(On tonight’s game): “First of all, as far as exhibition games go, I thought that was a pretty good basketball game for both teams. Chicago was coming off a back-to-back. They played a really tough game last night against Charlotte and they came in here and played very well. We had a couple of days of practice and we came in a little bit fresher and a little bit better than we were the other night against Dallas because we had the chance to practice and recover. It’s no big thing obviously. It’s just an exhibition game but certainly a good-leveled game for fans to see. We had a full crowd here in Columbus and the people got their money’s worth. Both teams played hard and played pretty well.”
(On what he liked tonight): “What I really liked about tonight was we had Kevin (Love), Kyrie (Irving) and LeBron (James) on the floor at the same time. We got a fair view of that tonight and I thought that went pretty well. (We still have) a lot to do, a lot to correct but overall, I think the Cavaliers are taking strides in the correct direction.”
(On if tonight’s game felt more than just a preseason game): “No, not really. What it felt like was two pretty good teams going at it, trying to get better, recognizing that this is the stage where you have to play guys a little bit more and be a little bit closer to normal rotations. It felt like a really good preparation game for what the season is going to look like.”
(On Derrick Rose): “As a basketball person and a lover of this sport, it’s great to see him back and great to see him playing freely and playing well. He means something to this game. The fact that he’s out there looking like the old D-Rose, that’s great for the NBA. I don’t know if it’s good for us, but it’s certainly great for the NBA and I’m happy to see him out there.”
(On the Cavs’ defense tonight): “I think tonight was a good example of what we can do. I think defensively we were very intact and very good. We have to work on our transition defense as a team, but that was the closest 48 minutes we’ve played in the preseason.”
(On the chemistry with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love): “Every practice, every film session, every game will continue to help our chemistry, help us to continue to improve, know what we like and dislike, and what we can do on the floor. It will come with time.”
(On playing at OSU): “The excitement was there when we walked in the building. Even though it was a school night, we had a lot of kids and college kids here. It just goes to show how much they support us and we just tried to put on a show, play hard for them and show them winning ways.”
(On the preseason mentality): “It’s two teams that are trying to get better and two teams that have aspirations of winning a championship. Both teams know it’s a process, but it’s right now where you create the habits.”
(On the preseason mentality): “We will be ready for the 30th as any team is ready for the first game of the season. At the first game of the season, you’re not ready to win a championship then. You’re not ready for the playoffs then. You’re ready for the first game. It’s a long season.”
(On the atmosphere tonight): “It’s great. We were just at Xavier and now here in Columbus at Ohio State. It’s been fun to go back to the college atmosphere after playing at UCLA. It was a great reception, and we felt like it was a home crowd for us tonight.”
(On the Bulls competing in the Eastern Conference): “They’re a very good team in this conference. They’re going to be right up there with the best teams in the East, and we’re going to have to battle with them four times this year and then potentially in the playoffs. We’re going to see them in one of the first couple games, and then we’ll both be on the way, but they’re going to be a very good team.”
(On the chemistry with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving): “It’s a process, but it’s going to be that way the first 10, 20, or 30 games. It’s going to take time to figure it out and pick our spots, but we had a number of guys tonight that did some really great things for us.”
(On if the team is 100% at this time): “No, I definitely think we’re a work in progress right now, and it’s going to take a while. Obviously, we have some offensive juggernauts, and some guys that can really put the ball in the hole, but on the defensive end this was a good showing. We need to continue to get better on that end of the floor, and keep working together. But more than anything, this was the first time we were all healthy together, so we just need to continue to improve as a unit.”
(On playing against Derrick Rose): “Obviously, there are talented individuals on both teams and we’re both figuring it out one day at a time, but I know we both wanted to come out and compete, so that’s what we did tonight.”
(On how he played alongside Kevin Love and LeBron James): “I think we all did some really great things tonight on both ends of the floor, but we had some adjustments to make at halftime. Obviously, Derrick Rose is a great player, so we had to make some adjustments defending the pick and roll against him. He was making plays, but that’s what he does, so we just wanted to stay disciplined with our defensive principles and try to get this win.”
(On the offensive flow): “I think it’s just a respect factor that we all have with each other’s games. If someone catches it in a spot, we give them space to work, and if he has nothing there, we’re moving on the backside. Our offense is predicated on making plays and playing on the backside on every possession, and continuing to move the ball and move in the offense. That’s the type of game we want to play.”
(On tonight’s game): “We had great energy tonight. Unfortunately, we didn’t do it for 48 minutes, so there’s still a lot of work to be done... The rebounding wasn’t good and our defensive transition wasn’t very good, so those are things that we can improve upon. I thought we did a good job of taking care of the ball in the first half. I liked our aggressiveness, but we have to build. We have to be a 48-minute team. When you’re playing a team like (the Cavs), one bad stretch can be the difference.”
(On Derrick Rose): “I thought he played really well. A lot of explosiveness – he got into a good rhythm and he was attacking. The last week or so, his practices have been a lot better and it’s reflective in the way he’s playing. He’s gaining more confidence.”
(On Derrick Rose): “To see him move like that is great for our team. He’s our big gun, so to see him play like that and know how hard he’s worked to get there…I just feel like if we just keep improving we can do something special.”
(On his team tonight): “The team is feeling more comfortable on the floor and I’m feeling comfortable with just picking my shots, getting people involved and picking spots where I can really affect the game.”
(On facing the Cavs): “It’s basketball – I’ve been competing my whole life. I’m used to the stage, I’m used to playing against very good talent, and that’s all they’ve got on that team… talent. So when you play against them, you know you have to come out here and ball.”
CAVALIERS NOTES:
- Cleveland continued their success on the glass by hauling in 47 rebounds to the Bulls 40. The Cavs have not been outrebounded in any game during the preseason.
- The Cavaliers handled the ball well all night, as they tied a pre-season high with 26 assists, while also committing only nine turnovers, which was the lowest total of the preseason.
- The Wine and Gold’s 107 points made it five of six contests this preseason that the Cavs eclipsed the century mark. They are now averaging 107.0 points on the preseason.
- For the fourth time in six preseason contest, Cleveland made at least .800 of their free throw attempts after shooting 21-26 (.808) from the charity stripe.
- Defensively, the Cavs held the Bulls to 37-89 (.416) shooting from the field tonight. Cleveland also totaled eight steals and seven blocks.
- Kyrie Irving led Cleveland with a team and preseason-high 28 points on 10-19 (.526) shooting, while adding with a game-high seven assists, three rebounds and a pair of steals in 39 minutes of action.
- Anderson Varejao made his mark across the stat sheet by registering a preseason-high 22 points on 10-13 (.769) shooting to go along with eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in 23 minutes.
- LeBron James posted an all-around night by finishing with 18 points on 6-11 (.545) shooting and 2-3 (.667) from behind the arc, to go along with seven boards, six assists, one steal and a block in 32 minutes of play.
- Tristan Thompson shot 4-8 (.500) from the field for 10 points, while notching eight rebounds (four offensive) and a pair of blocks in 24 minutes off the bench.
- Kevin Love grabbed a game and preseason-high 13 boards to go along with nine points and three assists in 35 minutes of action.
- Dion Waiters chipped in with 10 points, three assists, a game-high three steals and a block in 33 minutes.