Bobcats-Cavaliers Preview

By PAUL DIGIACOMO
Posted Jan 02 2012 5:03PM

The Cleveland Cavaliers have gotten stellar shooting from 3-point range in both of their wins this season. Hosting the struggling Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday night could give them another opportunity to knock down shots from beyond the arc.

Cleveland (2-2) opened its season with a 104-96 home loss to Toronto on Dec. 26, as it missed 14 of 20 3-point attempts. The Cavaliers bounced back to win 105-89 at Detroit two days later, going 7 for 12 from long range.

They struggled to make 3s in their next game, a 5-for-25 performance in a 98-91 overtime loss at Indiana on Dec. 30, but they got back on track in a big way in their first game of 2012.

Cleveland made 16 of 26 attempts from 3-point range Sunday, falling one short of the team record in a 98-82 home win over New Jersey. The Cavs, who made 17 3s in a game in 2008 and again in 2009, are among the league leaders in 3-point shooting at 41.0 percent.

"I'm still not convinced totally that we're a 3-point shooting team, but I think we have some guys that are capable of knocking down some 3s on a consistent basis when we do it in the flow of the game," coach Byron Scott said.

Daniel Gibson has made 9 of 13 attempts from 3-point range this season, and Alonzo Gee is 5 for 10. First overall pick Kyrie Irving was 1 for 7 from long range before making 3 of 4 against the Nets.

"In the preseason I wasn't knocking down anything for a while, so it feels good," said Irving, averaging 13.3 points and 5.5 assists.

Cleveland lost two of three to Charlotte last season, shooting 31.7 percent (19 for 60) from 3-point range. That number figures to increase considering the way the Bobcats are playing.

Charlotte has lost three straight since opening with a 96-95 home win over Milwaukee on Dec. 26. In the last two games, the Bobcats have allowed opponents to shoot 48.7 percent (19 for 39) from beyond the arc and they're near the bottom of the NBA in 3-point field-goal defense at 41.2 percent.

Miami made 7 of 11 3s in handing visiting Charlotte a 129-90 loss Sunday. The Bobcats shot 38.0 percent after posting a 36.1 mark in a 100-79 home loss to Orlando on Dec. 30.

"When you don't play good offensively, then your defense goes down," coach Paul Silas told the Bobcats' official website Sunday. "We gave too many run-outs and layups. We'll play hard against anybody. We came out and had some open looks. If those shots go in, then I think it's a whole different ballgame."

DJ White led the way for Charlotte with 21 points on 10-of-12 shooting against the Heat, but the other four starters shot 7 for 34 and combined to score 19.

"DJ White came in and he did a great job tonight making shots," said forward Corey Maggette, who is 13 for 46 (28.3 percent) this season. "Ultimately, we have to make shots and be confident in ourselves. I put the first blame on myself, because as a veteran, you are supposed to try to get something going. We just have to regroup."

Irving, Thompson lead Cavaliers past Bobcats

Posted Jan 03 2012 11:30PM

CLEVELAND (AP) The future of the Cleveland Cavaliers looked good in the present on Tuesday night.

Rookies Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson, selected No. 1 and No. 4 respectively in last year's draft, led Cleveland to a 115-101 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday night.

Irving tied a season high with 20 points and had six assists with no turnovers, and Thompson had season highs with 16 points and nine rebounds.

"Kyrie makes everyone around him better," Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said. "He gets more and more comfortable with each game. Tristan's in that same boat. He's starting to really understand his role and what he can do in this league."

Veteran Antawn Jamison had 19 points as Cleveland moved over .500 for he first time since Nov. 9, 2010, when it was 4-3.

The Cavaliers are using Irving and Thompson as centerpieces in their rebuilding effort from last season's team that finished 19-67. Irving has started at point guard in all five games while Thompson, a power forward, is one of the first players off the bench.

D.J. Augustin scored a season-high 26 points for the Bobcats, who have lost four straight since opening the season with a 96-95 home win over Milwaukee on Dec. 26. Charlotte coach Paul Silas was whistled for a technical foul for arguing with an official in the fourth quarter with the Bobcats trailing 108-91.

Silas was also displeased with his team's effort, particularly on the defensive end.

"It's just not gonna work if we don't play hard all the time," he said. "We're not talented enough to not play hard all the time. You can't just give it away (points on penetration) and let it happen."

Cleveland continued its strong 3-point shooting, making 10 of 21 from behind the arc. The Cavaliers made 16 of 26 attempts from 3-point range Sunday, falling one short of the team record in a 98-82 home win over New Jersey. Back-to-back 3s by Daniel Gibson gave the Cavaliers a 103-86 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

Cleveland's rookies also brought the crowd to its feet with blocked shots in the second half. Irving chased down Augustin's breakaway layup attempt in the third quarter, swatting the ball off the backboard with his left hand.

"It was just a normal basketball play," Irving said. "I just wanted to contest it the best I can."

Thompson also received a thunderous ovation when he blocked Byron Mullens' dunk attempt in the fourth quarter.

"We all love playing basketball, so why not play this way?" Thompson said.

Gerald Henderson had 16 points for the Bobcats after being held scoreless in the first half. Mullens, who played one season at Ohio State, scored a career-high 14 points.

Augustin, Corey Maggette and D.J. White scored all of Charlotte's 34 points in the first quarter. Augustin ended the period by stealing the ball from Ramon Sessions and scoring on a layup to give him 14 points. The Bobcats hit 12 of 19 shots in the quarter and led 34-27.

The Cavaliers finished the second quarter with an 8-2 run, sparked by two 3-pointers from Anthony Parker, to lead 57-51 at halftime.

Cleveland's spurt continued early in the third period. Five points by Anderson Varejao and 3-pointers by Irving, Jamison and Omri Casspi helped the Cavaliers build an 80-65 lead.

NOTES: Bobcats C Boris Diaw was limited to four minutes in the first half because of foul trouble. ... F Tyrus Thomas (sprained ankle) has yet to play this season. ... Cleveland, which opens a seven-game road trip Wednesday in Toronto, doesn't play at home again until hosting Golden State on Jan. 17. ... C Semih Erden (right thumb fracture) was inactive one day after participating in his first full practice. Scott said Erden will likely play sometime during the trip.

Notebook: Cavaliers 115, Bobcats 101

By Brian Dulik, for NBA.com
Posted Tuesday January 3, 2012 11:36PM

THE FACTS: Rookie point guard Kyrie Irving collected 20 points and six assists in just 22 minutes, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 115-101 win over the Charlotte Bobcats. Fellow first-round draft pick Tristan Thompson added career highs of 16 points and nine rebounds off the bench for Cleveland, which shot exactly 50 percent from the field. Point guard D.J. Augustin had a season-best 26 points and nine assists for Charlotte, which has lost four straight games.

QUOTABLE: "I credit my teammates because they were telling me to push it every time I got the ball. It just clicked for us tonight. Getting to know them personally is showing up on the court."
-- Irving

THE STAT: The Cavaliers moved above .500 for the first time since Nov. 9, 2010, when they were 4-3 -- en route to finishing the season with a 19-63 record. Cleveland is 3-2 this winter, qualifying it as one of the most pleasant surprises in the NBA. "They come with energy and really, really play hard," Bobcats coach Paul Silas said. "Everyone seems to be happy right now on their team, playing with a lot of joy. You really have to be concerned about going against them."

TURNING POINT: Irving took a page from former Cavaliers superstar LeBron James' book by making a chase-down block midway through the third quarter. Augustin took an outlet pass and appeared to be driving in for an uncontested layup, but the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft sprinted and swatted the shot off the backboard. Cleveland maintained its 70-59 lead while swinging momentum fully to its side. "I just wanted to contest it the best I could," Irving said.

QUOTABLE II: "It's just not gonna work if we don't play hard all the time. We're not talented enough to not play hard all the time. You can't just give it away and let it happen."
-- Silas

HOT: Irving made 8-of-10 field goals, including 2-of-2 3-pointers, and 2-of-2 free throws in equaling his best scoring game. He did not commit a turnover and blocked two shots. "Kyrie makes everyone around him better with the way he can pass it," Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said. "Hopefully, he just continues to grow as a basketball player. If he does, we're in good shape." ... Cleveland was 10-of-21 (.476) beyond the arc, making it 26-of-47 (.553) on 3-pointers in its last two games.

NOT: Bobcats center Boris Diaw did not record a point, missed all five of his field goal attempts, and committed five fouls in 18 minutes. ... Charlotte backup center DeSagana Diop was scoreless off the bench, giving him four zero-point games to open the season. ... The Bobcats are 1-12 all-time at Quicken Loans Arena. ... Cavaliers power forward Samardo Samuels was benched at the end of the third quarter because Scott said he "didn't think he was real focused tonight."

QUOTABLE III: "We all love playing basketball, so why not play this way? By just being a spark, I feel like it might boost our team. I love the city of Cleveland."
-- Thompson

GOOD MOVE: Silas used center Byron Mullins -- an Ohio State product and Canal Winchester, Ohio native -- as Charlotte's first player off the bench. The second-year pro responded with a career-high 14 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two blocked shots in 18 strong minutes. "I was looking forward to having a rebound game," Mullins said. "But it doesn't count when we don't win."

BAD MOVE: Cavaliers small forward Omri Casspi started his fifth straight contest, but Scott said, "I have faith in him. He's not in any jeopardy (of losing his starting spot) whatsoever." In addition to being blistered for a season-best 21 points and eight rebounds by Bobcats counterpart Corey Maggette, Casspi only scored five points, airballed a 3-pointer, and had four turnovers.

NOTABLE: Veteran power forward Antawn Jamison scored 19 points, matching his season average in Cavaliers wins. He is averaging 13.5 points in their two losses. ... Cleveland point guard Ramon Sessions had a team season-high nine assists and 16 points off the bench. ... Maggette was 13-of-14 from the foul line, surpassing his combined total over the Bobcats' first four games. ... Charlotte shooting guard Gerald Henderson scored all 16 of his points in the second half. ... Bobcats point guard Kemba Walker, the ninth overall pick in the NBA Draft, missed his first five shots and finished with two points and no assists. ... Thompson, a Canadian citizen, said he has purchased 20 tickets for the Cavaliers' game Wednesday in Toronto -- and expects to have 200 friends in attendance. ... Shooting guard Christian Eyenga and power forward Luke Harangody made their season debuts for Cleveland after logging four straight "DNP-Coach's Decisions."

UP NEXT: For the Bobcats, Wednesday @ New York, Friday vs. Atlanta, Saturday @ Indiana. For the Cavaliers, Wednesday @ Toronto, Friday @ Minnesota, Sunday @ Portland.

• Bobcats: Najera, Williams
• Cavaliers: Erden, Thompson

• Bobcats: Silas
• Cavaliers: --

• Lead Changes: 3
• Times Tied: 8

• Arena: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
• Officials: #43 Dan Crawford, #34 Kevin Cutler, #59 Gary Zielinski
• Attendance: 14173
• Duration: 2:07