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Browns vs. Lions live …
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Hitchens leads Zips in second-half comeback
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Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
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Robiskie, Harrison inactive
Kent State Sports:
Kent State blown out in second half, loses to Temple 47-13
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Four area football teams play tonight
All Da King's Men:
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Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (69) The Brookings Institute Study on "Bending the Curve" – Four General Strategies
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
George is looking for a Thanksgiving buffet in Akron.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
A Random Rant on Testing
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 11:12 p.m. EST, Nov 03, 2009
CLEVELAND: The Cavaliers shook off an early 18-point deficit to beat the Washington Wizards 102-90 Tuesday night at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Wizards started off playing as if it was a rivalry.
After taking the their best punch, the Cavs shook it off and played like the team that many expected they'd see to open the season.
LeBron James led all scorers with 27 points and added eight rebounds and six assists. Shaquille O'Neal flashed some of his skills, scoring 21 points, grabbing eight rebounds and handing out three assists.
Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas led the Wizards with 22 points each.
Despite their early difficulties, the Cavs turned things around in the second half after scrapping on defense, to close the deficit to 54-50 at the half.
The rally came courtesy of a defense that held the Wizards to just 39 percent shooting and scored 17 points off 14 turnovers. The Wizards managed just 36 points in the second half.
The Cavs thrived in the third quarter by dominating the inside and by scoring from the outside, as well. Inside, they had O'Neal hitting on layups and short jump shots. He shot 7-of-9 from the floor, and the Cavs, as a team, tallied 40 points in the paint.
''When we started to stall out, we just said, 'hey, we're just going to throw it into the big fella,' '' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. ''And Shaq usually generates offense for us. That was fun to be a part of. It's like Christmas. If I could have smiled throughout the game, I would have.''
The Cavs also started connecting from outside. After shooting an anemic 2-of-12 from behind the 3-point arc in the first half, they made 4-of-7 in the third quarter.
The Cavs led 78-73 and carried the momentum into the fourth quarter.
As much as they pumped things up on offense, defensively they clamped down, especially in the second half.
Brown said energy provided much of the difference. James said that urgency didn't hurt either.
''We had a little sense of urgency; that's all we've been playing with lately,'' James said. ''Early on, we couldn't make any shots, but we kind of stayed in the game because of our defense, especially in the second quarter. Once we started knocking down shots, it brings a lot of energy to our defense.''
James said O'Neal's play helped him out offensively.
''If they're going to double, I can just sit there,'' James said. ''He made some great post moves. It's a big plus for not only me, but everybody else.''
The Wizards shot a whopping 55 percent in the first quarter. Butler, who torched the Cavs during a 16-4 run, attempted to help the Wizards put the game away early. Butler began his assault with the scored tied 8-8, making the Wizards' next four shots.
As rusty as the Cavs looked in the first quarter, they pulled themselves together in the second after a couple of false starts.
James started the attack with a three-point play at 6:42 in the second. He connected on a driving layup and was fouled by old friend DeShawn Stevenson.
That began an 8-0 run for the Cavs that was boosted by five points from guard Daniel Gibson.
The Wizards eventually built the lead back to 11 before the Cavs were able to cut the lead to four at halftime.
Buzzer beaters
O'Neal made four consecutive free throws during the first half. . . . The last time the Cavs came from 18 points behind was on March 10 against the Los Angeles Clippers. . . . The Cavs turned the ball over just seven times. . . . The Cavs are shooting close to 48 percent on 3-pointers for the season. . . . Anderson Varejao had his second double-double of the year with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas. Follow Cavs coverage on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cavsabj and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CavsABJ
CLEVELAND: The Cavaliers shook off an early 18-point deficit to beat the Washington Wizards 102-90 Tuesday night at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Wizards started off playing as if it was a rivalry.
After taking the their best punch, the Cavs shook it off and played like the team that many expected they'd see to open the season.
LeBron James led all scorers with 27 points and added eight rebounds and six assists. Shaquille O'Neal flashed some of his skills, scoring 21 points, grabbing eight rebounds and handing out three assists.
Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas led the Wizards with 22 points each.
Despite their early difficulties, the Cavs turned things around in the second half after scrapping on defense, to close the deficit to 54-50 at the half.
The rally came courtesy of a defense that held the Wizards to just 39 percent shooting and scored 17 points off 14 turnovers. The Wizards managed just 36 points in the second half.
The Cavs thrived in the third quarter by dominating the inside and by scoring from the outside, as well. Inside, they had O'Neal hitting on layups and short jump shots. He shot 7-of-9 from the floor, and the Cavs, as a team, tallied 40 points in the paint.
''When we started to stall out, we just said, 'hey, we're just going to throw it into the big fella,' '' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. ''And Shaq usually generates offense for us. That was fun to be a part of. It's like Christmas. If I could have smiled throughout the game, I would have.''
The Cavs also started connecting from outside. After shooting an anemic 2-of-12 from behind the 3-point arc in the first half, they made 4-of-7 in the third quarter.
The Cavs led 78-73 and carried the momentum into the fourth quarter.
As much as they pumped things up on offense, defensively they clamped down, especially in the second half.
Brown said energy provided much of the difference. James said that urgency didn't hurt either.
''We had a little sense of urgency; that's all we've been playing with lately,'' James said. ''Early on, we couldn't make any shots, but we kind of stayed in the game because of our defense, especially in the second quarter. Once we started knocking down shots, it brings a lot of energy to our defense.''
James said O'Neal's play helped him out offensively.
''If they're going to double, I can just sit there,'' James said. ''He made some great post moves. It's a big plus for not only me, but everybody else.''
The Wizards shot a whopping 55 percent in the first quarter. Butler, who torched the Cavs during a 16-4 run, attempted to help the Wizards put the game away early. Butler began his assault with the scored tied 8-8, making the Wizards' next four shots.
As rusty as the Cavs looked in the first quarter, they pulled themselves together in the second after a couple of false starts.
James started the attack with a three-point play at 6:42 in the second. He connected on a driving layup and was fouled by old friend DeShawn Stevenson.
That began an 8-0 run for the Cavs that was boosted by five points from guard Daniel Gibson.
The Wizards eventually built the lead back to 11 before the Cavs were able to cut the lead to four at halftime.
Buzzer beaters
O'Neal made four consecutive free throws during the first half. . . . The last time the Cavs came from 18 points behind was on March 10 against the Los Angeles Clippers. . . . The Cavs turned the ball over just seven times. . . . The Cavs are shooting close to 48 percent on 3-pointers for the season. . . . Anderson Varejao had his second double-double of the year with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas. Follow Cavs coverage on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cavsabj and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CavsABJ
Comments
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Tepplin, DC
Posted 01:09 AM, 11/04/2009
Go Cavs!!
Akron, OH
Posted 04:21 AM, 11/04/2009
Yes, indeed. I will have something to look forward to the rest of the winter, since a certain NFL team is acting crazy.
Akron, Oh
Posted 08:01 AM, 11/04/2009
Time will tell but the Wizards are not ready for primetime and Cavs are not elite either.
alliance, oh
Posted 09:30 AM, 11/04/2009
Good job CAVS Please keep it up, we need you to keep our sanity in check.
Posted 11:07 AM, 11/04/2009
KBADM why are you such a hater? It is so obvious that you know NOTHING about basketball!!!!! The cavs started slow last year and then won 19 of 20 to go on to 66 wins. They don't have to win that many games this year in order to be a better team. No champions are crowned in november. Give this team time and they will be strong. Yes they have some weaknesses, but name any team that doesn't? They are comprised of humans, so they have faults. Mark my words,this team will win between 55 and 62 games and be in the mix for a championship run! Stop talking out the side of your neck and use your brain!!!! When you are capable of playing lockdown defense, have a inside-outside threat on offense; you will win your share of games in the nba. GO CAVS!!!!!!
akron, oh
Posted 01:11 PM, 11/04/2009
I agree, Go Cavs!!! I am so glad the Cavs won over the crackheads!!!
