Cavaliers win road opener in Motor City

The Cleveland Cavaliers both won their road opener and evened their record at 1-1 with an impressive 105-89 win over the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Samardo Samuels came from off the bench to score 17 points to lead Cleveland,who finished with six players in double digit scoring on the evening.
Cleveland will travel to Indianapolis on Friday against the waiting Pacers....

Swashbucklings

1) Samardo Samuels did not get off the bench in the loss to Toronto.
If Byron Scott was sending a message,Samuels must have gotten it as Samuels went 6 of 8 from the floor and showed surprising range on the jumper.

2) Ramon Sessions finished with 16 points on 4 of 11 shooting,but the encouraging point for Sessions- two from three point territory.

Combine that with his three pointer against Toronto and Sessions has hit more bombs in two games than in all of last season....

3) Kyrie Irving looked much less tentative and more in control than in the home opener.
Irving finished with 14 points and seven assists and was taking the ball to the hole instead of settling for jumpers...

4) Second nice game for Tristan Thompson,who I think I am going to really like as a player.
Thompson blocked two shots and was called for a possible third on a goaltending offense.
Thompson has the quick leaping ability of a shot blocker and I think Thompson will be a defensive force at worst as time goes on...

5) Biggest issue in this one?Turnovers.
Cleveland committed 21 of them with most coming in the first quarter.
Disappointing? Yes,but to be expected with a rookie point guard learning the ropes.
Fortunately for the Cavaliers,they were playing a team that is on their level and enabled them to get away with a high count.

Photo Credit-AP Photo