May 24, 2013

Cavaliers and Wizards Renew Rivalry, Only Over Draft Position Now

April 25, 2012 by 18 Comments

What a lovely tank you have there

It’s time to say goodbye to the men in Wine and Gold. For this season, anyway.

Tonight the Cleveland Cavaliers host the Washington Wizards in the final home of the season. What once was a fierce rivalry of sorts is now renewed as a Premier League-esque relegation battle. Although, instead of relegation, these teams are fighting for lottery position.

For Washington, the hard part is over. With New Orleans’ win last night, moving them alongside Cleveland and Sacramento with 21 wins, the Wizards, at 18 wins with two games to go, have locked up 2nd place in the lottery derby. They can win out and not harm their lottery position. [Read more...]

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Box Score: Cavaliers 101, Grizzlies 109

April 23, 2012 by 8 Comments

Tough loss tonight in Memphis, but the Cavaliers shouldn’t hang their heads. Playing one of the better teams in the West, the Cavaliers hung in there for pretty much the whole game, even holding the lead for much of the first half.

Kyrie Irving was simply terrific tonight for the wine and gold, scoring 25 points in 29 minutes of play. It was certainly curious to see Irving sitting for much of the 4th quarter despite being the hot hand in this game. Was Byron Scott tanking? I’m sure he’ll just say they’re limiting Kyrie’s minutes as he works his way back into game shape, but the Cavaliers might have won this game had he played more in the 4th quarter.

None of which is to say the Cavaliers did the wrong thing. They showed a lot of spirit in this game and had a chance to win, but in the end they maintained their position in the bottom of the standings. Sort of a best case scenario for the tanking mentality.

Kudos to both Donald Sloan and Manny Harris who both stepped up and did some of the things I was hoping to see from them in this game. Manny provided some offense off the bench, and Sloan looked steady in the backup PG role. The more I see from Sloan, the more I feel comfortable with the idea of bringing him back next season to try handling the backup PG role from day one.

From a defensive standpoint, 6 Grizzlies were in double digit points including all 5 starters. The Grizzlies did a nice job moving the ball around and getting scoring from every spot, but the Cavaliers defended pretty poorly in this game and allowed the Grizzlies to control the rebounds a little too easily.

It’s never fun to lose, but as far as losing goes, this is the kind of loss you can live with in a learning season such as this.

Cleveland

Starters Pos Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
K. Irving G 29:28 10-16 2-6 3-5 +3 0 2 4 3 3 0 0 2 25
A. Parker G 22:38 1-4 1-3 2-2 +3 1 3 3 2 1 0 0 1 5
T. Thompson C 29:33 3-10 0-0 6-10 -4 4 9 0 1 0 4 2 6 12
A. Jamison F 32:52 6-14 3-6 2-2 +6 4 9 3 0 0 0 2 2 17
A. Gee F 22:04 3-7 2-3 0-0 0 1 2 2 3 0 0 2 1 8
Bench Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
Totals 37-80 11-24 16-22   13 36 19 17 8 5 8 21 101
Percentages .462 .458 .727   Team Rebounds: 8
O. Casspi 25:56 2-6 1-2 0-0 -8 0 4 0 3 1 1 1 3 5
M. Harris 25:22 5-9 1-1 0-0 -11 2 3 2 1 3 0 1 1 11
D. Sloan 18:46 3-6 0-1 3-3 -9 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 9
S. Samuels 18:27 3-4 0-0 0-0 -4 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 3 6
L. Walton 14:54 1-4 1-2 0-0 -16 1 3 1 1 0 0 0 2 3
L. Harangody DNP – Coach’s Decision
D.J. Kennedy DNP – Coach’s Decision
A. Varejao DNP – Coach’s Decision

