Fan appreciation, indeed

When it was all said and done on Fan Appreciation Night, the Cavaliers had clobbered a group of second-rate NBA players that the Nets had decided to throw out there on the regular season's final night. It wasn't surprising, but it was certainly better than the alternative.

In the building were 19,842 Clevelanders who stood and applauded the victory. It was a sellout crowd cheering on a group of underachievers who nearly lost 50 games for the  fourth straight year. (Technically they didn't lose 50 games in 2012-2013, but that was because they only played 66.)

For the season, the Cavaliers averaged 17,329 fans per home game. That puts them right in the middle of the league, ahead of some pretty good teams like the Nets, Wizards, and Grizzlies.

There is an argument to be made that the team probably inflates that number by giving out free tickets to school groups or whatever. Still, the Q never looked empty on TV the way that arenas in Sacramento or Charlotte often do. People came to see this team even when the product on the floor was nearly unwatchable.

And the people who didn't come watched on TV. I can't find the exact numbers, but Fred McLeod mentioned during the broadcast last night that the Cavaliers were once again in the top ten in the NBA in local TV ratings.

The point, obviously, is that Cavs fans are absolutely the best. Nobody ever thinks of Cleveland as being a great basketball town, but it has absolutely become one. The LeBron years probably had a lot to do with that, but the fact that there is still so much interest and enthusiasm for this team after four awful seasons is a real testament to all of us. A less hearty bunch would have given up a long time ago.

Now, we just need the organization to build us the team that we deserve.