Written by Richard Hanes

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Last night the Cleveland Cavaliers bounced back from their disappointing home opener by taking down the Pistons in the Palace 105-89.  Ten players saw twenty minutes or more of court time.  That’s right TEN different players had 20+ minutes in a game that was not a thirty point blow-out at half time.  The minute distribution was very interesting.  The “Starters” totaled 103 total minutes and the “Reserves” were on the court for 135 minutes.  So far in the 2011-2012 NBA season it seems that Coach Scott rolls with full line changes.  

Jamison, Omri, Andy, Parker, and Kyrie – Line 1
Boobie, Ramon, Gee, Samardo (thank god not Hollins vs Det), and Tristan – Line 2

Coach Scott has let this second “line” play long stretches together as a unit without a “starter” on the floor.  This is pretty rare in the NBA, but I think can be effective early on for the Cavaliers.  Given the fact that the lockout has limited this young team’s ability to properly prepare for the season this approach allows a “line” of five players to get to know each other without worrying about differing rotations.

Some Cavs fans have objected to this approach so far, specifically regarding the minutes of Kyrie Irving.  Kyrie is the #1 pick in the NBA draft.  He plays the PG position.  Many of the great NBA point guards play 35+ minutes per night.  Deron Williams, Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook are all examples.  Some refer to the fact that past top point guard draft picks Chris Paul (4th overall), John Wall (1st overall), and Derrick Rose (1st overall) averaged these type of minutes in their first seasons.  These individuals are missing a few very important details though.

1. Kyrie Irving only played 11 college games at Duke University.  John Wall and Derrick Rose both played full seasons and NCAA tournaments at Kentucky and Memphis respectively.  Chris Paul had the luxury of playing two full college campaigns at Wake Forest.  I don’t think this should be underestimated.  These great point guards had the ability to play in some big games in conference play as well as the NCAA tournament.  They had the chance to play against a higher level of competition compared to what they experienced in high school for 30+ games before they made the leap to the NBA.
2. Kyrie had to sit through an NBA lockout.  He did not have a normal training camp.  He did not have a Vegas summer league.  He did not have the same amount of time to learn Coach Scott’s offense as Paul, Wall, and Rose had to learn their team’s offenses.
3. Kyrie Irving has not had to consistently play big minutes in a meaningful basketball game since late 2010.  That is one full year ago.  Even when he Kyrie was healthy at Duke he only average 27.5 mpg.  

All Cavs fans need to keep these points in perspective.  He is entering the NBA with less college experience than recent high draft picks at the PG position, was robbed of a full NBA summer and training camp, and hasn’t consistently played big minutes in twelve months.  Easing Irving into the NBA is not the worst idea in the world.  Kyrie is a good player.  Kyrie is going to eventually get 30-35 minutes per game and that will happen at some point in this NBA season.  Forcing that in the first week given the way this NBA season has started should not be a priority.  Let Chris Paul be Chris Paul and Derrick Rose be Derrick Rose.  All good players follow their own path and that path doesn’t have to include 35+ minutes per night right away.