Cavaliers v Knicks

C.J. Miles scored 10 points and has helped the Cavs since joining the starting lineup.

(Thomas Ondrey/The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Are the Cavs figuring it out?

Are they becoming a respectable basketball team, especially at home? Is there reason for playoff dreams when it comes to this 8-13 team?

The answer is YES -- to all three questions. That was evident not just in Tuesday's 109-94 victory over sad-sack New York at Quicken Loans Arena, but in the way they have played recently.

Two weeks ago, the Cavs were trying to claw out of a six-game losing streak. The threatening clouds of a stormy team meeting and charges of players being selfish hung over the team. There were rumors of Dion Waiters being traded, of Kyrie Irving being unhappy and general discontent with how coach Mike Brown was driving them too hard defensively -- while the offense appeared stalled.

"I knew it would be hard for us early in the season," said Brown. "We spent so much time on defense and accountability. Not only were the players learning my system, but I was learning about them. I kept telling them to hang in there, it would get better."

Since then, the Cavs have won four of five. That's why there is reason for some optimism in the dismal Eastern Conference -- where only three teams have winning records.

So yes, the Cavs are only 8-13. Worse, they are 1-10 on the road. But the first step toward NBA legitimacy is winning at home -- and the Cavs are 7-3 on their own court. Remember, this was a team with a 14-27 home record a year ago.

This also was the kind of game often lost a year ago, when they blew four games with 20-point leads. They bolted to a 27-9 lead with 2:16 left in the first quarter. They were playing the Knicks, who had lost eight of 10, and were coming off a 41-point loss at Madison Square Garden to the rebuilding Boston Celtics.

By the half, the lead was down to 48-45. But the Cavs came into the third quarter with a sense of purpose, outscored the Knicks by 13 points and put the game away. Irving did it on offense with an All-Star performance: 37 points, 11 assists, one turnover.

The defense was solid, the Knicks shooting 46 percent. They took only five free throws as Cavs big men Anderson Varejao, Andrew Bynum and Tristan Thompson defended the rim and helped build a 38-31 rebounding advantage.

"We are better than three weeks ago," said Brown. "But what excites me is how much room we have to grow."

Brown moved Varejao and Waiters out of the starting lineup, bolstering the bench. He inserted C.J. Miles at shooting guard, because Miles doesn't need to handle the ball as often as Waiters. Bynum took over at center.

Varejao brings defensive energy and what has become a reliable 15-foot jumper. Waiters supplies the offense, especially when he relentlessly drives to the rim. Players are beginning to know their roles.

Brown stressed that the team has to become "much tougher mentally and physically" before they begin to win more road games. But at least at home, there is progress.

Considering the dismal 64-166 record in the last three years -- that really does mean something.