2011–12 Cleveland Cavaliers season explained

Team:	Cleveland Cavaliers
End Year:	2012
Wins:	21
Losses:	45
Division:	Central
Division Place:	5
Conf Place:	13
Coach:	Byron Scott
Gm:	Chris Grant
Owner:	Dan Gilbert
Arena:	Quicken Loans Arena
Playoffs:	Did not qualify
Bbr Team:	CLE
Television:	Fox Sports Ohio WUAB
Radio:	WTAM

The 2011–12 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 42nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Key dates

• May 17 – The 2011 NBA Draft Lottery took place, and the Cavaliers got the first pick.^[1]
• June 23 – The 2011 NBA draft took place in Newark, New Jersey, at the Prudential Center. The Cavaliers picked Kyrie Irving (#1), Tristan Thompson (#4), Milan Mačvan (#54). They also drafted Justin Harper (#32), but immediately traded him to the Orlando Magic for two future second-round picks (2013 and 2014).
• June 29 – The Cavs exercise the third-year option on Christian Eyenga, keeping him under contract until the 2012–13 season.
• June 30 – J.J. Hickson is sent to the Sacramento Kings, for Omri Casspi and a protected future first round pick.
• July 7 – The Cavaliers set an NBA D-League team in Canton, Ohio. The Cavs announced that they will own and control all the operations of the former Albuquerque/New Mexico Thunderbirds. On October 13, the new name, logo, colors and court design are unveiled, the Canton Charge.
• December 9 – Training Camp begins. The Cavs also signed with rookies Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson. They also waived Joey Graham.
• December 12 – Anthony Parker re-signed with the Cavaliers.
• December 14 – The Cavs decided to waive Baron Davis.
• December 16 – The Cavaliers opened their pre-season with a victory over the Detroit Pistons in The Palace of Auburn Hills.
• December 20 – The Cavs closed their pre-season with a loss against the Pistons in Quicken Loans Arena, with a 1-1 record.
• December 22 – Manny Harris is waived by the Cavs.
• December 26 – The Cavaliers opened their season with a loss against the Toronto Raptors in the Quicken Loans Arena.
• January 4 – Christian Eyenga is assigned to the Canton Charge.
• January 23 – The Cavs recall Christian Eyenga.
• February 10 – The Cavaliers sign a 10-day contract with Ben Uzoh, of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
• February 21 – Manny Harris sign a 10-day contract with the Cavs.

Draft picks

See main article: 2011 NBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College/Club Team
1	1	Kyrie Irving	G		Duke
1	4	Tristan Thompson	F		Texas
2	32	Justin Harper	F		Richmond
2	54	Milan Mačvan	PF		Maccabi Tel Aviv

Pre-season

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| December 16| @ Detroit Pistons| | Kyrie Irving (20)| Alonzo Gee (8)| Ramon Sessions (6)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
7,927| 1-0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| December 20| Detroit Pistons| | Omri Casspi (18)| Anderson Varejão (10)| Ramon Sessions (8)| Quicken Loans Arena
9,853| 1-1

The original 2011 NBA Pre-season was canceled due to the 2011 NBA Lockout. After the lockout, the NBA created a new two game Pre-Season.

