Blatt tricked Cavs into thinking they had practice, took them bowling instead

Maybe bowling outings will be to this year's Cleveland Cavaliers what fishing trips were to last year's Indiana Pacers. 

Heading into their two-game stop in Los Angeles, featuring back-to-back games against the Lakers and Clippers, the Cavaliers had lost six straight, with pressure and scrutiny approaching a boiling point. On Wednesday afternoon, aboard the team bus, they were expecting to be driven to the UCLA campus for a practice. Their coach, apparently, had other plans. 

"I was surprised, but I knew we were going somewhere else once we didn't go the route towards UCLA. I know where the campus is," power forward Tristan Thompson told Chris Haynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "It's only five minutes from our hotel. We were leaving Westwood and headed towards Hollywood. I knew coach was up to something."

The bus eventually pulled up in front of a Hollywood bowling alley.  

"I think it was a surprise for most guys," said Kevin Love. "It just helped so much. We all needed a break from it all."

The Cavs responded by sweeping their L.A. set, beating the Lakers 109-102 on Thursday and the Clippers 126-121 on Friday. 

"(Bowling) didn't seem to affect too many people's jump-shots," Love said after the Lakers win. "(J.R. Smith) was throwing a six-pound ball around. Those events are fun. We were able to go out there and bowl, eat bad food and enjoy ourselves. It had us loose for the game."

"I was happy," Kyrie Irving echoed. "One thing that's never seen on camera and I consistently say it, this is the closest team that I've been on. We always have fun whether we're getting ready for a game or a practice or we go bowling, it's a team activity that we just personally enjoy."