The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio • Page C006

C6 Akron Beacon Journal Ohio.com INFORMING. ENGAGING. ESSENTIAL. Monday, December 29, 2014 think it compounds quite a bit when we turn the ball forward Kevin Love said. when that happens or when we let somebody get an easy bucket, we hang our heads.

We need to play better in front of our home crowd. Making the game all the more confusing is that the Cavs (18-12) were leading the Pistons (7-23) by more than 10 points at the end of the first quarter, and were ahead 32-17 shortly into the second quarter. But about halfway through the second quarter, the Pistons seemed to flip a switch. A 15-0 run gave the Pistons a 50-43 lead and they led 5047 at halftime. It continued into the second half.

The Pistons scored the first seven points of the third quarter and continued to pile on. Twelve minutes after the 15-0 run began, it had been stretched out to a 38-12 run. not putting our foot down on our opponent and taking them Cavs coach David Blatt said. a skill, too to understand that. You give people the opportunity in this league to just get out and play freely just because you have a Blatt said that the team continually getting out to leads shows that the Cavs come prepared and that they come out with energy.

He also admitted that the Cavs simply lost that energy, and that continue to happen. After the game, LeBron James put it rather bluntly. now, just not very good in every aspect of the game that we need to be to compete every he said. James has been in this situation before. When he joined the Miami Heat in 2010, the Heat famously began the season 9-8.

By game 30 where the Cavs are now the Heat were 21-9, which is, of course, better than the current record, but these are also different teams. were a more veteran ballclub my first year in James said. though we went through our struggles, we were a veteran ballclub. Here, a lot younger and less That being said, James making excuses and took responsibility for his poor night. The superstar shot just 5-of-19 from the floor for 17 points and turned the ball over seven times.

It was the third time this season that James turned the ball over at least seven times and made fewer than seven field goals a claim which is true for no other NBA player this season. It also was the second time the Cavs have been blown out at home in less than 10 days. They suffered a 127-98 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Dec. 17. The Cavs have been playing without starting center Anderson Varejao, who suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury Tuesday.

Kyrie Irving has been out since Thursday with a knee injury, and expects to miss another game or two. going through a few things right Blatt said. lost some pretty im- portant players. not an excuse, just an explanation. I think the reality of it.

We fight enough to battle the difficulties that we August Fagerstrom can be reached at Read the Cavaliers blog at ohio.com/blogs/cavs. Follow August on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ 49ers say goodbye to coach with win Notebook Associated Press Jim Harbaugh is done as coach of the San Francisco 49ers. Harbaugh said after a 20-17 home win against the playoff-bound Arizona Cardinals on Sunday that he is leaving the 49ers, but did not say if he was resigning or was fired. Asked whether it was his choice to move on, he said, work at the pleasure of the organization, what we all Harbaugh departs with one season left on the $25 million, five-year contract he signed in January 2011. He led the 49ers (8-8) to three NFC title games and one loss in the Super Bowl in his four seasons.

Harbaugh sprinted off the Stadium field for the final time, cradling the game ball and the players doused him with a celebratory ice bucket. and I have come to the conclusion that it is in our mutual best interest to move in different 49ers CEO Jed York said. thank Jim for bringing a tremendous competitive nature and a great passion for the game to the Harbaugh is expected to be named as the coach of his alma mater Michigan. Harbaugh said will be made. Cowboys break records DeMarco Murray broke the franchise single- season rushing record for the Dallas Cowboys, passing Emmitt Smith in the first quarter of 44-17 win over the host Washington Redskins.

Murray set the mark with a 32-yard run. He finished with 100 yards on 20 carries to end the season with 1,845 yards, beating tally of 1,773 yards in 1995. be happier for Smith said. is very deserving of this Smith, the career leading rusher, ran for 18,355 yards over a 15-year career, including 13 seasons with the Cowboys. a lot, means a lot from the best running back ever to play the Murray said.

held a lot of records and a lot of them will never be touched, so just definitely Also in the first quarter, Dez Bryant caught scoring passes of 65 and 23 yards to break Terrell Owens franchise record of 15 touchdown receptions, set in 2007. Around the league New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was a healthy scratch against the Buffalo Bills. Also sitting out were wide receiver Julian Edelman (thigh and concussion), linebacker Hightower (shoulder), corner- back Brandon Browner (groin), tackle Sebastian Vollmer (back) and guard Dan Connolly (knee). Denver Broncos left guard Orlando Franklin left the game against the Oakland Raiders with a concussion and was replaced by Ben Garland. Broncos special teams star David Bruton Jr.

was carted off the field with a concussion. San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid sat out against the Arizona Cardinals with his third concussion. Seattle Sea hawks center Max Unger (ankle), tight end Cooper Helfet (rib) and corner back Tharold Simon (shoulder) sat against the St. Louis Rams. Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater finished the season with a 64.4 completion rate, the third highest by a rookie in NFL history behind Ben Roeth lisberger (66.4) and Robert Griffin III (65.6).

