The Cavaliers only shot 38.6% from the floor and they were outrebounded 60-49 last night, so they probably got blown out right?  Nope.  That is because the Cavs played stellar defense in holding the Pacers to 38.3% shooting from the floor.  The Cavs had the last shot in regulation, so they should have won this game, but Kyrie Irving’s shot barely missed, sending the game into O.T.  That is where the Pacers took over as they outscored the Cavs 14-7.  Kyrie Irving led the way for the Cavs last night with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot.  Anderson Varejao provided the muscle for the Cavs last night with 14 points, 13 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot.  Antawn Jamison only shot 4 of 14 from the floor but he still finished up with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocked shots.  Anthony Parker (12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals) and Alonzo Gee (10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot also pitched in for the Cavaliers last night.  The Cavs are now 1-2 on the year.

19-year old point guard Kyrie Irving and 20-year old power forward Tristan Thompson are off to fast starts for the Cavs.  Irving has not shot the ball too well (33.3%) as he is 7 of 21 from the floor, but, he is still playing solid overall basketball.  Irving has played in 2 games (both starts) for the Cavs so far this year and he is averaging 23.0 minutes, 10.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game.  He won’t likely see an increase  in playing time any time soon because Ramon Sessions has been outstanding for the Cavs off the bench so far this year.  Tristan Thompson is backing up Antawn Jamison at power forward and he brings a lot of energy to the second unit for the Cavaliers.  Thompson has played in 2 games (0 starts) for the Cavs so far this year and he is averaging 21.0 minutes, 12.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game so far this year.  He is also shooting 64.3% from the floor so far this year as most of his shots come close to the basket.  He also is an emphatic dunker.  Thompson will eventually replace Antawn Jamison as the starter at some point this season.

The Cavaliers looked like a new team last night.  It was a real team effort as 10 players had at least 20 minutes on the floor for the Cavs.  The Cavs shot 57.1% from the floor and they outrebounded the Pistons 40-26.  Samardo Samuels (17 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist) and Ramon Sessions (16 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 steal) led the way for the Cavs off the bench last night.  Antawn Jamison (15 points, 1 rebound and 1 steal) and Kyrie Irving (14 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals in 20 minutes on the floor) and Anderson Varejao (10 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal) also helped out big time for the Cavs last night.  Rookie forward Tristan Thompson turned in another solid game with 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocked shots.  The Cavaliers are now 1-1 on the year.

The Cavaliers didn’t play much D tonight as the Raptors shot 53.2% from the floor in this game.  They also were outrebounded 45-37 by the Raptors and that didn’t help the cause much.  Ramon Sessions led the way for the Cavaliers with 18 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 steal in 22 minutes off the bench.  Antawn Jamison had a horrible shooting night as he was 6 for 20 from the floor as he finished up with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists tonight.  Anderson Varejao (14 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assists and 1 steal) and rookie Tristan Thompson (14 points and 5 rebounds in 17 minutes on the floor) gave the Cavs solid work near the basket tonight.  Alonzo Gee also brought solid energy to the court for the Cavs off the bench with 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.  Kyrie Irving had a rough NBA debut as he finished up with 6 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 steal on 2 of 12 shooting from the floor.  The Cavaliers are now 0-1 on the season.

The Cavaliers will be without 25-year old center Semih Erden for the next three weeks due to a thumb injury.  Erden played in 4 games (1 start) for the Cavaliers last year and he averaged 16.0 minutes, 3.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  Erden played in 41 games (8 starts) as a rookie for the Cavaliers & Celtics last year and he averaged 14.5 minutes, 4.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  The Cavaliers are anxious to see when Erden can go this year, but they are going to take their time and let him heal.  Anderson Varejao and Ryan Hollins will handle center until Erden is ready to return to action.

The Cavaliers with be without 22-year old shooting guard Manny Harris for the next two weeks due to a foot ulcer.  Harris played in 54 games (15 starts) for the Cavaliers last year and he averaged 17.3 minutes, 5.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.  He only shot 37.4% from the floor as a rookie last year.  Harris was a undrafted rookie last year, so he has done a solid job of getting to his second NBA season.  The Cavs should be o.k, until Harris is ready to return to action.

UPDATE:  (12/22/2011) – The Cavaliers have waived Manny Harris.

The Cavaliers will be without 32-year old point guard Baron Davis indefinitely due to a herniated disc in his back.  Davis played in 15 games (9 starts) for the Cavs last year and he averaged 25.3 minutes, 13.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game.  He played in 58 games (44 starts) overall for the Clippers & Cavs last year and he averaged 28.4 minutes, 13.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game.  Lucky for the Cavs, they still have Kyrie Irving, Ramon Sessions and Daniel Gibson to handle the point until Davis is ready to return to action.

UPDATE:  The Cavaliers have waived Baron Davis via the amnesty clause.

The Cavaliers have re-signed 36-year old shooting guard Anthony Parker to a 1-year deal.  Parker played in 72 games (65 starts) for the Cavaliers last year and he averaged 29.0 minutes, 8.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.  He has played in 153 games (146 starts) in his first two years with the Cavs and he has averaged 28.6 minutes, 7.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.  Parker has now played in 443 games (372 starts) in his NBA career so far and he is averaging 28.2 minutes, 9.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.  Parker is shooting 40.9% from three point range in his NBA career so far.  Parker’s leadership, long range shooting and defense are still good and those are the reasons the Cavs are bringing him back for the 2011-12 season.

The Cavaliers have waived 29-year old small forward Joey Graham.  Graham played in 39 games (8 starts) for the Cavaliers last year and he averaged 15.0 minutes, 5.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  He has now played in 377 games (84 starts) in his first six years in the NBA and he is averaging 16.2 minutes, 5.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  The Cavaliers have some depth at small forward, so they shouldn’t miss Graham too much.