Opening Day News
2014-10-24
ESPN correspondent Dave McMenamin has received confirmation from David Blatt and the Cavs organization that Anderson Varejao and Dion Waiters will be starting alongside the Cavs big three of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, and LeBron James. Andy beat out Tristan Thomspon for his spot. However, Blatt was careful to say that the Wild Thing didn’t earn the starting role by playing better than Big T.
Blatt said that the decision came down, in part, to Varejao’s history of playing alongside James after the two were teammates from 2004-10 already.
“That was more or less the idea of beginning with Andy just because those two guys are so good together,” Blatt said. “And Tristan is equally as efficient in either case. So, that’s more or less the basis, but it doesn’t mean that Tristan won’t be starting some of the games. I’m sure he will be. Just right now, that’s the way we’re looking to go.”
Blatt also stated very clearly how he feels about Thompson.
“He’s one of the best guys out there,” Blatt said. “Tristan wants to win and Tristan knows that if he’s coming in in the second wave, his job is going to be just what it would be if he was starting the game and that’s to be Tristan – a rebounder, an inside scorer, an all-around-the-court defender and a guy that you can really pair and match with any other big man on our team.”
The decision to start the Wild Thing over Thompson doesn’t seem like a big issue to me. I believe both of them will be splitting time equally at the center spot throughout games, and it’s best to maximize the first lineup. It was probably an easy decision for Blatt.
LeBron must look at Andy and have fond memories of playing with him during his first tenure in Cleveland. Furthermore and maybe even more importantly, LeBron probably feels he has hair vicariously by playing next to Mr. Robert Terwilliger/Sideshow Bob.
Share the Hair!
Dion getting the starting nod is probably being done as an act of appeasement (there also isn’t any one better to start); Blatt most likely plans on letting him come off the court after just a few minutes of first quarter action, so he can then go back in after a quick rest to lead the second unit.
“I may,” James said Friday when asked if he has thought about resuming his patented powder poof. “I’m going to let the fans decide and see what they think. If they want me to, I will do it.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWOD_qJbn8I
To quote his shoe sponsor, I say, “Just do it!”
Cuts are starting elsewhere – some interesting names for us?
C Bernard James who’s a defender – better than Kirk or Sweet Lou
PG Aaron Craft – probably a D-League guy but semi-local
PF James McAdoo – huge athleticism, has to be better than Amundson
Should be more as the month winds down
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the democratic LeBron that we’ve been treated to since his return, but some things it seems like he should just decide for himself. He already had the fans chime in to decide his jersey number. Do we get to pick which color his shoes will be opening night next? I’m in favor of him continuing to do the chalk throw, although the coolest one was I think the Christmas Day game in 2008 against the Wizards when all of the fans did a “chalk toss” in unison with LBJ (only they had confetti).… Read more »
” CHALK ” IT UP AS A GREAT COMMERCIAL ——-IT ALL STARTED HERE SO IT NEEDS TO CONTINUE HERE IN BELIEVELAND ——THAT IS VOTE # 1 —-TO ” JUST DO IT “
Couldn’t agree more!