Cleveland Cavaliers Blog – Page 59 – NBA Blog

Cavs players love their basketball shoes

After Dion Waiters departed the arena after a typical home game in late January, left behind in his locker were a towel, a mesh laundry bag, some workout clothes … and 11 pairs of Nike sneakers.

C.J. Miles estimated he has owned more than 800 pairs of shoes in his life. Daniel Gibson owns a pair of pink Converse, shoes with spikes on them and Louis Vuitton gold shoes he refers to as “shoe jewelry.” Gibson owns so many shoes, he built a closet in his bedroom just to store them all. Of course his wife, R&B singer Keyshia Cole, has quite a few pairs in there, as well.

The combination of shoe deals and unlimited millions for playing in the NBA has created a sort of shoe fetish within the league. Players pay attention to what is on their feet both on and off the court, and for various reasons — some of which are fairly practical.

When it was time to sign his shoe deal, Kyrie Irving chose Nike over Under Armour and Adidas in part because of how the shoe giant molded special footwear to protect his toe when he was returning from surgery for the NCAA tournament at Duke.

— Reported by Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal

Cavs re-assign forward Kevin Jones to D-League yet again

The Cleveland Cavaliers today re-assigned rookie forward Kevin Jones to the Canton Charge, Cleveland’s NBA Development League affiliate. The assignment is the sixth of Jones’ career and the record 152nd of the 2012-13 NBA and NBA D-League seasons. Jones is one of the record 56 players to have been assigned to the NBA D-League this season.

Jones (6-8, 260, West Virginia) has appeared in 19 games for Cleveland this season, averaging 2.1 points, 1.7 rebounds and 9.0 minutes.

In four previous stints with Canton this season, Jones appeared in nine games, averaging 22.4 points, 12.1 rebounds and 38.2 minutes. In his last assignment with Canton on March 2, Jones recorded a 17-point, 12-rebond double-double as the Charge defeated the Springfield Armor 112-111.

Jones is expected to join Canton today and be available when the team hosts the Bakersfield Jam at 7 p.m. ET.

InsideHoops.com editor says: The Cavs love sending Jones to the D-League. It’s fun. It’s the team’s favorite current hobby. It’s in right now.

Kyrie Irving out 3-4 weeks with shoulder injury

Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving experienced a left shoulder injury during the third quarter of last night’s game against the Raptors in Toronto.

X-rays taken at the Air Canada Centre were negative. He was reevaluated today at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health where he received an MRI and physical exam by Cavaliers Head Team Physician Dr. Richard Parker which revealed a Left AC (acromioclavicular) sprain.

Irving will undergo a period of rest and treatment and is currently projected to be out three to four weeks.

The 21-42 Cavaliers are the 12th seed in the Eastern conference. They weren’t going to make the playoffs this season, but losing their young superstar still hurts and will make the team’s remaining games that much more of a struggle.

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, “Irving was driving to the basket when he took a hip from Raptors rookie forward/center Jonas Valancuinas and tumbled to the floor with 2:04 left in the third quarter of the Cavs’ 100-96 loss at Toronto. Irving landed on his left shoulder, lay on the floor for a bit, was tended to on the bench by athletic trainer Max Benton and then returned to the game to shoot two free throws — one-handed. He made the first, but missed the second. Toronto’s Landry Fields grabbed the rebound and was immediately fouled by Luke Walton. At that point Irving headed directly to the locker room and did not return. After the game, he needed help to get his Duke sweatshirt over his head. Then this afternoon, the Cavs announced he had a left AC (acromioclavicular) sprain or a sprained AC joint, an injury more commonly suffered by quarterbacks when they’re tackled and land on their shoulders.”

According to the Akron Beacon Journal, “Since the Cavs selected him No. 1 overall in 2011, Irving has suffered a concussion, a fractured wrist, injured both shoulders, hyperextended his knee and fractured a finger. He also broke a bone in his jaw this season but played through the injury without missing a game thanks to a protective mask. Irving missed most of his one season at Duke with a toe injury and battled problems with his right shoulder while in high school. He missed 10 games after spraining his right shoulder last season.”

Greg Oden is interested in signing with Cavs

Oden attended the Cavs’ game Friday as a guest of Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley Jr., his best friend since childhood – yet wound up in Cavs owner Dan Gilbert’s baseline seats adjacent the Cavs’ bench.

