Game 4 | Cavaliers VS Bobcats | October 31, 2009 | 7:30 PM EST

[Layne Staley]

Not sure why LeBron was so upset...


14-7-9

Maybe thirsty for a triple double?

Man don't you know Lebron by now? He doesn't care about the win, he just wants to get his stats.

 

[Layne Staley]

Not sure why everyone is up in arms about Jamario. He has sucked thus far.

Spot on mate. He needs to earn his minutes, and thus far he hasn't. Were is that tight defense he's been bragging about? He also needs to cut off some of those momentum ruining jumpers and play his role, which is defense. We owe him no loyalties, when he deserves minutes, he will get them.

 

[Thunder]

Jamario provides depth, he's talented. He needs more than one minute of PT. If our team is gonna be one of the deepest in the league, we gotta show it.

Also, I'm not looking at Shaq's stats and thinking he sucks. I admit I expected like a 15-10 season from him. But I realized today that just because he might not put up the numbers, doesn't mean trading for him was bad. Him and Z are completely different types of centers; Shaq a low-post player who can D up other great big men and is tough, Big Z is more of an outside shooter who can't guard the likes of Dwight Howard. We knew this already, but both of them playin 20-30 mins each on any given night works out perfectly. Shaq may have to play more against LA/ORL, but Z provides a mismatch for some centers out there.

Shaq can score 10 ppg but still be good because we have so many offensive weapons now. If our guards or Bron were ever to struggle scoring, we now have that option to throw it down low and get some easy buckets.

This team's gonna be good but I hope Moon shows us why we signed him.

 

[Fursdon]

Brown has probably felt Gibson has been playing better, so he got the minutes tonight. People might not agree with this, but just what I can perceive.

Isn't is nice that we can finally have people competing for minutes on the floor, instead of having to trot out someone since we have nothing behind them?

 

[blank964]

It was nice to see last season's starting rotation out there playing as a cohesive unit and that makes me wonder if they would move Parker and/or Shaq to the bench. I doubt Shaq is going to the bench but with Delonte's health a being a serious matter, I could see Parker staying as the starter.

Great that we got these two wins but it will be interesting to see what happens once the chemistry improves.

 

[Rimage]

I can safely say, I don't care about Moon getting a lot of time or not. I think he can be used for specific match up problems, but he is never going play major minutes for us. We have Lebron, who really thought Moon would be a rotation player?

 

[Obawan12]

I came into the season expecting certain numbers from Shaq, but now I realize that Shaq isn't going to give us the same numbers from last year. What we need from Shaq this year is defense, rebounding, and easy offense on occasion. He has given us that so far this year.

Here is the new way I am judging Shaq. When I look at the box score, I am not looking at his points or blocks, I am looking at his plus/minus. I am very happy with Shaq so far this season.

 

[The_L_Train]

Nice win tonight. Offense is definitely starting to click and gel. I didn't see Z and Shaq on the floor at the same time either, which (IMHO) is a good thing.

Oh and JJ, throw that sh*t down next time!

 

[Rimage]

It was nice to see last season's starting rotation out there playing as a cohesive unit and that makes me wonder if they would move Parker and/or Shaq to the bench. I doubt Shaq is going to the bench but with Delonte's health a being a serious matter, I could see Parker staying as the starter.

Great that we got these two wins but it will be interesting to see what happens once the chemistry improves.

I was fine with the rotations this game. Z looked like he was comfortable coming off the bench. West looked great. He doesn't need to warm up, he is always ready to go. JJ's minutes are going to be taken by Powe when he come back. Moon is here for insurance and matchup problems. Shaq starting, but getting about 20-25 minutes looks good to me. AV still needs to calm down, but he is still playing as hard as he ever did. Good stuff tonight. Things started to take shape.

 

[Rimage]

Here is the new way I am judging Shaq. When I look at the box score, I am not looking at his points or blocks, I am looking at his plus/minus. I am very happy with Shaq so far this season.

 

[All Day Cavs]

LBJ also left AP hanging, i wonder what was wrong with him. Hmm

 

[Gunther]

Technically, we're not at "full-strength" with Leon Powe still injured, but a good article anyway:

Full-strength Cavaliers beat Bobcats easily
West scores 13 in delayed season debut to help Cleveland back to .500
Associated Press
updated 16 minutes ago

CLEVELAND - Delonte West scored 13 points in his delayed season debut, Mo Williams added 24 and LeBron James 14 as the Cleveland Cavaliers, back at full strength, rolled to a 90-79 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday night.

Williams scored 12 in the fourth quarter — all on 3-pointers — and James added nine assists and seven rebounds for the Cavs, now 2-2 after an 0-2 start.

West’s turbulent offseason finally brought him back to the floor. After missing all eight preseason games and Cleveland’s first three of the regular season to deal with personal issues, the troubled and valuable West was cleared by team doctors, ending more than a month of drama.

He went 5 of 7 from the field in 24 minutes.

Vladimir Radmanovic scored 12 and D.J. Augustin 11 to lead Charlotte, which has never won in Cleveland.

The Cavaliers trailed 46-45 early in the third before going on a 21-8 run — much of it with center Shaquille O’Neal on the bench — to open a 14-point lead entering the fourth. West was a factor in helping the Cavs distance themselves from the Bobcats, who were understandably exhausted after playing two overtimes on Friday night in a win over New York.

