24th, but they got 39 points from guards Anthony Parker and Mo Williams (who will both be out), and 13 boards from Anderson Varajao (out). The Bucks were without Andrew Bogut in that matchup and even with that in their favor, it took a buzzer beater from Mo Williams to win it.

The Cavaliers split two matches with the Nets back on the 9th and 10th of November. In Cleveland's 93-91 win, they got 52 points from their bench. With all the injuries they've sustained lately, the bench is no longer their strong point. If they can't find a way to win one of these games it is not out of the question to think that the Cavaliers losing streak could extend into the 20s. Tough time to be a Cleveland fan.