Written by Sam Amico

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PITTSBURGH - Jamario Moon led the singing in the post-game locker room and most of his Cavaliers teammates gladly joined in.

The song was “Respect,” originally sung by Aretha Franklin, but ask Moon and he’ll likely tell you he perfected it.

And a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T is one of the things the Cavs are playing for.

The latest sign came Thursday night in Pittsburgh, where the Cavs hammered San Antonio by a 106-80 count. They are now 4-1 in the preseason with three games to go.

If the Cavs keep asking for respect, and continue to play this way … well, baby, you got it.

“I’m real happy with the effort,” said Cavs coach Byron Scott. “Our guys were pretty much busting their butts the whole time. With three games left in the preseason, it’s just a matter of tightening up some nuts and bolts.”

It should be noted that this is just the preseason, not to mention the Spurs were without their Big Three of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginbobili and Tony Parker, as well as starter Richard Jefferson.

But the Cavs aren’t really competing against anyone else at the moment. Instead, they are more focused on executing the new offense, keeping the ball moving and getting great looks at the basket.

So far, that is exactly what’s happened.

“It’s been a big difference (between the first preseason game and the fifth),” Scott said. “We’re getting good shots and not really forcing anything.”

It’s also been encouraging to see how younger Cavs such as forward J.J. Hickson, guard Daniel Gibson and guard Ramon Sessions continue to make strides while expected starters Mo Williams (hamstring) and Anderson Varejao (tender ankle, death in family) wait to return. Each has practiced just once.

Hickson finished with 18 points and nine rebounds versus the Spurs, while the 6-foot-3 Sessions scored 14, passed for six assists, and grabbed nine boards himself.

Also getting in on the act for the third straight game was rookie free agent guard Manny Harris, who again made a strong case to make the cut. Despite sitting out the entire first half, Harris finished in double figures (11 points) for the third straight game.

It may not be long before Cavs fans think Harris’ lone drawback is the fact he’s from Michigan.

Not to be forgotten is Gibson, who’s playing like the man the Cavs once hoped he’d become. He’s attacking the basket, finding the open man and displaying the same type of energy he showed back in 2007, his first year in the league and the Cavs’ lone trip to the Finals.

As an added bonus, the Cavs have clearly been in better physical shape than everyone they’ve played, a point that’s been proven over and over again late in games.

That’s by design -- as Scott’s practices consist of nearly as much running without the basketball as with it.

“I think (the players) are starting to see the benefits of it now,” said the coach.

Pretty soon, respect may not be far behind.

JAMISON, PARKER INJURED

Cavs forward Antawn Jamison limped off the floor in the second quarter, shortly after hitting his first 3-pointer of the preseason. The initial diagnosis was a left knee sprain. He will be re-evaluated Friday. As of now, it’s no reason to be overly alarmed.

Especially since Jamison was all smiles after the game.

“It’s a little sore now, but if it were a regular season game I probably would have come back and played,” he said.

Meanwhile, shooting guard Anthony Parker sprained his right middle and ring fingers. Again, it appeared to be no big deal, as X-rays came back negative.

Both could play in the Cavs’ next game, Saturday at home against CSKA Moscow.

NOTES

Most of the crowd at the Petersen Events Center on the University of Pittsburgh campus were rooting for San Antonio, particularly former Pitt center and current Spurs forward DeJuan Blair (nine points, 11 rebounds). ... The announced attendence was 5,121. That's likely the smallest crowd the Cavs have played in front of in, well, seven years. ... The Cavs shot a sizzling 52 percent from the floor (40-for-77), including 6-for-12 on 3-pointers. Gibson was 6-for-8 overall.

Sam Amico covers the Cavaliers for NBA.com and is a regular contributor to SportsTime Ohio and The Cleveland Fan. Follow him on Twitter at @SamAmicoNBA.