Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Victim of beating in Kent last week is declared dead at Akron hospital
Can DNA tests free ex-Akron captain?
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
Does it work? Test team returns to try out new products advertised on television
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Sunday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
Browns sick after sick loss in Detroit
Akron Zips:
Zips advance to Sweet Sixteen
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Post-game defensive quotes
Kent State Sports:
Kent State defeats Rochester College, 63-44
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:
The Sunday Sanity Challenge
Blog of Mass Destruction:
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:
Faye Dunaway to be Evicted?
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:
Personal Rant – You are All Wrong About Jobs, or the Lack of Jobs, Being the Reason People Do Not Live in NEO
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
In guard's first game, he plays 24 minutes and scores 13 points
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Sunday, Nov 01, 2009
CLEVELAND: Delonte West hadn't played a second of basketball in the preseason, let alone in the young regular season.
That, however, didn't stop a revved-up Quicken Loans Arena from giving him a warm welcome once he entered the game at 4:22 of the first quarter, and the crowd cheered even louder when he made his first shot with 2:55 left in the third quarter.
''It was unbelievable. We've got great fans,'' LeBron James said. ''If you're a part of this team, they get behind you. I think that was great for Delonte that these fans did that for him.''
Ultimately, West got more than a taste of what it felt like to return to the court in the Cavaliers' 90-79 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats.
West's contribution proved inspirational and substantive as he scored 13 points. Prior to the game's start, Cavs coach Mike Brown said that if West were active, he would use him. Brown proved more than true to his word. Though he hadn't played yet, West got 24 minutes.
''I said before Delonte doesn't need to do anything
he can sit out two weeks and comes back in and runs the floor,'' James said. ''He's that type of guy.''
It was Mo Williams who led the Cavs with 24 points and three assists, followed by guard Anthony Parker, who finally found his stroke, connecting on 5-of-8 shots, including 3-of-4 on 3-pointers for 13 points. For the first time this season, Parker seemingly played relaxed.
For much of the first half, the Cavs looked like the team that left Cleveland for a two-game road trip struggling. Leading the Bobcats only 45-41 at the half it appeared as if the Cavs could fall to 1-3.
But things changed after the half and the Cavs slowly and methodically built their lead throughout the third quarter. With the game tied at 46-46 with nine minutes to go in the third quarter, the Cavs turned up their trademark defense.
''I am pleased with the defensive focus tonight,'' Brown said. ''It was good to see our defense play the way it did.''
A blocked shot by Anderson Varejao, which led to a James dunk, got the party started. Parker followed with a 3-pointer that triggered a 9-2 Cavs run, making the score 57-48.
From that point on, things began to look very familiar and the Cavs built the lead to 12 points at the end of the quarter.
The momentum continued into the fourth quarter and the Cavs led by as many as 20 points and the outcome was no longer in doubt.
Brown's mantra is to just get better every day. The Cavs did that and then some.
Defensively, they started slowly and finished strongly, holding the Bobcats to under 42 percent shooting. Offensively, however, they lit up the Bobcats, getting fewer shots but making them count. The Cavs were deadly from the floor, shooting 58 percent.
The only weak spot in their game was ball-handling. They committed 19 turnovers that led to 23 points for the Bobcats.
The win gives the Cavs a 2-2 record and suddenly things might not look as bleak to fans as they did just a few days ago.
''I'm proud of our effort. I think we're taking steps in the right direction, but I still believe we have a lot of room to grow,'' Brown said. ''I think our guys understand it.''
Cheers for Shaq
Shaquille O'Neal came into Saturday's game missing 0-for-10 at the free-throw line. He missed his first two, but with 5:48 to go in the fourth quarter he made two and was rewarded with thunderous applause.
Buzzer beaters
The Cavs continued their streak of never having lost to the Bobcats at home, running their record to 10-0 at Quicken Loans Arena. They have beaten the Bobcats in seven consecutive games overall.
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: Delonte West hadn't played a second of basketball in the preseason, let alone in the young regular season.
That, however, didn't stop a revved-up Quicken Loans Arena from giving him a warm welcome once he entered the game at 4:22 of the first quarter, and the crowd cheered even louder when he made his first shot with 2:55 left in the third quarter.
