Untitled Page

Cleveland Cavaliers News

Cavs aren't always getting their shot on offense
February 3
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"When the Cavaliers were trying to pull off another stunning victory over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, they had possession in the final minute and trailed by four. They needed a good look, preferably something that included Kyrie Irving. But with one second remaining on the shot clock, Anderson Varejao hoisted a 20-footer essentially from the 3-point line. Varejao missed the shot, the Celtics grabbed the rebound and the Cavs' comeback had ended. The Cavs have committed 18 shot-clock violations through 20 games, which is tied for the third-most in the league. Not included in that total are countless other possessions that ended like the one Tuesday, where Varejao hoisted a bad,"
Byron Scott wants his offense to move it
February 3
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Byron Scott played for fast-breaking, highlight- making offenses in Los Angeles, where the Lakers spent more time gazing at the stars seated at courtside than the 24-second shot clocks. As coach of the young Cavaliers, however, his offense is too often scrambling for shots and open looks as the seconds tick away. The Cavaliers ranked tied for third in shot-clock violations with 18 heading into Thursday, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Detroit Pistons led the league with 31. Golden State and Portland are tied with the fewest at five. "We get into what we call late-clock situations way too often," Scott said Thursday. "The one thing we talked about today was our pace of play has to"
Kyrie Irving earns East's NBA Rookie of Month honors
February 2
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The 19-year-old rookie who prefers twisting layups and mid-range jumpers finally had his first real slam dunk Wednesday. Kyrie Irving was named the NBA's Rookie of the Month for January in the Eastern Conference, the league announced. Minnesota's Ricky Rubio grabbed top honors in the Western Conference. There was little doubt Irving would capture the first award of the lockout-shortened season. The Cavaliers point guard leads all rookies in scoring, averaging 18.1 points. He's second in shooting percentage (51.1) and assists (4.9)."
Value Anderson Varejao? Absolutely (especially in a trade)
February 2
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Confessions Of A Former Anderson Varejao Detractor... I've called him a flopper, an overgrown soccer player. A figment of LeBron James' imagination because of the baskets James created for him. An undersized overachiever playing out of position at center. Sideshow Andy, just a high energy bench guy on a good team. Varejao is no longer any of those. He's more stout as a defender. He's improved his shot. Brad Childress would kill for a player with his hands. So what comes next may surprise you. I'd trade him. It would take more than a first-round draft pick, mind you. But somebody offers a young promising big man on top of a first-rounder (or more), I wait two days, hold a Varejao Wig Night"
Finally off the bench, Mychel Thompson earning praise from Cleveland Cavaliers
February 2
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Many see little correlation between big-time pro sports and the real world. Hardly a surprise, given the disparity in weekly paychecks. Then again, most don't give consideration to where athletes like Cavaliers guard Mychel Thompson spend so many games, sitting at the ends of benches, their tomorrows -- like their contracts -- not guaranteed. It's why Thompson's father, Mychal, a former NBA player, dispenses real-world wisdom to a son who had played just two minutes in the Cavs' first 18 games. "I told him you have to treat every day like another job interview," Mychal Thompson said. "Every day at practice he has to convince his coaches and his teammates he deserves to be there. He has to"
Knicks make 'point' to look at Cavaliers' Sessions
February 2
New York Post
 
"As the Baron Davis injury saga gets increasingly murky, Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni didn't dismiss a query about the club's potential interest in a long-time target, Cavaliers point guard Ramon Sessions. D'Antoni didn't knock down the possibility of upgrading the roster, and the Knicks also are linked to free agent Kenyon Martin. The Cavaliers are shopping Sessions, and the Knicks have had interest since 2009 free agency when they were close to a deal. Perhaps D'Antoni didn't evade the question because he's trying to light a fire under Davis, whose debut is delayed because he was unable to compete in scrimmages Monday or yesterday because of back soreness."
Ramon Sessions shrugs off trade speculation
February 1
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Ramon Sessions has been traded once in his career and, to hear him tell it, he's been linked to one rumor or another for the past three years. So, the Cavaliers point guard was hardly shocked to learn of a Yahoo Sports report that states his club has discussed dealing him to the Los Angeles Lakers. Since the Cavaliers used the first overall pick to draft Kyrie Irving last June, there's been speculation concerning Sessions' future in Cleveland. "It's been like that for me for a few years now," said Sessions, 25, who was dealt to the Cavs from Minnesota in the summer of 2010. "There's always something with that. [I] haven't been traded yet. Cleveland now, Cleveland later. I'm not really"
With each gritty performance Anderson Varejao's value to the Cavaliers -- as well as others -- grows
February 1
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"After supplying another exemplary effort in what has become an almost endless string of them Anderson Varejao spoke mostly of disappointment. The Brazilian became the first Cavalier since Carlos Boozer in 2004 to record a 20-point, 20-rebound game, yet he wanted another comeback win so badly on a night his club fell to Boston, 93-90. "It was good to have a game like that, but we didn't take care of home court," said Varejao as the Cavaliers fell to 3-5 at The Q. "We have to win more games at home. It was tough loss." He scored a season-high 20 points and grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds -- including a personal-best 10 offensive boards – and he was thinking of how the team let down its"
Furious comeback falls short as Cleveland Cavaliers lose to Boston, 93-90
February 1
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Tune out Kyrie Irving, Anderson Varejao and the Cavaliers' fourth quarters at your own peril. Just ask the Boston Celtics, who have seen enough of the Cavs' youthful legs and naive belief that no late-game deficit is insurmountable. After rallying for an improbable victory in Boston on Sunday, the Cavaliers nearly did it again Tuesday night before falling, 93-90, in front of 14,798 fans at The Q. Trailing by 18 to open the fourth quarter, the short-handed Cavaliers cut the Celtics' lead to 89-87 with 1:18 remaining on a driving layup from Kyrie Irving."
Celtics win, but nearly blow big lead again
February 1
Boston Herald
 
"It is said that revenge is a dish best served cold, but there was still steam rising from the Celtics when they took the floor last night. And they weren't that pleased when they left it, either. The Shamrocks got what they came for — a victory over the same Cavaliers who two nights earlier had scored the game's final 12 points to erase an 11-point Celtics lead and win by one at the Garden. But the 93-90 final margin in this one is of the hold-your-nose-and-smile variety because the Clevelanders were able to make up 20 points of their deficit. The Celts were just happy their lead was 22 before they assumed the crash position. It was, therefore, revenge — with an aftertaste."
With each gritty performance Anderson Varejao's value to the Cavaliers, as well as others, grows
February 1
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"After supplying another exemplary effort in what has become an almost endless string of them Anderson Varejao spoke mostly of disappointment. The Brazilian became the first Cavalier since Carlos Boozer in 2004 to record a 20-point, 20-rebound game, yet he wanted another comeback win so badly on a night his club fell to Boston, 93-90. "It was good to have a game like that, but we didn't take care of home court," said Varejao as the Cavaliers fell to 3-5 at The Q. "We have to win more games at home. It was tough loss.""
Los Angeles Lakers reportedly express interest in Cleveland Cavaliers backup guard Ramon Sessions
January 31
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Ramon Sessions' name has been linked to trade rumors since the June night the Cavaliers selected Kyrie Irving in the draft. The asset-poor New York Knicks were believed to have interest in the backup point guard as the lockout ended, but plucked an injured Baron Davis from waivers instead. Now, comes a Yahoo report the Los Angeles Lakers have inquired about Sessions. Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant wouldn't be doing his job if he weren't listening to offers. Sessions and starting power forward Antawn Jamison are the Cavaliers most likely to be dealt before the March 15 deadline. The Lakers' interest in Sessions is understandable given their need for a veteran point guard to back up"
Kyrie Irving's game-winner impresses many, but not Irving as Cleveland Cavaliers prepare for Boston rematch
January 31
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Kyrie Irving is so over his game-winning layup that lifted the Cavaliers to an 88-87 victory over the Celtics at Boston on Sunday. "It was just a shot," Irving said after practice on Monday at the Cleveland Clinic Courts. "It's behind me now. It was a good shot. It was a great team win for us." Asked what he could do for an encore in Tuesday night's rematch at The Q, Irving smiled and said, "An encore? There is no encore for me. It's just another game and another chance for us to get better against a good Boston team.""
Lakers show interest in Cavs' Sessions
January 30
Yahoo! Sports
 
"The Los Angeles Lakers have talked with the Cleveland Cavaliers about possibly acquiring guard Ramon Sessions, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. No deal is imminent, but the Lakers view Sessions as a candidate who could help their depleted backcourt. The Lakers are without injured guard Steve Blake, and have relied heavily on rookies Andrew Goudelock and Darius Morris to play behind 37-year-old Derek Fisher. The Lakers have an $8.9 million trade exception, acquired from the Dallas Mavericks for Lamar Odom, to absorb salary. Sessions makes $4.3 million this season and has a player option for $4.6 million for the 2012-13 season."
Antawn Jamison has heard it all from Boston's Kevin Garnett
January 30
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Cavaliers forward Antawn Jamison began, as he termed it, "a two-day conversation" with Kevin Garnett on Sunday in TD Garden. The chatter, however, one-sided resumes Tuesday at The Q. In his 14 NBA seasons, Jamison has heard trash talk reduced to a whisper, he said. Big talkers such as John Starks and Charles Barkley are gone. Rabbit-eared referees are quicker with the whistles and technical fouls. But no one squelches Garnett. The emotional Celtics center remains one of the best and most prolific yappers in the NBA. He can unnerve opponents and take them out of their games, Jamison said. "KG plays a lot of mental games and he's good at it," Jamison said. "He will hold and grab and talk."
Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Kyrie Irving does not shy away from big moments
January 30
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Kyrie Irving seems drawn to these moments, the kind that make some players look for open teammates or fade into the corners of the court. Not the Cavaliers new star. He wants to decide outcomes. There is no fear of failure. It's a trait that cannot be taught. Anyone who's been paying attention knew how the Cavaliers' last play would unfurl Sunday night. Irving would get his high screen and drive to the rim. There were lots of good quotes coming from the Cavaliers locker room following the improbable 88-87 victory over the Celtics in TD Garden, but this might be my favorite: "I knew I wasn't going to settle for a jump shot, that's for sure," Irving said."
Kyrie Irving's basket with 2.6 seconds left leads Cleveland Cavaliers to stunning win over Boston Celtics
January 30
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Kyrie Irving stood patiently dribbling the basketball as the seconds ticked down, the Celtics' crowd chanted "De-fense" and the moment grew ripe with opportunity. The 19-year-old rookie had been in a similar spot a month earlier in Indiana, the ball in his hands, a victory within reach, only to see his left-handed layup rim out. But the bad memory never entered his mind, Irving said, as he waited for a high screen from teammate Anderson Varejao and an open look at the basket. Beneath the Celtics' 17 championship banners and in front of his father, Drederick, who sat at courtside, Irving drove the lane, spun between two defenders and grabbed a piece of Cavaliers lore. His spectacular"
Celtics collapse late to Cavs
January 30
Boston Herald
 
"They had it, and they knew it. "I was in the locker room getting my ankle taped, and when I went back out you could see that we thought we had it," said Avery Bradley, who made it back from a twisted right ankle to play the final 3:40 of last night's 88-87 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Garden. "The intensity was there on the bench — everything. We thought we were ready to win it." Instead, repeated defensive breakdowns, turnovers and a crucial missed layup by the otherwise impeccable Ray Allen led to a 12-0 Cavaliers run over the last 4:13. Rookie point guard Kyrie Irving, already known as an uncommonly efficient shot maker, scored six points in the Cleveland run -— including a"
All-Star honor is long shot for Varejao
January 29
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"It might be surprising to the rest of the league, but Anderson Varejao is quietly producing All-Star numbers this season. As for actually getting a spot on the Eastern Conference team, that still seems like a long shot. Dwight Howard is the overall leader in voting and deserves the starting nod at center, but there are a few players behind him — including Varejao — making a strong case for inclusion in the All-Star game. "He's been invaluable," Scott said. "Obviously Dwight is going to be the No. 1 center in the East, but other than that, I don't know who is playing better at that position." Varejao is averaging 9.4 points and 11.1 rebounds entering tonight's game at Boston. Chicago's"
Cavaliers will reap benefits from revenue sharing
January 29
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"For the first time in nearly a decade, the Cavaliers are expected to draw money from the NBA revenue-sharing pool rather than deposit into it. The sum probably won't cover Kyrie Irving's rookie salary -- he is expected to make $5.1 million this season -- and the idea of being on the dole doesn't appeal to a franchise that under owner Dan Gilbert has never viewed itself as a typical small-market team. But if there were ever a time to start opening checks from Commissioner David Stern, it's now. The new revenue-sharing plan, adopted last month with the collective bargaining agreement, will produce a roughly $200 million pot by the 2013-14 season. That's a staggering increase from the"
Byron Scott doesn't suffer fools gladly, especially when the Cleveland Cavaliers play poorly
January 29
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 columnist Bud Shaw
"The truth can't set a pick, but it can set you free. Byron Scott's honesty is not only refreshing, it's apparently contagious. This edition of the Cavs is half NBA basketball team, half sodium pentothal experiment. (By the way, remind me not to ask Scott if these jeans make me look fat.) The coach does not suffer cop-out artists, posers or anything resembling entitlement. His is a good voice for a team this young to hear on a nightly basis. Kyrie Irving scores 32 points against the Nets while taking some plays off and says, "I felt like I was taking some plays off." Clearly, LeBron James has not gotten through to this kid yet. Instant postgame self-reflection during the previous era"
Cavaliers reportedly interested in Hornets center Chris Kaman
January 29
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Although Cavs general manager Chris Grant declined to comment, NBA sources indicate the Cavs are interested in New Orleans center Chris Kaman, who is on the trading block. At this point, their level of interest is unclear, although the Cavs have long been admirers of the 7-footer obtained by the Hornets from the Clippers in the trade for Chris Paul earlier this season. A call to Kaman's agent, Rob Pelinka, was not returned on Saturday and Cavs coach Byron Scott refused to weigh in. "I have no thoughts on that whatsoever," Scott said as the Cavs prepared to leave for Boston, where they will face the Celtics today. "CG, that's his job to handle all that." Kaman, who will turn 30 on April 28,"
Rookie doesn't pass on chance to score
January 28
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"The Cavaliers seem to be good for one "hole" on offense every season. Last year it was Samardo Samuels, and this year it's Tristan Thompson. In 15 games entering Friday night, Thompson has exactly two assists. It puts him in rare company, since only three players in the league (with enough games to qualify) have fewer than three assists — Thompson, Utah Jazz rookie Enes Kanter and Denver Nuggets center Chris Andersen. "You've got those blinders on [that] the horses wear in New York," Scott told Thompson recently. "Your peripheral vision is not the best." Thompson knew his assists total was low, but he was stunned to find out he had only two all year. "Only two assists? Total? All year?"
Kyrie Irving's late scoring flurry not enough
January 28
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"By the time the Cavaliers engaged in Friday's game against the New Jersey Nets, they trailed by 17 and less than seven minutes remained in the game. At that point, not even a dazzling shooting display by Kyrie Irving could save them. Irving had a career-high 32 points, including 17 in the game's final three minutes, but the Cavs still fell 99-96 to the Nets. Had they been able to extend the game another minute, the Cavs just might have figured out a way to steal a victory. Instead, they were left with a bitter defeat on a night when the effort was tough to see. "We gave this game away," Irving said. "We were lacking a lot of energy. We came out flat. We needed this loss, honestly. It"
Cleveland activates rookie forward Tristan Thompson
January 28
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Rookie power forward Tristan Thompson was activated for Friday's game against New Jersey at The Q after missing the previous two games with a sprained left ankle suffered late in Saturday's loss at Atlanta. Thompson's recovery was part of the reason the Cavs sent forward Luke Harangody to their D-League team in Canton on Thursday. "We've got enough bigs right now," Cavs coach Byron Scott said. "I just thought it would be good for Luke to go down there. We want him to play. Obviously, if Tristan's coming back, there's very limited time for Luke." Scott still is trying to find a rotation for those bigs. Thompson backs up Antawn Jamison, but Samardo Samuels and Ryan Hollins are vying to"
Kyrie Irving has 32 points but New Jersey Nets thump lifeless Cleveland Cavaliers, 99-96
January 28
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"One good quarter -- actually, one good half of a quarter -- cannot make up for three bad ones. Rookie Kyrie Irving scored 21 of his career-high 32 points in the fourth quarter -- 17 in the final three minutes -- but it was not enough for the Cavaliers to save themselves from a 99-96 loss to the New Jersey Nets on Friday night at The Q. Irving's outburst helped the Cavs cut a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to three. The problem was falling behind by 17 in the first place. "Obviously not happy with how the game went, and it started from the beginning of the game," Cavs coach Byron Scott said as his team slipped to 7-11. "I didn't think that we came out with the energy that we needed. The"
Cavs lead league in turnovers entering Friday's game against Nets
January 27
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"Byron Scott has stressed the importance of taking care of the basketball for weeks. With the Cavs still struggling to reduce their number of turnovers, Scott thought of another idea this week. He's making them run. Now, any time a player commits a turnover in practice, the entire team lines up on the baseline and runs gassers. How many is up to the coach. "Until I get tired," said Scott, who most certainly doesn't take part in the exercise. Scott's point is simple: The Cavs enter today's game against the New Jersey Nets leading the league in turnovers, averaging 17.2 per game. They've committed at least 20 turnovers in a game seven times in 17 games. They're 2-5 when it happens, but"
Cavaliers send Luke Harangody to Canton Charge of the D-League
January 27
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The Cavaliers have assigned forward Luke Harangody to the Canton Charge of the NBA D-League. He has appeared in just five games this season averaging 2.6 points and 7.6 minutes. The 24-year-old Notre Dame product simply needs to play some games. The Cavs recently recalled Christian Eyenga from Canton after he played nine games. Don't be surprised if the Cavs rotate those final spots on the bench as much as possible."
Alonzo Gee is scoring points with his defense for the Cleveland Cavaliers
January 27
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"LeBron James established position in the low block during the second quarter of Tuesday's game in Miami. Or, at least he thought he did. Cavaliers' reserve Alonzo Gee would not surrender the spot without a joust. As James waited for an entry pass, he was uprooted by the 6-6, 219-pound swingman, who used his powerful frame to push and maneuver the superstar about eight feet from the basket. By the time James turned to shoot a contested jumper, he resembled a man falling backward into a swimming pool -- attempting to create space for a fade-away which clanged off the rim. The Heat won, 92-85, but the former Cavaliers forward had an ineffective shooting night (8-of-21) thanks to the work of"
Cleveland return in LeBron's future?
January 26
Foxsports.com
 
"Playing against the Cavaliers will always be special for Miami's LeBron James, even if he ever tried to deny it. So far, he hasn't done that — and that alone should really tell you something. James just has too much history with his hometown franchise to treat Miami vs. Cleveland as just another game. That includes everything from his upbringing in nearby Akron to the Cavaliers selecting him with the No. 1 overall pick in 2003. You know the rest. It was all sunshine and roses for both James and Cavs fans and now James is said to feel largely unwelcome in Cleveland — and disappointed because of it. Those close to him say its affected him greatly on occasion. Even boos in other cities bugged"
Cavs notes: Scott says Irving should've played more
January 26
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"One day soon, Kyrie Irving's minutes will be ramped up to between 30 and 33 a night. He's not there yet, but coach Byron Scott conceded he should've put the rookie in a little sooner than he did in Tuesday's loss to the Miami Heat. Irving played 26 minutes against the Heat and is averaging 27.9 minutes per game, which ranks 26th among point guards. He departed with 3:49 left in the third quarter and didn't re-enter until 5:03 remained in the game. "I should have played him a little more," Scott said. "I got lost watching our second unit play as well as they were playing on both ends of the floor." Scott said he looked up with six minutes remaining and thought about getting Irving back in"
Court time expected to grow for fast-developing Kyrie Irving
January 26
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Few NBA rookies are doing more offensively with less minutes than Kyrie Irving. That will soon change, Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said. The 19-year-old point guard, averaging just 27.7 minutes per game, is going to see his playing time increase in the coming games. Eventually, Irving could be playing in the 30- to 33-minute range. Scott offered the assessment Wednesday, a day after Irving played just five fourth-quarter minutes in a 92-85 loss to the Miami Heat. The point guard contributed seven points and two assists in that stretch and helped the Cavaliers cut the deficit to three points with nine seconds remaining."
Cavaliers benefit from carryover effect in win against the Knicks
January 26
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The victory came Wednesday night at The Q. The effort required to earn it began an evening earlier in Miami. The Cavaliers fell short against LeBron James and the Heat, 92-85, but the intensity and competitiveness so evident early in the season returned to their game. It carried over versus the Knicks and helped them to a 91-81 win before 16,760 fans. "The one thing we talked about before the game (against Miami) was just getting back to playing the way we are capable of playing, especially on the defensive end. I thought we did that (Tuesday) night. The (22) turnovers cost us dearly against a team like Miami, but tonight the effort on the defensive end was just as good, if not better. I"
Cavaliers expected to send Luke Harangody to Canton Charge of the D-League
January 26
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The Cavaliers are expected to send Luke Harangody to the Canton Charge of the NBA D-League. He has appeared in just five games this season averaging 2.6 points and 7.6 minutes. The 24-year-old Notre Dame product simply needs to play some games. The Cavs recently recalled Christian Eyenga from Canton after he played nine games. Don't be surprised if the Cavs rotate those final spots on the bench as much as possible. Players can be sent to the D-League as many as three times a season. Next season, teams will be able to send players there on an unlimited basis."
Cleveland Cavaliers snap 4-game skid with 91-81 win over Knicks
January 26
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"It was an ugly game played between a pair of desperate teams. Basketballs sailed into seats. Elbows flew into chins. The Cavaliers couldn't stop the bleeding before six stitches were required. In other words, it was a perfect environment for Anderson Varejao. The Cavaliers center was at his hustling, disruptive best Wednesday night at The Q as he helped the home side end a four-game losing streak with a 91-81 victory over the New York Knicks before 16,760 fans."
Cavs beat NY Knicks' again 91-81, send them to seventh loss in eight games
January 26
New York Daily News
 
"Are the Knicks aware that LeBron James no longer plays for the Cavaliers? For all of New York's alleged star power, not to mention the multi-million dollar contracts Garden chairman James Dolan has thrown around, you'd think that Cleveland would be no match for a lineup featuring Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire. But the Knicks are so dysfunctional that losing to bad teams is quickly becoming a habit. "We have enough talent on this team but we have to figure out how to play with one another," Tyson Chandler said following the Cavs' 91-81 victory. "And we've got to figure out what it takes to win games and we have to do it consistently. To be an elite team in this league you have to be"
Knicks lose to Cavaliers as Baron Davis sits
January 26
New York Post
 
"The Knicks confirmed last night they will be a lousy team until point guard Baron Davis comes back. As currently constituted, this team stinks. Davis' debut was not last night and it might not be tomorrow in Miami, where a South Beach slaughter may await. Coach Mike D'Antoni's job is likely safe as ownership realizes the coach can't be judged until Davis is running this awful show. There was no flow, no bench, no structure, no answers and no sign of Carmelo Anthony last night as the lowly Cavaliers thumped the disinterested Knicks, 91-81, at Quicken Loans Arena for their seventh loss in eight games."
