Links to the Present: Monday October 14th, 2013

Hoopsworld’s Steve Kyler starts us off with a piece on the Cavs’ new attention to detail, and a two minute interview with Kyrie Irving, here.

“Offense will take care of itself. The attention to detail on the defensive end is what we’re really focused on this preseason.” -K.I.

Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld checks in too, with a Dion Waiters interview, and an article about how Mike Brown is determined to fix the Cavs defense.  There’s some really good stuff, here.

Jodie Valade of the Plain Dealer posted a piece profiling would-be Cavaliers’ back-up center, Henry Sims, here.  Bob Finnan of the News-Herald posts an article with a similar theme and some Cavs rumors, here.

“I give him [Sims] a lot of credit for doing the little things that don’t show up in the box score. Little things offensively, just being in the right spot, moving without the ball and setting side screens and running the floor the right way. He did a lot of little things the last game that don’t show up in the stat sheet that make you appreciate him as a player.” -Mike Brown

Here, Jason Lloyd of the Beacon Journal chronicles the Cavs rebuilding plan, with specific emphasis on the fact that the Cavs still do not have an above average small forward.  Somewhere, Mallory Factor is nodding knowingly.

“We can have scoring from other areas. I don’t think your small forward has to be your leading scorer or a high-level scorer in order to win… I think a small forward for us has to be a guy who is a high-level defender who has some size and toughness.” -Mike Brown

John Michael of CavsTV chronicles Monday’s practice, including interviews with M.B. and Andy, here.  The small forward position was a topic in that post, too. Look for Alonzo Gee to get the start at the three on Tuesday in Canton.

Finally, over at Sports on Earth, CtB editor Colin McGowan, contemplates the virtues of the “three-quarter throttle” NBA preseason, and why both  players and fans need it.  Read the article, here.

The preseason is NBA methadone, which isn’t something I would recommend focusing on intently for evenings at a time, but in mid-October, it piques the interest of junkies.