Memphis

Starters Pos Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
T. Allen G 30:53 6-9 0-0 1-2 +9 4 8 1 1 8 1 0 2 13
M. Conley G 23:37 4-8 2-3 2-2 +6 0 3 3 1 1 0 0 5 12
M. Gasol C 24:12 5-13 0-0 7-8 +3 2 4 2 1 1 3 1 0 17
R. Gay F 34:07 4-10 0-2 7-8 -1 2 6 4 2 0 2 0 2 15
M. Speights F 30:47 6-9 0-0 5-8 +3 4 10 0 2 1 1 0 2 17
Bench Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
Totals 38-81 5-13 28-36   17 42 18 13 14 8 5 19 109
Percentages .469 .385 .778   Team Rebounds: 14
O.J. Mayo 25:39 6-14 2-5 0-0 +6 0 2 5 1 1 0 1 1 14
D. Cunningham 21:47 2-4 0-0 3-3 +22 3 4 0 1 2 1 1 1 7
Z. Randolph 19:14 1-5 0-0 1-2 -12 2 5 1 3 0 0 1 3 3
L. Hudson 12:14 3-6 1-3 2-3 +7 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 9
J. Selby 11:35 1-2 0-0 0-0 -3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 2
Q. Pondexter 5:55 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0
H. Haddadi DNP – Coach’s Decision
J. Pargo DNP – Coach’s Decision

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Cavaliers Continue Final Week of Season in Memphis

April 23, 2012 by 20 Comments

Only 3 more chances to watch Kyrie Irving this season

Here we are, three games left in this shortened NBA season for our beloved Cleveland Cavaliers. This 66 game season has been interesting. It feels like the Cavaliers play pretty much every night, which has been amazing as a fan of this team but has to have been incredibly trying on the players.

I’ve maintained all year long that I kind of liked the lockout shortened season. I’ve liked being able to turn on League Pass any given night and having literally like 10 games to watch. It was cool having the league kick off on Christmas, giving the already important holidays game even more importance. Sure, the play at times this season was sloppy due to the hectic struggle, but it was a non stop basketball assault of the sense, and I loved almost every minute of it.

But the problem with a compressed 66 game season is that it’s over just as soon as it begins. It’s hard to believe that this is the final week for the Cavaliers. That after Thursday night in Chicago, we won’t see Kyrie Irving and the rest of our Cavaliers play a real game until late October. [Read more...]

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Thorpe: Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson Rookies With Most Upside

April 19, 2012 by 59 Comments

When the Cavaliers landed the #1 and #4 picks in the draft, it was imperative they land two impact players with those picks. We know Kyrie Irving has lived up to the top pick and then some, but there’s a fair debate as to whether or not Tristan Thompson was the right pick at #4.

ESPN’s David Thorpe, one of the sharpest talent evaluators in the media, think the Cavaliers might have nailed this draft. In his rankings of the rookies with the most upside, he obviously lists Kyrie #1 on the list, but surprising to some might be Tristan ranking #2 on his list.

2. Tristan Thompson

Take a look at the top 10 rookie rebounders (based on rebound rate). You’ll see guys who played four years of college, guys who have been pros overseas for years, and guys with huge, wide bodies that make it easy to soak up boards. And then there’s Thompson, who played one year in college and is still much weaker than most of his opponents. But that has not mattered.

Thompson really has very little clue how to play yet, especially around the rim, but he has been a very effective player on many nights. Given a few more years to figure things out, and considering he’ll be a long and elite athlete for a decade or so, it’s easy to imagine just how good he can be. He has All-Star potential.

Obviously there are a lot of ifs in there, but it’s exciting for Cavalier fans to know that Thorpe thinks so highly of Thompson’s potential. If Thompson even comes close to reaching that peak as a potential All-Star, the Cavaliers will be in good shape in a few years.

[Related: ESPN NBA Redraft: Irving and Thompson go in Top Two]

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Cavaliers Will Try to Lose By Less Than 39 Points at Home Against Philly

April 18, 2012 by 40 Comments

I’m furious with the Cleveland Cavaliers (20-40, 13th in the East). And I hate being mad at the Cavaliers. I love this franchise and I can’t wait for the day when they return to the playoffs and give us fun, rewarding, exciting, meaningful basketball to watch.

