Long before either team took the court, the game's outcome was predictable. The Cleveland Cavaliers cruised past visiting Maccabi Tel Aviv, 107-80, Sunday night.
But the result didn't make the David Blatt's NBA coaching debut any easier to swallow. Blatt struggled emotionally as the players he lead to last year's Euroleague championship were overwhelmed by his highly more talented squad.
"I was nervous before the game, but not because it was the first time I coached in the NBA," Blatt said. "I was playing against my friends."
The Cavs were never threatened in a game that saw LeBron James finish with 12 points four assists and four rebounds in 19 minutes. Maccabi Tel Aviv trailed by 15 at halftime, but put up little resistance in the second half.
LeBron James could be leading a charge to get rid of max contracts in the NBA. https://t.co/MfJoiEqw0R pic.twitter.com/ZZexoeA15C
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 6, 2014
Guards Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters paced the Cavs with 16 and 15 points, respectively. All-Star forward Kevin Love, acquired in a trade during the offseason from the Minnesota Timberwolves, contributed eight points and 11 rebounds.
Power forward Tristan Thompson raised several eyebrows with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
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