Regular season

Game log

|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| December 26| Toronto| | Ramon Sessions (18)| Anderson Varejão (10)| Kyrie Irving (7)| Quicken Loans Arena
20,562| 0–1|- bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| December 28| @ Detroit| | Samardo Samuels (17)| Anderson Varejão, Ramon Sessions (7)| Kyrie Irving (7)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076| 1–1|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| December 30| @ Indiana| | Kyrie Irving (20)| Anderson Varejão (13)| Kyrie Irving, Alonzo Gee (4)| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
13,004| 1–2|- bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| January 1| New Jersey| | Antawn Jamison (23)| Anderson Varejão (11)| Ramon Sessions (8)| Quicken Loans Arena
15,084| 2–2|- bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| January 3| Charlotte| | Kyrie Irving (20)| Tristan Thompson (9)| Ramon Sessions (9)| Quicken Loans Arena
14,173| 3–2|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 6| January 4| @ Toronto| | Antawn Jamison (19)| Anderson Varejão (13)| Kyrie Irving (4)| Air Canada Centre
14,468| 3–3|- bgcolor=#ccffcc| 7| January 6| @ Minnesota| | Antawn Jamison (22)| Anderson Varejão (12)| Ramon Sessions (6)| Target Center
16,943| 4–3|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 8| January 8| @ Portland| | Kyrie Irving (21)| Antawn Jamison (11)| Kyrie Irving (4)| Rose Garden
20,292| 4–4|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 9| January 10| @ Utah| | Antawn Jamison (22)| Anderson Varejão (11)| Kyrie Irving (5)| EnergySolutions Arena
17,879| 4–5|- bgcolor=#ccffcc| 10| January 12| @ Phoenix| | Kyrie Irving (26)| Anderson Varejão (17)| Kyrie Irving (6)| US Airways Center
14,636| 5–5|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 11| January 13| @ L. A. Lakers| | Kyrie Irving (21)| Anderson Varejão (14)| Anthony Parker (5)| Staples Center
18,997| 5–6|- bgcolor=#ccffcc| 12| January 16| @ Charlotte| | Kyrie Irving (25)| Anderson Varejão (12)| Ramon Sessions (9)| Time Warner Cable Arena
14,988| 6–6|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 13| January 17| Golden State| | Antawn Jamison (19)| Anderson Varejão (13)| Kyrie Irving (5)| Quicken Loans Arena
13,056| 6–7|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 14| January 20| Chicago| | Anderson Varejão (14)| Antawn Jamison (8)| Anthony Parker, Kyrie Irving, Ramon Sessions (3)| Quicken Loans Arena
17,871| 6–8|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 15| January 21, 2012| @ Atlanta| | Kyrie Irving (18)| Anderson Varejão (8)| Ramon Sessions (4)| Philips Arena
15,922| 6–9|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 16| January 24| @ Miami| | Kyrie Irving (17)| Anderson Varejão (11)| Kyrie Irving, Antawn Jamison (4)| American Airlines Arena
19,600| 6–10|- bgcolor=#ccffcc| 17| January 25| New York| | Antawn Jamison (15)| Anderson Varejão (16)| Kyrie Irving (7)| Quicken Loans Arena
16,760| 7–10|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 18| January 27| New Jersey| | Kyrie Irving (32)| Anderson Varejão (9)| Daniel Gibson (4)| Quicken Loans Arena
13,121| 7–11|- bgcolor=#ccffcc| 19| January 29| @ Boston| | Kyrie Irving (23)| Anderson Varejão (9)| Kyrie Irving (6)| TD Garden
18,624| 8–11|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 20| January 31| Boston| | Kyrie Irving (21)| Anderson Varejão (20)| Ramon Sessions (10)| Quicken Loans Arena
14,798| 8–12

|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 21| February 3| @ Orlando| | Alonzo Gee (20)| Anderson Varejão (15)| Ramon Sessions (8)| Amway Center
18,933| 8–13|- bgcolor=#ccffcc| 22| February 4| Dallas| | Kyrie Irving (20)| Anderson Varejão (17)| Ramon Sessions (8)| Quicken Loans Arena
17,433| 9–13|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 23| February 7| @ Miami| | Antawn Jamison (25)| Anderson Varejão (11)| Kyrie Irving (6)| American Airlines Arena20,078| 9–14|- bgcolor=#ccffcc| 24| February 8| L. A. Clippers| | Antawn Jamison (27)| Anderson Varejão (11)| Ramon Sessions (13)| Quicken Loans Arena
17,100| 10–14|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 25| February 10| Milwaukee| | Antawn Jamison (34)| Tristan Thompson (13)| Ramon Sessions (16)| Quicken Loans Arena
15,195| 10–15|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 26| February 11| Philadelphia| | Antawn Jamison (20)| Antawn Jamison (8)| Ramon Sessions (8)| Quicken Loans Arena| 10–16|- bgcolor=#ccffcc| 27| February 15| Indiana| | Kyrie Irving (22)| David West (10)| Kyrie Irving (5)| Quicken Loans Arena| 11–16|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 28| February 17| Miami| | LeBron James (28)| Chris Bosh (12)| LeBron James (5)| Quicken Loans Arena| 11–17|- bgcolor=#ccffcc| 29| February 19| Sacramento| | Kyrie Irving (23)| Omri Casspi (12)| Isaiah Thomas (11)| Quicken Loans Arena| 12–17|- bgcolor=#ccffcc| 30| February 21| Detroit| | Antawn Jamison (32)| Alonzo Gee (11)| Kyrie Irving (8)| Quicken Loans Arena| 13–17|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 31| February 22| New Orleans| | Antawn Jamison (22)| Gustavo Ayon (17)| Kyrie Irving (11)| Quicken Loans Arena| 13–18|- align="center"|colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 32| February 28| Boston| | Kyrie Irving (24)| Chris Wilcox (11)| Rajon Rondo (11| Quicken Loans Arena| 13–19|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 33| February 29| @ New York| | Antawn Jamison (23)| Tyson Chandler (15)| Jeremy Lin (13)| Madison Square Garden| 13–20

