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Friday, November 1, 2013

Game 2: Cavs at Bobcats

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (1-1) 90, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (1-1) 84
Time Warner Cable Arena
Friday
Radio/TV: WTAM (1100 AM)/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Bobcats beat the Cavs twice during the preseason. They have the mindset they are better than the Cavs. Maybe they are.

The Cavs got off to a slow start. It was an uphill battle the rest of the night. Guard Kyrie Irving injured his right elbow/arm in the fourth quarter and was unable to make a play. He didn't score in the fourth.

He was the least of the Cavs' problems. He had 16 points and seven assists.

I don't know who was worse on Friday: Dion Waiters, Earl Clark or rookie forward Anthony Bennett. Waiters had two points in 14 minutes. He played a total of 2:39 in the second half. Personally, I don't know if I would have played him that long, especially with the way Jarrett Jack played.

Clark played 17 scoreless minutes. After he got a shot blocked by Charlotte's Bismack Biyombo, his offensive game went south.

Bennett had four personal fouls in 13 minutes. He still jacked up two 3-pointers, which were both off the mark.

On the positive side, swingman C.J. Miles was outstanding off the bench with a team-high 22 points and five rebounds. If he were better defensively, he'd be a hands-down choice as the starting small forward. I would be tempted to move him into the starting lineup because he's light years better than Clark and Alonzo Gee offensively.

Power forward Tristan Thompson continued his rugged play with 21 points, a game-high 11 rebounds and one block. He's giving the Cavs fantastic minutes right now.

Bobcats point guard Kemba Walker once again tore the Cavs apart with a game-high 23 points, including a killer 3-pointer with less than a minute to play.

Cavs center Andrew Bynum played 11 minutes on Friday with five points and three rebounds. He was just 2 of 7 from the field. He was a game-time decision. It's going to be this way all year.

I've got to say, I want to see more of the big guy. He's intriguing, and talented. They have the potential to be really good if he can stay on the court..

Cavs center Anderson Varejao (471) moved past Phil Hubbard (469) for 10th place on the Cavs' all-time list in games played. He also moved past Jim Brewer (3,551) for seventh place in all-time rebounds. Varejao (3,559) is closing in on Larry Nance (3,561) for sixth place.

Miles surpassed 4,000 points for his career in the opener against the Nets.

UP NEXT: The Cavs travel to Indiana at 7 p.m. Saturday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

STARTERS
SF Earl Clark (6-10, 235) vs. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (6-7, 232)
PF Tristan Thompson (6-9, 236) vs. Josh McRoberts (6-10, 240)
C Anderson Varejao (6-11, 267) vs. Bismack Biyombo (6-9, 245)
SG Dion Waiters (6-4, 225) vs. Gerald Henderson (6-5, 215)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 193) vs. Kemba Walker (6-1, 184)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs - G/F Sergey Karasev, G Carrick Felix
Bobcats - C Brendan Haywood, C Al Jefferson
OFFICIALS
Rodney Mott, Eric Dalen, John Goble

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