Cavaliers news, features and notes
- 2013 NBA Scouting Combine: Cleveland Cavaliers focus on drafting good players, not overall strength of draft
- 2013 NBA Scouting Combine: Otto Porter seems like perfect fit for Cleveland Cavaliers but no meeting on agenda
- 2013 NBA Scouting Combine notebook: Nerlens Noel won’t play until late December but still interests Cavaliers
- Projected top pick Nerlens Noel won't be ready for start of season, targeting Christmas
- Former Ohio State star Deshaun Thomas refuses to give NBA team his phone number at combine
- Otto Porter, Cleveland Cavaliers won't meet during combine
- NBA Draft filled with mystery prospects; Otto Porter of Georgetown could be Cavs target
- Cavs notebook: Waiters, Zeller named to All-Rookie teams
- Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters named to All-Rookie first team; Tyler Zeller named to second team
- Cavs to interview Phil Handy for coaching staff
Pregame: Cavs (13-33) at Pistons (17-29)
Time: 7:30 p.m.; Place: Palace of Auburn Hills; TV/Radio: FS Ohio/WTAM, WLEC, WAKR
Injury report: Cavs: Daniel Gibson (toe) questionable, Luke Walton (foot) questionable, Anderson Varejao (knee) out; Pistons: None.
Officials: Jason Phillips, David Guthrie, Marat Kogut
Series: Pistons lead 2-0
Cavs probables
| Name | Ht, Wt | Pts | Rebs | Asts |
| PG Kyrie Irving | 6-3, 191 | 23.9 | 3.6 | 5.5 |
| SG Dion Waiters | 6-4, 221 | 14.5 | 2.4 | 3.2 |
| SF Alonzo Gee | 6-6, 219 | 10.6 | 4.1 | 2.0 |
| PF Tristan Thompson | 6-9, 227 | 11.0 | 9.3 | 1.3 |
| C Tyler Zeller | 7-0, 250 | 8.3 | 6.2 | 1.3 |
Pistons probables
| Name | Ht, Wt | Pts | Rebs | Asts |
| PG Brandon Knight | 6-3, 187 | 13.9 | 3.4 | 4.3 |
| SG Rodney Stuckey | 6-5, 205 | 11.4 | 2.7 | 3.9 |
| SF Kyle Singler | 6-8, 230 | 8.5 | 3.8 | 1.2 |
| PF Jason Maxiell | 6-7, 260 | 7.4 | 6.0 | 0.7 |
| C Greg Monroe | 6-11, 250 | 15.7 | 9.1 |
3.2 |
Notebook
* Kyrie Irving said he will play in the Rising Stars game despite also being named to the All-Star team. Blake Griffin sort of set the precedent last year by playing in both, so Irivng will, too.
* Luke Walton (death in family) and Daniel Gibson (toe) are both out tonight. Walton is not with the team.
* Pistons coach Lawrence Frank told a Detroit radio station this morning he doesn't expect to have Jose Calderon available tonight, which is probably a good thing. Irving has struggled at times defending the crafty Calderon.
* The Pistons' bigs always seem to give the Cavs trouble, which is part of the reason Detroit has won the first two meetings. Greg Monroe, Andre
* Scott was thrilled the Cavs had four players selected to the Rising Stars game. "To me it shows we're on the right track," Scott said. "We've got some good, young talent. They're still learning to play together and learning to win. Some are still learning how to be professionals on this level. I'm very proud of all those guys and it's one of those things that makes us feel better about what we're trying to do here."
* The Pistons will look strange tonight without Tayshaun Prince, who was dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the Rudy Gay trade. Prince was the Pistons' last tie to their 2004 championship team.
* Scott said he is a big fan of Gay, and while he understands the finances, he doesn't understand why the Grizzlies were so eager to trade him. "He's such a talented basketball player, but we always know money has something to do with it, At least they didn't do like they did years ago, where they just gave (Pau) Gasol away to another Western Conference team. At least this time they were ... let me stop," Scott said with a chuckle. "I'm a big Rudy Gay fan, ever since college. I just didn't understand it, but I do understand the money situation."
* The Cavs flew to Detroit early Thursday morning to take part in the league-mandated business of basketball seminar. The Cavs elected to hold it at Quicken Loans headquarters in Detroit and owner Dan Gilbert spoke to the players about finances. Scott was impressed with Gilbert's presentation. "I don’t know one owner yet since I’ve been in this league that has had his players in and talked to him as candid as he did yesterday about finances," Scott said. "He does not want one Cleveland Cavalier player to ever be in bankruptcy or anything like that. He would love for those guys to call him if they ever needed anything or any advice. I don’t know many owners like that. My only dream for these guys is take advantage of it. You’ve got a guy whose company is worth billions, so obviously he understands how to make money. I hope these guys, even if it’s a deal they have somebody is presenting a deal to them, have Dan’s people look at it. I would take full advantage of it if I was a player and I wish I would’ve had somebody like that when I was playing to give you that type of advice. He’s just unbelievable to me as a person. The thing I know about him, it was all genuine."