February 22, 2012

Box Score: Pistons 100, Cavaliers 101

Fascinating game. Kyrie Irving and the rest of the Cavaliers not named Antawn Jamison were sleep walking through 3 quarters. But in the 4th quarter, Kyrie Irving and Alonzo Gee took over this game. The Cavaliers outscored the Pistons 35-23 in the 4th quarter to pull out a nice comeback win.

I remember plenty of LeBron James games earlier in his career where he seemed disengaged and lethargic for 3 quarters only to lead the Cavaliers to wins in the 4th quarter. Kyrie Irving did much the same tonight. He was passive and lacking aggression on the offensive side of the ball for 3 quarters, before finding a way to wake up and score 17 fourth quarter points in leading the charge. These are the kinds of learning experiences you like to see young teams learn. To be a good team, you have to find ways to win games when you’re not at your best or most energetic. That’s what the Cavaliers did in this game. Nice win for the wine and gold.

Detroit

Starters Pos Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
B. Knight G 35:42 8-12 4-5 4-4 +1 2 5 3 2 1 0 0 3 24
R. Stuckey G 34:28 5-13 0-2 6-8 +6 0 5 5 3 0 2 0 2 16
G. Monroe C 35:00 8-16 0-0 3-4 +5 4 11 7 2 3 1 2 2 19
T. Prince F 33:08 2-15 1-3 2-2 +8 0 6 4 0 0 1 1 1 7
J. Maxiell F 18:09 2-4 0-0 1-2 -14 3 3 1 1 1 1 0 4 5
Bench Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
Totals 37-95 7-17 19-24 16 44 22 11 9 8 7 23 100
Percentages .389 .412 .792 Team Rebounds: 10
B. Gordon 25:44 7-17 2-3 0-0 -5 0 4 0 2 0 0 2 3 16
J. Jerebko 23:55 4-12 0-2 1-2 +13 5 6 1 0 1 0 2 4 9
B. Wallace 13:00 0-0 0-0 0-0 -6 2 4 0 0 1 3 0 1 0
D. Wilkins 11:45 1-2 0-0 0-0 -4 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 2 2
W. Bynum 9:09 0-4 0-2 2-2 -9 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2
A. Daye DNP – Coach’s Decision
V. Macklin DNP – Coach’s Decision
W. Russell Jr. DNP – Coach’s Decision

Cleveland

Starters Pos Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
K. Irving G 38:35 8-15 3-4 6-6 -5 1 5 8 6 2 2 1 3 25
D. Gibson G 36:45 2-6 2-5 2-2 -4 0 4 3 1 1 3 0 4 8
S. Erden C 15:56 2-5 0-0 1-2 -7 0 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 5
A. Jamison F 39:37 11-22 3-5 7-14 -5 4 10 2 0 1 0 0 2 32
O. Casspi F 23:10 3-6 0-1 2-2 -13 1 3 0 3 1 1 1 1 8
Bench Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
Totals 34-78 9-18 24-32 15 49 23 17 8 7 8 18 101
Percentages .436 .500 .750 Team Rebounds: 12
A. Gee 24:50 5-11 1-3 5-5 +14 5 11 3 1 2 0 1 1 16
R. Sessions 20:40 2-4 0-0 1-1 +11 0 5 7 3 0 0 0 2 5
T. Thompson 20:29 0-5 0-0 0-0 +2 3 7 0 1 1 0 3 1 0
R. Hollins 19:58 1-4 0-0 0-0 +12 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 2 2
C. Eyenga DNP – Coach’s Decision
L. Harangody DNP – Coach’s Decision
M. Harris DNP – Coach’s Decision
S. Samuels DNP – Coach’s Decision

Cavaliers’ Rematch with Pistons An Important One

Samardo punished the Pistons frontcourt last game

Welcome back Manny Harris!

Forget all the other story lines, the big news in this game is the return of Manny Harris to the wine and gold, right? Right?

Basketball is funny. I don’t know why, but there always marginal players out there who become my guys. They come in different shapes and sizes, but there are always certain players that catch my eye and capture my basketball heart.

