Fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers were treated to a nice surprise on Wednesday, December 28. After last year’s abysmal 19-win and 63-loss performance, we got used to the fact that wins were hard to come by. We hoped for an improved squad this season but knew there would be some growing pains. A solid victory always helps.

As the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Detroit Pistons by the score of 105-89, Cleveland improves to 1-1 on the season while Detroit falls to 0-2.

Ramon Sessions was the top performer of the game for the Cavs scoring 16 points with seven rebounds and six assists coming off the bench. While he led the team in scoring he was only 4-11 from the field, which is still cause for some concern.

For the Pistons, rookie Brandon Knight led the team with 23 points on the night paired with a rebound and six assists. Unlike Sessions he was 10-13 from the field. Ben Gordon scored 25 points on the night but Knight gave a better overall performance in the Pistons’ losing effort.

Rookie Kyrie Irving had a much better night scoring 14 points with four rebounds and seven assists on the night. He was 5-9 from the field and a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line. After his disappointing opening night performance against the Toronto Raptors, he had nowhere to go but up. I was happy to see him show much improvement in this game.

Tristan Thompson played well yet again adding 10 points, four rebounds, and an assist coming off the bench. While he has only played in two games in his young career, I have no complaints the Cavs picked Thompson as high as they did in the draft.

Already this season has a different feel to it. Fans realize the Cavs are young and rebuilding. Last year was a season filled with anger and hostility. This year is a season filled with promise. There is the promise that comes with knowing Dan Gilbert is dedicated to building a team the right way this time around and the promise that while the team will surely take its bumps and bruises this season, they will get better.

Cavs’ fans have something to look forward to again.

Next up for the Cavaliers are the Indiana Pacers on Friday, December 30.

More Cleveland Cavaliers Commentary from this Contributor:

Cleveland Cavaliers drop opener to Raptors 104-96, Irving struggles: A fan’s reaction

Cleveland Cavaliers’ Omri Casspi shines in his preseason debut: A fan’s reaction

Cleveland Cavaliers, Kyrie Irving defeat Detroit Pistons 91-87: A fan’s reaction

Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers is better for business: A fan’s perspective

Cleveland Cavaliers use amnesty clause, waive Baron Davis: A fan’s reaction

Sources:

All data provided by NBA.com

Paul Rados is an avid Cleveland Cavaliers fan and a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Follow him on Twitter @PSRados or leave him a message on Facebook. For a complete look at his freelance work please visit his Blog.

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With less than six minutes remaining and his club trailing by seven points, Cavaliers coach Byron Scott replaced his most effective player with a rookie point guard searching for his rhythm and jump shot.

Without context the decision sounds indefensible, and it’s certainly one Miami’s Erik Spoelstra or Boston’s Doc Rivers won’t have to make anytime soon. But Scott’s objective is more complex, his balancing act more delicate than many of his peers this season.

The Cavaliers coach is simultaneously trying to win games and develop youngsters. Sometimes, those desires intersect to form peculiar moments like the one Monday night at The Q as Ramon Session, the game’s leading scorer, was subbed out for 19-year-old Kyrie Irving, who had hit 1-of-8 shots to that point.

It wasn’t an exhibition or a meaningless late-season game, but the opener in front of a sellout crowd. Scott said he’s sure some fans second-guessed the move in the Cavaliers’ 104-96 loss to the Toronto Raptors.

But it’s one the coach made after mulling it for more than two minutes.

“It’s a developmental thing right now,” Scott said. “I’ve got to get this young man (Irving) used to closing out games and I have to find out what he has, what he’s made of when the games are on the line in situations like that.”

In his 12th season as an NBA coach, Scott estimates it’s just the third or fourth time he’s replaced a hot hand – Session had 18 points and six assists – in favor of a player on the learning curve. It’s one thing for coaches to say they want to cultivate rookies. It’s another to do it with a game on the line a season removed from a league-record 26-game losing streak.

Of course, Irving isn’t some kid fresh from the NBA Development League. He’s the top pick in the June draft, and one of the Cavaliers’ future cornerstones. Irving finished the night with six points on 2-of-12 shooting, while adding seven assists.

“I can sit here and put two minutes on the clock (at practice) and say we’re down four,” Scott said. “It still doesn’t simulate what you are going to go through when the game is on the line and you’ve got 17,000 people in the stands as well. As many times as he can be put in that situation the better off he will be.”

How will it play with season-ticket holders or the veterans who hear the horn and see Irving or Tristan Thompson, 20, trotting onto the floor? Some wondered how Baron Davis would react to such a scenario. The injured point guard was waived two weeks ago and signed by the New York Knicks.

