View full sizeDuane Burleson, Associated PressBrandon Knight’s 23 points and 10 assists led the Pistons past Sacramento Friday night in Auburn Hills, Mich.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — No rookie had a great week, but some had good games, so these rankings reflect that. Starting next week, the rankings will reflect the leaders for the Rookie of the Year award. Statistics are through Friday’s games.

1. Brandon Knight, Detroit, G

Stats: 12.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists.

Comment: 23 points, six rebounds, 10 assists in victory over Sacramento, best game since he broke his nose.

Rank last week: Unranked.

2. Kyrie Irving, Cleveland, G

Stats: 18.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists.

Comment: 22 points in first game back after missing three with concussion.

Rank last week: 2.

3. Kemba Walker, Charlotte, G

Stats: 13.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists.

Comment: 21 points at Minnesota in what might be last start after DJ Augustin returned.

Rank last week: 5.

4. Kenneth Faried, Denver, F

Stats: 7.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, .3 assists.

Comment: Season-high 18 points, tied his best with 10 rebounds at Memphis, now top rookie rebounder by average.

Rank last week: Unranked.

5. Ricky Rubio, Minnesota, G

Stats: 11 points, 4.2 rebounds, 8.6 assists.

Comment: 18 points, two rebounds, nine assists in victory at Houston.

Rank last week: 3.

6. Gustavo Ayon, New Orleans, F/C

Stats: 5.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, .8 assists.

Comment: Averaged 13 points, 11 rebounds in three games.

Rank last week: Unranked.

7. Chandler Parsons, Houston, F

Stats: 7.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists.

Comment: Averaged 16 points, 6.5 rebounds in last two starts.

Rank last week: Unranked.

8. Markieff Morris, Phoenix, F

Stats: 8.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists.

Comment: Career high 21 points in loss at Denver.

Rank last week: Unranked.

9. Bismack Biyombo, Charlotte, F

Stats: 3.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, .2 assists.

Comment: Season-best 13 rebounds in win at Toronto.

Rank last week: 8.

10. Alec Burks, Utah, G

Stats: 6.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, .5 assists.

Comment: After four DNPs, averaged 11 points in last three games, including season-high 13 in win over Washington.

Rank last week: Unranked.

Dropped out: Minnesota’s Derrick Williams, Golden State’s Klay Thompson, Cleveland’s Tristan Thompson, Philadelphia’s Lavoy Allen, New Jersey’s Jordan Williams.

Just missed: Denver’s Jordan Hamilton, Miami’s Norris Cole, New Jersey’s MarShon Brooks, New York’s Iman Shumpert, Oklahoma City’s Reggie Jackson, Philadelphia’s Nikola Vuvevic, Utah’s Enes Kanter, Washington’s Jan Vesley.

View full sizeTony Dejak, Associated PressLeBron James didn’t seem fazed Friday night by the publicity over his remarks about possibly returning to Cleveland, scoring 28 points in an easy 111-87 Heat victory at The Q.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — One day after saying he could see himself returning to play for the Cavaliers, LeBron James tried to calm the fears of Miami Heat fans. While he didn’t back away from his comments on Thursday, James reaffirmed his commitment to the Heat.

“I love the fans of Miami,” James said after the Heat’s noon shoot-around before Friday night’s game against the Cavs in The Q. “I’m here. The question was asked of me: Could I see myself playing back here? I said yeah, in the sense of I don’t know what my future holds, and I don’t want to take that [option] out. I love the fans of Miami. I’ve got everything invested with this team. I’m looking forward to the years to come.”

But according to a report from Yahoo! Sports on Friday, James has been using messengers for months to express to the Cavaliers’ front office his willingness to return. James’ camp, according to league sources, has wanted the message delivered to owner Dan Gilbert but has yet to hear a reply.

The Cavaliers offered no comment on the story. By NBA rules, Gilbert isn’t permitted to discuss another team’s player without risk of fines and the possible loss of draft picks. The owner sat in his customary baseline seat Friday night.

In his remarks Thursday, James made it clear he would be amenable to mending his fractured relationship with Gilbert.

His candor in discussing a potential return surprised many, including some Cavs players.

One can only imagine how the story is playing in the Heat front office — and particularly with President Pat Riley.

James is under contract with the Heat until 2016, but he can opt out in 2014. He was asked if he was worried that the clock already had starting ticking on his departure.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I’m already on LeBron watch. For the most part, everything I do is the LeBron watch.

“But, like I said, my mind-set is on this season. My mind-set is on helping this team win a championship and, as a team, get better every day. I’m looking forward to getting back to Miami and seeing the fans.”

James admitted Thursday the transition to Miami last season had been difficult. In an effort to ease that, he moved his family to Miami this season.

“I’m very comfortable when I’m with my whole family,” James said.

For the time being, that’s in Miami.

“I’m concentrating on this season,” James said. “The question was asked. I answered it truthfully.

“But it’s all about this season for me, and it’s all about playing with this Miami Heat team and trying to win an NBA championship. The fans of Miami shouldn’t be worried about anything at this point.”

Could his comments about the Cavaliers and Gilbert, however, be interpreted as the first step toward winning public support for a possible return? Friday night’s game was the only visit by the Heat this season.

James has befriended Cavaliers rookies Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson. Thompson’s agent, Rich Paul, is James’ close friend.

“LeBron is entitled to say what he wants to say,” Thompson said. “Only time will tell. We can only worry about the team we have now. As I look around the locker room right now, there is no No. 6 James [jersey]. We are not worried about that. We are just trying to win basketball games.”

LBJ on KI: James continues to lavish praise on Irving, the Cavaliers’ point guard. He developed a friendship with Irving through his Nike summer camp in Akron and has watched the 19-year blossom into a Rookie of the Year front-runner.

“Kyrie is unbelievable,” James said. “He’s beyond his years. They’ve got a great point guard here. They haven’t had a great point guard here probably since Andre Miller, maybe Terrell Brandon, Mark Price.”

The omission of former Cavaliers All-Star and James teammate Mo Williams was noted by several within earshot of the comments.

“They’ve got a good one [now],” James added. “This is a league that has great point guards, and Cleveland definitely has one, which they haven’t had in a long time.”

Schedule eases: On Friday, the Cavaliers ended a brutal 15-game stretch which began Jan. 20 against Chicago, featured Miami three times and included many of the league’s top teams. Heading into Friday’s game, they were 5-9 in the previous 14 games. They begin a much more favorable eight-game stretch on Sunday, with home games against Sacramento, Detroit and New Orleans before the All-Star break.

Dribbles: Daniel Gibson (ankle) and Anthony Parker (back) missed Friday night’s game. Parker, who hasn’t played since Jan. 29, could return to action next week. Former Cavs guard Manny Harris had a monster game for the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League on Thursday against Rio Grande. Harris registered 46 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals in a win. He shot 17-of-30 from the floor.

View full sizeCavaliers guard Ramon Sessions likely will see more time Friday alongside Kyrie Irving on Friday night.

CLEVELAND — We interrupt “the LeBron watch” to remind fans there is a basketball game Friday night at The Q.

Once the bomb-sniffing dogs and police make sure all is safe the Cavaliers and Heat will play for the third and final time this regular season. The Cavs were quite competitive in the two losses in Miami. The final score of the second game, 107-91, doesn’t do the Cavaliers’ effort justice on a night they went cold from the field in the fourth quarter (5-of-23).

Once again, they likely will be forced to start Alonzo Gee at shooting guard against the Heat. Anthony Parker (back) is out and Daniel Gibson (sprained ankle) is doubtful.

The Cavaliers will need to do a better job of protecting the ball against the Heat. They have committed 17 and 20 turnovers in the two games. The athletic Heat feast on such errors and they rank among the leaders in points off turnovers.