Manny Harris is one of those players. I’m well aware of his limitations and I know how measured his upside is. I know he’s a Wolverine and I’m a Buckeye. But I like the guy. I like his story, I like his game, I like his attitude, I like his heart. I’m glad to see him back in uniform tonight, and I hope he can have his own Jeremy Lin type story. Well, ok, let’s set the bar a little lower. I’d be pretty happy just to see Manny get some minutes and prove effective enough to earn a permanent roster spot.

So with that out of the way, let’s get down to business discussing tonight’s game between the Cleveland Cavaliers (12-17, 9th in the East) and the Detroit Pistons (11-22, 11th in the East) at the Q. [Read more...]

Michigan Strikes Back at Ohio State in Recruiting War

It’s not just a rivalry on the football field. Perhaps the greatest rivalry in college football, the disgust and animosity these two states feel for one another permeates all aspects of life. If an Ohio State fan beats a Michigan fan in a coin toss, said Buckeye will feel the almost the same level of pride and joy that is felt on those cold November afternoons when the scarlet and gray came out victorious. Almost.

But where the battle between these two great Universities is quickly heating up the fastest is on the recruiting trail. And it’s a battle that could potentially have implications for The Game.

Not much known about Brady Hoke when he accepted the Michigan, but Hoke has wisely leaned on his Ohio roots to build connections with Ohio high school coaches. In his own way, Hoke is developing a tenacious reputation as a recruiter himself. He is showing no fear of Urban Meyer and seems to be content to go toe to toe with the new man in charge in Columbus.  [Read more...]

Familiar Faces Return to Cleveland as Cavaliers Host the Miami Heat

Cavs have one last chance to stop LeBron and the Heat this season

The LeBron James circus is in town Friday as the Miami Heat (23-7, 2nd in the East) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (11-16, 10th in the East) square off for the final time this season.

In each of the first two matchups between these two teams, the Cavaliers played tough, hanging in there with Miami through 3+ quarters. But just as an older brother sometimes lets his younger brother hang around before ultimately playing hard at the end to beat him, so too did the Miami Heat manage to play hard in the final minutes and put the Cavaliers away. We’ll see if the 3rd time is the charge for Cleveland or if the injuries and talent deficiency will just be too much to overcome yet again.

Cleveland will once again be without Anderson Varejao, Anthony Parker, and Daniel Gibson. With their only two true SGs on the team out, the Cavaliers will turn to Alonzo Gee to start at SG, leaving Ramon Sessions and Ben Uzoh as the only guards on the bench, and both of them are PGs. I’d expect to see a lot of Sessions at PG with Irving sliding over to SG when Gee is needed either at SF or on the bench. It’s not an ideal situation to move guys around when playing a team as tough as the Heat, but this is part of why the Cavaliers’ flexibility was listed as a team strength before the season. There are a lot of interchangeable combo players on this roster, and it should make things a little easier to adjust. [Read more...]

Well-Rested Cavaliers Face Tired and Beaten-Down Pacers

Kyrie Irving will look for redemption vs Indiana

The Cleveland Cavaliers (10-16, 10th in the East) will welcome Kyrie Irving back to the lineup Wednesday when they take on the reeling Indiana Pacers (17-11, 6th in the East).

The Pacers come in on a 4 game losing streak, the last loss coming in a complete annihilation at the hands of the Miami Heat, a game in which the Pacers lost Danny Granger to injury. So yeah, they come into Cleveland licking their wounds and looking for a bounce back win.

For Kyrie Irving, this is a shot at redemption, going against the very team which he missed his potential game winning layup. That was our first glimpse of what Irving could be, now he comes into this game a more fully realized version of himself. The question for the Cavalier coaches (and fans) is just how well can Kyrie hold up coming off the scary concussion injury.

The Cavaliers will be without Anderson Varejao and Anthony Parker again. Daniel Gibson will likely get the nod at SG while, I don’t know, probably Semih Erden will get the starting nod at center again (maybe?). Without Varejao to match up with all the size Indiana has, this game is going to be a tough one for the Cavaliers to win. [Read more...]

