Byron Scott isn't wasting any time putting his stamp on the Cavaliers, even if it's just the summer version.
J.J. Hickson scored 18 points and scored on nine of his 12 field-goal attempts in a high-tempo summer-league game Tuesday in Las Vegas.
LAS VEGAS -- Byron Scott isn't wasting any time putting his stamp on the Cavaliers, even if it's just the summer version.
In their Vegas Summer League debut, the team immediately began showing some of the up-tempo traits Scott has promised to bring next season.
Though the outcomes of the games rarely have meaning, the Cavs' 88-82 victory over the D-League Select team at UNLV Tuesday had the fingerprints of the future.
For the last week, as the team has been practicing together in both Cleveland and Las Vegas, Scott and assistant coach Paul Pressey have been putting the group through some marathon practices with heavy running. When the rest of the roster shows up for training camp in the fall, they can expect more of the same.
During the game the mandate was obvious as the players were pushing the ball at every chance. Sometimes even when there wasn't a natural fast-break situation, they pushed it anyway. The 88 points is a lot for a summer-league game, which is just 40 minutes instead of the usual 48, and the Cavs racked up numerous easy transition baskets on the way to shooting 54 percent.
"Rebounds, turnovers and even made baskets, we're going to try to run off all of them," Scott said. "We have to try to get a little more organized offensively. The main thing is guys are making a conscious effort to get up and down the floor."
The organization part was an issue. The Cavs committed 20 turnovers and eight of were charged to Danny Green. But in general, the players seemed to be making an honest effort to adapt to their coach's demanding new style.
Part of the reason Scott thinks it can work is because of J.J. Hickson, who was putting his agility and quickness to use. Hickson scored 18 points on 9-of-12 shooting, knocking down several of the mid-range jump shots he's been working on since the end of the season. But he did miss all six free-throw attempts.
More important to Scott, though, was how Hickson responded when Scott challenged him at halftime. After getting just one rebound in the first 20 minutes, Hickson got eight in the second half. He was pushed, playing 38 minutes perhaps in an effort to test how he'd handle all the running.
Because of it, there's a chance Hickson will sit out Wednesday's game to recover a bit.
"He's just trying to get in the flow and getting his timing down," Scott said of Hickson, "and understand the system we've given him over the past five days."
Green had 12 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals in a choppy performance. Cavs 2009 first-round pick Christian Eyenga played well, scoring 13 points with two athletic blocked shots. The Cavs are hoping to see some consistency out of him this week.
Pooh Jeter, a free agent with the team for summer league, had an impressive 17 points with seven assists.
Gilbert humbled by fans offer: Cavs owner Dan Gilbert was contacted by numerous fans Monday and Tuesday who wanted to help pay for his $100,000 fine issued by NBA Commissioner David Stern for his open letter following LeBron James' departure.
"I would like to say thanks for the incredible outpouring of support by the numerous loyal and passionate Cavaliers fans who have offered to contribute to paying the recent fine I was assessed by the NBA," Gilbert said in a statement. "The humbling offer by so many is another reflection of the strength of Cavs fans and the people who live and work in this region and are always the first to step up and have each other's back."
Gilbert will pay the fine, but is encouraging fans who wanted to donate to do so to the Cavaliers Youth Fund.
Cavs look at Morrison: The Cavs were one of a handful of teams that attended a workout Tuesday for former No. 3 overall draft pick Adam Morrison. The team is considering various small forward options, though Morrison is down the list. He has averaged 7.5 points on 37 percent shooting for his four-year career and just 2.4 points for the Lakers last season.