Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers last week. Sure, it is absolutely fair to point to the stretch of rough play from Thanksgiving to the month of Dec., as well as their tendency to play down to weaker opposing ball clubs (and often to disastrous effects).

Thanksgiving until well into the month of January. What was behind Boston's stretch of poor (relatively speaking) play during that part of the league calendar? And what are they doing differently ever since to look more like the defending champs that we all thought they would play like?