Youth Is Served as Cavs Beat Nets in Opener 98-94

s              Sure it was a season opening loss for a talented team that didn't play much together in pre-season. And the player they need most to close games, point guard Deron Williams, was absent in the last quarter as the Nets limit his minutes following an ankle sprain. Even with those caveats in mind the Nets showed one weakness, in several forms that could hurt them against certain teams that on paper it appears they should beat.  Cleveland, by all conventional wisdom is one of those teams and last night's 98-94 win by the Cavs exposed that weakness. It is quickness.

            There were some good things for sure. Brook Lopez' 21 point 5 rebound 4 block effort was an early indication that he will build on his outstanding last season. Paul Pierce's quick start, Allen Anderson's strong effort off the bench and even Shaun Livingston's strong defense against Kyrie Irving for a time are all good signs. But quickness hurt the Nets from start to finish. Irving and Dion Waiters overcame slow beginnings to combine for 26 points and 11 assists. The Cavs frontcourt standouts Tristan Thompson and Anderson Varejao used quickness around the basket to combine  for 29 points and 18 boards. Irving made a great drive to set up Varejao for a short jumper with less than 30 seconds remaining that would ultimately be the decisive basket for Cleveland. On a day when youth, or more specifically young legs, were served the Nets showed a weakness that may cause problems all season long. Sure it's early, and they'll be better when DWill is completely healthy but the road ahead for the Nets May be tougher than it looks on paper.