Byron Scott doesn’t prefer to play Kyrie Irving and Ramon Sessions together, but the injuries have necessitated it. The pairing was awkward early in the season, but the two points guards and playing better when the situation dictates it. They were on the court together a lot in the second half of the Cavs’ 98-87 win over Indiana on Wednesday. Irving finished with 22 points and five assists. Sessions went for 13 points and four assists.

“It’s hard to get them some chemistry in practice when you only have a couple of point guards,” Scott said. “A lot of this has been trial by error so to speak. Just throw them out there and see how they play together.

“I think over the past week or so because they have been forced to play together they have learned how to share the ball and how to play with each other and how to play off of each other. Each game has gotten better.”

NOTES

— Scott said point guard Ben Uzoh could see some minutes tonight to give Irving and Sessions a breather and allow Gee to play at small forward. It would be a huge opportunity for Uzoh, whose 10-day contract expires on Sunday.

— The Heat is playing its best basketball of the season. Miami has won seven of the last eight and became the first team since the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks to sweep a back-to-back-to-back on the road.

— Tonight ends the brutal 15-game stretch, which began Jan. 20 against Chicago and included many of the league’s top teams. The Cavs were 6-7 at the start of it and sit 11-16. They begin a much more favorable eight-game stretch on Sunday with home games against Sacramento, Detroit and New Orleans.

— You may have heard LeBron James is in town. He once again praised Irving today, calling him a great point guard “which they haven’t had in a long time. … They haven’t
had a great point guard here probably since Andre Miller, maybe Terrell Brandon,
Mark Price.” A bit of a jab at Mo Williams, or just the truth? 

Related link: Miami Heat at Cleveland Cavaliers: Live in-game chat tonight

AP PhotoIs LeBron James plotting a return to the Cavs or is he just playing with the hearts and minds of Northeast Ohio fans again?

Upon hearing LeBron James’ comments about possibly returning to play for the Cavaliers, one of the first things I said was, “Man, they must be outraged in Miami right about now.”

Nearly 24 hours later, I’m still searching for that outrage. While some Heat fans (yes, they do exist) took to Twitter to express their displeasure with James, a cursory review of Miami’s newspaper sites show that city is more interested in Linsanity’s looming visit to South Beach than LeBron basically admitting he’s already thinking about his next ‘Decision.’

Make no mistake about it, Miami, LeBron just gave you the ‘It’s not me, it’s you’ speech. You’re reaction? “Meh.”

Miami Herald: No reaction posted as of 8 a.m. Friday

Ira Winderman, Florida Sun-Sentinel

“[LeBron] is trying to please everybody. It’s who he is. And generally when you do that you please no one. To be honest, I thought his comments were relatively benign until I heard about the reaction in South Florida and then sorted through these emails.”

Ethan J. Skolnick, Palm Beach Post

“He tried to appease his former fans, without alienating his current ones. That will always be a delicate balance for him, at least until he wins a championship, and cements his legacy in Miami, securing a permanent spot in South Florida’s fickle hearts. Still, Heat fans should attempt to understand the complicated nature of his breakup with his old team.”

Meanwhile, some national sites gave LeBron some heat for what he said.

Michael Wallace, ESPN.com

“[LeBron's comments] border on both innocent sincerity and a complete lack of self awareness. This was the basketball equivalent of rejecting Dwight Howard at the rim on one end, and seconds later blowing an uncontested dunk on the other. Part patronizing, part putrid. Completely baffling.”

Kelly Dwyer, Ball Don’t Lie (Yahoo! Sports Blog)

“This is just a goofball bit of “look at me!” from a guy trying to be tactful and nice in the face of media that report to a place he called home for 98 percent of his life. James might not be completely happy in Miami, now that things haven’t come as easily as he’d hoped, but there’s nothing to see here in mid-February of 2012.”

How would you react if you were a Miami Heat fan? Post your comments below.

New York Knicks’ Jeremy Lin items are on sale before the basketball game between the Sacramento Kings and the New York Knicks, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEW YORK — Bigger than Shaq? Larger than LeBron? The Knicks as NBA champions?

