Cavs-Maccabi Tel Aviv instant dribbles

Published Oct. 5, 2014 8:27 p.m. ET

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Final: Cavaliers 107, Maccabi Tel Aviv 80

1. Funny that the Cavs changed over the entire roster and the guy who led them in scoring was their leading scorer from last season. That would none other than Kyrie Irving, who finished with 16 points. But with LeBron James, Kevin Love and others around, Irving is sure to get better looks this season. He certainly played a more relaxed game.

2. LeBron James rested the entire second half after scoring 12 points in the first. He also passed for four assists and grabbed four rebounds. Yes, LeBron's back is fine. But this is a long season. No need to wear down your best player against a team from Israel in the preseason opener.

3. The Cavs looked a little out of sorts on offense and perhaps a little less than interested in a greatly inferior opponent. But their massive amount of weapons and deep bench was evident.

4. Interestingly, along with Irving, holdovers Dion Waiters (15 points) and Tristan Thompson (14 points and 13 rebounds) also looked very sharp. You could tell those guys played together, and the other older veterans, not quite as much.

5. The Cavs should be one of the league's best rebounding teams (if not the very best), and they showed it on this night. Anderson Varejao finished with a game-high 15 boards, and Thompson and Love tacked on 13 and 11, respectively. Obviously, LeBron and Shawn Marion (six rebounds in 16 minutes) can also clean the glass.

6. Love finished with eight points on six shots. Varejao and James Jones each scored six points, and Matthew Dellavedova and Lou Amundson added four apiece. Second-round pick Joe Harris also gave a nice showing with 10 points (4-of-9 shooting), all in the second half.

7. Former University of Akron forward Nate Linhart scored three points in 18 minutes for Maccabi. Linhart went 1-of-3 from the floor and grabbed six rebounds.

8. I'll have more on the game and the Cavs right here on FOX Sports Ohio later.