Cavaliers Free Fall in Latest ESPN Power Rankings

For a while there, the Cavaliers were making believers of ESPN’s Marc Stein. Then, of course, the book ends of the starting lineup, Kyrie Irving and Anderson Varejao both got injured, and boy did Stein make them pay for it in his latest power rankings. He dropped the Cavaliers 8 spots from #17 to #25. He writes:

The Cavs got watchable again far sooner than expected … so naturally calamity strikes to fell both Kyrie (concussion) and Varejao (fractured wrist). There’s nothing yet to suggest that the rook is in lasting danger, but the Varejao news is a crusher, since they can neither play him nor trade him now.

Can’t really argue with that too much. There’s no question the Cavaliers are a dramatically different team with Andy than without him, and his absence is going to make the Cavaliers a much worse team. Kyrie Irving’s eventual return will help, but the rookie can’t do it on his own. Right now, he needs Andy.

Until the Cavaliers have both Kyrie and Andy playing at full strength again, their recent threats of relevancy will be subdued back into the abyss.

Bill Simmons: Anderson Varejao, starting PF for the East All-Stars

In his latest feature on Grantland.com, Bill Simmons gives us his opinion on who should make up the NBA All-Star team from both conferences. In a somewhat surprising decision, the Sports Guy lists Anderson Varejao as his starting PF for the East. He writes:

As for that fifth spot: I love the way Varejao is playing this season … and if you enjoy guys who put up 11 points and 12 rebounds every night, grab every big rebound in traffic, take monster charges again and again and shut down opposing big guys, you should, too. Isn’t the whole point of the All-Star Game to pick players who are playing as well as they can possibly play? I never watch Chris Bosh and say, “Whoa, Chris Bosh! He’s something! He’s really turned it on!” Why do I have to pick Bosh as a starter again? And also, why should THREE Miami Heat players be starting on the All-Star team? You don’t find this a little kooky? Are they the ’96 Bulls or something? Please. Besides, Varejao has been more of an impact player this year — he’s the best at what he does, and that’s saying something. You win with what he does.

Sign me up. Who am I to argue?

For the record, I am not of the opinion that Varejao should be an All-Star. I frequently see Chris Bosh making impact plays for the Heat. LeBron thinks he’s the easy target on that team? Chris Bosh is the guy everyone makes fun of despite the fact he was the most consistent Heat player in the Finals last year and has had an all around excellent season this year.

Varejao has played Center all year, and I think Howard and Hibbert are more deserving centers. But if you want to know why Anderson Varejao matters to the Cavaliers and why the Cavaliers shouldn’t trade him, read that paragraph from Simmons again. It’s nice to see Varejao finally getting some recognition for the way he plays this game.

[Grantland.com: The Sports Guy's NBA All-Star Team]

Kyrie-less Cavaliers Play Milwaukee In Battle of Could-be 8-seeds

Jackson and Jennings, the Odd Couple?

The Cleveland Cavaliers (10-14, 10th in the East) will once again try to win without the services of Kyrie Irving. The rookie PG and growing team leader and developing impact player will miss all of this weekend’s games as he tries to recover from his concussion.

Friday night, it will be the Milwaukee Bucks (11-14, 8th in the East) who will visit The Q to try to do what the LA Clippers could not. The Cavaliers will once again be without Irving and starting SG Anthony Parker, but they will certainly be relieved to welcome Tristan Thompson back into the lineup. [Read more...]

Box Score: Clippers 92, Cavaliers 99

No Kyrie, no problem? Cavs fans were stunned to find out just moments before tipoff that Kyrie Irving would miss the game with a concussion. Everyone was eager for a Kyrie-CP3 matchup, but instead it was Ramon Sessions who provided a monster game in leading the Cavaliers to a huge win. Sessions had 24 points, 13 assists and limited Chris Paul to 16 points on 5-16 shooting from the field. Antawn Jamison again lead all scorers with 27 points and Anderson Varejao chipped in another double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds despite having to go to the locker room in the 3rd quarter with a back injury after an ugly fall.

An enormous confidence boosting win without their young rookie PG, the Cavaliers can feel great about winning this one as a team, with a lot of effort and suffocating defense that kept the Clippers’ offense looking disorganized for much of the night. Now all eyes will be on Irving and whether or not he will miss any more time.