What we got last night was the polar opposite of that. The Cavaliers lost by 39 points to a team that was 22-38 going into that game. At the end of the 3rd quarter, the Cavaliers were losing 100-50. Thank goodness they weren’t playing at the Q where “The Diff” would have probably fried the whole jumbotron for lack of ability to comprehend a 50 point deficit. Does anyone know if “The Diff” even goes that high (or, rather, that low)?

Look, I don’t care where you fall on the spectrum of this whole tanking issue. Some people like to cheer for lottery position, some people don’t. It doesn’t matter to me. We are all Cavs fans and we all want what’s best for this franchise going forward. We’re on the same team here. But I have to believe that a 39 point loss to Detroit, the Cavaliers’ fourth loss by 35+ points in just 60 games this season, is completely unacceptable for all of us. [Read more...]

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Spurs Will Provide Formidable Challenge For Cavaliers

April 3, 2012 by 3 Comments

I’ve got good news and bad news.

The good news is that Kyrie Irving will be back in the starting lineup for the Cleveland Cavaliers (17-33, 12th in the East) tonight. The bad news is the Cavaliers are playing the San Antonio Spurs (36-14, 2nd in the East).

It’s funny that the Spurs can continue to fly under everyone’s radar. Hardly anyone seems to be talking about them or taking them seriously. Maybe it’s because they lost the opening round as a #1 seed last year. Maybe it’s because people think that because Tim Duncan is old the Spurs are finished. Maybe it’s because the Spurs are just there every year and everyone just kind of got used to seeing them at the top.

Whatever the case may be, the Spurs are sitting just 2.5 games back of Oklahoma City for the top spot in the West. It’s no fluke or happenstance. The Spurs are one of, if not the, best coached teams in the NBA, they have a smart, savvy, veteran core who know how to win Championships, and they sprinkle in the right kind of young players who can learn how to play their role. [Read more...]

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Box Score: Pistons 87, Cavaliers 75

March 28, 2012 by 5 Comments

That was….better? The Cavaliers at least defended better and Kyrie Irving was really aggressive in trying to top Brandon Knight. But beyond that, the Cavaliers offense was pretty horrible in this game and the Pistons more or less were able to just coast to victory. Alonzo Gee was simply destroyed by Tayshaun Prince in this game, and that’s really what set the tone for the rest of this game. 5 losses in a row, 8 of 9 overall. Things are getting ugly.

Detroit

Starters Pos Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
B. Knight G 37:40 7-15 2-3 0-0 +14 0 4 5 3 0 0 2 1 16
R. Stuckey G 6:47 0-2 0-2 0-0 -4 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0
G. Monroe C 32:18 4-13 0-0 0-2 +6 3 10 2 3 2 2 2 3 8
T. Prince F 37:08 11-21 4-4 3-4 +19 1 8 3 0 0 0 4 1 29
J. Maxiell F 32:59 6-9 0-0 0-0 +7 4 9 1 1 0 3 0 2 12
Bench Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
Totals 35-83 7-15 10-16 13 49 18 10 7 11 9 13 87
Percentages .422 .467 .625 Team Rebounds: 8
A. Daye 29:23 3-7 1-4 1-2 +16 1 2 2 1 2 2 0 1 8
W. Bynum 20:16 3-9 0-1 2-2 -4 0 3 1 1 1 0 1 1 8
B. Wallace 15:42 0-1 0-0 1-2 +6 3 6 0 0 0 4 0 0 1
J. Jerebko 15:01 0-2 0-1 3-4 +5 0 4 0 1 1 0 0 4 3
D. Wilkins 12:46 1-4 0-0 0-0 -5 1 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 2
B. Gordon DNP – Coach’s Decision
W. Russell Jr. DNP – Coach’s Decision
C. Villanueva DNP – Coach’s Decision

