CLEVELAND -- Random dribbles on the Cavaliers' hard-fought win over the visiting and feisty Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday:
1. Mike Miller saved the day for the Cavs. That's a sentence I doubted I'd ever type. Actually, I never gave it much thought. After all, Miller didn't get off the bench for the three games before this. Yet here he was, entering in the third quarter and basically rescuing the Cavs. Even coach David Blatt called Miller the game's MVP.
2. Miller only took four shots and finished with just six points, but he really showed two things: First, you don't need to score a lot of points to make a major impact; and secondly, it really pays to have a veteran who's been in these situations coming off the bench. As Kyrie Irving said, Miller's performance was a "true testament to being a professional and staying ready."
3. Obviously, the most talked about play of the night was when Miller blocked the shot of ultra-athletic Bucks swingman Giannis "Greek Freak" Antetokounmpo at the rim. Keep in mind that Miller is in his 15th season with an often iffy back. Antetokounmpo is in just his second year and can jump out of the gym. "It's what I do," Miller said of the play, smiling widely.
4. Blatt said Miller gave the rest of the team confidence when he entered the game. "He sort of stabilized us," Blatt said. "That's what a veteran should do. We threw him into a tough situation and he answered the call in a big way."
4. The Cavs (9-7) have won four in a row. They trailed by as many as 11 points in the second half. They looked unmotivated and downright bored for more than two quarters. This was not one of their better all-around performances.
5. But Blatt said it best: "A few weeks ago, we would've lost. But we didn't today. That speaks to the progress of the team."
6. So what was the difference? The answer is pure aggressiveness. While the young Bucks played determined all the night, the Cavs were all too willing to sit back and take it on the chin. Then LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and yes, Miller, picked it up.
7. As Blatt said, "We became the aggressors and we became the attackers, as opposed to being attacked."
8. Another turning point: When the Cavs trailed 74-63 in the third quarter, Irving put a move on Bucks guard O.J. Mayo that Mayo hopes no one ever sees again. Irving finished with a layup to cap a 9-0 run. Eventually, the game was tied at 79 entering the fourth.
9. Irving finished with a game-high 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting, with six assists. The guy has just been remarkable lately. Not that that's anything new -- it's just that now, he's doing it with a winning program. That's a big change from his first three NBA seasons.
10. LeBron on Kyrie: "He's patient. He knows how to run the team. He has a lot of confidence, and not only in himself."
11. Love has also been fantastic. He scored 15 points in the first quarter and finished with 27. He also grabbed 10 rebounds. He left the game late with a leg cramp. Blatt said it's not serious.
12. Meanwhile, James made some big shots down the stretch to score 26 points and pass for 10 assists. He admitted he needs to cut down on the turnovers, finishing with seven.
13. The Cavs can also stand to do better at the free-throw line. They were very good in the preseason but have been just so-so lately. It almost cost them the game Tuesday. They finished 27-of-38 on foul shots, with LeBron shooting a shaky 14-of-21. That must improve.
15. LeBron's advice to Waiters: "We know he's a very good basketball player. When your number is called, come in with great energy and effort. One thing you can control is how hard you play."
16. Shawn Marion had a nice game with 10 points, and Anderson Varejao finished with eight points and eight boards. However, the Cavs' bench totalled just 12 points. Both Blatt and his reserves need to get this figured out.
17. Kudos to first-year Bucks coach Jason Kidd. This young, athletic team is loads of fun to watch. The Bucks (10-9) are playing smart, determined basketball, and Kidd clearly has their attention.
18. Bucks point guard Brandon Knight (27 points, eight assists) is a different player under Kidd. Not surprising, considering Kidd is one of the all-time greats at the position. Knight really seems to have matured as a player. He and the Bucks look to be just a couple years away -- and it should be fun watching them get there.
19. Another positive sign for the Bucks, clearly, is rookie forward Jabari Parker. He was electric on this night, finishing with 22 points and a couple of cool dunks on 11-of-15 shooting. "I think he's excellent," LeBron said of Parker. "With any rookie, they're always going to have their ups and downs. The talent is there. He's explosive, he can shoot the ball and he can rebound, too."
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