LA Clippers

Starters Pos Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
C. Paul G 36:57 5-16 0-2 6-6 +2 0 3 12 2 3 0 2 2 16
R. Foye G 27:31 5-11 3-6 2-2 -8 0 1 2 1 1 0 1 1 15
D. Jordan C 24:01 0-0 0-0 0-0 +1 2 4 0 1 0 2 0 2 0
B. Griffin F 37:25 8-16 0-0 9-10 -1 5 15 1 1 1 0 2 6 25
C. Butler F 36:11 8-15 0-3 5-6 -4 1 2 1 3 0 1 1 5 21
Bench Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
Totals 32-78 3-15 25-29 15 38 20 13 8 5 8 26 92
Percentages .410 .200 .862 Team Rebounds: 6
M. Williams 34:29 2-10 0-3 1-1 -7 0 0 3 2 2 0 1 4 5
K. Martin 20:12 3-7 0-1 0-0 0 3 4 0 1 1 2 1 4 6
R. Evans 14:08 0-1 0-0 2-4 -10 4 7 1 2 0 0 0 2 2
R. Gomes 9:06 1-2 0-0 0-0 -8 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
E. Bledsoe DNP – Coach’s Decision
B. Cook DNP – Coach’s Decision
T. Leslie DNP – Coach’s Decision
T. Thompkins DNP – Coach’s Decision

Cleveland

Starters Pos Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
R. Sessions G 39:23 9-16 2-4 4-4 +4 0 2 13 3 1 1 0 4 24
D. Gibson G 35:36 6-11 2-4 3-4 +11 0 3 2 3 1 2 0 1 17
A. Varejao C 31:53 6-8 0-0 3-3 +5 3 11 3 4 0 1 1 4 15
A. Jamison F 38:03 10-18 1-3 6-9 +7 3 8 3 1 0 1 1 3 27
O. Casspi F 20:41 1-3 0-2 0-0 +5 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 2
Bench Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
Totals 36-71 7-18 20-26 10 36 24 15 4 8 5 23 99
Percentages .507 .389 .769 Team Rebounds: 11
A. Gee 32:16 2-8 1-3 2-2 +1 1 3 3 3 0 0 1 3 7
C. Eyenga 16:04 2-3 1-1 1-2 0 1 2 0 1 0 2 0 2 6
S. Samuels 12:55 0-3 0-0 1-2 -5 1 4 0 0 0 1 2 3 1
S. Erden 6:35 0-0 0-0 0-0 +3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0
L. Harangody 6:34 0-1 0-1 0-0 +4 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
R. Hollins DNP – Coach’s Decision
K. Irving DNP – Coach’s Decision

Irving, Thompson Selected to Rising Stars Challenge

Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson have been selected to participate in the Rising Stars Challenge, previously known as the Rookie/Sophomore game. This year, things are going to be a little different in how the teams are picked:

This year, a new format is being implemented to a game that has historically featured NBA rookies facing off against sophomores. For the first time, rookies and sophomores will be mixed together on teams. TNT analysts Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal will serve as the general managers of the two opposing teams – TEAM CHUCK and TEAM SHAQ – each with nine man rosters, drafted from the aforementioned pool. TNT’s Kenny Smith will serve as the honorary Commissioner and Ernie Johnson will host the live BBVA Rising Stars Challenge Draft on Thursday, Feb. 16, on NBA TV at 7 p.m. ET.

Irving and Thompson’s inclusion shouldn’t come as a surprise. Irving is one of the favorites for rookie of the year, and when he was healthy, Thompson was a rookie who was making his impact felt. The Cavaliers have had success in this game in the past, with both Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Daniel Gibson taking home MVP honors. We’ll see if either Irving or Thompson can follow in their footsteps.

Tired and Short-Handed Cavaliers Try to Bounce Back vs Chris Paul and the Clippers

Chris Paul has made a huge impact on the Clippers

***UPDATE: Daniel Gibson will play and will start tonight against the Clippers. So kindly disregard comments below about Gibson likely not playing.

***UPDATE #2: Kyrie Irving has concussion like symptoms and will not play tonight. Great. Just great.  

The Cleveland Cavaliers (9-14, 10th in the East) begin their longest home stand of the season Wednesday night as the new Los Angeles Clippers (15-7, 2nd in the West) visit The Q.

