Cleveland Cavaliers’ coach Byron Scott started rookie Kyrie Irving in the teams’ first regular season game on 12/26/11 against the Toronto Raptors. This was a decision that many were on the fence about. What really seemed odd is that coach Scott not only started the rookie, but he put him back in the game in the last few minutes when the Cavs were down. Irving was not having a good shooting game.

Ramon Sessions was having a hot night with shooting, but coach Scott benched him in favor of Irving in those last critical minutes. Coach Scott says that Irving has to get used to these types of situations. This makes sense.

“It’s a developmental thing right now,” said coach Scott. “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.”

Coach Scott is in his 12^th season as a coach in the NBA so he knows what he is doing. Plus, he is in a tough spot with the Cavs. He is trying to win games, but he is also trying to mold and mentor new players at the same time. This is a difficult balance.

Kyrie Irving does need to be in those high-pressure situations in order to get used to them and to build up the confidence and skills to tackle them effectively. The NBA is a completely different world and a whole new level of competition for him. He is obviously a skilled player, but he has to get used to playing against guys of NBA caliber. So, it seems that coach Scott’s decision to put him in at such a critical time was a good one, at least from an experience-gaining standpoint.

Plus, as Ramon Sessions has said, Irving did start the game, so it only makes sense that he also close it out.

Irving is a new player in the NBA, so there are going to be bumps in the road. He was rather impressive during the preseason and he looked bumpy during the first regular season game. This is to be expected. As coach Scott provides him with more experience and opportunities to improve his craft, he is sure to become a cornerstone of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and still lives there. She was raised a Cavs’ fan and has remained loyal through all of the teams ups and downs. She remains confident that the Cavs will bring home a championship at some point in her life. Follow Rose on Twitter @Rose_Kitchen

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Cleveland Cavaliers point guard and top overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft Kyrie Irving started the Cavs’ season opener over veteran Ramon Sessions. Sessions started in the preseason games but this move was not a surprise. The Cavs need Irving to get all the experience he can get. Irving finished with six points (2 – 12 from the floor), three rebounds, seven assists, a steal, and a turnover in 26 minutes.

Irving was shaky for most of the game. He has a long way to go but this was his first real game since tearing a ligament in his right big toe over a year ago while playing for Duke. He played a mere 11 games in his only season there.

Playing point guard in the NBA will be a tough transition from college. It is the hardest position to play. Irving should be fine but it will take time. When he starts getting more confident in his game, we should see a big improvement.

Tristan Thompson

The Cavs’ other lottery pick in the 2011 NBA Draft was Tristan Thompson. He was picked fourth overall. Thompson fared better than Irving did but he was under less pressure. He scored 13 points and hauled in five boards in the game.

Hopefully, Thompson was not taking notes as his mentor, Antawn Jamison, was jacking up 20 shots while making only six. Jamison even launched four three point attempts. He made none of those, of course. Jamison was heaving the ball at the rim like a shooting guard. It seemed like he shot the ball every time he had it. If he could play a little defense, it would be helpful.

Thompson scored one less point than Jamison on 14 less shots. His seven free throw attempts were more than any other Cav. He did that while only playing only 17 minutes. Thompson was impressive.

One game

It is hard to judge this young team by just one game. It was a game that the Cavs could have won but, like Irving said after the game, this was just one game with 65 to go.

I live in Ohio. The Cavaliers are Ohio’s NBA team. I am also a Kentucky Wildcat fan. You can follow me on Twitter here. Still want more? Go to my blog.

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Rookie point guard Kyrie Irving didn’t take long to impress coach Byron Scott. Irving will be the Cleveland Cavaliers starting point guard against the Toronto Raptors in the December 26, 2011 game. In the two preseason games, Ramon Sessions has been the starting point guard and coach Scott said that Irving had to “earn” the starting spot. It seems like he has done that.

Irving has shown that he can handle the point guard position in the two preseason games. When it comes to offense, he is a rather strong player. However, defensively, he does need to strengthen his skills. This will surely be done as he gains more experience and the veteran players that surround him, like Anthony Parker, will certainly be at his side to help free him up to take the shots.

It is said that Sessions understands Irving starting tonight and that coach Scott took the time to explain his reasoning. When Irving was asked about starting in this game, Irving said, “honestly, it didn’t matter to me if I started tonight or not. Me and Ramon are two great point guards. Either way, we’re going to bring the same intensity.”

This is actually a smart move on the part of coach Scott. The Raptors are not the strongest team in the NBA, so it gives him a chance to see how Irving does as a starter in a regular season game against a team that isn’t going to put on an extreme amount of pressure. Sessions will be there to help guide him and give him pointers, as well as some breaks. Irving will also be on the floor with veterans like Antawn Jamison, Anthony Parker and Anderson Varejao, so he will definitely have a little help if he appears to be getting into any trouble.

Ultimately, this is Irving’s shot to show coach Scott, his teammates and Cavs’ fans that he has starting potential. If he can lead the team well in the point guard position, he may find himself on the starting roster regularly.