Jim Harbaugh exits San Francisco post, likely for Michigan NFL CAVALIERS NBA NBA NOTEBOOK Associated Press Anthony return to Chicago was one impressive show. The 6-foot-10 power forward was outstanding in his first NBA game in his hometown, finishing with 29 points, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots in the 107-100 loss to the surging Bulls on Saturday night. Playing in front of several family members and friends, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2012 draft showed no signs of any jitters or nerves. It was another scary display for the rest of the league, the type of monster performance that is coming with increasing frequency this season.

Davis is averaging 24.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and three blocked shots per game all team highs and better numbers than he had in his first two years. And he is just 21 years old. The player that showed up at United Center on Saturday night had the Bulls shaking their heads with respect. It was sixth game of at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots; he accomplished that feat five times all of last season. In one sequence in the first quarter against the Bulls, he blocked a shot by Pau Gasol and then used a spin move to set up a nifty left-handed layup.

He used a couple dribbles to get open for a face-up jumper in the second period. And he just kept going, all night long. Davis is just looking for some wins. Even with fast start, New Orleans was just 15-15 heading into Tuesday home game against Phoenix. But the Pelicans have at least one big reason to believe they are on the right track, with the improving Davis leading the way.

DURANT OUT Kevin Durant is out again for Oklahoma City with a sprained right ankle, and Dallas center Tyson Chandler is a late scratch due to back spasms. Durant, who was sidelined the first 17 games of the season with a broken right foot, will miss his sixth straight game because of his latest injury. Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said condition serious. After playing the Thunder on Sunday night, Dallas is at home again Tuesday night against Washington. The 32-year-old Chandler has started all 31 games since returning to the Mavericks in an offseason trade with New York.

He is third in the league at 11.9 rebounds per game, and also third in shooting at 68 percent. Anthony Davis gives scary show of skills NBA ROUNDUP Associated Press Spurs 110, Rockets 106 Danny Green had 24 points and the injury-depleted San Antonio Spurs held off a late rally to beat the visiting Houston Rockets on Sunday, snapping a six-game skid against their intrastate rivals. Tim Duncan had 16 points and Manu Ginobili had 15 for San Antonio (1913), which won for first time in three games. James Harden had 28 points and Dwight Howard added 24 points and 17 rebounds for Houston (21-8). The newest additions had differing levels of success: Corey Brewer scored 25 points and Josh Smith added five points.

Houston went 4 minutes without scoring between a pair of dunks by Howard San Antonio went on a 15-0 run to open a 102-91 lead with minutes remaining. The Rockets responded with a 12-4 spurt, capped by 3-pointer with Duncan in his chest that pulled Houston to 106-103 with 52.1 seconds remaining. After Green missed a 3-pointer, Harden dribbled the ball out of bounds for his ninth turnover. Spurs guard Patty Mills played for the first time this season after undergoing shoulder surgery, receiving a loud ovation upon entering the game with 3:28 remaining in the first quarter. Normally never shy about shooting, Mills did not attempt his first shot until nearly 2 minutes into his season debut.

Mavericks 112, Thunder 107 Dirk Nowitzki matched his season high with 30 points, Chandler Parsons added 26 and the host Dallas Mavericks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Mavericks rallied from seven points down to start the fourth quarter. They were without center Tyson Chandler, a late scratch with back spasms that supposed to sideline him long. The Thunder played their sixth straight game without Kevin Durant because of a sprained right ankle. They fell short in their third chance to reach .500 for the first time after Durant and Russell Westbrook were sidelined by injuries for 14 of the first 16 games.

