Jan. 8--CLEVELAND Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown didn't want to hear about fatigue or overtimes or how one team matches up with another.
To Brown, his players were punked by the Cleveland Cavaliers because they expect to be punked by the Cavaliers. "Some players our players play against, maybe they don't think they have a chance," Brown said following a 111-81 loss at Quicken Loans Arena.
"Maybe when you don't think you can win, you don't have any chance to win."
Certainly the Cavaliers have the Bobcats' number, winning by 17, 20 and now 30 points this season. At least they get a reprieve; the Bobcats play Cleveland three times this season, compared to four matchups with most Eastern Conference foes.
This game was as mismatched as the final score suggests. It took just 15 minutes for the Cavaliers to build a 29-point lead. The Cavs (28-6 and 18-0 at home) did that by shooting 62 percent in the first quarter and holding the Bobcats to 31 percent.
Brown felt the game was decided on the Cavs' first possession.
"LeBron (James) dribbled it right in there (to the rim) with nobody guarding him," Brown described.
James had 21 points, despite playing just 31 minutes. Raymond Felton led the Bobcats with 15.
There were some extenuating circumstances, whether or not Brown would accept them. The Bobcats went to overtime Tuesday night to beat the reigning champion Boston Celtics at home, then flew in from Charlotte.
But to Brown, pros don't let travel or what you did the night before throw you off and you don't get intimidated by matchups with elite teams or elite players.
Shooting guard Matt Carroll said he doesn't believe he or any teammate has a mental block versus the Cavs.
"I don't think that's so," Carroll said. "I don't think anybody in this locker room believes they can't win when they step on the court. And if they do, they shouldn't play."
It was apparent Brown got on his players hard at halftime and after the game. When forward Gerald Wallace (14 points) was asked if fatigue was a factor, he replied, "I'm afraid to say, to be honest with you."
What could Wallace offer?
"We were too lackadaisical," Wallace said. "We didn't come out and compete tonight and they took it to all of us."
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