Cleveland

Starters Pos Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
K. Irving G 36:32 9-19 1-5 3-3 -10 3 9 6 5 2 0 1 2 22
A. Parker G 32:45 2-5 1-3 0-0 -7 1 6 5 2 0 0 0 2 5
T. Thompson C 29:58 3-12 0-0 3-4 -15 6 11 0 1 1 3 3 2 9
A. Jamison F 36:54 7-21 2-4 1-1 -6 3 4 2 3 0 3 2 2 17
A. Gee F 34:59 1-6 1-2 0-0 -8 2 9 4 2 1 1 0 2 3
Bench Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
Totals 30-87 5-17 10-12 17 48 20 15 6 9 11 17 75
Percentages .345 .294 .833 Team Rebounds: 8
S. Samuels 18:02 2-3 0-0 0-0 +3 1 4 0 0 1 0 1 2 4
M. Harris 15:15 3-10 0-1 3-3 -5 0 1 1 0 0 0 3 1 9
O. Casspi 13:01 2-7 0-2 0-1 -4 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 4
D. Sloan 11:28 1-4 0-0 0-0 -2 0 1 2 0 1 2 1 0 2
L. Walton 11:06 0-0 0-0 0-0 -6 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0
S. Erden DNP – Coach’s Decision
D. Gibson DNP – Coach’s Decision

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Cavaliers vs 76ers: Battle of the Post-All Star Break Blues

March 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I’m not sure if there is such a thing as dog days of spring or not, but if there is, you could arguably say the Cleveland Cavaliers (17-29, 10th in the East) are there.

The excitement of trade deadline has passed, the thought of the Cavaliers making the playoffs has long passed, injuries to Anderson Varejao and Daniel Gibson, along with the trade of Ramon Sessions has left the team shorthanded in terms of reliable players, and with 5 weeks left in the season, the team isn’t playing for much other than pride, development, and draft position.

That may be the reality of where we are in this shortened season, but it doesn’t mean there isn’t still plenty of reasons to watch. It happens much less frequently these days, but when this young team is clicking and playing at full potential, this is a fun team to watch. Perhaps a mild glimpse of what things will look like in the future as guys like Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson, and Alonzo Gee continue to get better while new impact draft players are brought in. [Read more...]

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Cavs Fans and Kyrie Irving Both Can Benefit From Lessons of the Past

March 23, 2012 by 27 Comments

“’Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”

I don’t know who originally said that quote, but I think in life that’s probably a good rule of thumb. Obviously this quote would seemingly apply to romantic love, but love can come in many different forms. So too, then, can this quote have many far reaching applications in life.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot in recent weeks, as we as a community of Cavaliers fans continue to deal with the fallout of LeBron James turning his back on us. This holds especially weighty context as Kyrie Irving continues a meteoric rise toward stardom.

To compare and contrast LeBron James and Kyrie Irving is wholly unfair. The two couldn’t be more different in almost every way: as people, as basketball players, as ambassadors of the Cavaliers franchise. Well, we’ll get to that 3rd one in a minute. But certainly they are different men, different players, different backgrounds, different futures. [Read more...]

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Box Score: Cavaliers 105, Nets 100

March 19, 2012 by 9 Comments

It was the night of the rookies for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Tristan Thompson scored a career high 27 points and Kyrie Irving had 26 points (14 of them in the 4th quarter) as the Cavaliers came away with a nice win in New Jersey.

The Cavaliers got off to a hot start as Tristan Thompson was active in the post and was punishing the Brook Lopez-less Nets with dunk after dunk. The Cavs had an early 15 point lead, but Deron Williams wasn’t about to let the Nets go down without a fight. Williams used some precise shooting and some crafty moves in the lane to bring the Nets all the way back.

The game would be back and forth from then on, before Mr 4th Quarter, Kyrie Irving, took over and did his thing. After Williams blew by Irving for a nice dunk, the rookie showed he wasn’t going to back down and on the subsequent possession Irving drove in for an And-1 opportunity. Then on the next possession Irving hit a 3 pointer to give the Cavaliers a lead they would never relinquish.

