CLEVELAND – All day, Clevelanders were jubilant and optimistic about the season opener at Quicken Loans Arena. After four long years, LeBron James’ return to the Cavs and his home region would take its next step.
For many fans, the previous night’s Bulls blowout win was a sign that the Cavs would be able to show up and run the Knicks off the court. With a city in a 50-year championship drought, the Cavs are clearly enabled to end the streak.
Championships are won in June, not October. Talking to members of the Cavs organization and players today was the start of a journey. Make no mistake, the Cavs are still a work in progress. Talented? Absolutely. Championship-ready? Not yet.
From the onset of the pre-game introductions, the Cavs were emotional. James clearly wanted to deliver a big win and performance for the celebrity-filled arena. As the game commenced, Kevin Love showed why he was so coveted by the Cavs and the rest of the NBA with a 12 point and 7 rebound first quarter. Throughout the night, the most consistent Cavalier was Kyrie Irving, who delivered a 22 point, 7 assist, 5 rebound performance. The night belonged to James, though, in a strange fashion. He finished with 8 turnovers and shot just 5-15 from the field. The Cavaliers lacked any real energy after the pre-game intros, which gave the Knicks an opportunity to give Derek Fisher his first professional coaching victory, 95-90.
Led by Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks shot almost 54 percent from the field and scored 77 points in the final 3 quarters. In the final 30 seconds as a loss was imminent, Cavaliers fans headed for the exits. Postgame, Cavaliers head coach David Blatt reflected on his first game and the need for the Cavs to move better on the offensive end. Blatt noticed the Cavs energy “spiked early” before tailing off. Blatt also noticed LeBron seemed a bit tight.
With a quick turnaround in Chicago, the Cavs don’t have an opportunity to dwell on this loss. The Bulls are ready and waiting to send a message to their biggest rival, and with the return of Derrick Rose in his hometown the Cavs will face a much more hostile environment Friday night. Games in October are practically meaningless, but Cleveland has a bullseye on it, and the emotions of the return took control.
A win was a foregone conclusion around the city prior to tipoff, with fans speculating about the Cavs’ margin for victory. The city never saw this coming. Will the Cavs be ready Friday night in Chicago? Cavs fans certainly hope so.