Nowitzki put the Mavericks ahead for good with a pair of free throws with 3:25 to go. Serge Ibaka led the Thunder with 26 points. Danny Green gets 24 points for Spurs EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division Pct GB Toronto 23 7 .767 Brooklyn 13 16 .448 Boston 10 18 .357 12 New York 5 27 .156 19 Philadelphia 4 25 .138 Southeast Division Pct GB Atlanta 22 8 .733 Washington 21 8 .724 Miami 14 17 .452 Orlando 12 21 .364 Charlotte 10 21 .323 Central Division Pct GB Chicago 21 9 .700 Cleveland 18 12 .600 3 Milwaukee 15 16 .484 Indiana 11 20 .355 Detroit 7 23 .233 14 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division Pct GB Memphis 22 8 .733 Houston 21 8 .724 Dallas 22 10 .688 1 San Antonio 19 13 .594 4 New Orleans 15 15 .500 7 Northwest Division Pct GB Portland 24 7 .774 Oklahoma City 15 17 .469 Denver 13 17 .433 Utah 10 20 .333 Minnesota 5 24 .172 18 Pacific Division Pct GB Golden State 24 5 .828 L.A. Clippers 20 11 .645 5 Phoenix 17 14 .548 8 Sacramento 13 17 .433 L.A. Lakers 9 21 .300 Results Toronto 110, L.A.

Clippers 98 Washington 101, Boston 88 Orlando 102, Charlotte 94 Memphis 103, Miami 95 Chicago 107, New Orleans 100 Indiana 110, Brooklyn 85 Atlanta 90, Milwaukee 85 Utah 88, Philadelphia 71 Sacramento 135, New York 129, OT Golden State 110, Minnesota 97 Results Detroit 103, Cleveland 80 San Antonio 110, Houston 106 Dallas 112, Oklahoma City 107 New York at Portland, late Toronto at Denver, late Phoenix at L.A. Lakers, late Games Chicago at Indiana, 7 p.m. Milwaukee at Charlotte, 7 p.m. Orlando at Miami, 7:30 p.m. Sacramento at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.

Washington at Houston, 8 p.m. Utah at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m. Games Detroit at Orlando, 7 p.m. Cleveland at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

Phoenix at New Orleans, 8 p.m. Brooklyn at Chicago, 8 p.m. San Antonio at Memphis, 8 p.m. Washington at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. L.A.

Lakers at Denver, 9 p.m. Minnesota at Utah, 9 p.m. Toronto at Portland, 10 p.m. Philadelphia at Golden State, 10:30 p.m. RESULTS Loss of players tough on team Notebook By August Fagerstrom Beacon Journal sports writer CLEVELAND: As if it obvious enough, losing your All-Star point guard in the same week that you lose your starting center is painful.

It became painfully obvious during the 103-80 blowout loss to the Detroit Pistons at Quicken Loans Arena on Sunday. The Cavs have already had a rocky start to the season in trying to figure out their rotations under first- year coach David Blatt and notable offseason additions LeBron James, Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Shawn Marion and James Jones. Only five of the 15 players on the Cavs current roster were on this team last year, so of course going to be a transition period as the players get acclimated to one another. That transition period gets even tougher when you lose two of your best players. probed, and not necessarily so well the first Blatt said, referring to figuring out optimal rotations.

going to be different lineups, different looks got to really lock in the things that you do well and do it at a high level. how you get out of what happens when a main player gets injured and goes down. Those are the things got to do more that than the lineup, in my The impact of losing Ir- ving is obvious one of the best point guards and the Cavs second-leading scorer. But not just the impact of losing abilities, the impact on the rest of the players. James, for example, has shot 53 percent when Irving is on the floor and just 38 percent while Irving is on the bench.

He shot just 26 percent on Sunday while Irving was out with an injury. important that Kyrie is on the floor and that he Blatt said. helps everybody. But not. So got to deal with that and got to do well with what got out there.

the only thing to knee injury appear to be serious. Blatt on Sunday said that Irving will be available for game against the Atlanta Hawks. But post-game, Love implied that Irving could miss a couple more games. Trash talk inspires LeBron After 98-89 win over the Orlando Magic, James explained what got into him during a 15-point fourth quarter that led to a comeback win. Magic forward Tobias Harris told James to which James said sparked him to deactivate the in which he had been playing.

James drew some criticism for his comment, in that it implied he was not giving it his all. Blatt did his best to interpret the quote. when you play 82 games, there are games that you are going to, at times, be more aggressive and at other times, less Blatt said. just think that, in that particular case, the game was going along relatively evenly and well. I think just recognized the moment and really, really picked it up for whatever reason.

