Cavaliers at Bobcats
THE STORY: The Bobcats juggled their backcourt and snapped a
six-game losing streak. Now they’ll likely stick with D.J. Augustin and Kemba
Walker starting together, even if it leaves them vulnerable defensively. The Cavs are 2-4 and on the final leg of this lengthy road
trip, but have played better than expected. They beat the Suns, pulled within three
points of the Lakers and overall look vastly improved over last season’s
debacle. “I think our team attitude right now is we can be
contenders,” top overall pick Kyrie Irving said. “We feel like we have a
different team, especially from last year when I watched them. Every team we
play against we feel we can beat.” The Bobcats can’t say the same. They lost in Cleveland by 14
two weeks ago and they’ve already lost four games by at least 20 points (two by
more than 30). But they hope the lineup change will at least help them
offensively. They shot 50 percent from the floor and scored 48 points in the
lane in Walker’s debut in the starting lineup.
TV: 2 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio, SportSouth
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (5-6): Irving is averaging 22 points and 4.8 rebounds
over his last four games, but he’s also averaging four turnovers in that span. The
Cavs are turning the ball over about 20 times a game recently, a number coach
Byron Scott says is too high. Irving has been more aggressive attacking the
basket lately, but with that comes higher turnovers. It’s a tradeoff the Cavs
have to accept in dealing with a 19-year-old point guard.
ABOUT THE BOBCATS (3-10): Kemba Walker scored 23 points in
his first start of the season Saturday, now the Bobcats must tweak their
defense to compensate for such a small lineup. The Bobcats will play plenty of
zone as Gerald Henderson adjusts to defending small forwards and Tyrus Thomas
gets matched against physically stronger power forwards. But this move was
about adding energy and explosiveness to the starting lineup and Walker
certainly does that.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Irving had 20 points, six assists and no turnovers in the
home game against the Bobcats on Jan. 4.
2. Anderson Varejao has reached double-digits in rebounds in
six consecutive games, the longest such streak of his career.
3. Three players (Henderson, Walker and Byron
Mullens) scored at least 20 points in Saturday’s victory over Golden State. It
marked the first time the Bobcats had three players score 20 in a game since
Feb. 25, 2011.