This is certainly a matchup that is not lacking for storylines. Chris Paul playing his old coach and mentor, Byron Scott. Kyrie Irving vs one of the players he seems to be compared to a lot in Chris Paul. Mo Williams making his return to Cleveland.

Beyond the storylines, though, I expect a rough night for the Cavaliers. The Clippers, though on the 3rd game of a road trip, are well rested having had the previous night off. The Cavaliers played shorthanded in Miami last night, ran up and down the court at a frantic pace for much of the game, and then had to fly back home. [Read more...]

Cavaliers Shouldn’t Fear the 8 Seed on the Road to Rebuilding

Sometimes it seems like there are a million different ways to analyze a rebuilding team such as the Cleveland Cavaliers. And in analyzing their progress, thoughts naturally turn to projecting future success and how to get there.

Reasonable minds can and do disagree on issues such as whether or not to trade Anderson Varejao. Some fans root for playoff appearances and wins every night.  Some fans root for draft picks. Should the Cavaliers have used amnesty on Baron Davis, or should they have kept Baron as a mentor, used amnesty on Jamison, and traded Sessions? What position should the Cavaliers draft next year? Should the Cavaliers have drafted Derrick Williams and Brandon Knight instead of Irving and Thompson?

The answers to some are more obvious than others, but the point here is that there is no true road map to rebuilding success. Pretty much the only constant is you probably need a very high draft pick, as in top 2 or 3, you better nail that pick, and that pick better turn into a superstar anchor that you can build around. From there, differing opinions prevail. If there was one right answer, everyone would build the same way and every team would be successful. There are no absolutes in this journey, only road bumps that you pray your team is able to handle the right way every time. [Read more...]

Box Score: Purdue 84, Ohio State 87

Purdue gave Ohio State a much tougher challenge than most expected inside Value City Arena, but in the end, there was just too much William Buford. After a back and forth affair for most of the game, the Buckeyes found themselves with Sullinger, Craft, and Smith all on the bench. In desperate need for someone to provide leadership and scoring, Buford snapped out of his haze and just went off on Purdue, hitting big shot after big shot. The Buckeyes played pretty awful defense in this one and Sullinger left the game late with an injury, so plenty of questions and concerns remain for the Buckeyes, but in an unsuspecting challenge, the game was a good exercise in winning a tough battle when you least expect one.

Purdue

Name FG 3Pt FT Off Reb Ast PF Pts
Kelsey Barlow 5-11 0-0 4-5 0 0 3 2 14
D.J. Byrd 8-12 7-9 1-2 0 5 0 4 24
Travis Carroll 0-0 0-0 1-2 2 2 0 3 1
Robbie Hummel 4-15 2-7 3-3 0 7 2 4 13
Lewis Jackson 4-8 0-0 6-6 0 1 4 2 14
Anthony Johnson 1-3 0-1 0-0 0 0 1 3 2
Terone Johnson 2-4 0-0 1-2 1 1 0 2 5
Jacob Lawson 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 2
Sandi Marcius 0-0 0-0 0-2 0 0 0 1 0
Ryne Smith 3-5 2-3 1-3 0 3 0 3 9
Totals 28-59 11-20 17-25 3 19 10 25 84
Percentages .475 .550 .680

Ohio St.

Name FG 3Pt FT Off Reb Ast PF Pts
William Buford 10-17 3-6 6-6 2 6 2 0 29
Aaron Craft 3-3 1-1 6-7 0 2 2 4 13
Evan Ravenel 1-2 0-0 0-0 1 3 0 2 2
Shannon Scott 0-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 2 0 0
Lenzelle Smith Jr. 2-6 2-4 1-2 2 4 2 2 7
Jared Sullinger 4-9 1-1 9-12 3 6 1 4 18
Deshaun Thomas 4-8 2-4 3-3 3 5 1 3 13
Sam Thompson 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 2 1 1 2
J.D. Weatherspoon 1-1 0-0 1-4 0 0 0 0 3
Totals 26-50 9-16 26-34 11 28 11 16 87
Percentages .520 .562 .765

Game Info

Technical Fouls:
None
Arena:
Value City Arena, Columbus, OH

Box Score: Cavaliers 91, Heat 107

It wasn’t near as bad as that score looks. Once again the Cavaliers hung around with the Heat for most of the game, but in the waning moments of this one, the Heat were just too much and pulled away. It gets tiresome lauding moral victories, but still, the Cavaliers used lineups with Hollins/Samuels, Harangody, and Eyenga on the floor together for long stretches of this one and the Cavaliers still played hard and kept this one interesting. Special props go to Alonzo Gee who played hounding defense all night and scored 17 points in his first starting role at SG. Antawn Jamison lead the Cavaliers with 25 points.

