The Cavs have only lost 11 times so far this year in 43 total games, but there is a trend that is starting to develop when you look at who the Cavs have lost to.  The Cavs really seem to struggle on the defensive when there is a shooter in the frontcourt.  It doesn’t really matter if it is the PF or the C who can shoot because Anderson Varejao ends up covering them either way.  The Cavs like to put Shaq/Big Z on the less active frontcourt player (for example they were matched up against Bosh when they played Toronto), with Varejao covering the outside shooting threat.  Let’s look at 4 examples:

• 10/28 Loss To Toronto – Andrea Bargnani – 23 points on 11-15 shooting.
• 12/20 Loss To Dallas – Tim Thomas – 22 points on 7-14 shooting (only one of which was in the paint).
• 1/14 Loss To Utah – Boozer/Okur – 32 points on 10-28 shooting
• 1/20 Win vs. Toronto – Andrea Bargnani – 19 points on 7-15 shooting.

So why are stretch the court/shooting big men so successful against Cleveland?  Because Varejao is so active on the defensive end, he tends to over-commit, leaving slight openings where shooters can take advantage.  Here is an example:

Here the Raptors are running a play where there point guard, Jose Calderon, has an two screens to run off of.  Calderon picks Chris Bosh to be his screener, and Big Z is hedging out.

Because Big Z is one of the slower big men in the NBA, Varejao slouches down to help out on Chris Bosh’s roll.

As Varejao slouches, Bargnani spots up at the three point line.  He has a good 15-20 foot cushion.

Bargnani makes the catch with Varejao closing out, but Bargnani is so tall Varejao’s hand doesn’t effect the shot, which is knocked down.  Check it out in real time: