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XSALT LAKE CITY: Thirty-one thoughts for 31 points from LeBron James in a 102-100 loss to the Utah Jazz at the buzzer…
1. David Blatt tried to establish the Cavs’ food chain during Wednesday’s film session and team meeting. According to a source with knowledge of the meeting, Blatt essentially told the players that LeBron James and Kevin Love eat first and that it’s Kyrie Irving’s job as point guard to feed them. Irving can then find his own rhythm after the first two guys get going.
2. Yet when Wednesday’s game ended, Irving had 34 points, 0 assists and led the team in shots (23). Love, meanwhile, was 2-for-10. He didn’t have a basket after the first quarter and he only took five shots in the second half (missed them all). He did, however, go 9-for-11 from the free-throw line.
3. The Cavs tied a franchise-low with just six assists. Six. It happened two other times, on Dec. 15, 1970 at the Knicks and March 17, 2011 at the Blazers. That was the first season in franchise history (they went 15-67) and then the first season after James’ departure when they lost 26 in a row at one point.
To read more or comment...SALT LAKE CITY: The ball movement remained stagnant, the defense only marginally improved for brief stretches and the Cavaliers are facing their first losing streak of the season after another crushing loss on the road.
Gordon Hayward’s long, contested jumper over an outstretched Tristan Thompson at the buzzer handed the Cavs a 102-100 loss after LeBron James scored six points in the final 13 seconds to tie it.
Kyrie Irving had 34 points and James had 31, but the Cavs suffered their second loss in as many nights to fall to 1-3 on the year.
The Cavs registered just six assists on the night as a young and inexperienced Jazz team hammered them inside for 46 paint points and outrebuonded them 41-30. The Cavs trailed by as many as 16 in the third quarter and didn’t take their first lead until midway through the fourth.
To read more or comment...SALT LAKE CITY: Shawn Marion will start at shooting guard tonight for the Cavaliers and Dion Waiters will come off the bench, the Cavs announced Tuesday. Coach David Blatt did not discuss the change during his pregame availability, but this move is likely at least somewhat tied to Matthew Dellavedova’s knee injury.
Dellavedova was injured during Tuesday’s loss at Portland, and while the Cavs are offering no timetable yet, a team source confirmed the early indication that he could miss at least a month. That leaves the Cavs scrambling to find a backup point guard, which Waiters could effectively fill with the second unit. But there is a strong belief within the organization Dellavedova’s injury simply provided an avenue for coach David Blatt to begin experimenting with a lineup that is off to a tough start.
To read more or comment...SALT LAKE CITY: Matthew Dellavedova will miss tonight’s game at the Utah Jazz with a left knee injury, the Cavs announced. Dellavedova injured the knee late in Tuesday’s 101-82 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. He is expected to receive further testing today in Salt Lake City before an official diagnosis and timeline is rendered.
Dellavedova has been a key rotation piece through the early start to the season. He played the entire overtime period in place of Dion Waiters in a win at Chicago and again replaced Waiters midway through the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s defeat. His loss leaves the Cavs with just newly signed Will Cherry as the only traditional backup point guard to Kyrie Irving.
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