Cavs step up and beat Clippers

Cavs step up and beat Clippers

Last season, the Cleveland Cavaliers were apt to follow up a tough loss with another defeat. Things are slowly changing.

Rookie Dion Waiters hit seven 3-pointers in scoring 28 points and Kyrie Irving added 24 points in a 108-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night that snapped a two-game skid two nights after losing by three to Milwaukee.

Some of the biggest shots were hit by Waiters, whose points and 3-pointers set career highs in his fourth NBA game…

Tyler Zeller added 15 points and Anderson Varejao had 15 points and 15 rebounds for the Cavs, who took the lead for good late in the first quarter.

Blake Griffin scored 20 points, Jamal Crawford added 19 and Chris Paul had 17 for the Clippers, who lost their second straight after opening the season with two wins. Their 25 turnovers led to 21 points for the Cavs.

— Reported by Beth Harris of the Associated Press

Cavs waive Micheal Eric, Kevin Jones, D`Aundray Brown

The Cleveland Cavaliers have waived forward/center Micheal Eric, forward Kevin Jones and guard D’Aundray Brown, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Eric played in two preseason games with the Cavs, averaging 0.5 rebounds in 3.5 minutes per game. The 6-foot-11, 240-pound forward/center from Temple University played in five games with the Cavaliers in the 2012 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and averaged 4.0 points on .667 shooting and 3.8 rebounds in 12.6 minutes per game.

Jones,  a 6-foot-8, 250-pound forward from West Virginia University played in two preseason games with the Cavs, averaging 2.5 rebounds in 9.0 minutes per game.

Brown, signed on October 25th, played in 115 games (91 starts) at Cleveland State University, averaging 7.8 points on .487 shooting, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 28.4 minutes per game.

The Cavaliers roster now stands at 15.

Anderson Varejao is OK with new All-Star ballot

Anderson Varejao is OK with new All-Star ballot

Cavaliers center/power forward Anderson Varejao had no reaction to the news that the NBA has opted to eliminate the center position from its All-Star ballots, instead listing frontcourt players and guards.

Varejao, who has been the team’s starting center since Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Shaquille O’Neal left, considers himself a power forward. Not that it matters.

“To me, it’s kind of the same,” Varejao said after practice on Thursday. “Playing power forward, you have to run around a bit more. Playing center, you have to be more physical against the big guys. I like to play both. I like to move around, and when I play center, I like being physical, to be down there to fight.”

— Reported by Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cavaliers sign guard D`Aundray Brown

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard D’Aundray Brown to a contract, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Brown, 24, played in 115 games (91 starts) at Cleveland State University, averaging 7.8 points on .487 shooting, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 28.4 minutes per game.

As a senior in 2011-12, the 6-foot-4, 195-pound native of Youngstown, OH, played in 26 games (25 starts) and averaged 10.8 points on .457 shooting to go along with 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.5 steals in 29.7 minutes per game.

Kyrie Irving has his four wisdom teeth removed

Kyrie Irving

Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving underwent successful oral surgery to remove his wisdom teeth (four) Wednesday. He will be re-evaluated daily and will return to court activity and play when cleared to do so in relation to his continued recovery process. His status will be updated as appropriate.

Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson was cleared to resume practice today. Gibson was placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol process on Monday when he reported systems.

Cavaliers forward Luke Harangody continues to progress in the recovery process from his right knee sprain and participated in a partial practice today, while also continuing treatment. His status will be updated as appropriate.

Kyrie Irving has his four wisdom teeth removed

Kyrie Irving

Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving underwent successful oral surgery to remove his wisdom teeth (four) Wednesday. He will be re-evaluated daily and will return to court activity and play when cleared to do so in relation to his continued recovery process. His status will be updated as appropriate.

Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson was cleared to resume practice today. Gibson was placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol process on Monday when he reported systems.

Cavaliers forward Luke Harangody continues to progress in the recovery process from his right knee sprain and participated in a partial practice today, while also continuing treatment. His status will be updated as appropriate.

Byron Scott still deciding Cavs starting lineup

Rookies Dion Waiters and Tyler Zeller moved into the Cavaliers starting lineup on Tuesday night against Indiana at The Q, joining Kyrie Irving, Alonzo Gee and Anderson Varejao, who moves to power forward.

Cavs coach Byron Scott is still searching for a starting lineup and opted to take a look at this bigger group against the big Pacers. The move leaves rookie center Zeller paired up against All-Star Roy Hibbert.

Scott said regardless of Tuesday’s outcome, he still is undecided on his starters.

— Reported by Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cavs guard Daniel Gibson out with concussion

Cavs guard Daniel Gibson out with concussion

Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson is listed as OUT with a mild concussion for tonight’s preseason game at The Q vs. the Indiana Pacers.

Gibson reported symptoms on Monday and was placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol process at that point. His status will be updated as appropriate and he will be cleared to resume contact and game action once he is symptom free and successfully completes the concussion protocol process.

Cavaliers exercise options on Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson

Kyrie Irving

The Cleveland Cavaliers have exercised the third-year contract options on guard Kyrie Irving and forward/center Tristan Thompson, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

“Kyrie and Tristan exemplify what we want to be as a team and franchise, both as players and as people,” said Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant. “They are dedicated, hard-working, talented individuals and we’re looking forward to their continued growth and success here in Cleveland as Cavaliers.”

The reigning Rookie of the Year, Irving, appeared in 51 games (all starts) in 2011-12, averaging 18.5 points on .469 shooting, 3.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 30.5 minutes per game.

Thompson played in 60 games (25 starts) and averaged 8.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.0 block in 23.7 minutes per game on his way to being named to the All-Rookie Second Team.

Kyrie Irving likes posting up other point guards

Kyrie Irving

In fact, Irving keeps telling Scott and reporters he wants to play inside more and post up other point guards. He did it, at times, last season with varying degrees of success but wants to do it more often this season.

It’s part of the reason he added a little muscle in the offseason. It wasn’t much — he says it was about five pounds — but it will give him a little more meat to withstand the punishment of a full season. It also gives him a few more pounds to bump around inside when necessary.

“I feel like I added another piece to my game,” Irving said. “Just adding that [weight] and being able to withstand a whole entire game without getting knocked down. Players are more physical in the NBA and I wanted to be more prepared this season.”

— Reported by Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal