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Find out the scoop on the CAVS from award-winning sports writer Bob Finnan.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Game 30: Pistons at Cavs

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (13-17) 101, DETROIT PISTONS (11-23) 100
Quicken Loans Arena
Tuesday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: This Kyrie Irving kid might have a future in this league.

Just kidding. He was sensational on Tuesday, especially in the fourth quarter when he once again took over the game. He had 17 of his 25 points in the final quarter.

He made all three of his 3-pointers in the fourth.

His sidekick on Tuesday was forward Alonzo Gee. Between the two of them, they had 30 of the Cavs' 35 fourth-quarter points.

Gee has been struggling with his shot. He made 5 of 11 from the field against the Pistons, who had been on a recent tear. They opened up a 17-point lead in the third quarter and it appeared as if the game was over. But the Cavs refused to go down easily, and eventually came back and won.

Fans like to criticize forward Antawn Jamison, but he was pretty darn good on Tuesday. He scored 32 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

For reasons known only to Coach Byron Scott, he played Ryan Hollins for almost 20 minutes. His only basket was a dunk. He had one rebound.

Semih Erden, the starting center, wasn't a whole lot better. He had five points, three rebounds and four stitches to close a wound above his right eye.

What has happened to Samardo Samuels? I forget what he looks like.

The Cavs signed guard Manny Harris earlier on Tuesday, but he never got off the bench.

I thought he would play to help counter the Pistons' strong backcourt. Brandon Knight (24 points) and Rodney Stuckey (16 points) make up a formidable guard tandem.

With Gibson back and Harris signed to a 10-day contract, the Cavs could move Gee back to small forward. He is not a shooting guard. Let me repeat: He is not a "2" guard. He doesn't handle nearly well enough to play the position. His shooting has also fallen off in the last week. Perhaps he's wearing down as the season progresses. He needs the All-Star break.

He said a couple weeks ago, he might not accept an invitation to the slam dunk contest so he could rest during the break. As far as we know, the invite never came. But he does need to take off a few games to clear his head. Despite all that, he was fantastic tonight with 16 points, a career-high 11 rebounds and three assists.

UP NEXT: The Cavs host the New Orleans Hornets at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Quicken Loans Arena. 

PROBABLE STARTERS
SF Omri Casspi (6-9, 225) vs. Tayshaun Prince (6-9, 215)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Jason Maxiell (6-7, 260)
C Semih Erden (7-0, 240) vs. Greg Monroe (6-11, 250)
SG Daniel Gibson (6-2, 200) vs. Rodney Stuckey (6-5, 205)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Brandon Knight (6-3, 189) 
PROJECTED INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G Anthony Parker, C Anderson Varejao 
Pistons - F Charlie Villanueva

OFFICIALS
Scott Foster, Eric Dalen, Gary Zielinski



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