|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 34| March 2| Chicago| | Luol Deng (24)| Carlos Boozer (11)| Derrick Rose (9)| Quicken Loans Arena| 13–21|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 35| March 3| @ Washington| | Jordan Crawford (31)| JaVale McGee (12)| Kyrie Irving (6)| Verizon Center| 13–22|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 36| March 5| Utah| | Antawn Jamison, Kyrie Irving (22)| Five players (4)| Antawn Jamison (6)| Quicken Loans Arena
13,190| 13–23|- bgcolor=#ccffcc| 37| March 7| @ Denver| | Antawn Jamison (33)| Antawn Jamison (9)| Kyrie Irving (8)| Power Balance Pavilion
15,816| 14–23|- bgcolor=#ccffcc| 38| March 9| @ Oklahoma City| | Antawn Jamison (21)| Three players (8)| Kyrie Irving (12)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
18,203| 15–23|- bgcolor=#ccffcc| 39| March 11| Houston| | Antawn Jamison (28)| Kyrie Irving (6)| Ramon Sessions (7)| Quicken Loans Arena
17,662| 16–23|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 40| March 13| Toronto| | Antawn Jamison (20)| Kyrie Irving (7)| Kyrie Irving (7)| Quicken Loans Arena
14,203| 16–24|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 41| March 14| @ Milwaukee| | Kyrie Irving (28)| Alonzo Gee
Antawn Jamison (5)| Ramon Sessions (6)| Bradley Center
15,319| 16–25|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 42| March 18| Atlanta| | Alonzo Gee (20)| Alonzo Gee (9)| Kyrie Irving (10)| Quicken Loans Arena
15,645| 16–26|- bgcolor=#ccffcc| 43| March 19| @ New Jersey| | Tristan Thompson (27)| Antawn Jamison (13)| Kyrie Irving (7)| Prudential Center
11,254| 17–26|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 44| March 21| @ Atlanta| | Kyrie Irving (29)| Alonzo Gee (13)| Kyrie Irving (9)| Philips Arena
12,331| 17–27|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 45| March 23| @ Orlando| | Antawn Jamison (16)| Tristan Thompson (11)| Kyrie Irving (6)| Amway Center
18,846| 17–28|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 46| March 25| Phoenix| | Kyrie Irving (16)| Manny Harris (9)| Kyrie Irving
Donald Sloan (4)| Quicken Loans Arena
17,307| 17–29|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 47| March 27| @ Philadelphia| | Anthony Parker (14)| Alonzo Gee (9)| Kyrie Irving (7)| Wells Fargo Center
17,832| 17–30|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 48| March 28| Detroit| | Kyrie Irving (22)| Tristan Thompson (11)| Kyrie Irving (6)| Quicken Loans Arena
14,486| 17–31|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 49| March 30| Milwaukee| | Kyrie Irving (29)| Tristan Thompson (11)| Kyrie Irving (5)| Quicken Loans Arena
16,099| 17–32|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 50| March 31| @ New York| | Antawn Jamison (13)| Antawn Jamison
Donald Sloan (7)| Donald Sloan (4)| Madison Square Garden
19,763| 17–33