Cleveland

Starters Pos Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
A. Gee G 35:15 6-11 1-1 4-6 0 1 1 1 0 2 1 1 3 17
K. Irving G 33:48 5-15 2-3 4-5 0 1 6 6 5 2 0 0 3 16
A. Varejao C 31:27 4-6 0-0 3-4 +7 1 11 1 2 3 0 0 1 11
A. Jamison F 34:04 11-22 2-5 1-2 +6 4 9 0 1 2 0 0 4 25
O. Casspi F 24:00 2-5 1-4 1-2 -5 1 1 4 2 0 0 0 3 6
Bench Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
Totals 32-82 7-19 20-30 15 43 17 17 10 2 2 22 91
Percentages .390 .368 .667 Team Rebounds: 8
R. Sessions 30:09 2-8 1-2 4-4 -24 0 5 4 4 0 0 1 0 9
C. Eyenga 20:48 0-4 0-0 0-0 -19 2 4 1 0 1 1 0 3 0
L. Harangody 13:56 1-9 0-4 0-0 -22 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
R. Hollins 9:39 1-1 0-0 3-7 -14 1 1 0 3 0 0 0 4 5
S. Samuels 5:27 0-1 0-0 0-0 -4 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
S. Erden 1:27 0-0 0-0 0-0 -5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Miami

Starters Pos Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
D. Wade G 35:08 9-17 0-1 8-8 +2 1 4 6 4 3 1 0 2 26
M. Chalmers G 28:15 5-11 4-9 0-0 -2 0 2 4 2 1 0 0 1 14
J. Anthony C 17:36 1-4 0-0 0-0 -7 3 6 0 1 0 0 1 3 2
L. James F 38:40 9-16 0-1 6-7 +5 1 5 6 6 2 0 0 1 24
C. Bosh F 35:50 6-10 0-0 3-4 +6 1 9 1 3 0 1 0 4 15
Bench Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
Totals 39-84 6-17 23-26 13 47 19 16 7 2 2 22 107
Percentages .464 .353 .885 Team Rebounds: 10
U. Haslem 28:09 4-6 0-0 6-7 +27 5 8 1 0 1 0 0 2 14
M. Miller 23:55 3-9 2-5 0-0 +25 1 9 1 0 0 0 0 4 8
S. Battier 18:00 1-4 0-1 0-0 +12 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
N. Cole 14:28 1-7 0-0 0-0 +12 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 2
E. Curry DNP – Coach’s Decision
J. Howard DNP – Coach’s Decision
J. Jones DNP – Coach’s Decision
D. Pittman DNP – Coach’s Decision

Cavaliers Will Try Again To Steal a Win in Miami

Kyrie Irving and the Cavs fell just short in Miami last month

For the 2nd time this season the Cleveland Cavaliers (9-13, 9th in the East) will travel to Miami to take on the Heat (18-6, 2nd in the east). The last time out, the Cavaliers were struggling mightily and it was starting to look like their upstart season was unraveling. In many ways, that Miami game turned out to be one of the more important games of the season, as the Cavaliers were able to limit LeBron James to 18 points in a very tight 92-85 loss.

Usually you’d prefer a win be your watershed moment rather than a loss, but in this case, the Cavaliers had just been absolutely eviscerated by both the Bulls and the Hawks and some wondered if the wheels were coming off. By hanging in there and fighting tooth and nail with the Heat, the Cavaliers showed a real spirit in not giving up and not succumbing to their opponents’ will just because of the disparity in talent.

This time around, the Cavaliers face the Heat with some confidence and momentum on their side. After a week of insane 4th quarter comebacks and big wins over Boston and Dallas, the Cavaliers should feel a lot better about their chances. [Read more...]