Guts, grit, determination. You need all that and more just to watch the Cavaliers so far this season. Oh yea, the guys wearing the Wine and Gold jerseys have plenty as well. After blowing a big lead against the Kings last Saturday night, followed by a home loss to Atlanta, the Cavs went on the road looking for a win. What happening next could define the early part of the season.
Leading the Sixers 50-31 with 8 minutes to go in the 2nd Quarter, the Cavaliers proceeded to once again give every bit of the lead away. It go so bad that at one point the Cavaliers actually trailed 98-91 with 5 minutes left in the 4th. It was a stunning turn-around, and the game had all the look and feel of another crushing defeat for a team still searching for an identity.
What happened next was as gratifying as it was satisfying. Someone decided enough was enough and took over the game. That someone was Daniel Gibson.
Outscoring the Sixers 10-2 all on his own, Gibson propelled the Cavaliers back from a seven-point deficit and into a lead they would not relinquish. The Cavs ended up scoring 44 points in the 4th Quarter while shooting over 70% from the field. It was what Byron Scott promised during Training Camp - the Cavaliers will be stronger at the end than their opponent. Tonight, they were.
Gibson finished with 22 points in 28 minutes. Adding to the scoring party was Anderson Varejao who scored 23 points on 10-10 shooting. That's right, Varejao was 10-10 in the game, including 3 huge scores in the 4th quarter when the Cavaliers were on the move. Andy added 12 rebounds - 5 offensive - in his best game of the season.
J.J. Hickson followed up his 31 point performance against the Hawks with 16 points and 8 rebounds. Mo Williams scored 22 points in his first start of the season. In other words, the Cavaliers won the game the way they need to win games - score, score and score some more.
Joey Graham was impressive off the bench for the Cavs, scoring 10 points in 11 minutes.
Sixers PG Jrue Holiday scored a career-high 29 points to lead the Sixers.
The Cavaliers don't have much time to enjoy the win with John Wall, Gilbert Arenas and the Washington Wizards up tomorrow night from D.C.