|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 51| April 3| San Antonio| | Antawn Jamison (15)| Alonzo Gee (5)| Kyrie Irving
Luke Walton (5)| Quicken Loans Arena
14,759| 17–34|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 52| April 4| @ Milwaukee| | Anthony Parker (27)| Tristan Thompson (9)| Donald Sloan (8)| Bradley Center
11,849| 17–35|- bgcolor=#ccffcc| 53| April 6| @ Toronto| | Antawn Jamison (25)| Antawn Jamison (8)| Lester Hudson (7)| Air Canada Centre
16,565| 18–35|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 54| April 8| @ New Jersey| | Antawn Jamison (34)| Tristan Thompson (15)| Donald Sloan (14)| Prudential Center
11,341| 18–36|- bgcolor=#ccffcc| 55| April 10| Charlotte| | Lester Hudson (25)| Lester Hudson (8)| Lester Hudson (6)| Quicken Loans Arena
13,576| 19–36|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 56| April 11| Indiana| | Antawn Jamison (21)| Antawn Jamison
Tristan Thompson (8)| Donald Sloan (6)| Quicken Loans Arena
14,307| 19–37|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 57| April 13| @ Indiana| | Omri Casspi (14)| Samardo Samuels (10)| Donald Sloan (5)| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
13,356| 19–38|- bgcolor=#ccffcc| 58| April 14| @ Washington| | Luke Harangody (16)| Luke Harangody (10)| Anthony Parker (5)| Verizon Center
17,200| 20–38|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 59| April 15| Orlando| | Antawn Jamison (21)| Alonzo Gee
Tristan Thompson (8)| Antawn Jamison (6)| Quicken Loans Arena
16,305| 20–39|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 60| April 17| @ Detroit| | Manny Harris (18)| Tristan Thompson (13)| Donald Sloan (4)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
11,595| 20–40|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 61| April 18| Philadelphia| | Samardo Samuels
Lester Hudson (15)| Samardo Samuels
Tristan Thompson (5)| Donald Sloan (7)| Quicken Loans Arena
14,678| 20–41|- bgcolor=#ccffcc| 62| April 20| New York| | Kyrie Irving (21)| Manny Harris (12)| Antawn Jamison (5)| Quicken Loans Arena
19,349| 21–41|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 63| April 22| @ San Antonio| | Antawn Jamison (21)| Tristan Thompson (9)| Anthony Parker (4)| AT&T Center
18,581| 21–42|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 64| April 23| @ Memphis| | Kyrie Irving (25)| Antawn Jamison
Tristan Thompson (9)| Kyrie Irving (4)| FedExForum
15,504| 21–43|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 65| April 25| Washington| | D.J. Kennedy (12)| Samardo Samuels (9)| Donald Sloan (7)| Quicken Loans Arena
18,086| 21–44|- bgcolor=#ffcccc| 66| April 26| @ Chicago| | Tristan Thompson (13)| Tristan Thompson (12)| Donald Sloan
Luke Walton (2)| United Center
22,563| 21–45

All the games through December 24 were canceled due to the 2011 NBA Lockout. A new schedule was created starting in December 25.