Gilbert wasn’t in attendance Friday, so arena personnel invited Oden to move down from his original seats five rows behind the Cavs’ bench. It was a fascinating scene, given the negotiations between the Cavs and Oden’s agent – who also happens to be Conley’s father.

Oden was showed on the video board twice during the game as fans cheered and said he is still interested in playing for the Cavs despite not signing a contract yet.

“I live in Ohio. It’s home now,” Oden said. “They have a great organization and I really do think they’re up and coming.”

— Reported by Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal

Kyrie Irving`s knee still a concern for Cavaliers

Cavaliers coach Byron Scott says he would consider shutting down All-Star guard Kyrie Irving again if his right knee is still sore.

After scoring 20 points and leading the Cavs to a comeback win over Utah on Wednesday night, Irving said his knee still hurt and the only way it would get better is if he sat out the rest of the season. The Cavs recently rested Irving for three games after he hyperextended his knee when he banged it during practice.

— Reported by Tom Withers of the Associated Press

Dion Waiters out Wednesday with flu

Cavaliers starting rookie guard Dion Waiters will miss his second straight game with the flu.

Both Waiters and reserve guard Daniel Gibson are out for Wednesday’s game against Utah. Waiters, selected the Eastern Conference rookie of the month in February, also missed Monday’s game against New York along with rookie Tyler Zeller.

Zeller is feeling better. He practiced on Tuesday, took part in the shoot around and has been cleared to play. Wayne Ellington will make his second straight start for Waiters.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Knicks rally without Melo, beat Cavaliers 102-97

Carmelo Anthony tripped, stumbled and fell.

The New York Knicks picked themselves up and won without him.

Amare Stoudemire scored 22 points, J.R. Smith added 18 and the Knicks overcame a 22-point deficit and the loss of Anthony, their All-Star forward who went out with a knee injury in the first half, to beat the Cavaliers 102-97 on Monday night and end a 10-game losing streak in Cleveland.

Steve Novak made three of New York’s seven 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and added 15 points as the Knicks, sparked by their second unit, shook off a tough home loss on Sunday, when they blew a 16-point lead to Miami…

Kyrie Irving scored 22 points in his first game back after missing Cleveland’s past three with a hyperextended right knee. Irving added six assists and five rebounds in 36 minutes…

The Knicks were down by 22 and looking pathetic when Anthony caught a pass from Kidd near midcourt, tripped over his own feet and hit the deck. He stayed on his back for several seconds, got up and without talking to New York’s trainers headed directly to the locker room. Anthony didn’t appear to be injured and seemed to be more embarrassed than anything.

With Anthony out and icing his knee, the Knicks went on a 17-4 run and closed within 61-49 at halftime – not bad, considering how poorly they had played…

Knicks C Marcus Camby played for the first time since Jan. 10. He had been sidelined with plantar fasciitis.

— Reported by Tom Withers of the Associated Press

Cavs recall forward Kevin Jones from D-League again

The Cleveland Cavaliers have recalled forward Kevin Jones from the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Jones played in last night’s Charge game against Springfield, notching his seventh double-double of the season and finishing with 17 points and 12 rebounds in 27 minutes. He has appeared in nine games for the Charge this season, averaging 22.4 points and 12.1 rebounds in 38.3 minutes per game. Jones has played in 19 games for the Cavs this season and is averaging 2.1 points and 1.7 rebounds in 9.0 minutes per game.

Cleveland Cavaliers waive Josh Selby

The Cleveland Cavaliers have waived guard Josh Selby, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts. The Cavaliers roster now stands at 14.

Selby played in 11 games for the Canton Charge this season, averaging 15.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 32.9 minutes per games. He also appeared in 10 games for the Memphis Grizzlies this year, averaging 2.0 points in 5.9 minutes per game. Selby was acquired by the Cavs from the Grizzlies via a trade on January 22nd, 2013.

We have to assume that Selby will be picked up by another team. He’s a solid ability to score and compete.

Cavs recall forward Kevin Jones from D-League

Jones played in yesterday’s Charge game against Idaho, recording 24 points to go along with nine rebounds in 39 minutes. He has appeared in eight games for the Charge this season, averaging 23.1 points and 12.1 rebounds in 39.8 minutes per game. He has six double-doubles for the Charge on the season. Jones has played in 18 games for the Cavs this season and is averaging 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds in 9.3 minutes per game.