The Cleveland Cavaliers are starting to ramp up their game as the news and rumors keep streaming out.
Check out the latest buzz below.
Waiters Denies Praying Before Games
Dion Waiters has been one of the most-talked about Cavs players, especially after a report that claimed he missed the National Anthem due to religious reasons stemming from being a Muslim.
He missed the anthem on the same day he was demoted out of the starting lineup.
But Waiters later slammed the story, leading to a clarification from reporter Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group.
“On Friday, Dion informed me of his Muslim faith and said that was the reason he missed Wednesday’s national anthem. ‘It’s because of my religion,’ Waiters said. ‘That’s why I stayed in the locker room,’” Haynes wrote.
“I never recalled Dion missing a national anthem performance before, but he did mention he is rededicating himself to his religion. I then asked if he planned to continue this pre-game ritual the remainder of the season, and he replied, ‘Yes, I do.’ Thus, the story was born. Dion and I had a long conversation on Saturday and we came to the realization that we were thinking two different things.
“When I asked if he planned to continue his pregame ritual, I meant did he plan on skipping the national anthem from here on out. He said he was under the impression that I was asking if he would continue his prayer and meditation before games.”
But Waiters later told reporters that his pregame ritual, which involves going back to the locker room area with between five and seven minutes left on the pregame horn, has nothing to do with religion.
“I’m not praying. I’m just going through my routine,” he said, per a transcript. “Nothing to do with religion when I go back there. At all.”
Waiters also said he’s comfortable being the sixth man.
“Nah, I knew it was going to happen sooner or later. I was actually thinking about it myself, is it better for the team? I went to Coach and told him it might just be better for me to come off the bench, by myself. At the end of the day I’m still growing, still learning, especially with this team, this offense and the time we’ve had.” he said.
“And being the player I am, you need the ball. So I thought about it and it made a lot of sense just for me to come off the bench and do what I do. That’s why it was smooth sailing for me just to come off the bench and bring that spark. And we won that game. I can’t be mad at nothing.”
Love Rumored to Leave the Cavs
The Cavaliers early struggles have prompted speculation that Love will opt out of the final year of his contract and then leave for Los Angeles.
But the speculation is just that, and doesn’t seem to have much merit this early in the season.
It’s assumed that Love will opt out of the final year but he said earlier this year that he’s committed to the Cavs long term.
“I’m committed to this team, committed long‑term to the end goal and that is to win championships and to win a championship here in Ohio,” he told Cleveland.com.
“We know it’s earned, not given, but every day is an opportunity for us to get better and try to seize that opportunity.”
MORE: Lakers News, Trade Rumors: Kobe Bryant, Kevin Love, Jeremy Lin, Steve Nash
And Yahoo Sports said that the Cavs and Love reached “a firm agreement Love will opt out of his contract in 2015 and re-sign with the Cavaliers on a five-year, $120 million-plus contract extension.”
Love has also expressed admiration for both LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.
“You mentioned the word opportunity, he just draws so much attention from the team that’s out there, more often than not he’s going to double team and sometimes triple‑team. All eyes are usually on him because even if he doesn’t have the ball, he’s so good with moving without it. He can shoot it and he’s really expanded his game as well. He’s unselfish and an undeniable leader,” he said.
““I think as far as being inspired, I’m the type of guy that likes to be inspired so learning from him and getting on the floor with him and just picking his brain is going to be big for each and every one of us, not even player wise, but off the court throughout the organization.”
James’ Jersey Up for Auction
The jersey that James wore for his first regular-season game after returning to Cleveland is up for auction.
After 20 bids so far, the jersey is up to $7,960.
The bids started at $250 and increments are for $20.
The bidding is open until November 20.
It opened on November 4.
See an Associated Press below.
LeBron’s Triple Double Leads Cavs Past Pelicans
CLEVELAND—LeBron James wanted so badly to give back to Cleveland fans after he played poorly in his emotion-laced home opener.
They deserved something.
On Monday night, he delivered a belated gift.