I liked the result, I sure No Love That fourth quarter against the Magic in which the Cavs outscored the Magic 27-14 all-star forward Kevin Love play a single minute. defensive ability has long been questioned, and the Cavs holding the Magic to just 14 points in 12 minutes of action without their starting power forward on the court only raises more questions. Blatt insists the decision not to play Love, though, was more due to the matchup than an indictment on defense. think fair to take one game and look at the stats and say we were much better Blatt said. played small, we played small.

We matched up properly and exceptionally well with their lineup and we had a great defensive What Blatt wanted to make a point of was how well Love handled the situation. I do think is important is the first thing, that a star player was willing to accept and was supportive of the way we played in order to win that Blatt said. August Fagerstrom can be reached at Read the Cavaliers blog at ohio.com/blogs/cavs. Follow August on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ With Irving injured, shooting stats are suffering PISTONS 103, CAVALIERS 80 FG FT Reb DETROIT Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Singler 26:38 2-7 1-2 1-3 1 5 7 Monroe 34:13 4-18 2-4 4-6 4 3 10 Drummond 33:37 8-12 0-2 8-17 0 3 16 Jennings 30:49 10-18 0-0 0-5 6 3 25 Caldwell-Pope 21:36 5-9 0-0 0-2 0 1 13 Jerebko 27:07 4-8 0-0 0-7 2 0 10 Meeks 26:24 5-8 1-1 0-4 2 3 14 Augustin 17:11 0-4 0-0 1-1 3 0 0 Butler 21:22 3-7 0-0 0-2 3 3 8 Anthony 1:03 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Totals 240:00 41-91 4-9 14-47 21 21 103 Percentages FG .451, FT .444. 3-Point Goals 17-31, .548 (Jennings 5-9, Meeks 3-4, Caldwell-Pope 3-7, Jerebko 2-3, Singler 2-3, Butler 2-4, Augustin 0-1).

Team Rebounds 6. Team Turnovers: 11 (12 PTS). Blocked Shots 6 (Drummond 5, Jerebko). Turnovers 10 (Jennings 3, Augustin 2, Drummond 2, Butler, Caldwell-Pope, Monroe). Steals 12 (Singler 3, Caldwell-Pope 2, Augustin, Butler, Drummond, Jennings, Jerebko, Meeks, Monroe).

Technical Fouls Monroe, 0:02.7 second. FG FT Reb CLEVELAND Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts James 31:51 5-19 5-5 1-10 7 3 17 Love 34:01 9-19 1-2 2-10 1 2 20 Thompson 37:08 7-8 4-4 7-11 0 3 18 Dellavedova 26:05 1-5 0-0 0-0 6 4 3 Miller 24:48 1-5 0-0 0-3 3 1 3 Marion 15:26 2-6 0-0 0-3 1 0 4 Waiters 23:48 3-8 0-0 0-1 1 1 6 Price 17:39 0-6 2-4 0-5 4 0 2 Haywood 7:49 3-3 1-2 0-3 0 0 7 Jones 10:30 0-2 0-0 0-0 1 1 0 Harris 7:27 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Amundson 3:28 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 Totals 240:00 31-82 13-17 10-46 25 15 80 Percentages FG .378, FT .765. 3-Point Goals 5-29, .172 (James 2-6, Dellavedova 1-3, Miller 1-5, Love 1-7, Harris 0-1, Marion 0-1, Jones 0-2, Price 0-4). Team Rebounds 11. Team Turnovers: 18 (21 PTS).

Blocked Shots 5 (Waiters 2, Jones, Love, Marion). Turnovers 17 (James 7, Dellavedova 2, Love 2, Thompson 2, Waiters 2, Haywood, Marion). Steals 4 (Price 2, James, Marion). Technical Fouls None. Detroit 17 33 27 26 103 Cleveland 28 19 14 19 80 Att 20,562 1:58.

Officials Bill Spooner, David Guthrie, CJ Washington. GAME SUMMARY Cavaliers Continued from Page C1 TONY Press Detroit Pistons guard D.J. Augustin knocks the ball loose from Cavaliers forward LeBron James during the fourth quarter Sunday in Cleveland. James had 17 points and seven turnovers. Irving TONY Press Detroit Pistons guard Jodie Meeks (right) fouls Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters during the second quarter Sunday in Cleveland.

Waiters finished with six points as the Cavs lost 103-80..