Blatt: Cavs need to finish in 2nd place in East

The Cleveland Cavaliers were manhandled 106-92 by the Miami Heat on Monday, only their sixth loss in 30 games. The Cavs were on the second night of a road back-to-back, but afterwards coach David Blatt wasn't making excuses.

"We've got to finish in second place," Blatt told reporters. 

Blatt said that pursuit will dictate whether key players are rested down the stretch. "We're thinking about that. Where and if there is an opportunity to rest guys, we will," he said. 

LeBron James played 35 minutes and scored 26 points in Monday's loss - hours after receiving treatment on his right knee after tweaking it Sunday in Orlando. The Cavs rested Kevin Love for the second straight game. 

Unlike his coach, seeding isn't a priority for James. "I never play for seeding. I just play," he said. "And wherever at the end of the season we land, I'm ready. Just get me in the playoffs."

In his four seasons in Miami, James' Heat finished second in the East three times, and first once.

Cleveland currently sits at 46-23, 11 games behind the East-leading Hawks. With no chance of catching Atlanta with only 13 games left, the focus is on hanging on to second. The Cavs are two games ahead of the third-place Raptors, two-and-a-half games ahead of the Bulls and three ahead of the Wizards.

Eight of their final 13 games are against sub-.500 teams, but that includes Eastern squads fighting for their playoff lives like the Pacers, Celtics, Nets and one more against the Heat.