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Scenes from Media Day

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blog post photoOn Monday afternoon, the Cavaliers hosted the annual Media Day festivities at Cleveland Clinic Courts in Independence. Of course, Media Day signals the start of Training Camp – which tips off on Tuesday.

With “Camp Scott” looming, Media Day is the players’ last chance to relax at CCC. It’s like the first day of school – one that’s necessary and useful without much work actually getting done.

The real basketball stuff starts on Tuesday. Some observations from Monday included …

* Dion Waiters, making his first appearance with the Cleveland media following his Summer League stint.  There was some question about Waiters coming into Camp in shape, and a simple eye-test said that he was. He dropped a few pounds, but also insisted that he’s a thick guy and would be considered so even if he dropped a few pounds.

“I worked my tail off after Summer League,” said the No. 4 overall pick. “I was in the gym 3-4 times a day and I got back into shape.”

Waiters was asked about staying in Cleveland, and he offered a telling comparison between the North Coast and where he’s from in South Philly.

“You have everything you’d ever want here,” said Waiters, looking around Cleveland Clinic Courts. “There’s no need to go back to Philly. It’s rough and tough down there. You don’t need to be around that. You have everything down here that you need. You can stay away from all that negativity.”

* As is usually the case after a few months off, players come to Camp with (hopefully) improved physiques. Samardo Samuels and Dion Waiters have dropped weight – Samardo most noticeably. Sophomore Tristan Thompson and Kyrie Irving put on a couple pounds of muscle. Kyrie added five pounds and it’s noticeable in his upper body. (The R.O.Y. also looks a little older with some added facial hair.) Tristan also joined the “gained-weight club” – adding around 10 pounds to his frame.

* Kyrie and Tristan are two of the club’s best players and also two of its funniest.

The outgoing Thompson, as he did at times last year, spent part of the day interviewing other players as part of a bit with “Access Cavaliers.” He and C.J. Miles had a particularly interesting back-and-forth that fans will soon see on the broadcast.

Kyrie likes to break chops just as much. While he and some players waited to be photographed, Irving took turns pumping Alonzo Gee up – calling for him to enter the Slam Dunk Contest in Houston – and breaking him down – calling him the squad’s thriftiest player on the road, teasing that all he gets is a new keychain in each new town.

* A late addition to the Training Camp roster was Justin Holliday – the 6-6 swingman out of Washington. Holliday was impressive on the Cavaliers’ Summer League squad – showing quickness, a deft shooting touch and the ability to guard three positions. His arrival expands the roster to 20 players.

* As entertaining as the comic exploits of Kyrie and Tristan were, the biggest laugh of the day probably came courtesy of the Wild Thing, Anderson Varejao. In years past, Andy would furrow his brow at the mention of “flopping.” But Varejao, who – media-wise – is light years ahead of where he once was, admitted that “Yeah, (I) used to flop a little bit.”

* On an extremely young team like the Cavaliers – and without the services of guys like Antawn Jamison and Anthony Parker – veterans like Daniel Gibson (as well as Varejao and C.J. Miles) will have to provide the leadership moving forward. Gibson seems ready for the challenge.

“I have experience, which is kind of weird to say because I still consider myself a young guy,” said Boobie. “But I have a lot of experience in this league. I know what it takes to win; I’ve seen it. So I’ll be that voice for these guys to let them know what it takes to get to that level that we’re all trying to get to.”

* The squad’s elder statesmen will definitely assume a leadership role with the Cavaliers, but Coach Byron Scott spoke of wanting his young point guard to start becoming a team leader.

“I expect for him to grow in that area,” explained the Cavs’ third-year coach. “I think last year, he knew he was a young guy on this team. It’s a lot of the same situations I had with Chris Paul during his rookie year. He had a lot of trouble telling guys what to do or where to go because they were a lot older than him and he just didn’t have that experience. I think Kyrie feel s a lot better this year about being one of the leaders on the team.”

* The Cavaliers were photographed in their alternate home golds. They’ll be sporting their new threads in the Oct. 30th opener against Washington.

* From this point forward, things move quickly. The Cavaliers will have the Wine and Gold Scrimmage on Saturday afternoon at The Q before welcoming Montepaschi Siena of the Euroleauge in a little less than a week

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