Player statistics

Regular season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
	51	51	30.5	.469	.399	.872	3.7	5.4	1.1	.4	18.5
	65	65	33.1	.403	.341	.683	6.3	2.0	.8	.7	17.2
	13	0	24.2	.391	.246	.842	3.5	2.7	1.1	.2	12.7
	25	25	31.4	.514	.000	.672	11.5	1.7	1.4	.7	10.8
	63	31	29.0	.412	.321	.788	5.1	1.8	1.3	.3	10.6
	41	4	24.5	.398	.419	.830	3.1	5.2	.7	.0	10.5
	60	25	23.7	.439	.000	.552	6.5	.5	.5	1.0	8.2
	35	7	26.2	.351	.396	.791	2.9	2.2	.7	.5	7.5
	51	51	25.1	.433	.362	.625	2.7	2.4	.7	.1	7.2
	65	35	20.6	.403	.315	.685	3.5	1.0	.6	.3	7.1
	26	5	17.5	.400	.333	.695	2.7	1.2	.5	.2	6.7
	25	11	24.3	.403	.091	.808	2.4	3.7	.4	.1	6.6
	2	0	29.5	.417	.500	.000	3.5	1.5	1.0	.0	6.0
	54	0	15.3	.455		.701	3.3	.4	.4	.4	5.4
	24	7	15.1	.500		.600	2.3	.3	.2	.5	3.7
	5	3	19.0	.292	.364		1.0	1.4	.4	.2	3.6
	28	9	11.9	.527		.512	2.6	.3	.4	.2	3.5
	21	1	11.0	.354	.238	.750	2.5	.3	.3	.1	2.9
	2	0	6.5	.400			2.0	1.0	.5	.0	2.0
	21	0	14.2	.353	.438		1.7	1.4	.1	.0	2.0
	6	0	13.8	.158	.500	.333	2.0	.7	.5	.7	1.5

Awards, records and milestones

Awards

• Kyrie Irving was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month three times (December – January,^[2] February^[3] and March^[4]) and won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.^[5]
• Rookies Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson were selected to participate in the 2012 Rising Stars challenge.

Milestones

• On March 31 Antawn Jamison scored his 19,000th career point in a 75–91 loss to the New York Knicks.
• On January 31 Kyrie Irving made his first game-winning basket against the Boston Celtics.

Injuries, surgeries and absences

• Semih Erden had a fracture in his right thumb and missed the first seven games of the regular season.^[6] In April, he sprained his right ankle and missed the remainder of the season.^[7]
• Kyrie Irving suffered a concussion during a game against the Miami Heat on February 7 and missed the following 3 games.^[8]
• Anderson Varejão broke his wrist on February 10 during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks and missed the remainder of the season.^[9]

Transactions

Free agents

Additions

Date	Player	Signed	Former team
February 10, 2012	Ben Uzoh	NBA D-League	Rio Grande Valley Vipers
February 21, 2012	Manny Harris	NBA D-League	Canton Charge

Subtractions

Date	Player	Reason left	New team
December 9, 2011	Joey Graham	Waived	Free Agent
December 14, 2011	Baron Davis	Waived	New York Knicks
December 22, 2011	Manny Harris	Waived	Canton Charge

Trades

June 23, 2011	To Cleveland Cavaliers 2013 second-round pick 2014 second-round pick	To Orlando Magic Justin Harper
June 30, 2011	To Cleveland Cavaliers Omri Casspi Future first-round pick	To Sacramento Kings J.J. Hickson

Notes and References

1. https://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2011-05-17-draft-lottery-cavaliers_N.htm Cavaliers win NBA draft lottery, will pick first
2. Web site: Irving, Rubio take Rookie of the Month honors for January. February 1, 2012. NBA.com. February 1, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120210020044/http://www.nba.com/2012/news/02/01/rookies-of-month/index.html. 2012-02-10. dead.
3. Web site: Irving, Thomas take Rookie of the Month honors for February. March 1, 2012. NBA.com. March 1, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120304223726/http://www.nba.com/2012/news/03/01/feb-rookies-of-month/index.html. 2012-03-04. dead.
4. Web site: Irving, Thomas named Rookies of the Month. April 1, 2012. NBA.com. April 2, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120405172237/http://www.nba.com/2012/news/04/02/rookies-of-the-month/index.html. 2012-04-05. dead.
5. Web site: Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving named Kia Rookie of the Year . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . May 15, 2012 . May 15, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120517101149/http://www.nba.com/2012/news/05/15/rookie-of-the-year-release/index.html . May 17, 2012 .
6. https://archive.today/20120910161949/http://www.nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/34832644/sports/47465846 Semih Erden (thumb) cleared to return
7. http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/releases/erden_120412.html Semih Erden Injury Update
8. https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/7562095/cleveland-cavaliers-kyrie-irving-2-more-games-amid-concussion-recovery Kyrie Irving to miss 2 more games
9. https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-cavaliers-varejao Season over for Cavs C Anderson Varejão