CLEVELAND -- Random dribbles from the Cavaliers' 105-91 victory over the visiting Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday:
1. Let's start with the fact the Grizzlies didn't have two key starters in forward Zach Randolph and swingman Tony Allen, both injured. And we're starting there because I'm sure anyone who followed this game will immediately mention it. But truth is, the Cavs didn't care, and neither should you.
2. As Cavs coach David Blatt pointed out, the Atlanta Hawks came to The Q without their starting point guard (Jeff Teague) the other night and cruised. This is the NBA. You win, you're happy. Leave the excuses for the amateurs.
3. The Cavs were considerably more concerned with how well they defended and shared the ball. Kyrie Irving tied his career-high with 12 assists. LeBron James passed for 11. Overall, the Cavs finished with 34. That was the second-highest total of the season.
4. And everyone benefited from the ball movement. James finished with a game-high 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting. Anderson Varejao scored 18 on a sizzling 9-of-12. (As an intriguing aside, James and Varejao each hit a hook shot that came straight out of 1987.) Irving finished with 17 points, burying 8-of-13 shots.
5. Then there was the bench. It was as good as ever, with Dion Waiters playing perhaps his best all-around game of the year. He scored 21 points on 9-of-16 from the floor. This coming one game after he did not play in the second half. When talking about Waiters after the game, Blatt used words like "poise."
6. More Blatt on Waiters: "I was really happy to see what Dion did tonight, and believe me, it had very little to do with the points he scored. When he's engaged ... Dion can really play basketball."
7. Waiters on Waiters' philosophy: "I take what they give me and try not to force it." He speaks the truth, and while he may have forced a shot or two Sunday, everything else was a good look. He played a smart and steady game.
8. Speaking of reserves, Shawn Marion has been very good since being moved back to the bench in favor of Mike Miller. Marion has played like a pro's pro, bringing energy and effort and defense when he checks in. On Sunday, he tied a season-high with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
9. Blatt on how Marion has responded to returning to a reserve role: "He's responded beautifully because he's a pro."
10. Overall, the Cavs began the game with a great deal of energy, particularly on defense. Unlike several times this season, they didn't really let up. Even when the Grizzlies cut it to 22-19 at the end of the first quarter, it never felt like the Cavs were threatened.
11. Also, the Grizzlies may have been missing Randolph and Allen, but they are still a strong defensive team under coach Dave Joerger, no matter who is on the floor. So for the Cavs, scoring 106 points was an accomplishment. "Transition and our ability to swing the ball," was how it happened, according to Kyrie Irving.
12. Varejao added this new brand of Cavs is getting more comfortable with each other. "If we play like that every night, we are a pretty good team," he said.
13. Miller took just one shot in eight minutes and went scoreless. That's a lot different from his 21-point outing a couple days ago. Still, you can't argue with this truth: The Cavs are 2-0 since he moved into the starting lineup to provide a constant perimeter threat.
14. The Cavs (16-10) are also 8-0 at home when James scores 22 or more. So, what do you make of that, LeBron? "It's just a coincidence," he insisted. "It's not about scoring."
15. Kevin Love finished with a pedestrian eight points and eight rebounds. His wrist maybe hurting a little bit -- although he did toss one of those eye-opening outlets to Irving. That comes straight from the wrists, and young players should note how Love always snaps his passes.
16. Next up for the Cavs: Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. That means old friends Anthony Bennett and Andrew (We Hardly Knew Ye) Wiggins will be in town. Love will also face his former team for the first time.
17. Love sort of shrugged it off, saying he planned to "just treat it like a normal game." He added that the T-Wolves are "just another team that we need to beat."
18. He did admit he still has plenty of friends within the organization. And that he has noticed their current struggles (the Timberwolves were 5-20 entering Sunday). "It looks like they're fighting the battle of attrition, just like before," Love said.
19, Meanwhile, the Grizzlies (21-6) were led by Marc Gasol's 23 points. Former Ohio State star and Griz point guard Mike Conley scored 11. The Grizzlies have been one of the top three teams in the West all season. They left Cleveland with plenty of respect for the Cavs. "This is a super team," Joerger said. "You talk about three players (James, Love and Irving) that are max guys and that made a lot of plays. They're really good."
