Cavaliers notch first win, beat T-Wolves 104-87
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Oct 30, 2009 10:00 PM CDT
in 2009 Post Game Recap
34 comments
Rest assured, Cavaliers fans - this year's edition of the Wine and Gold still know how to win basketball games. In an effort reminiscent of many of the 66 wins from last season, the Cavaliers slowly, methodically beat down on a young, talented - but overmatched - Minnesota Timberwolves team 104-87. For the Cavaliers it was a job well done - mission accomplished. Sometimes the hardest win is the first even when you know there will be more to come.
Tonight the Cavaliers looked like a team - and it goes deeper than the level of opposition. The Cavaliers looked much more comfortable in their own skin - finding the roles that will take them where they are going to go this season.
I'll start with the obvious - Shaquille O'Neal. It was obvious that Shaq was trying to do too much - and perhaps the Cavaliers were trying too hard to feed him the ball. Through the first two games, Shaq was averaging 27 minutes and about 12 shots per game. Tonight, Shaq played 19 minutes, and took 6 shots - scoring 6 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. That is more of how I thought Shaq would be used. He was open to passing out of the post - often to open players. Often the Cavs - Mo Williams and Daniel Gibson - were hitting those shots. If they didn't, Shaq was there to grab the rebound. That is how I thought this Shaq-deal would work
.
LeBron got to take the 4th quarter off, which was a welcome sight. He undoubtedly set the tone, however, in the first quarter that saw him score 11 points. You got the feeling that James was going to do whatever it took to win tonight - be it score 50 points or simplye what he did - 24 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists in 33 minutes.
The defense was also back to form. While the 2nd quarter was once again a work-in-progress(29 points allowed), the Cavaliers were solid in the 2nd half again - 40 points allowed - and for the game held the Wolves to 42% shooting(21% from deep).
The Cavaliers had 5 players in doubles figures led by LeBron(24 points), Mo Williams(20 points), Zydrunas Ilgauskas(15 points), Daniel Gibson(14 points) and Anderson Varejao(13 points). The bench stepped up as well, scoring a combined 35 points.
The Cavaliers are not a finished product, of course, but it was good to see positive signs, and felt great to get a win. The Cavs won't have much time to enjoy it, however. The team is likely already on its way back to Cleveland for a date with the Bobcats tomorrow night.
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I'm watching the Lakers Mavericks game right now.
What a different team the lakers are without Gasoil.
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
19 point Dallas lead
It’s as though it’s 2007 all over again.
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Drew Gooden checks in for Dallas
I wonder how many Cavs fans miss him.
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
20 point lead, Farmar turns it over all by himself, the crowd boos
-Gooden goes in for a layup all by himself, 22 point lead
-Three second violation by LA
All of this happening while I speak.
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Kobe is stripped
Gets his rebound and misses again.
He is 4 for 14
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That foul occured before the shot
But whatever. He misses
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Lakers cut it to an 18 point lead
BIG deal.
Poor Gooden has hit decent shots, but they keep popping out.
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I feel sorry for Pavlovic
Look where he ended up after we sent him away.
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Dallas commits two fouls in the first 15 seconds
16 point lead
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
This game is a grind
There’s at least two fouls every minute
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Drew Gooden shaken up
Kobe goes to the line. Nowitzki has to come back in.
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
another foul by Dallas
LA will catch up in no time at this rate
“Rick wants to slow the game down”? It’s as slow as molasses right now. Every possession ends in a foul.
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Vince Carter apparently strained his ankle
in the Magic Nets game
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Dallas must be actively trying to let the lakers come back
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Dirk finally gets a bucket
The Mavs are contesting rebounds again
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
This game is so ridiculous
and not in a good way
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
An uphill climb for the lakers
But the Mavs are handing them elevators on a silver plater right now.
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Nowitzki is trying his best
The rest of the Mavs aren’t
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
40 fouls called
What a great game, eh?
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Dallas is attempting way too many long range 3 pointers
It’s very sad when Jeff Van Gundy comes off as the voice of reason.
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Rebound dallas after another botched 3
and Shawn Marion scores. They needed that.
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Odom traveled
Dallas got bailed out. I thought Kobe was going to draw yet another foul.
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Marion scores again
Dallas did well to acquire him. Kidd’s doing what he’s supposed to do, which is assists, not 3s.
That got the Staples crowd booing again. 16 point lead.
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Powell steps out of bound
are things reverting back to how they were in the 3rd quarter?
16 turnovers by LA
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Shawn Marion scores again, 18 point lead
Without him, Dallas wouldn’t have held the rally off.
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Kobe hits a 3
Big deal. 5 minutes left, they need a lot more than that.
Nowitzki swats it away.
Marion scores again.
by WaveOcean on Oct 30, 2009 11:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
15 point lead, 3:30 to go
You know, three years ago I would have been rabidly pulling for the Lakers. It’s so surreal to be rooting for the other team now.
by WaveOcean on Oct 31, 2009 12:00 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Staples center crowd leaving
PJ starts emptying out his bench. I feel dirty gloating about this sight.
by WaveOcean on Oct 31, 2009 12:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
What's uneasing is that LA was more than capable of erasing this entire deficit
And they would have had it not been for the efforts of Dirk, Shawn, and Jason.
by WaveOcean on Oct 31, 2009 12:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Well
Maybe I should credit Dampier for pulling down rebounds when he needed to.
by WaveOcean on Oct 31, 2009 12:05 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
DAL 42% field goals
LAL 28% field goals
by WaveOcean on Oct 31, 2009 12:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The announcers are making way too big a deal about the Clippers game
If they can trounce the Lakers at Staples, how hard can the Clippers be?
by WaveOcean on Oct 31, 2009 12:08 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Final score
DAL 94
LAL 80
Wow. The Lakers look pretty hopeless without Gasoil. When was the last time LA scored so little? And is this the same Dallas team that got trounced by Washington?
by WaveOcean on Oct 31, 2009 12:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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