Sessions, who’s spent much of his four seasons as a reserve, said he understands what the Cavaliers are doing. He offered no objection Tuesday to Scott’s late-game decision.

“That’s what the Young Fella is here for,” Sessions said. “He started the game and he is going to finish it. The Young Fella is really talented. You guys have seen that. That’s his job.”

Almost immediately after entering the game with 5:28 left Irving launched a long jumper his coach termed a “rookie mistake.” Nevertheless, Scott liked that the point guard wanted the ball and wasn’t afraid of the moment.

Irving converted 1-of-4 shots down the stretch along with three assists, a turnover and a steal. After the game, he appreciated the coach’s show of faith and his teammates’ support. Session reminded him of his 7-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and that 65 games remain.

Scott said once Irving gets accustomed to playing with the starters he and Sessions could see time in the same backcourt.

Irving wasn’t made available to the media Tuesday following a flurry of interviews the past few days. After patiently answering every question Monday night, he tweeted: “Learning process . . .”

His coach figures to give him many opportunities to learn on the court – sometimes at the expense of others.

“It was a great feeling to be out there,” he said. “When I pulled up into the parking garage, a lot of nerves were going. It was a lot of fun to finally play at the Q and be out there with my teammates.”

Cleveland fans are counting on Irving to be the centerpiece in the Cavaliers’ rebuilding project after the departure of LeBron James. Cleveland won 19 games last season.

Irving, whose Gold team defeated the Wine team 67-57 in the scrimmage that lasted three quarters, quickly provided a couple of highlights. Less than a minute into the game, he threw an alley-oop pass to Omri Casspi for a dunk. He then drove past Ramon Sessions and scored on a left-handed layup.

Irving added two more alley-oop passes that resulted in dunks and picked off a pass at midcourt and drove in for a dunk of his own. He finished with 14 points, nine assists, six rebounds and five turnovers in 31 minutes.

“I’m focused on getting better every day,” Irving said. “I’m trying to fit into this team as best as I can. That’s the most important thing right now.”

Three of Irving’s assists were on alley-oop passes, which brought the crowd to its feet.

“I’ve been doing those lob passes ever since I can remember, even in the eighth grade when no one could dunk,” he said. “I’ve been practicing that my whole life. I don’t think there’s an art to it. It’s a basketball play.”

Cleveland coach Byron Scott hasn’t committed to Irving as his starting point guard in the season opener against Toronto on Dec. 26. Irving came off the bench in Friday’s preseason opener against Detroit and scored 21 points in 27 minutes.

The door for Irving to start opened last week when the Cavaliers waived Baron Davis under the NBA’s new amnesty rule. The Cavaliers host the Pistons in the final preseason game Tuesday. Scott has said he won’t make his decision until the opener, but Irving is expected to start.

Tristan Thompson, the No. 4 pick in the draft, scored 12 points and had six rebounds in 26 minutes.

NOTES: Casspi, who had been sidelined with a sore knee, scored nine points in 17 minutes. He’s expected to be the starting small forward. … Former Cavaliers C Zydrunas Ilgauskas was in attendance. He retired after playing last season with Miami. Ilgauskas would like to stay in basketball in some capacity. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do,” he said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been home at this time of the year. This is kind of new to me.” … G Manny Harris (foot) will likely be out for two weeks. … The Cavaliers waived F’s Kyle Goldcamp and Tyrell Biggs.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Recently released Cleveland Cavaliers guard Baron Davis is expected to sign with the New York Knicks, according to a report.

ESPN first reported on Sunday that the former all-star has committed to signing with the Knicks and that a deal could be completed by the end of the day.

The Cavaliers recently amnestied Davis after he suffered a lower back injury that his agent claimed could keep him out of action for 8 to 10 weeks. He had two years, $28 million left on his contract with the Cavaliers, which the team will still pay him.

The deal is expected to be for the Knicks’ one-year, $2.5 million exception. Davis last year averaged 13.1 points per game and 6.7 assists per game, but is dealing with two bulging disks in his back.

League sources recently told the New York Post that Davis could be out for only four to eight weeks, which would help shore up the Knicks’ shaky point guard situation.

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The Knicks were forced to use their amnesty clause on starting point guard Chauncey Billups in order to complete a sign-and-trade with the Mavericks for center Tyson Chandler. The Knicks have given the starting role to Toney Douglas, but also signed veteran point guard Mike Bibby as an insurance policy.

“I know him really well, I would love to have him if we have a chance to get him,” Carmelo Anthony told reporters following the Knicks scrimmage at the Garden. “Everyone knows what he can do when he’s healthy and focused.”

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