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Florida-based team don't do well against Cleveland

Cleveland recorded 8 straight wins over Magic, including the 106-74 home win a month ago. But, a completely different game, with Vucevic as the dominant player, is expected today

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Despite making significant progress since last year, Orlando still have some of the same problems, which prevented Vucevic and others from recording a few more wins this season. It happened a few times this season that they would play well, get ahead, and then lose games they should be winning. Coach Vaughn's team are in a crisis results-wise and game-wise lately, which culminated in a defeat to Philadelphia home, which was their fourth consecutive defeat. But, the team went on to respond well in the next game to beat Boston Celtics.

Orlando were dominant for three quarters of the Boston game, leaving the opponents 25 points down at some points to go on and have a bad period in the final quarter. Boston managed to score from every position, while Orlando struggled with efficiency. That resulted in Celtics getting only three points short with two and a half minutes on the clock. Coach Vaughn's team displayed character this time around, managing to stay calm and to confirm their win by scoring some free throws.

- We simply stopped doing what we did so well for the first three quarters. They took advantage of it, but we pulled ourselves together and won in the end - Harris said.

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Good defense game in the first three quarters saw Orlando limit Boston to field goal efficiency of 38.8%, while they scored 47% of their shots. Harris was great with 19 points, while O'Quinn added 18 points and 13 rebounds and Vucevic 18 points and rebounds. 

- We will keep on improving. What I like about this team is that we managed to step out there and limit them to 30 points in the first half despite losing the previous four games. There were some bad things, but we need to focus on what was good - coach Vaughn said after his team ended their 4-game losing run.

What Cleveland feared most happened in the end as they lost Varejao for this season. It's a huge blow for the team that has no alternative for him. Coach Blat experimented with Loves at position. five last night, but not very successfully, as their 101-91 defeat to Heat suggests. The team from Miami had a field goal efficiency of 47.6%, scoring 44 points from the key even though they don't have a single good post player.

- We are not a good team at the moment. We won some important games and lost others, but the fact is, we are not good at this point - LeBron James said. He finished with 30 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists in his first game back at South Beach.

The Cavaliers are allowing the opponents shooting efficiency of 49.0% over the past 2 weeks (4-4 record). Not even Irving's good game (25 points) was enough for the Cavs to win last night. Love was limited to only 14 points and 5 rebounds, recording modest field goal efficiency of only 43.5%. The last four games were particularly bad, with Love averaging only 12.0 points and shooting percentage of only 34.9. 

Blatt has probably realized that he can't be using him as the center in the long run, which means Cavs will have to acquire some other player for the position. Samuel Dalembert of the Knicks might be the solution they need. To make things even worse, LeBron James, who's been averaging 28.1 points in the last eight games (55.9%) has a minor left leg injury, while Irvin bumped knees with one of the Heat players in the last match, but both James and him should play today.

Cleveland recorded 8 straight wins over Magic, including the 106-74 home win a month ago. It was Orlando's worst offense performance (field goal efficiency of only 36.3%), but, a completely different game, with Vucevic as the dominant player, is expected today.