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Joe G's Practice Notebook (9/30)

We’re one day away from the Quicken Loans Arena debut of the revamped Cavaliers squad – one that missed the postseason in each of the last four years but should make some seriously loud noise when this year’s tournament rolls around.

After the Cavaliers wrapped up official practice, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving stayed late to work on their three-point shooting – from varying spots outside the arc, receiving the ball in assorted ways, etc. It was just another living example of LeBron’s influence. Great things happen when the team’s best player is also its hardest worker.

Other notes from Tuesday’s workout at Cleveland Clinic Courts include …

* Fans expecting to see the Wine squad duke it out with the Gold squad on Wednesday night might be disappointed. Sounds like there’s going to be lots of jersey-swapping in the annual “Wine and Gold Scrimmage” at The Q. With the team’s upcoming trip to Brazil affecting the practice/preseason schedule, David Blatt announced he’ll be playing with the lineups in the inter-squad matchup.

“We thought about that and we’re going to mix it up,” said Blatt. “We’re not going to play one specific team against the next. We want to see different combinations and we’ll use that time tomorrow to mix and match players and combinations.”

Blatt hopes to use Wednesday’s game to see if the squad is “meeting our own set of expectations with everything that we’ve done to this point. We just want to show some flow and some continuity in how we’re playing offensively. And defensively, the concepts we’ve covered and the intensity that we’re asking from them will hopefully come out tomorrow.”

Coach Blatt did acknowledge that LeBron, Kevin Love and Kyrie will spend some floor time together on the same team.

* It hasn’t been all smooth sailing through Dion Waiters’ first two years as a pro. But it’s been hard to get the smile off his face heading into his third season in Cleveland. He worked out with Kevin Love in L.A. in the offseason and LeBron has admittedly taken him under his wing since returning.

“(LeBron and I) are just working together, building that chemistry,” Waiters admitted. “At the end of the day, I want him to take me under his wing. He’s won championships, he’s a proven player – he’s the best player in the world. Why not learn from a guy like that?”

“I will continue to stay on (Dion),” said James. “I want him to continue to learn the game mentally and physically. He’s a very good player – if not a great player in our league. But our game is more mental than anything. Thinking the game before you physically play the game, I think he’ll be even more dynamic. And I’ll stay on him about that.”

Waiters is listening to more than just LeBron – leaning on all of the new group of veterans.

“You got guys like Mike (Miller), (James) Jones, the Matrix (Shawn Marion),” Waiters continued. “They’re easy to talk to. The locker room is totally different from the first two years I’ve been here. It’s a different type of vibe. Everybody’s talking, outgoing. And you have the vets – it’s easy to go talk to them. It’s just a great thing to be a part of.”

For those of us who watched LeBron enter the league as an 18-year-old, it’s cool to see him embracing his leadership role as an experienced veteran.

”As a leader, you can’t lead everyone the same way,” added the four-time MVP. “So, I’m still figuring out everybody’s personalities on and off the floor. That’ll allow me to lead guys in different areas.”

* The best David Blatt one-liner of the day – and there’s at least one a day – came when he was asked how the Cavaliers are progressing this week while learning his offensive system.

“I think we’re going to graduate from first to second grade sometime this week, and I’m happy about that,” quipped Blatt. “I remember when I did it; it was a big moment for me.”

* The only player remaining from LeBron’s first go-round with the Cavaliers is Anderson Varejao. The two are close friends on and off the court and have been through plenty of battles together in the Wine and Gold. James is tied with Brad Daugherty for 7th place in all-time games played at 548. Andy is tied with Phil Hubbard for 10th with 469.

LeBron was asked if there’s anything different about the Wild Thing from his first stretch in Cleveland.

“No, he’s the same Andy,” responded LeBron. “You ask him to run through six walls, he’ll run through seven. That’s how Andy is. He’s gonna fight after every loose ball, he’s gonna dive on the floor, he’s gonna set screens, he’s gonna roll, he’s gonna help you up when you get knocked down. Any altercation happens, you know Andy’s gonna be right there. He’s the same guy; we just need him to stay healthy.”