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Photo: Scott Shaw/The Plain Dealer
To say the Cleveland Cavaliers sprinted out of the gate tonight would be a severe understatment. The wine and gold used their homecourt advantage to absolute blastoff from the beginning, leaving the Clippers and multiple team records in the wake. The Cavaliers sat on the lead for most of the game, and while Los Angeles did rally, they never truly threatened the Cavaliers the entire game. The Cavaliers continue to hold onto the small half-game lead for best record and extend their hold on the lead in the East with their win streak now at eight.
Kaman-less: Unfortunately for the Clippers, All-star snub Chris Kaman missed this showdown with the Cavaliers as well. When we last saw the Clippers, Kaman's back kept him out of action, and tonight a sprained ankle left him riding the pine. Delonte West continues to sit, missing game number five in a row without a definite timeframe for his return. That means that Cedric Jackson can probably count on another 10-day contract after his first expires tomorrow.
Deep, DEEP, and DEEPER in the Q!: It started innocently enough with Shaquille O'Neal creating open three point looks for Anthony Parker and Daniel Gibson, but it morphed into a dream-sequence first where the Cavaliers could do no wrong. Parker, Gibson, James, Gibson, James, James, James, Jawad, Moon, Moon, James: that's how the three point barrage of punches came at and knocked out the Clippers in that first twelve minutes. LeBron's three got deeper and deeper. He had five of them in all in that first, and his last was from the "a" in the Cavaliers logo at center court. LeBron's heat check kept falling in the first, but he also was setting up his teammates with three assists to complement his 8-for-9 shooting. LeBron's 23 points in the first fell one short of his record for points in a quarter, which he has accomplished three times. It was also his fourth 20 point quarter this season, the last coming against D-Wade and Miami last week in that eventful second quarter. After twelve minutes, the Cavs were up 26 points, had 46 points on the board, were shooting 76 percent, holding the Clippers to 35 percent shooting, and had 11 assists on 16 made baskets. That's one hell of a quarter to say the least.
Records shattered left and right: This topic needs a section of its own, that much I am sure of. The Cavaliers tied a franchise record with 46 points in a quarter, tied a record for threes in a half with 11... IN THE FIRST QUARTER, later set that record for threes in a half with 13, and LeBron also tied a Q record for points in a quarter with his 23 in the first quarter. The Cavaliers also had seven different players hit a three, and while I'm sure that's not a record, it's certainly impressive balance.
Baron brings 'em back: The one Clipper who had quite a night was point guard Baron Davis. Most of this can be attributed to the fact that Daniel Gibson struggled to cover the physical and aggressive and Davis. Nevertheless, Ze Baron posted a 30 point performance with 12-of-21 shots made on a night where the rest of his team managed just 59 points on 37 percent shooting. Davis led the charge in the first and third quarters, posting 14 in the first to keep his team from trailing by 40 and 11 in the third to narrow the defecit. I've always been a fan of Davis, from his days with the Hornets to the gutsy Warriors team that upset the Mavs. It's unfortunate he hasn't found his way onto a consistent winner.
Hot, then suddenly not: As hot as the Cavaliers were in that first, it didn't carry over into the rest of the game. After that first quarter where they shot 76% and scored 46 points, the Cavs shot only 41% and scored 68 points. That's not horrific, but it seemed so much worse because of the incredible ease the Cavaliers were hitting shots with early. The low point was the third quarter, where the team scored just 16 points and hit 5-of-18 shots. They allowed the Clips to cut the lead to 16 with 12 to play as their defense, which had held so strong in the first half, finally started to cave. Los Angeles's second-class citizens cut the hole to just 11 with 6:52 remaining, but they never cut it back to single digits.
Unforgivable: Some plays in the NBA you just have to shake your head at. One of those came in the final minute of this blowout extravaganza. In mop-up duty, Danny Green stole a saved rebound from DeAndre Jordan, and as he looked to dunk the ball, Clipper Al Thornton wound up, wiped Green across the face, and sent him horizontal with Danny landing on his tailbone and with his right arm underneath him. Green was in obvious pain during the rest of the game and immediately following as well. According to Brian Windhorst, he had trouble walking after the game, and I'm guessing it could cost Green a couple cameos in the next few games. The point is flagrant fouls (Thornton was flagged with a flagrant one) don't have any place in that situation. The Clippers failed to fight all game, why start there? Way to think, Al Thornton.
 goes to: Shaquille O'Neal and Daniel "Boobie" Gibson. It seems almost a crime to rob LeBron of a game ball when he rains in 23 points in the first on 8-of-9 shooting, but LBJ shot just 2-of-11 for 9 points in the final three quarters. Shaq meanwhile scored 14 points in the second half, and he got the three point inferno burning in the first by drawing double teams. O'Neal scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for his 6th double-double of the campaign, and he added 3 assists and 1 block in 31 minutes. I'm not sure, but that has got to be a season-high in minutes for The Diesel. Boobie has played quite well for the most part without Mo and Delonte. Boobie dropped in 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Gibson also handed out 6 assists and notched 2 rebounds in 34 minutes.
Team Grade: B+
While that first quarter was truly amazing, the Cavaliers were pretty subpar after that. Against a better opponent with a little more will and not coming off a long east coast trip, the Cavaliers could have been in for a Titanic loss. Cleveland shot 51% and held the Clips to 42%. The Cavs also handed out 28 assists on 40 field goals and of course hit 16-of-27 three pointers, missing the franchise mark for made threes by one. They also turned it over 11 times.
The Cavaliers' next visitor on the long homestand is the Memphis Grizzlies. You can bet that young group will come in ready to play, but don't expect the Cavaliers to be caught off guard this time. LeBron's 43 points were not enough in the overtime loss in Memphis.
All for one. One for all.
Kirk
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