Charlotte coach Larry Brown said before the game the Cavs cause a lot of problems for teams.

"They are as good as anybody," he said. "At the end of the year, I’m sure they will be fighting for a championship."

The Cavs are shooting better from the 3-point line (46.6 percent) than they are from the field (44.8 percent).

"They have a player who can do everything on both ends of the floor (LeBron James)," Brown said. "It’s a huge task when you play Cleveland."

Brown said it was no disgrace losing to the Celtics in the season opener.

"Boston is loaded," he said. "Each game they play with Boston is going to be like a heavyweight title fight."

He said he has no doubts about the Cavs, who evened their record at 2-2 after the win over the Bobcats.

"When the season is over, they’ll have a chance to win an NBA championship," Brown said.

CAVS 90, BOBCATS 79
Oct. 31, 2009 at Quicken Loans Arena
STARTERS
Cavs
F LeBron James
F Anderson Varejao
C Shaquille O'Neal
G Anthony Parker
G Mo Williams
Bobcats
F Gerald Wallace
F Boris Diaw
C Tyson Chandler
G Stephen Graham
G Raymond Felton
OFFICIALS
Mark Wunderlich, Marc Davis, Kane Fitzgerald
INACTIVE PLAYERS
Cavs - Coby Karl, Danny Green, Leon Powe
Bobcats - Raja Bell, Flip Murray

NOTES
-- The Cavs are 10-0 lifetime vs. the Bobcats at The Q.
-- The Cavs have won 40 of their last 43 regular-season games at The Q, dating back to last year.

With their win over Minnesota on Friday, the Cavaliers recorded their first victory of the season. It couldn't have come fast enough. They were starting to get a bit tight under the collar.

They were also 1-2 after three games last season. Of course, they went on to win 65 more games. So, don't get too carried away with that Cleveland thinking.

This team has too much talent for it to have too many losing streaks. It also has perhaps the best player in the league in LeBron James.

James has averaged 33 points in his last nine games against the Timberwolves, including seven 30-point performances.

It was clear that he was ready to play on Friday. Even when Shaquille O'Neal was sent to the bench with foul trouble, James was dominating. When he's draining jump shots the way he did against the Timberwolves, he's impossible to defend.

With Shaq out of the line, Zydrunas Ilgauskas showed why he's a valuable commodity. It could have to take a lopsided deal for me to trade him.

Cavs 104, Timberwolves 87
Oct. 30 at Target Center
Starting lineups
Cavs
F LeBron James
F Anderson Varejao
C Shaquille O'Neal
G Mo Williams
G Anthony Parker
Timberwolves
F Damien Wilkins
F Ryan Gomes
C Al Jefferson
G Corey Brewer
G Jonny Flynn
Officials - Ken Mauer, Leon Wood, Sean Wright

The media talks about the regression of Ohio State quarterback Terrell Pryor. We're watching the regression of the Cavs' offense - right before our eyes.

No one expected John Kuester to be missed all that much. Sure, he was a very good assistant coach, who was the Cavs' offensive coordinator last year. Of course, he left when he was hired by the Detroit Pistons as their head coach.

But the Cavs offense has been downright putrid early on in the season. The Cavs shot 31 percent from the field in the first half of Wednesday's game. They had just 8 turnovers at halftime.

But something is wrong, desperately wrong. It's Mike Malone's job to find the right combinations. He's been entrusted with the offense this year.

INJURY REPORT
-- F/C Anderson Varejao said his nose was bloodied on a play near the basket when he was bashed in the face. No blood, no foul? He can't even get a call when he's bloodied.
-- G Boobie Gibson apparently got X-rays after the game. It's unknown if he was injured.

Cavs vs. Raptors
Oct. 28 at Air Canada Centre
Starting lineups
CAVS
G Mo Williams
G Anthony Parker
C Shaquille O'Neal
F LeBron James
F Anderson Varejao
RAPTORS
G Jose Calderon
G DeMar DeRozan
C Andrea Bargnani
F Chris Bosh
F Hedo Turkoglu
INACTIVE
Cavs - Delonte West, Leon Powe, Danny Green
Raptors - Sonny Weems, Reggie Evans, Quincy DOuby
OFFICIALS
Greg Willard, Sean Corbin, Tommy Nunez Jr.

Nuggets coach George Karl said he wants to see his son, Cavs guard Coby, stick with the team.

He's heard rumors that the Cavs might sign free agent guard Antonio Daniels and waive his son.

He told AOL Fanhouse he thinks that would be a mistake.

