P.M. Cleveland Cavaliers links: Coach Scott eases up (riiiiiiight); Kobe says he can take LeBron 1-on-1

Cavs get off easy with coach Byron Scott's definition of a "light" workout.

Independence, Ohio -- A little hard work never killed anyone. But it sure can make your knees hurt. That could be why new Cavs coach Byron Scott took it easy, so to speak, on the team in Sunday's practice. Or at least that's how Scott explained the day in a story by the Akron Beacon Journal's Jason Lloyd.

Byron Scott went easy on the Cavaliers on Sunday. They worked on some defense, scrimmaged for a bit, shot free throws and went home to watch football. All told, it was about a two-hour practice.

''I guess you can equate this to their day off,'' he joked.

Scott came to Cleveland with the reputation of running physical, demanding training camps. He has lived up to the image.

The players haven't gotten a day off yet and there doesn't seem to be one coming in the near future. His reasoning is simple — this isn't a veteran team that knows his system. The Cavs' first preseason game is Tuesday night (against the Bobcats at The Q at 7 p.m.) and the season begins in about three weeks, but the players are still trying to learn his offense.

''I want them to be in the gym every day,'' Scott said. ''Especially at this stage of what we're trying to learn and teach. Every day is a work day and benefits us as a basketball team. There's other teams that have guys that have been together for years. They can take days off. We haven't. We have to make sure that we use every day to the best of our ability.''

And if they don't like it, they can always take their talents ... elsewhere.

Take that, LeBron
Kobe Bryant has five rings -- and we don't mean the ones where you get to kiss your lovely bride afterward. We're talkin' NBA championship rings. A guy like that, with those credentials, isn't going to back down.

That's why, when he was being interviewed in London, where he and his reigning champion Lakers are preparing for a preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he didn't hesitate when asked who'd win in a game of one-on-one, him or LeBron James.

"Me."

Did someone suggest an hourlong ESPN special? Call it "The Delusion." And not on Bryant's part.  Check out the video below.



From The Plain Dealer
At least one Cav likes the run-'n'-shoot style of play coach Scott is trying to institute: guard Boobie Gibson. Plain Dealer writer Mary Schmitt Boyer talked to Gibson, who's essentially looking at the post-LeBron James  / post-Mike Brown era as a chance to revitalize his career.