“First play, actually”, Love said. “I’m sure there’ll be a few scares here and there, but that’s kind of mentally just getting over the hump a little bit”.
The Toronto-born Joseph, acquired in the off-season as a replacement for backup point guard Greivis Vasquez, had 11 points to once again provide a big spark off the bench in the Raptors’ 87-81 pre-season victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. That did not end up happening and now things likely will extend into the regular season.
“I want to do what makes me happy and what makes me happy is winning a championship and where do I want to win a championship?” said Williams.
“I don’t think we will immediately be able to play at a high level because we have so many guys out”, he said. James is resting for the regular season, and Jefferson is to sit one of these final two exhibitions after playing in all five to this point.
Likewise, Kyrie Irving is out with a knee injury, Kevin Love is still recovering from his shoulder surgery, and Iman Shumpert is out with a hurt wrist. “We know how important he is for this team, ” Varejao said.
“We know we need him for us to do something special”. “He didn’t shy away from any contact whatsoever, ” Blatt said. We’ll also see if Terrence Ross is ready to go after hurting his ankle last Monday, and if Patrick Patterson can fully embrace his larger role on the team. In fact, he had the same issues back in January and also took shots as well as two weeks of rest so that he would not have to deal with it during the season. “I only realized it after I went through it, and so this year it’s easier because I have a better understanding”.
Traded from Minnesota to Cleveland in a three-team deal in August 2014, Love reached the playoffs for the first time as a professional last spring, but his experience didn’t last long. If the Cavs get off to a fast start, they prove that Thompson isn’t as valuable as he believes he is. The three-time all-star forward had surgery in May after dislocating his shoulder in the opening round against Boston when he got tangled up with Canadian Kelly Olynyk. BLATT’S LESSONS:
Blatt was under scrutiny from the start of a rough first season for him in the National Basketball Association. Love signed a five-year, $110 million contract to remain with the Cavaliers this past July. “I can tell you that physically he is in as good a shape as he’s ever been, and you can see it on him, too, ” Blatt said. “You can see it on his body, you can see it on the way he moves”.