Going back to our theme of development, Tristan really did a nice job making his impact felt, going for 27 points and 12 rebounds. Kyrie Irving had 26 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and 1 steal. Donald Sloan came off the bench to backup Irving and chipped in 11 points of his own. It’s far too early to proclaim Sloan a future backup candidate, but he did show some excellent composure and did some nice things to help the Cavaliers win.

Cleveland

Starters Pos Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
A. Parker G 31:51 2-6 0-2 0-2 +10 0 3 5 0 1 1 0 1 4
K. Irving G 31:14 8-20 3-6 7-8 -2 1 5 7 4 1 0 2 5 26
T. Thompson C 37:29 12-16 0-0 3-4 -8 8 12 1 2 0 1 1 3 27
A. Jamison F 39:14 5-20 1-3 2-2 +11 6 13 3 1 0 1 1 2 13
A. Gee F 28:30 3-6 0-0 2-4 -2 0 7 1 2 1 0 1 6 8
Bench Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
Totals 41-89 5-15 18-27 21 55 21 11 6 3 6 25 105
Percentages .461 .333 .667 Team Rebounds: 7
D. Sloan 19:33 4-6 1-1 2-2 +7 1 3 1 0 0 0 1 4 11
S. Samuels 19:17 5-5 0-0 0-3 +7 4 6 2 2 1 0 0 2 10
D. Gibson 17:14 1-5 0-1 2-2 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 4
O. Casspi 15:38 1-5 0-2 0-0 +2 1 4 0 0 2 0 0 1 2
S. Erden DNP – Coach’s Decision
R. Hollins DNP – Coach’s Decision
L. Walton DNP – Coach’s Decision

New Jersey

Starters Pos Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
D. Williams G 38:02 8-23 4-10 8-9 +4 0 0 8 5 2 0 2 3 28
M. Brooks G 29:54 3-10 0-2 4-6 -2 1 4 2 0 1 0 0 2 10
S. Williams C 25:46 4-5 0-0 1-2 -5 2 5 2 3 0 1 0 4 9
G. Wallace F 39:58 8-14 1-4 10-11 -5 1 12 1 1 0 1 0 4 27
K. Humphries F 33:12 5-10 0-0 3-3 -8 4 11 2 1 0 1 1 5 13
Bench Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
Totals 34-81 6-23 26-31 10 37 15 12 6 6 3 24 100
Percentages .420 .261 .839 Team Rebounds: 10
G. Green 27:29 2-6 1-2 0-0 -7 2 3 0 2 1 2 0 4 5
A. Morrow 19:49 3-10 0-4 0-0 -2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6
J. Petro 15:52 1-2 0-0 0-0 +9 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2
J. Smith 9:58 0-1 0-1 0-0 -9 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 0
J. Farmar DNP – Coach’s Decision
S. Gaines DNP – Coach’s Decision
D. Stevenson DNP – Coach’s Decision
J. Williams DNP – Coach’s Decision

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Cavaliers Continue Fitting Puzzle Pieces Together in New Jersey

March 19, 2012 by 7 Comments

As hard as it may be to believe, there are only 6 weeks left in the NBA regular season. It feels like this season just started a month or so ago, but here we are hitting the home stretch. Some have said that the Ramon Sessions trade killed the Cavaliers’ playoff chances, but in all honesty, those chances were dead with the way the team opened the 2nd half of the season.

The fact is, the Cavaliers were not a good enough team to make the playoffs. So rather than wasting energy over these final 6 weeks talking about how far out of the playoffs the team is, let’s focus instead on development.

Tonight, the Cavaliers (16-26, 10th in the East) travel to New Jersey to face the Nets (15-31, 13th in the East) in the road finale of a back-to-back. The Cavaliers and Nets have split the first two matchups this year, both in Cleveland. Now the Cavaliers will try to earn at least a split of the two remaining games in New Jersey. [Read more...]

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Cavaliers Host Raptors, Look to Extend Winning Streak to 4

March 13, 2012 by 2 Comments

Cavaliers Look For Redemption vs Toronto

The Cleveland Cavaliers (16-23, 10th in the East) will try to keep their 3 game winning streak going Tuesday night when they host the Toronto Raptors (13-28, 13th in the East). The Raptors have lost 2 straight games and have won just 6 of the 19 games they’ve played since February 1.

