Well, there wasn't much doubt that the Cavaliers should have and did make light work of the T-Wolves tonight, but tonight's game wasn't without its own intriguing story lines.

• LeBron started out the evening like he didn't much care to play in the fourth quarter.  LeBron put up 18 points in the first quarter with a variety of different shots.  The T-Wolves showed early on that they had absolutely no one that could contend with LeBron on the defensive end.  Some bad teams still have someone who can at least slow LBJ down, but not Minnesota.

• The negative tonight was open perimeter shots and in particular three pointers for the T-Wolves.  The Timberwolves hit nine three pointers tonight, although they did so in 23 attempts.  The Cavaliers also gave up some easy buckets inside, but I'm reaching a little bit as they gave up only 85 points.  Randy Foye was the man who found the open looks most around the arc tonight as he hit 5 of them for most of his 18 points off the bench.  Kevin Love also found some buckets inside for 18 points and 6 boards.  Many wondered if his game would translate to the NBA, but he seems to have found a role.  In the T-Wolves' defense, they are missing their superstar in Al Jefferson with a season-ending knee injury, and they are a young team with potential.

• LeBron took a hard foul tonight from licensed bruiser Jason Collins tonight, and he was none too happy about it after the game.  He made a good point that Collins neither went for the ball nor was trying to take a charge.  James also thought that if it was one of the smaller guards, that they could have been seriously injured.  Collins received a flagrant one, but that was partially offset by the technical foul assessed to Big Z for stepping into the fray.  I don't like that call at all; if you give Collins a flagrant two, I think a T for Z could be warranted, but to cancel out the flagrant one partially with a technical foul is just poor officiating.  It appears that the two (Collins and James) have a history back to when Collins was with the Nets during the '07 playoffs.

• The Cavaliers' offensive balance has truly been remarkable lately.  The wine and gold had six guys in double digits tonight, including the starting five.  LeBron and Mo each posted 20+ point games tonight, and the Cavaliers are virtually unbeatable when that happens.  Also, it was nice to see Daniel Gibson get back on the right track shooting the ball.  Boobie was feeling it tonight as he was 4-of-5 behind the arc for his 12 points with most of those treys coming in the fourth quarter.  It's important for Boobie to get his shot falling, because he or Sasha Pavlovic will be losing playing time once Wally Szczerbiak comes back.

• Speaking of Wally, he was in uniform tonight but did not play.  Wally was listed as questionable entering the game, and I imagine that the lack of effort exerted by the Cavs tonight factored into Wally's DNP.

• Also, on the injury front, Mo Williams snagged his right pinky finger on an opponent's jersey in the fourth quarter tonight.  He has a mild sprain on that finger and did not return, but Mike Brown said he is day-to-day and could have re-entered the game if necessary.

• I think this is a good opportunity to address the growing controversy at the power forward position.  Ben Wallace is set to return in the next few games, but it is not abundantly clear whether he will retain his starting spot or if Anderson Varejao will hold down the spot.  Andy has been the sixth man for the Cavaliers the last four years, and a move to the starting lineup jeopardizes the consistency of the bench play.  If you don't start Ben, I'm not sure you find as many minutes for him during the course of the game.  Anderson brings energy off the bench that I don't know if Ben can bring.  With that being said, the people in Andy's ring can argue that LBJ and Andy should play together as much as possible and that Andy's absence on the bench can be offset by Wally Szczerbiak and Joe Smith.   I would agree, and I don't think the Cavaliers can go wrong either way, but we all know their best five is the current starting five.

goes to: LeBron James, Mo Williams, and Delonte West.  A little crowded in this section tonight, but it is warranted.  LeBron and Mo combined for a huge portion of the team's offensive output most of the night.  LBJ finished with 25 points (8-of-14 shooting), 12 rebounds, and 7 assists.  Mo had 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting as well with 4-of-8 three point shooting as well.  Delonte perhaps got snubbed the other night on the game ball after two big threes, so I'll give him one tonight for an excellent floor game and good aggressiveness on offense.  D-West racked up 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists.  It appears he is starting to get out of his recent scoring/shooting slump.

Team Grade: A

The Cavs shot 53 percent while holding Minnesota to 41 percent shooting.  Good scoring balance with six guys in double figures along with a 47-26 win in the rebounding margin gives them the top grade.

How difficult to beat are the Cavaliers when they score 100+ points?  Try 33-0 this season when they score 100 or more.  Furthermore, the Cavaliers now are 34-1 at home and pushed the franchise win mark to 59 and counting.  They take on the Dallas Mavericks in the Q Sunday afternoon.

Get PuMped!

Kirk

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