Oct. 27, 2009 at Quicken Loans Arena
Starting lineups
CAVS
F LeBron James
F Anderson Varejao
C Shaquille O'Neal
G Mo Williams
G Anthony Parker
CELTICS
F Paul Pierce
F Kevin Garnett
C Kendrick Perkins
G Rajon Rondo
G Ray Allen

It doesn't appear like Cavs G Delonte West will play in tonight's game against Dallas in Pittsburgh. Everyone has to be patient with this situation.

He might not play in the preseason. He hasn't logged one minute. Can anyone expect him not to play in the preseason and then play 25 minutes against Boston in the season opener?

If he isn't ready, does that mean Andre Barrett will beat out Coby Karl for the final roster spot? Right now, Karl has the edge, but that's assuming West is ready.

It has been anything but a smooth preseason for the Cavs. There have been injuries, a flu bug that tore through the team and the West situation is hanging over everyone's head.

When healthy, the Washington Wizards appear to be one of the top eight teams in the Eastern COnference.

But it seems like one of their key guys always seems to go down with an injury. That injury might have occurred on Wednesday when forward Antawn Jamison injured his shoulder.

It's a deep and talented team when they have all their players. It starts with guard Gilbert Arenas, who missed the majority of the season last year with a knee injury.

-- The Cavs are averaging 105.7 points in their last three games.

-- C Shaquille O'Neal is shooting 61.3 percent from the field in the preseason, and that's second on the team. G Anthony Parker is first at 63.6 percent.

Assuming the Cavs keep 15 players, which they will, the last spot might come down to point guard Andre Barrett or guard Coby Karl.

This is also assuming forward Jawad Williams will make the club.

Forward Rob Kurz doesn't appear to be long for this team. He's not playing much, even in blowouts. He can definitely shoot the ball, but can't do anything else. Williams is a better player.

Karl is a good all-around player who can do many things. But Barrett might be kept to protect the Cavs in the uncertain Delonte West situation.

He continues to be away from the team because of personal problems.

-- The Cavs had 18 of their 30 assists in the first half when they shot 56.8 percent from the field (25 of 44). They shot 55 percent for the game.

-- The Cavs used a 24-10 run in the third quarter to extend their lead to 30 points, their biggest of the game.

-- The Cavs are averaging 106.5 points in the last two games.

-- F J.J. Hickson is averaging a team-high 14.3 points and 5.0 rebounds and is shooting 63 percent from the field in the preseason.

-- G Anthony Parker is shooting a team-best 71.4 percent from the field in the preseason (10 of 14). He's averaging 7.7 points and 3.7 rebounds.

I've got to say I love the look of the Cavs' new alternate uniforms.

The fine people at "Ball Don't Lie" show the retro look of the jerseys. I'm not one to go out and buy Cavs' gear, but I wouldn't mind having one of these.

The reason I don't have much Cavs' gear is because I can't wear them any where. I can't wear them to cover practice or I'll be branded a "homer." I wore a Browns shirt to Cavs practice once and was ridiculed, and rightly so.

Say what you want about Austin Carr, but his popularity might be at an all-time high. He's in his 11th year as a TV color analyst for the Cavs.

The people at soundboard.com have put together some of Carr's finer moments. I have to admit I laughed out loud listening to the quips.

On a personal note, you will not find a nicer guy in professional sports. I'm not just blowing smoke. That's a genuine statement. You also won't find someone who cares more about this team.

It's going to be a long and very interesting season of Cavs' basketball in 2009-10. The Cavs hope Carr will be "throwing the hammer down" until mid-June.

The Cavs marvel at the way C Shaquille O'Neal passes out of a double team.

"He’s always been a great passer," F LeBron James said. "It gets overlooked sometimes."

Shaq said he's still learning the offense. He said he'll be up to snuff by the regular–season opener on Oct. 27.

O'Neal hit F Anderson Varejao with a perfect pass, but it was fumbled.

"I told him, 'I might not look at you, but I see you.' I take pride in being one of the best passing big men in the game. I’ll be looking for him."

QUICK HITS -- They say you’re in trouble if the three officials’ numbers add up to 100. It’s probably not a good thing that the refs’ numbers on Tuesday were 143, 152 and 159.
-- O'Neal and James combined for 11 of the Cavs' first 13 points.
-- I don't know about you, but I can't wait to hear Fox Sports Ohio broadcaster Austin Carr do the color commentary for the Cavs' game against Olympiacos on Oct. 12.