Before the Cavaliers get to excited, though, they should remember the last two matchups with the Raptors. For whatever reason, Toronto has been Cavalier kryptonite this season, as the Raptors have rather easily taken apart Cleveland in the two previous games. Two of Kyrie Irving’s 3 worst games this year have been against the Raptors. Both times Toronto was able to light up the Cavaliers from three point range, both times Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani were able to orchestrate the pick and roll to perfection, slicing the Cavalier defense apart. [Read more...]

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Cavaliers Face NBA’s Top Record, Oklahoma City Thunder

March 9, 2012 by 12 Comments

Westbrook, Harden, and the Thunder present a formidable challenge

It feels good to be back on the winning side again. Now the Cavaliers (14-23, 10th in the East) will try to carry that positive momentum into Oklahoma City where Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and the rest of the Thunder (31-8, 1st in the West) are waiting.

The Thunder have the NBA’s best record, sure, but once again this is matchup for the Cavaliers that I don’t hate. The Thunder are sorely lacking effective frontcourt post players and have been doing a lot of their damage from outside 10 feet of the rim.

In fact, 42.4% of the Thunder’s shot occur inside 10 feet. That’s compared to 49.96% of the Cavaliers’ shots coming inside 10 feet. This is significant because the teams who have been hurting the Cavaliers since Varejao went out with the injury have been teams who abuse the Cavaliers inside.

Obviously, Russell Westbrook thrives on getting to the rim and how Kyrie Irving fares in defending him will be a huge part of this game. But outside Westbrook, the Thunder have a lot of players who play on the wings and shoot outside shots. Kendrick Perkins continues to play subpar basketball with the Thunder and Nick Collison has seen his effectiveness decline the last couple of seasons. [Read more...]

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Box Score: Cavaliers 100, Nuggets 99

March 7, 2012 by 17 Comments

Mr. 4th Quarter, indeed.

For the first 3 quarters of this game, Antawn Jamison and Alonzo Gee carried the Cavaliers. Jamison’s monster game will probably be overlooked, but Antawn was essential in making sure the Cavaliers got off to a good start. Jamison had 33 points to lead all scorers and without his and Gee’s offense, the Cavaliers would have fallen behind early.

But this game will be remembered for what Kyrie Irving did in the 4th quarter again. As Fred McLeod was annointing Kyrie as “Mr. 4th Quarter”, the Cavs rookie was living up to the name. Irving had 10 points in the 4th quarter, including a coast to coast drive to give the Cavs the lead for good on their last possession. Irving then got just enough body on Ty Lawson to force the Nuggets’ PG to miss the would be game winning drive.

Irving finished with 18 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals to help the Cavaliers snap their losing streak. Remember, the kid is just a 19 year old rookie. And already he is showing time and time and time again that when the game is on the line, Kyrie will do what it takes to lead the Cavaliers to victory.

Impressive win for the Cavaliers in what was a riveting, exciting game.

Cleveland

Starters Pos Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
K. Irving G 32:48 8-16 0-3 2-2 +15 1 5 8 3 3 0 1 5 18
A. Parker G 27:36 2-5 1-1 0-0 +1 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 5
R. Hollins C 18:25 1-2 0-0 0-0 +5 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 5 2
A. Jamison F 36:55 11-21 3-6 8-9 +5 2 9 1 1 0 0 2 4 33
A. Gee F 31:32 7-12 1-3 4-6 +20 1 7 3 3 4 1 0 2 19
Bench Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
Totals 37-82 7-23 19-23 5 36 23 13 11 1 5 26 100
Percentages .451 .304 .826 Team Rebounds: 9
T. Thompson 24:34 1-2 0-0 1-2 -5 0 3 2 0 1 0 1 1 3
R. Sessions 21:16 2-7 0-2 2-2 -9 0 0 5 2 1 0 0 1 6
D. Gibson 19:21 2-9 1-5 0-0 -4 0 2 2 0 1 0 0 2 5
O. Casspi 16:28 2-4 1-3 0-0 -19 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 3 5
S. Samuels 10:36 1-4 0-0 2-2 -4 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 4
M. Harris 0:29 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
S. Erden DNP – Coach’s Decision
B. Uzoh DNP – Coach’s Decision
A. Varejao DNP – Coach’s Decision

