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INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers made a big change with another season falling apart, firing general manager Chris Grant on Thursday. Grant was fired a day after the Cavs dropped their sixth straight game, an embarrassing home loss to a Los Angeles Lakers team that started with eight players and finished with five. Vice president of basketball operations David Griffin will serve as acting general manager. Owner Dan Gilbert made it clear hes unhappy with what has transpired in a season that began with hopes the Cavs would make the playoffs after a three-year absence. "This has been a very difficult period for the franchise," Gilbert said in a statement. "We have severely underperformed against expectations. Just as this is completely unacceptable to our loyal and passionate fan base, season ticket holders and corporate partners, it is also just as unacceptable to our ownership group." Gilbert also met with reporters at the teams training facility following the announcement. He expressed confidence that the Cavs can show improvement under coach Mike Brown over the final 33 games. Grant was instrumental in the rehiring of Brown, who was fired during his first stint with the team in 2010. Gilbert was asked if Browns job was safe for the rest of this season. "Were going to see Mike Brown succeed this year because I think that hell be able to do good things and I think this team will be able to do good things," Gilbert said. "I think theyre going to look at each other and theyre going to look in the mirror and theyre going to rally." Gilbert also was asked why he decided to change his general manager but not his coach. "Coach Brown has only been here over half a season," he said. "Chris Grant has been here 8 1/2 years. Hes been the general manager almost four years. Theres a lot of talent on this team. I think everybody knows that." Gilbert promised last spring the Cavs would not return to the NBA lottery, but Cleveland is 16-33 and has dropped six in a row -- matching its longest losing streak of the season. The Cavs are 5 1/2 games out of the final playoff spot in the weak Eastern Conference and their only win in the last nine games came over Milwaukee, which has the leagues worst record. "Accountability starts with me," Gilbert said. "I take responsibility for where were at." Grants tenure will be known for not being able to rebuild the Cavs fast enough despite having a slew of first-round draft picks, including two No. 1 overall selections. Grant addressed the teams poor play last week, saying everyone in the organization was accountable, including himself. Grant took Anthony Bennett with the first pick last June and then signed free-agent centre Andrew Bynum during the summer when no other team would offer the 7-footer a contract. Grant was able to unload Bynum in a trade with Chicago for Luol Deng, but the forwards arrival has done little to invigorate the Cavs. Cleveland has been under .500 since the fifth game of the season and the players have been slow to pick up Browns system on both ends of the floor. In a season thats already had too many low moments, the Cavs hit rock bottom Wednesday. Not only did they fall behind by 29 points to Los Angeles, the Lakers played the final few minutes with five healthy players, including one who was allowed to remain in the game after committing his sixth foul because coach Mike DAntoni was out of bodies. The Cavs were booed throughout the game and Brown, who has been unable to come up with any answers to stop his teams skid, benched All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving and three other starters in the fourth quarter as Cleveland got back in the game before losing 119-108. The acquisition of Deng last month brought hope the season could be salvaged, but that proved to be temporary. The Cavs went 3-2 on a West Coast trip, but followed that with a 1-4 record on its longest homestand of the season. Cleveland then lost three consecutive road games, including a 31-point rout by the Knicks on national television. Grant joined the organization in 2005 as vice-president of basketball operations/assistant general manager. He was hired as general manager on June 4, 2010. Griffin was hired later that year after spending 17 seasons with the Phoenix Suns, the last three as the clubs senior vice-president of basketball operations. Cheap Reds Jerseys China . There, I saw a teenaged boy with tears in his eyes, being consoled by strength and conditioning coach Randy Lee. Tony Perez Jersey . As their best player continued to orchestrate his dramatic exit from the club, the Whitecaps added size and creativity at Thursdays Major League Soccer SuperDraft. http://www.cheapredsjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-chris-sabo-jersey . "I only want to go through this one more time," Crosby said Friday. The 24-year-old captain hasnt played since the symptoms resurfaced following a loss to Boston on Dec. 5. Doctors allowed him to return to full practice on Tuesday and while Crosby is pleased with the way his body is responding he refuses to put on his return. Wholesale Reds Jerseys . "Its way better than running gassers, thats for sure," the inside linebacker said Monday, when the Chargers started their third and final week of organized team activities, which are practices in shorts, jerseys and helmets. Reggie Sanders Jersey . Kenny Miller scored from the penalty spot and Camilo Sanvezzo came off the bench to add two late goals as the Whitecaps kept their playoff hopes alive with a 3-0 victory over the sagging Impact on Saturday afternoon.Jenson Button is open to staying in Formula 1 until 2018 but insists he will only extend his career if he has a car which is capable of challenging for race victories. Button is in his 16th year in the sport but has told Sky Sports that it is time to start thinking about his future yet again, with his McLaren contract expiring at the end of this season.Stoffel Vandoorne is primed to replace the Brit if the Woking team decline to offer him a new deal, while Williams are interested in offering the 2009 world champion an F1 lifeline. There is no sportsman who would want to continue in a sport if he couldnt challenge, or he didnt have a new project that he felt could help him get a victory in the future, Button told Sky Sports News HQs Craig Slater. Jenson Button speaks to Craig Slater ahead of the British Grand Prix Its obviously getting to the point now where I need to start thinking about my future, which is a shame because its only July, but it seems that people are impatient and want to know as soon as possible.If I feel I can be in Formula 1 and be in a competitive car and be close to podiums or fight for podiums, thats exciting. Then, if I feel that with my input I can possibly be in Formula 1 the following year, and then have a chance of winning - then yes, of course I want to be here.When is the British GP on Sky?But Button is adamant he will not remain in F1 simply for the sake of extending his career.If I dont see results around the corner, I dont want to be racing because the loves gone, because I cant fight for those positions - and thats what Im here to do - so Ill go and do something else. Im 36, Ive got my whole life ahead of me, which is really exciting. There are so many other things in motor racing, in other sports... theres so much I want to do in life. So I only want to be racing next year if I feel Im in a competitive car.Personally, I will always give it my all when I race a Formula 1 car. Im not a driver who drivers half-heartedly. It has to be all or nothing and thats what I want next year. Stoffel Vandoorne feels he and Jenson Button are fighting for the same drive at McLaren next season Button has endured a painful decline in his results over the past few years, largely due to McLarens slump in form.dddddddddddd He last stepped onto the podium when he won the season-ending Brazilian GP in 2012 - a streak which now stretches to 66 races.I dont want to be racing if Im just making up the numbers, he explained to Sky F1. To be fair, last year felt like that, but it was part of a project. It was an exciting project and its still moving forward.But I dont want to be outside of a podium finish next year. If Im racing next year, I want to be fighting for podiums and if this team [McLaren] gives me that opportunity, Ill obviously be here.But thats the aim, because if you can fight for podiums one year, with a bit of input and a bit of help you might be able to fight for wins the next year. Ahead of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, watch some of the best moments in F1 as British drivers win in front of their home fans While he hasnt got close to a podium finish this year, Button proved his class at the Austrian GP, finishing sixth in the Honda-powered MP4-31. He now trails team-mate Fernando Alonso by just five points in the standings.I dont want to big myself up, but Im happy with what Ive achieved this year, Button added. I have a team-mate who is regarded as one of the best drivers who ever drove an F1 car and, yes, I feel Ive done a good job this year - and loved every second of it.Were not racing at the front but youre still racing against that guy and youre still seeing improvements as you get closer to the front. That is a massive buzz. Also See: When is the British GP on Sky? QUIZ: Great British drivers Get a NOW TV weekend pass Vettel: No ego issue with Kimi ' ' '
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