James recorded a triple-double with 32 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, Kyrie Irving scored 27 of his 32 in the second half and Cleveland’s “Big 3” dominated in a 118-111 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night.
Kevin Love made six 3-pointers and added 22 points for the Cavs, who were back at Quicken Loans Arena for the first time since Oct. 30, when Cleveland welcomed James home after four years in Miami. He failed to play up to the monumental event, going 5 of 15 and committing eight turnovers in a stunning loss to the New York Knicks.
James wouldn’t allow a repeat performance. After the Cavs returned from a four-game road trip, James went on his Twitter account and told Cleveland fans, “I owe y'all one.”
Not anymore.
“It worked out. It’s good when you put something out there and it comes true,” he said. “I owed them one, and many more as well. Tonight we took care of business.”
James and Irving dominated in the second half, combining for 49 points — 30 in the third quarter when the Cavs overcame 9-point deficit. Love, too, was huge after halftime, making four 3-pointers.
“This is special,” said Irving, who added nine assists and had just one turnover in 40 minutes. “We played well as a group.”
Anthony Davis scored 27 with 14 rebounds for the Pelicans, who beat defending NBA champion San Antonio on Saturday night and gave the Cavaliers all they could handle. Ryan Anderson added 32 points — 23 in the first half for New Orleans.
“In order for you to become one of the best you have to play the best and learn from them,” Davis said. “I love playing against LeBron and the Cavs. They’re a tough team. They have three players who can score the ball at will. We broke down defensively. They scored 118 points. We can’t allow teams to do that.”
Irving’s 3-pointer gave the Cavs a 101-95 lead, but the Pelicans didn’t go away and were within three when Love drained one of his six 3s. Irving scored on a conventional three-point play and then hit another long-range shot to give Cleveland a 110-98 lead with 2:26 left.
James was taken out to a rousing ovation, but coach David Blatt had to re-insert the superstar in the closing seconds after Anderson’s 3 brought the Pelicans to 117-111 with 13.9 seconds left.
Following the game, Blatt answered several questions before reminding everyone what James did.
“Hey, that guy No. 23 was pretty good tonight,” Blatt said. “It’s easy to overlook that guy. He grabbed the game. He understood the moment.”
Cleveland was just back from a four-game road trip, which had its share of drama as James challenged his young teammates following a loss in Portland.
But in their first game back, the Cavs’ trio of James, Irving and Love showed why they’ve been pegged as title favorites. After a slower start than many imagined, the Cavs — and James — are beginning to figure things out.
“I’m not there yet,” James said. “I have a couple more kinks I need to work out, but I feel I’m in the right place right now and I’ve made some progress.”
COACH'S CORNER
Blatt was pleased with his team’s offensive movement, but Cleveland’s defense had some disastrous stretches. Blatt said the Cavs had “moments of lethargy” and described the Cavs’ defensive issues as “disturbing and ”worrisome.”
TRAVELING
The Pelicans didn’t arrive in Cleveland until nearly 3 a.m. The team was scheduled to leave at 4 p.m. on Sunday, but a mechanical problem with their plane caused a long delay and a new pilot and crew had to be flown in from Minnesota, delaying the flight by six hours.
“It was actually a good thing for us,” coach Monty Williams said. “We had Internet on the plane. We watched games and did our work. It could have been a lot worse.”
ROOKIE SPARK
Cavs rookie G Joe Harris made his first career 3-pointer and gave Blatt 20 quality minutes.
“He plays with a lot of heart and people in Cleveland love that,” Blatt said.
TIP INS
Pelicans: Davis came leads the league in rebounds (13.0) and blocks (4.2) and is averaging 24.9 points. “He’s one of the elite players,” said James, who played with Davis on the U.S. Olympic team in 2012. James said Davis has a unique game. “It doesn’t compare to anybody,” he said.
Cavaliers: G Dion Waiters sat out with a bruised lower back, an injury he sustained Friday when he was fouled on a layup by Nuggets forward Darrell Arthur, who was suspended one game. It’s not known how long Waiters will be sidelined. ... Cleveland plays eight of its next 10 games at home.
