One of the few bright spots for the Cavaliers in Monday's 98-72 loss to Portland
was the performance of rookie center DeSagana Diop. Playing all of the fourth quarter, Diop shot 3-of-3 for a career-high six points. Diop scored on a tip, an 8-foot hook shot and a 17-foot jumper. Unlike in previous games, he seemed at ease on the offensive end. ``I played hard,'' he said. ``It's my best game since I've gotten into the league.'' Diop appeared far less winded than he has before. ``I'm getting into better shape,'' said Diop, who lost conditioning time early in the season due to foot and knee injuries. Cavs coach John Lucas said he'll have to ``wait and see'' if Diop's showing will translate into him getting minutes in the near future outside of garbage time. However, if the Cavs don't win some games in January, Lucas has made it clear he will take a longer look at Diop during the second half of the season.
HOPING FOR AN INVITE -- Lucas is confident that guard Wesley Person, shooting 45.2 percent, will get an invitation to the 3-point shooting contest during All-Star Weekend. ``We have a shot to win that one,'' he said. Lucas is hopeful that second-year forward Chris Mihm will be selected to play in the game between first- and second-year players. Lucas is not holding out hope that the Cavs will have a representative in the dunk contest. ``We don't dunk,'' he said. ``The only thing we get is Ricky Davis runaway dunks.'' Invitations to the events will be handed out later this month. Two Cavs who are guaranteed trips to Philadelphia for All-Star Weekend are Diop and guard Jeff Trepagnier. Both must attend an NBA session for rookies Feb. 10, the day of the All-Star Game.

NOTABLE -- The Cavs' average attendance this season has dropped to 13,858. They are on pace to have their worst season at the gate since they averaged 12,313 at the Richfield Coliseum in 1987-88. Their worst showing in the first seven seasons of Gund was 14,120 in 1998-99. . . . Lucas said the Cavs twice a month have meetings in which players must ``tell the truth.'' He said the ``only way you can build trust'' is if teammates don't have secrets. . . . After scoring 40 points Jan. 2 against Golden State, forward Lamond Murray has 40 points in the past three games combined.