''It was unbelievable. We've got great fans,'' LeBron James said. ''If you're a part of this team, they get behind you. I think that was great for Delonte that these fans did that for him.''
Ultimately, West got more than a taste of what it felt like to return to the court in the Cavaliers' 90-79 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats.
West's contribution proved inspirational and substantive as he scored 13 points. Prior to the game's start, Cavs coach Mike Brown said that if West were active, he would use him. Brown proved more than true to his word. Though he hadn't played yet, West got 24 minutes.
''I said before Delonte doesn't need to do anything
he can sit out two weeks and comes back in and runs the floor,'' James said. ''He's that type of guy.''
It was Mo Williams who led the Cavs with 24 points and three assists, followed by guard Anthony Parker, who finally found his stroke, connecting on 5-of-8 shots, including 3-of-4 on 3-pointers for 13 points. For the first time this season, Parker seemingly played relaxed.
For much of the first half, the Cavs looked like the team that left Cleveland for a two-game road trip struggling. Leading the Bobcats only 45-41 at the half it appeared as if the Cavs could fall to 1-3.
But things changed after the half and the Cavs slowly and methodically built their lead throughout the third quarter. With the game tied at 46-46 with nine minutes to go in the third quarter, the Cavs turned up their trademark defense.
''I am pleased with the defensive focus tonight,'' Brown said. ''It was good to see our defense play the way it did.''
A blocked shot by Anderson Varejao, which led to a James dunk, got the party started. Parker followed with a 3-pointer that triggered a 9-2 Cavs run, making the score 57-48.
From that point on, things began to look very familiar and the Cavs built the lead to 12 points at the end of the quarter.
The momentum continued into the fourth quarter and the Cavs led by as many as 20 points and the outcome was no longer in doubt.
Brown's mantra is to just get better every day. The Cavs did that and then some.
Defensively, they started slowly and finished strongly, holding the Bobcats to under 42 percent shooting. Offensively, however, they lit up the Bobcats, getting fewer shots but making them count. The Cavs were deadly from the floor, shooting 58 percent.
The only weak spot in their game was ball-handling. They committed 19 turnovers that led to 23 points for the Bobcats.
The win gives the Cavs a 2-2 record and suddenly things might not look as bleak to fans as they did just a few days ago.
''I'm proud of our effort. I think we're taking steps in the right direction, but I still believe we have a lot of room to grow,'' Brown said. ''I think our guys understand it.''
Cheers for Shaq
Shaquille O'Neal came into Saturday's game missing 0-for-10 at the free-throw line. He missed his first two, but with 5:48 to go in the fourth quarter he made two and was rewarded with thunderous applause.
Buzzer beaters
The Cavs continued their streak of never having lost to the Bobcats at home, running their record to 10-0 at Quicken Loans Arena. They have beaten the Bobcats in seven consecutive games overall.
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
Click here to post your comments
Akron, OH
Posted 05:04 AM, 11/01/2009
West back = pressure off of Anthony Parker = best performance thus far.
Synergy!
Anti-Politically Correct & Anti-GOP, OH
Posted 07:27 AM, 11/01/2009
West, not that smart, but he is a big part of this team.
Posted 08:43 AM, 11/01/2009
how D West goes so go the CAVS! GO CAVS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Naples, FL
Posted 08:48 AM, 11/01/2009
''It was unbelievable. We've got great fans,'' LeBron James said. ''If you're a part of this team, they get behind you. I think that was great for Delonte that these fans did that for him.''
Doesn't sound like a guy headed out of Cleveland any time soon to me.
kent, oh
Posted 08:51 AM, 11/01/2009
DELONTE!!!!!!!!!
independence, MO
Posted 09:20 AM, 11/01/2009
The Cavaliers, and especially Danny Ferry, should be complimented on the thoughtful way they have handled Delonte West. It looks like its gong to pay off.
Paradise, Oh
Posted 10:29 AM, 11/01/2009
Mo really started to step up his game last night. He was flying!
Posted 10:34 AM, 11/01/2009
Touching moment in Cavs history last nite as Delonte entered the game.
Go Cavs !!
akron, oh
Posted 10:45 AM, 11/01/2009
I shed tears of joy for him. I like the man, and how hard he is working to keep his demons in check. GO CAVS!
