Links to the Present: December 26, 2011

“Sure, he may not have been the target of a lot of Cavs fans when JJ Hickson was moved in the 11th hour, but [Omri] Casspi will show why Chris Grant has been targeting him since the day he entered the NBA Draft. Many will point to either Irving or Antawn Jamison as the team’s leading scorers and both men could easily have the team’s lead, but given anticipated rotations and minute splits, Casspi is really the only scoring threat on the team who doesn’t have considerable time to share with a high-upside rookie. He may only average 17 or 18 points per evening, but thinking is, by this time in April, Casspi puts the small forward position back on the Cavaliers’ map.” [Scott Sargent]

“I think we’re all interchangeable, which is pretty cool. We’re all around the same height. So we’re able to get out there and play off of each other. With this offense being so interchangeable, I think guys can shoot, pass and dribble, so we’re all able to do some of the same things.” [Boobie Gibson on the Cavalier PGs]

“For the first time since the arrival of LeBron James in 2003, the Cavaliers will have no games televised on TNT or ESPN this season and only one – against Phoenix on March 25 – will be on NBA TV.” [Mary Schmitt Boyer]

Here’s a nice preview of tonight’s game against the Raptors from Fear the Sword, and the Plain Dealer staff’s predictions for the season.

And Kyrie Irving’s gonna start!

I’ll have a recap for you guys after tonight’s game. Enjoy the start of the Cavaliers’ season.