INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers made a big change with another season falling apart, firing general manager Chris

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers made a big change with another season falling apart, firing general manager Chris Grant on Thursday. Nike Air Force 1 Low Suomi . 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. Air Force 1 2020 . Following the Ford Womens World Curling Championship gold medal match that attracted record-breaking audiences to TSN, the networks exclusive live coverage of the tournament begins Saturday at 7am et/4am pt with Canadas opening draw against Denmark. Air Force 1 Lv8 Halvalla . The Raptors second-year forward has been one of the primary beneficiaries of the early-season trade, breaking out and becoming a vital part of his teams success on both ends of the floor. Around the league, teams are starting to take notice and feature Ross more predominately in their pre-game scouting reports but its not just the opposition that hes impressing. http://www.airforce1suomi.com/ . -- Pelicans coach Monty Williams does not expect guard Eric Gordon to play in any of New Orleans final five games this season.As England and Wales prepare to go head-to-head in the Old Mutual Wealth Cup on Sunday, we look at some of the key battles that will go a long way to deciding who will win bragging rights at Twickenham, live on Sky Sports 3. Courtney Lawes v Alun Wyn Jones Wales are boosted by the return to fitness of Alun Wyn Jones The second rows contain two men with a point to prove.Alun Wyn Jones returns to the scene of his last appearance before suffering a foot injury. He will be raring to get back into action, especially against the old enemy and it will be an invaluable opportunity to blow off the cobwebs, find some match fitness and test the foot that has plagued him for so long. Jones has been hitting the headlines since his return to the Wales camp, his team-mates championing his presence in training, setting the standards of how things should be done. He is the kind of talismanic figure his side will need to take on the All Blacks and will provide a huge boost ahead of the Twickenham clash. Courtney Lawes (right) will look to force his way back into England reckoning with a strong performance against Wales Another man keen to impress will be his opposite number, Courtney Lawes.The Northampton man was a key figure during the Stuart Lancaster era but has found himself on the outskirts of Eddie Jones plans since the emergence of Saracens duo George Kruis and Maro Itoje paired with the club form of Joe Launchbury. Jones will be looking to the 45-cap international to come to the fore and showcase his trademark physicality while setting the example to the younger forwards around him.However, there is more to Lawes game than just bone-crunching tackles and his athleticism and deceptive turn of pace could prove vital if he is to get the upper hand on the class operator of Jones.Jack Clifford v Taulupe Faletau Jack Clifford gets a chance to shine in the No 8 shirt in the absence of Billy Vunipola The battle of the No 8s is not one for the faint-hearted as an experienced operator takes on a young gun keen to impress.A stand-out performer every time he pulls on the Welsh jersey, Faletau is a key figure in Warren Gatlands pack. The Bath-bound forward was a model of consistency throughout the World Cup and Six Nations, receiving the accolade of the Welsh Rugby Writers player of the season for his performances.Faletau is a strong ball carrier who will provide Wales the go-forward they need to unleash a dangerous looking backline. Despite his fierce approach to the game, he is ever-present in the Welsh line-up and since the first of his 57 caps against the Barbarians back in June 2011, the 25-year-old has racked up an impressive 4,280 minutes of rugby, putting in 596 carries. The ever present Taulupe Faletau will prove vital to Wales chances against England The man who faces the task of silencing the Faletau is Jack Clifford. The Harlequin has big shoes to fill with Billy Vunipola otherwise engaged with club duties, however the versatile back row had a breakthrough season in the Aviva Premiership, leading to five caps from the bench as England secured the Grand Slam.However, dont be fooled into thinking that Clifford is just there to keep the shirt warm for Vunipola. He has been a key cog in the Harlequins machine that reached the Challenge Cup final, providing a turn of pace and relentless work rate in a young and exciting pack.Ben Youngs v Rhys Webb Rhys Webb has looked sharp for the Ospreys since his return from a long-term foot injury After a difficult World Cup campaign, Ben Youngs came out firing and featured in all of Englands Six Nations matches. The scrum-half found himself on the bench for the decider in Paris, making a telling impact in the closiing minutes. Nike Air Force 1 Mid Kengät. In club colours, Youngs has returned to his orchestrating best, pulling the strings as Leicester made both European and domestic semi-finals.The eye-catching form of his rival Danny Care will be sure to keep the 2013 British and Irish Lions representative on his toes and he will be key in gelling a team of seasoned internationals and uncapped newcomers.Youngs will come up against livewire Rhys Webb. The Ospreys scrum-half has looked sharp since his comeback from the foot injury that forced him out of the World Cup and regained the Welsh No 9 shirt for their final Six Nations game against Italy. Ben Youngs faces tough competition at scrum-half Despite making just 18 appearances for Wales since his debut against Italy in 2012, Webb has racked up six tries and will be hoping his heads-up style of rugby paired with his composure in the middle will conjure up some magic for Warren Gatlands men.Webb will be fresh and raring to go ahead of his countrys summer tour to take on world champions New Zealand and will be keen to put a marker down in the hotly-contested scrum-half battle.Luther Burrell v Jamie Roberts Luther Burrell says he is over missing the World Cup and is only focused on the upcoming games against Wales and Australia It could be argued that bar Stuart Lancaster, Luther Burrell was the biggest casualty of the Sam Burgess experiment, missing out on a place in the World Cup squad at the expense of the rugby league convert.The Northampton centre will have a big point to prove when he lines up at inside centre against Wales.A dip in form after his World Cup omission has seen Burrell dragged into a battle with young club mate Harry Mallinder for the Northampton centre berth. However, it seems to have been the push the 28-year-old needed, reigniting the passion that had made him one of Englands first choice centres sparking a return to form for the former rugby league man. With Farrell and Slade unavailable due to club commitments and Manu Tuilagi facing a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, now is Burrells time to stake his claim for the England inside centre spot. Jamie Roberts provides Wales with solidity in both attack and defence However, to impress against Wales he will have to withstand the force that is Jamie Roberts. The Harlequins man is a world-class operator who has chalked up 76 caps for his country and played a decisive role as the Lions took a series victory in Australia in 2013.Roberts, at 6ft 4in and almost 18 stone, provides a rock-solid defensive obstacle as well as the ability to provide a game-making score. In the Six Nations win against Scotland, he put in nine tackles in defence, more than his back three combined, before securing the victory for Wales when he burst over from close range.He is the cement that holds Gatlands backline together and his impact will go a long way to deciding the outcome between the two sides.Watch England v Wales live on Sky Sports 3 HD on Sunday from 2.30pm. Catch the match without a contract for £6.99 on NOW TV. Also See: When is England v Wales on Sky? Harrison given England debut Wales near full strength England excited by Wales clash ' ' '