James scored six straight points as Cleveland opened a 57-51 lead and West followed with his first basket of the season. Getting the ball on the right side, he gave a shoulder fake to Gerald Henderson and dropped a step-back jumper for his first basket this season.

Before the third quarter closed, West made two free throws and a 3-pointer as the Cavs pushed their lead to 66-54.

The Cavs are still getting used to playing with the 14-time All-Star O’Neal, who made his first free throws of the season after 10 consecutive misses. He had eight points and five rebounds in 26 minutes. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, now coming off the bench with O’Neal around, went 5 for 5 from the floor.

The Bobcats clawed back within 10 in the fourth, but Williams made consecutive 3-pointers to make it 80-64 and the Cavs coasted.

Coach Mike Brown subbed for West with 1:33 left and the likable guard got a huge cheer and was welcomed back to the bench by his teammates who know better than anyone what he means to the Cavs and their chances at winning an NBA title this season.

West entered the game with 4:22 left in the first quarter and received a standing ovation from the Quicken Loans Arena crowd.

He made an almost immediate contribution, hustling to save a ball that was going out of bounce and flipping it to James, who then fed Anderson Varejao for a dunk. West started the second quarter and came out with 6:25 left before halftime.

Cavs general manager Danny Ferry has been working closely with team doctors and a support team around West. He said the decision to play West on Saturday was a consensus among all parties.

“Steps were followed and this is the next step of his process,” Ferry said. “We’re taking it one day at a time, but he’s doing well.”

The 26-year-old West, who has been treated in the past for bipolar disorder, was arrested in September for carrying three concealed weapons when he was pulled over by Maryland police near his home. He reported to training camp on time but missed the Cavs’ first four practices without an excuse. He returned but then left the team for a week to deal with his personal matters.

Last week, West’s wife filed a domestic violence report against him.

But that was all in the past — for at least one night.

SOURCE

 

[DougHeil]

NICE game. Goodness; are we deep this year or what?

TAKE THAT all you negative nancy's in regards to West. Delonte says "I AM BACK" The team says; "WE CAN TELL... and WE LOVE IT"

 

[nime]

Mo looked great again. When he makes shots, we win period.

Great to see Delonte running the 2nd unit. Great to see Parker hitting shots.
Just need to bench Boobie and give Super JaMario his minutes.

Powe is the final piece left for this team.

Our 2nd unit defensively could be very good with West, Moon, Powe, and Z. Sprinkle in Mo, LBJ, or Parker with that unit and you got a damn good bench unit.

 

[Gunther]

From Windy:

Boosted by Delonte West's return, Cleveland Cavaliers pick up the pace in topping Charlotte, 90-79
By Brian Windhorst
October 31, 2009, 11:14PM

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This is closer to the blueprint the Cavaliers had all along.

Things are far from perfect. It was just a night against the Charlotte Bobcats, but now four games into the season things are starting to fall into place. Most especially Delonte West, who stepped on the floor for the first time all season Saturday night looking like he'd never missed so much as a drill.

The result was the Cavs' most complete game of their taxing first week as they downed the Bobcats, 90-79, to get back to .500 and post their first winning streak of the young season.

No player took more than 14 shots, seven players made three baskets or more and the defense was as active and in sync as it has been all season. LeBron James facilitated, Shaquille O'Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas were able to affect the game at both ends, Mo Williams shot the ball smoothly and with confidence and West fit right in.

"I think we're taking steps in the right direction but we still have a long way to go," coach Mike Brown said. "I think the guys understand that and, in time, we will be a good team."

Even before West entered the game to a standing ovation late in the first quarter, the Cavs seemed to be more at peace. From the outset, James was looking to set up his teammates, especially Williams and Anthony Parker, and it was infectious.

Williams scored 24 points, hitting 5-of-8 3-pointers, as he was repeatedly able to find soft spots in the Charlotte defense as ball and player movement was constant. Parker scored 13 points, making 3-of-4 3-pointers, as he, too, took advantage of James and O'Neal getting attention.

James only scored 14 points, taking just 11 shots, but had seven rebounds and nine assists. When it was over the Cavs shot a dazzling 58 percent and had 22 assists.

"We look good, especially because we've played with the sense of urgency with the last two games," James said. "If I have guys that are open, I'm going hit them and tonight we made some shots."

O'Neal's stats didn't look that impressive, but he played his most complete game as a Cav. He had eight points and five rebounds but also blocked two shots and was active on defense. Combined with Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who came off the bench to score 10 points and block five shots, the center position was strong.

Then there was West. He scored all his 13 points in the second half and six in the fourth quarter, when the Cavs pushed the lead out to as much as 20 points, along with two assists and a steal. His defense on the Bobcats' strong perimeter players was helpful. The crowd cheered him every step of the way, right into some of his teammates' arms at the end of the game as they congratulated him on his return.

"We've got great fans," James said. "They get behind you and I think that was great for Delonte because they'd didn't have to."

The Cavs held the Bobcats to just 43 percent shooting and just 38 points in the second half as they generated nine steals and nine blocks. Vladimir Radmanovic led Charlotte (1-2) with 12 points.

"There's still a lot of room for improvement but the last two games we've had that energy and the effort," O'Neal said. "I like how we're playing. Very unselfish ball."

SOURCE