Chris Bosh saves the day as Miami Heat defeats Cleveland Cavaliers
January 25
Miami Herald
 
"Chris Bosh was the best player on the court on Tuesday in LeBron James' first game this season against his old team. Bosh carried the Heat through a difficult first half and then finished off the game with a flurry of jumpers and free throws in the fourth quarter. The Heat defeated the Cavaliers 92-85, and Bosh had 35 points, giving him four 30-point games this season, or one more than he had all of last season."
Chris Bosh's 35 help Heat escape with ugly 92-85 win over Cavs
January 25
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"Midway through the third quarter, with his team's lethargy reaching the point where he was forced to call plays from the bench, Erik Spoelstra informed his team to run, "C-Rip." Most of the way in this one, the Heat played like "C-rap." The difference between this slop and similar slop Sunday against the Milwaukee Bucks is Spoelstra's team somehow found a way to turn something equally ugly into a 92-85 victory Tuesday night over the Cleveland Cavaliers at AmericanAirlines Arena. "It wasn't an all-together smoothly played game," Spoelstra understated, "but there, at the end, regardless of how you get there, we were able to get a handful of stops and then able to execute down the stretch.""
Cavs notebook — Jan. 24
January 25
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"LeBron James is paying close attention to Kyrie Irving's development this season, but said Tuesday he doesn't believe the Cavs rookie should feel any pressure in trying to replace him as the star of the Cavs. "They're in a rebuilding stage right now. I don't think he has any pressure," James said. "Pressure is created when you do things at a high level. He's going to continue to do things at a high level, that's just the player he is. Coach Scott has given him the starting job for a reason. He's going out and proving why he should be the starter." Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called Irving "special" and "unique" and compared him to Los Angeles Clippers star Chris Paul, James' close friend and"
In the star-driven NBA, team building is still possible
January 25
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 columnist Terry Pluto
"In the end, doing everything possible to win now and keep LeBron James happy didn't work for the Cavaliers. Just like it hasn't worked for Orlando Magic and Dwight Howard. Denver tried it for a while, then gave up and traded Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks. Carmelo wanted New York, he has New York. Since the trade last season, the Knicks' record is 20-25 and he's getting booed. The Knicks also signed Amare Stoudemire, so they have two stars ... and a 6-10 record. Denver is 29-12 since trading Anthony for some of New York's best young players. As the Cavaliers rebuild with Kyrie Irving, they should not worry about building around the rookie point guard. Just build with him. Make him an"
Kyrie Irving searching for 'comfort level' in battling turnovers
January 25
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Kyrie Irving finds himself among the NBA leaders in several offensive categories for rookies and point guards. There's one statistical ranking, however, where Cavaliers coach Byron Scott would like to see Irving's name removed. He is ninth among all players in turnovers per game (3.6) and fifth among point guards. Irving had committed a combined 15 giveaways during the three-game losing streak heading into Tuesday's game against the Miami Heat. There are several contributing factors: Irving is 19-year-old, he handles the ball so frequently and he's expected to push the pace whenever possible. "When you want to run you have to accept a certain amount of turnovers," Scott said. "But when"
Cavaliers coach Byron Scott still keeping close watch on Kyrie Irving's minutes
January 25
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Byron Scott has been nothing if not consistent in monitoring and limiting the minutes of rookie point guard Kyrie Irving. The coach has stuck to a rotation that again netted him 43 points Tuesday night from his reserves, including 10 from Ramon Sessions. But certainly some would have liked to see a few more fourth-quarter minutes from Irving in the 92-85 loss to the Miami Heat in American Airlines Arena. Irving played just the final 5:03, contributing seven points and two assists. His driving layup with 9.1 seconds cut the Heat lead to three (88-85). The kid finished with 17 points and four assists in just under 26 minutes. Thus, the balancing act continues for Scott, whose team plays"
Despite improved effort, Cleveland Cavaliers lose fourth straight in falling to Miami Heat
January 25
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The only ones the Cavaliers frustrated more than LeBron James on Tuesday night were themselves. They hounded and harassed their former teammate and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player into his worst shooting night of the season. The combination of Anthony Parker and Alonzo Gee limited James to 18 points and helped force five turnovers. On this night, James was not as much a nemesis as the one that has bedeviled them throughout the young season. The Cavaliers (6-10) committed 22 turnovers en route to falling, 92-85, to the Heat. It marked the seventh time in 16 games the Cavaliers were guilty of at least 20 giveaways."
Cavaliers update: Gibson, Eyenga back
January 24
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"Byron Scott said after Saturday's loss to the Atlanta Hawks that the Cavs hadn't hit rock bottom, but they were well on their way. By the end of practice today he was much more upbeat. Scott put the Cavs through a rigorous defensive practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts before the team flew to Miami for another meeting with LeBron James and the Miami Heat on Tuesday. He ripped Kyrie Irving's defensive performance over the weekend, but said Irving came back in Monday's practice with his best defensive showing of the season. Daniel Gibson also returned to practice following the death of an extended family member and Christian Eyenga was recalled from the club's D-League affiliate in Canton."
Cleveland Cavaliers determined to reverse slump; 'this is a different team' than 2010-11, says Antawn Jamison
January 24
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Antawn Jamison says the past is the past. Asked about the Cavaliers' three-game losing streak, which includes back-to-back blowouts against the Bulls and Hawks heading into Tuesday's game at Miami, the veteran power forward refused to revisit the struggles of last season. "Last year is last year and that [expletive] is not going to happen," Jamison said emphatically after practice on Monday. "This is a different team. This is a better team, so what happened last year happened last year. "The biggest thing for us is that we're 6-9, we're tied for seventh in the Eastern Conference and the most important thing is to stop the bleeding as quickly as possible.""
LeBron James back in do-everything mode for Wade-less Miami Heat
January 24
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"LeBron James is playing some of his best basketball since joining the Miami Heat a season ago. All it took was an injury to the superstar who helped woo him from Cleveland in the first place. It's foolish to suggest the Heat are a better team with Dwyane Wade out of the lineup -- although a 6-1 record in his absence is eye-opening. But with the shooting guard nursing a sprained right ankle, James has returned to the role in which he's most accustomed -- being his team's undisputed No. 1 option. He's dominating the ball and the running the Heat offense from the wing, something Cavaliers' fans watched for seven seasons at The Q. They will likely see it again Tuesday night as the Heat (11-5)"
LeBron's proteges face him on court
January 23
Akron Beacon Journal
 columnist Jason Lloyd
"Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson were just a couple of high school basketball stars the first time they met LeBron James. Thompson attended the Nike skills academy in Akron before his senior year and Irving was even younger the first time James showed interest in him. When one of the greatest players on the planet starts calling high school kids, they generally embrace the opportunity. Only now it has evolved into something a little more complicated."
Kyrie Irving focuses on being better, not on being LeBron James' replacement for Cavs
January 23
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 columnist Tom Reed
"Kyrie Irving sat playing video games in his family's New Jersey home on July 8, 2010, the night the Cavaliers' last No. 1 overall draft pick told a national television audience of his intentions to leave Cleveland for the Miami Heat. Although the teenage point guard had gotten to know LeBron James from his Akron summer camps, it wasn't reason enough to tune into The Decision, he said. Irving had no ties to Cleveland and no idea how his future would become indirectly shaped by the events of that evening. "When he made his decision I was going into my freshman year [at Duke]," Irving said. "I was just worried about being the best freshman I could be. That's all I was really concerned about.""