<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The News-Herald)</div><div class='quotemain'>Shoddy defense has been the reason most often given for the Cavaliers' ills this season. The Cavs have many concerns right now: Lack of a point guard, shooting guards who can't shoot and issues with the rotation, to name a few. Forward Drew Gooden said the blame for the Cavs' rocky 14-17 start is more about intestinal fortitude. "It's more than just defense," Gooden said after practice Tuesday evening at Cleveland Clinic Courts. "The key word is fighting. We fought against Miami (on Christmas Day), and I think that's carried over in the last two games. Even though the last game we played in New Orleans didn't work out for us, we fought. That has fueled our defense." It appears as if the Cavaliers have sorted through some difficulties on the defensive end. In their last three games, they've held their opponents to an average of 83 points, 40.5 percent shooting from the field and 22.6 percent shooting from 3-point range. "We're playing better defensively," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "We're concentrating more. We're making people feel us more. We're communicating more. We're doing it for an extended time more. "We have to make sure we have to compete, no matter who's on the floor." Gooden agrees. "You have to step up to the challenge," he said. "You have to have a certain swagger every night. Not a cockiness, but a confidence you're going to hold your man down every night, and if not, you'll have teammates who will have your back." For whatever reason, the Cavs have lost some of that swagger.</div> Source - The News-Herald Thanks for this insight into the Casv, Drew. Pity it's the most obvious thing in the freaking world. They need to show more grit, more determination, more passion for the game of basketball, though this cannot be helped by the cancers of the team - Damon Jones and Ira Newble (they refused to enter a game a week or so back). They should be gotten rid of, as their negativity can only be detrimental to the team as a whole.
