Enjoy This Win While You Can...

.....because you may not see one again for a little. The best recipe for a struggling Cavaliers team is Isiah Thomas' bottom feeding New York Knicks. Nothing like a bad Eastern Conference foe to come along when you need a win. Lebron went off for 45 points, the game after he had one of his worst games as a pro and was ripped by the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Bud Shaw for calling himself a leader, but not acting or playing like one. It was statement time for #23 during the Cavs 110-106 win. Held scoreless in the first half Wednesday night against Dallas, Lebron had 23 last night.

The difference, however, was Boobie Gibson. He made like it was game six of the Eastern Conference Finals and started raining three's on the Knicks. He was 6-9 for the game and buried 4-4 in the game-deciding fourth quarter. Each one was bigger than the next. Boobie went off for a career high 24 (although his true career high was 31 in game six vs Detroit).

A win last night was nice and all, but the Cavs struggled at home with the Knicks. That speaks volumes. Luckily Sasha Pavlovic returns (hopefully) for the start of the West Coast road trip because the current bench is weak. All five starters played major minutes: Drew Gooden 32, Larry Hughes, Z, and Boobie all played 36, and Lebron 44. When your two top bench minute-getters are Dwayne Jones (18) and Damon Jones (17), then you have a serious problem. Donyell Marshall has seemed to disappeared from the rotation, playing only 10 minutes last night after only 12 Wednesday. Paging Mr. Varajao.....

This should be an interesting week and a half for the Cavs. The west coast trip begins Sunday night in Phoenix who will be an angry team after losing their home opener to the Lakers last night. Follow that with trips to Golden State, Utah, Sacramento, Los Angeles to face the Clippers, and closing up at Denver. If they come out of two wins, they should be thrilled.

Needy Cavs Show Life in Game They Needed to Win - Terry Pluto, Cleveland Plain Dealer

Lebron is Back - Brian Windhorst, Akron Beacon-Journal