Denver

Starters Pos Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
T. Lawson G 40:59 6-14 1-4 5-5 -6 0 5 6 7 2 1 0 1 18
A. Afflalo G 39:37 4-8 1-3 4-6 -5 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 1 13
N. Hilario C 21:43 5-10 0-0 3-5 -9 2 5 1 4 2 1 0 4 13
C. Brewer F 20:12 2-10 0-4 0-0 -1 1 4 5 0 0 0 0 1 4
K. Faried F 19:44 2-2 0-0 1-2 -7 2 9 0 0 0 0 0 4 5
Bench Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts
Totals 35-81 4-20 25-32 10 46 23 17 7 5 1 19 99
Percentages .432 .200 .781 Team Rebounds: 11
A. Harrington 33:14 10-20 1-6 1-2 +6 2 8 1 2 1 0 0 2 22
A. Miller 24:05 5-7 0-0 6-6 0 1 2 4 4 0 0 0 2 16
D. Gallinari 22:14 1-7 1-3 2-2 +10 0 4 2 0 1 0 1 2 5
C. Andersen 18:12 0-3 0-0 3-4 +7 1 7 1 0 1 3 0 2 3
J. Hamilton DNP – Coach’s Decision
K. Koufos DNP – Coach’s Decision
T. Mozgov DNP – Coach’s Decision
J. Stone DNP – Coach’s Decision

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Cavaliers Look To Snap Season-High Losing Streak

March 5, 2012 by 19 Comments

Cavaliers hope to fare better against Utah this time around

The Cleveland Cavaliers (13-22, 10th in the East) can officially kiss the playoffs goodbye. Not many felt the Cavaliers could actually make the playoffs to begin with, but the Anderson Varejao injury just made things that much more difficult. Now the Cavaliers find themselves on season high 5 game losing streak and everything is pretty much fallen apart.

Those who prefer lottery over winning games can rejoice in the fact the Cavaliers are actually closing in on a top 5 pick at this pace. The Cavaliers currently have the 8th lowest win PCT and have just one more win than the four teams currently tied for 4th fewest wins. A few more losses to teams the Cavaliers should be able to beat, along with a few timely wins from fellow bottom dwellers like Detroit, Sacramento, Toronto, and New Jersey, and the Cavaliers just might be in the hunt for a top 5 pick after all.

Those who would prefer to see the Cavaliers developing and winning games, this has been a rough stretch. A frustrating lack of focus and effort, things are starting to feel dangerously close to last season. The team is beginning to have that look in their eye again, where they know they’re going to lose before the game even starts. [Read more...]

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Cleveland Cavaliers Kick Off 2nd Half of Season Against the Boston Celtics

February 28, 2012 by 12 Comments

Kyrie Irving has already knocked off the Celtics once this season

The Cleveland Cavaliers (13-18, 9th in the East) get back to business Tuesday night when they welcome the Boston Celtics (15-17, 8th in the East) into the Q. It was a pretty good All Star break for Cleveland. Sure, Kyrie Irving didn’t fare so well in the Skills Competition, but Irving and fellow rookie Tristan Thompson both left their marks in the Rising Stars Game.

For the rest of the Cavaliers it was a period of rest, relaxation, and rooting on the young Cavaliers in the Rising Stars Game. Now that the batteries have been charged and some wounds have healed, the Cavaliers can get back to chasing that playoff berth.

The Celtics are the team standing in their way, both tonight (as the opponent) and in the long run (as the 8th seed). Perhaps no team was happier for the break than the Celtics, who carried a 5 game losing streak into the break and had lost 7 of their last 8 overall. [Read more...]

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