Cavs win out in league-wide shuffle

Up is down. Down is up. Consider what's happened lately to some front-runners: Boston was knocked around by the Clippers and Warriors, Orlando was battered by the Bulls and the Hawks were outlasted by the Knicks. Meanwhile, the teams that made up the bottom of the previous rankings are taking names. The Bulls swept four straight, the Bobcats stunned Cleveland on the road and the Raptors have won six of their last seven.

And, oh yeah, San Antonio is back.

After struggling to incorporate seven new players (and two new starters, and a returning Manu Ginobili ... you get the idea) the Team of the Decade (so says Forbes) is finally clicking, specifically its defense.

"Slowly, but surely, our defense is getting better," coach Gregg Popovich said. "We're not where we want to be and we've got a ways to go, but it's a willing crew and they are learning and reacting to each other better and better all the time. Our defense is better than it was a month ago. Our recognition offensively, the communication -- a month ago it was probably a three. Now it's probably a 5 1/2 or a six. It's going in the right direction."

(All stats and records are through Jan. 3.)

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