R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and still lives there. She was raised a Cavs’ fan and has remained loyal through all of the teams ups and downs. She remains confident that the Cavs will bring home a championship at some point in her life. Follow Rose on Twitter @Rose_Kitchen

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The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking toward the future. Kyrie Irving is a legitimate Rookie of the Year contender. With two of the top draft picks (Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson) now a part of the Cavs’ organization, the Cavs will need to play aggressive basketball to win games. Here is a breakdown of each position:

Point Guard

Baron Davis is gone and the Irving-era has begun. Coach Byron Scott has yet to name who will start at point guard between Ramon Sessions and Kyrie Irving but there is no doubt that the Cavs’ first round pick (Irving) will take over at some point. Regardless of who starts, though, the Cavs might have one of the best point guard tandems in the league. Unfortunately, they won’t be able to play together much.

Irving is the real deal. He has polish, speed, and a nice jumper. He makes it look easy getting to the rim and finding teammates in spots where they can score. He will need to improve, of course. Irving is not going to be an elite point guard this season as he adjusts to the NBA but he is plenty good already.

Sessions looks like he has worked on his game during the lockout. He seems to have picked up strength and might be taking defense seriously. He isn’t a great shooter but he can get to the rim and hopefully score when he gets there.

Right now, the offense looks better with Irving at the point. Sessions might not even be with the Cavs after the trade deadline.

Shooting Guard

Anthony Parker is a 36-year-old shooting guard who showed he still has some game left. He can put up points in the right situation and his veteran leadership will help a young team like this. Daniel Gibson is pretty much a one-dimensional player. He can launch open threes with the best of them but that is about it. Gibson can also run the point if necessary.

Power Forward

Speaking of older players who have seen their best years pass by, Antawn Jamison is back. He’ll be relied on to score and should reach the 18 points a game he put up last season. He has looked like a player on the downside so far in the preseason. Jamison will get it going in time for the first game and will likely be the Cavs’ leading scorer. Tristan Thompson is an aggressive rebounder and defender who can attack the rim. He doesn’t have a reliable jumper yet but that may come in time. Overall, his offensive game is raw. Jamison might be able to help him refine some low-post moves.

Shooting Forward

Omri Casspi could be ready to take the next step. Some are saying that he might be a breakout player. Last season, he scored 8.6 points a game for the Kings. This season, he’ll have plenty of chances to improve upon that. Casspi needs to work on his defense. Watching him play, however, it’s obvious that he is a tough competitor who makes his presence known when he is on the floor.

Center

Anderson Varejao suffered a torn tendon in his ankle last year and had to sit out 51 games. He was badly missed when he went down. He feels really good and is excited to be back out on the court. He brings energy, hustle and rebounding to the team. Varejao is clearly the best rebounder on this year’s Cavalier’s team. His emotional leadership and team-first attitude will undoubtedly help the team get through another tough season. If Varejao goes down again, they will be in trouble.

Overall

This team will go as far as Irving can take them. With help from the veterans, they should be able to improve upon their 19 win 2010-11 season. The Bulls are the class of the division but second place is wide open.

Living in Ohio, I am a fan of Ohio’s NBA team – the Cleveland Cavaliers. You can follow me on Twitter here. Still want more? Go to my blog.

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For a player who was expected to miss the entire two-game preseason for the Cleveland Cavaliers, newly acquired Omri Casspi shined in his debut as the Cavaliers fell to the Detroit Pistons 90-89 on Tuesday, December 20.

Casspi has been dealing with a sprained right knee in recent days but was able to participate with success in Cleveland’s free public scrimmage on Sunday, December 18. In that contest he scored nine points in 17 minutes.

In tonight’s preseason game against the Pistons he led all Cavaliers scorers with 18 points in 30 minutes coming off the bench. He went 8-11 in field goals and was 2-4 from the three-point line. Add five rebounds and a blocked shot to the mix and it would be safe to assume he will be a welcome addition to the team this season.

Rookie Kyrie Irving appeared for just over 25 minutes scoring 11 points in a 5-12 performance from the field. He logged a couple of rebounds, a few assists, and a pair of steals in his effort. It wasn’t fantastic, but he was not the primary focus of the preseason game.

The other premier rookie, Tristan Thompson, grabbed five rebounds and eight points in nearly 21 minutes of play. He was 3-7 from the field.

The pair of preseason games gave Cavs fans a taste for what is in store this upcoming season. Don’t get me wrong; the team will struggle this season. They are still a lottery team but will be much better than they were last season.

An eventual starting five of Irving, Thompson, Anderson Varejao, Casspi, and Anthony Parker may not be the ideal lineup but there is enough skill with the veterans and potential with the rookies to at least make them a competitive squad.

A bench of Ramon Sessions, Antawn Jamison, Daniel Gibson, Samardo Samuels, and whoever else makes the squad is still a decent team. They are not playoff caliber, but no one expects them to be just yet.

I do know that when I go down to the “Q” to watch the Cavs in action I will be entertained and will have a legitimate chance at victory each game. It is a team in transition, but for once in Cleveland, it is a team in transition where an end result is in sight.

The Cavs open regular season action at home on Monday, December 26 against the Toronto Raptors.

More Cleveland Cavaliers Commentary from this Contributor:

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

Cleveland Cavaliers’ rookies ready to make an impact: A fan’s take

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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