The Cavaliers are on roll at home in Gund Arena, where they've won six of seven after opening the season with four losses by an average of 19.5 points.

"We stunk," said Cavaliers coach John Lucas, commenting on the four home losses to Boston, Orlando, Sacramento and Dallas.

There is no mystery to the turnaround.

In addition to the return of Zydrunas Ilgauskas, parlayed with integrating newcomers Jumaine Jones and Ricky Davis into a system that already included Lamond Murray, Wesley Person, Andre Miller, Chris Mihm and Bimbo Coles, it is the schedule that turned favorable.

In the NBA, the schedule plays a key role in winning and losing. The Cavaliers have taken advantage of it.

The first four losses at home were to four teams with a combined record of 49-30 (.620). The six victories in the last seven games have been over six teams (Memphis, Miami, Washington, Charlotte, Detroit and Denver) with a combined record of 43-69 (.383).