Ten quick dribbles on the rolling Cavaliers:
1. When the Cavs defend like they did in Saturday's 109-97 win over the Indiana Pacers ... well, they're going to shut up a lot of people.
2. The Cavs are hardly the second coming of the Bad Boys Pistons when it comes to defense. But that's OK. With LeBron James, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving and others figuring it out on offense, the Cavs just have to be good defensively. They don't have to be phenomenal.
3. How can you not love how Irving has just become so determined defensively? Kyrie used to be the guy everyone used as the example of what not to do on D. But something happened over the summer, and if I had to guess, it was the result of spending time with Team USA coach Mike Kryzewski -- Irving's coach at Duke. Nobody influences NBA players like their former coaches, and that dates back to the beginning of time.
4. Anyway, Irving asked, "Why can't I be a great defender?" The point guard correctly answered his own question by saying, "It's all about effort." Irving admitted he struggled his first three years, "making excuses of offensive burden and all this other stuff." Saying those types of things really shows how much Kyrie has matured as both a leader and a person. "In order for our team to win, I have to be that guy on the defensive end," he said. "You can only talk about it for so long. At one point it just has to be done."
5. So kudos to Kyrie. And yes, having LeBron on the team also helps in this area. James has told his teammates he wants to win championships, and in order to do that, everyone needs to defend -- at least a little. No one seemed to listen or know how during the first eight games or so. But in the previous four (including three straight wins), the Cavs are suffocating their opponents to the tune of 40 percent shooting. You do that by guarding guys on the perimeter, making every dribble and pass a chore. You do it by being active, and as LeBron has said, Kyrie is the head of that snake.
6. Kevin Love is also making strides in that area. Yes, Love -- who scored 28 points and played his best game as a Cavalier vs. the Pacers. Love admitted that "being a lockdown defender is something I know I'll never be." And that's OK. If the Cavs are to be an efficient team defensively, they will need five guys on the floor defending as a single unit. Love said he's up for it. "As far as being a team defender, being in the right spots, being physical and doing those things, I can do a lot better at that," he said.
7. Anderson Varejao missed the Pacers game with a rib injury (not serious), and Tristan Thompson started in his place. And Love had the best game of the season. I don't know if it's a coincidence or not, but it's not out of line to ask if Varejao being out was a reason things opened up for Love and helped contribute to his big night. Love himself, in fact, said it may have played a role.
8. That said, the Cavs have won three straight and Varejao is shooting 61 percent from the floor. Everyone is still adapting to each other. Nothing wrong with any of that. So I wouldn't be mixing anything up right now if I'm coach David Blatt.
9. Interestingly, LeBron said some of the defensive issues earlier were the result of issues on offense. It was an interesting take, as so many people talk about defense leading to offense. Personally, I lean more toward LeBron's take. "Our offense was really what was killing us at the time," he said. "We were turning the ball over way too much, and when you're turning the ball over, it doesn't allow you to set your defense. That was the huge thing. That's why we were giving up high numbers as far as opponents' field-goal percentage."
10. So, the D is improving and the Cavs (8-7) are rolling. In a few more weeks, we all may be pointing and laughing at the folks who said it was time to panic after 10 games.
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