While outsiders continue the frivolous debate about whose team it is, Butler’s or Derrick Rose’s, Butler just keeps checking all the boxes for a team that is No. 2 in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers lead the Eastern Conference at 9-3.
Advertisement
Yet James and coach David Blatt still found plenty to be upset about despite a win that was not as close as the final score indicated.
The Hawks, who had to heat up to shoot. He abruptly signaled for a sub, then stormed off the court and sat down on the bench on Saturday while play continued around him.
Dellavedova kept the ball moving in Williams’ absence, then starting center Timofey Mozgov missed the second half Thursday with a strained right shoulder, forcing the little-used Varejao into key minutes. The Bucks cut into the lead throughout the third quarter, but the Cavaliers regrouped.
Kevin Love led Cleveland’s four players in double figures with 25 points. Budenholzer appeared to step on the court and bump referee Ben Taylor, prompting the ejection. “If there was contact, it was 100percent unintentional”.
Kyle Korver and Paul Millsap each scored 14 points for Atlanta, which has lost four of five.
Cleveland was ahead by 26 with 6:11 to go in the period when James grabbed position in the post against Atlanta’s Thabo Sefolosha. J.R. Smith scored 15 points and Matthew Dellavedova added 12. Michael Carter-Williams picked up his fifth foul late in the third quarter and played 27 minutes, scoring nine points….
“I blew a gasket”, James said.
“He thought we were playing hockey”.
The way Blatt and James have been talking the last few days, it would seem as if the Cavs have a losing record instead of their East-leading 9-3 mark.
So when he spoke earlier this week of the Cavaliers needing to crank it up, no matter the injuries and adversity they might be dealing with, you know it wasn’t posturing. “It’s not something you turn off and on, and I just think they recognize the importance of that”.
F Jabari Parker (sprained right foot) was not with the team for the start of a three-game road trip.
“You know, Bron is a lot of things – a lot of great things – but probably where you’re not going to see him is out there playing for the (Lake Erie) Monsters (an AHL team based in Cleveland) or the (New York) Rangers”.
Budenholzer had no excuses for his team’s performance. Both guards had good moments getting into the lane, but they couldn’t generate enough open shots for their teammates. “That’s the task in front of us”.
Advertisement
Manu Ginobili added 15 points for San Antonio, which is unbeaten in six home games. Chris Bosh also scored 13 for Miami. Tiago Splitter was limited to nine minutes, all in the first half, with right hip soreness. He’s attempting more threes than he ever has before and shooting a respectable 33 precent from deep, and his free-throw percentage has improved by 10 points over last season’s mark.
