LeBron, Love combine to help Cavs zip past Heat

He watched what everyone else did Friday, watched Justise Winslow work as hard as he could against LeBron James, work to meet him on the touch, work to push him out of the post, only for it to not work out so well at the end.

James’ back is going to be the ongoing story of this season.

The Cleveland Cavaliers completed their first week of regular season basketball on a positive note, as they beat out the Miami Heat 102-92 in their home opener Friday night. Here’s hoping that Kyrie Irving remembers how good this team looks with an engaged Love, and does his best to keep him involved when he comes back.

Kevin Love had a double-double in the first half and the Cavs’ crisp ball movement left the Memphis Grizzlies spinning in circles in a 106-76 victory Wednesday at FedExForum. From the 8:30 mark in the fourth until 1:53 remained in the game, the Heat were down by at least 15 points as the Cavs’ bench unit proved to be the difference in the game.

“I didn’t feel that great (Thursday)”, he said. Mo Williams was just two of ten for six points. James reiterated Friday he thought the Cavs ran too many sets in a first half against the Bulls that resulted in 32-percent shooting. But after the fifth lead change, the Cavaliers found their shot on the offensive end of the floor and built up their first advantage of more than two points when James knocked down a step-back jumper and followed with a turnaround fade-away from 12 feet out.

James drew askew glances when he adamantly said he wanted to play in 82 games this season, something he has never done is his career.

– “I think more than anything we have a specific program for him and his strength training and his conditioning and his health”, Spoelstra said. Those numbers would represent the second-highest spending numbers in league history, falling behind only the 2013-14 Brooklyn Nets, who spent $197 million, including tax. He is a smart man because he is investing in more than players. “I’ve seen players do that before in many different places”.

We have to go through these moments of learning, so we can learn what we need to do.

“Not only can’t you skirt on the payroll”.

“These guys who are under these large contracts, that’s a core for four or five years”, Gilbert said. “He takes care of his body unlike any athlete I’ve seen or been around”.

LeBron James’ back, the one that required an anti-inflammatory shot nearly a year ago and another one earlier in October, has been a constant source of discussion locally and nationally. The one he was given in January shut him down for two weeks.

And it’s not because the Cavs were debuting a new maroon alternative jersey rather than the new blue alternate they sported last season.

James has said he will take another shot this season if necessary.