The Cavs’ bench reserves exposed everything wrong with Cleveland’s starters

CLEVELAND, Ohio — There’s something deeply uncomfortable about watching a team’s fringe roster players outshine the guys earning max contracts — and that’s exactly what happened when the Cavs dropped a 124-112 decision to the Charlotte Hornets.

The final score doesn’t come close to telling the whole story.

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The Cavs trailed by 27 points heading into the fourth quarter and head coach Kenny Atkinson pulled his starters entirely, essentially waving the white flag and handing the keys to the reserves. Players like Thomas Bryant, Riley Minix, Norchad Omier, and Craig Porter Jr. What happened next was both inspiring and damning…