(Don’t laugh too hard at that last one. The odds are getting better, according to one online sports book.)

Nothing seems too Lin-possible now after Jeremy Lin’s incredible first week as an NBA starter, and the story keeps getting better.

The undrafted player from Harvard made a 3-pointer with five-tenths of a second left Tuesday night to give the Knicks a 90-87 victory at Toronto.

Lin and the Knicks returned home Wednesday night and ran their winning streak to seven games with a 100-85 victory against Sacramento that got them back to .500 after an 8-15 start.

Lin has only started the last six games, so hold off on making him a Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal or LeBron James just yet. But the Knicks have seen enough to believe this ride may last a while.

“I don’t know when there’s an ending, maybe there won’t,” coach Mike D’Antoni said.

Lin’s story has blown straight past the New York sports pages and all their cute headlines such as “Va-Lin-tine’s Day,” all the way to a basketball-crazed continent on the other side of the world.

Lin also has done wonders for shares of Madison Square Garden Inc., the company that owns the Knicks, the Garden and the namesake sports network. The stock has surged 9 percent since Lin began his heroics Feb. 4, reaching an all-time high of $33.18 earlier this week before retreating slightly to close at $31.91 Wednesday.

“Rangers and Knicks fans do tend to buy the stock when the teams are doing well,” Miller Tabak analyst David Joyce said.

Linsanity reaches the White House

And Linsanity has reached America’s most powerful basketball fan, with President Barack Obama talking about Lin’s winner Wednesday.

White House spokesman Jay Carney called Lin “just a great story, and the president was saying as much this morning.”

Lin arrived in New York in December with no guarantee he’d last more than a few weeks. Already cut by Golden State and Houston this season, he was so hesitant to get comfortable in his new home that he refused to even get his own.

Instead, he slept at his brother’s place in the city, and had crashed on teammate Landry Fields’ couch the night before his breakout game against New Jersey on Feb. 4.

Even an Ivy League education couldn’t help Lin explain what’s happened since — the most points in any player’s first five games as a starter since the NBA merged with the ABA in 1976, and a contract that’s guaranteed for the rest of the season.

“No, but I believe in an all-powerful and all-knowing God who does miracles,” Lin said.

If that sounds familiar, yes, Lin has been frequently compared to Denver quarterback Tim Tebow. Both relied on their faith as much as their previously overlooked skills to guide them through hot streaks that made them sensations even beyond their sports.

Tebow carried the Broncos right into the playoffs, and now there are some who believe Lin can do the same with the Knicks.

The Knicks were 40-1 odds to win the NBA championship on Bovada.lv before Lin’s run began. Now, they’re down to an 18-1 shot and conjuring up memories of another New York team.

“A guy like this is great for the game and has drawn a lot of interest from bettors on the Knicks games also,” Kevin Bradley, the sports book’s manager, said in a statement. “I am having visions of how the public was treating the Giants going into the Super Bowl being the hottest team in the NFL and costing us a mint, and right now the Knicks are by far the biggest loser for the book.”

You Lin some, you lose some

Not everybody is convinced. Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. played down Lin mania on Twitter, saying that Lin is just doing what plenty of black players do but is getting more attention because of his Asian heritage.

And Lin is certain to cool off. It’s one thing to beat teams such as the Nets and Wizards when they’ve barely had time to learn your name. It’s another when NBA defenses are prepared to stop you.

“He’s a marked man now, he’s not going to sneak up on anybody, and every night’s going to be tough,” D’Antoni said.

Then again, Kobe Bryant had said he wasn’t familiar with Lin’s game and would have to study up on him. The next night, Lin burned the Lakers for a career-high 38 points in a nationally televised victory.

Wearing their homemade caps with the Chinese name character “Lin” and team number “17″ of NBA Knicks’ Taiwanese-American Jeremy Lin, Tsai Shu-fan, left, and Huang Wan Fen, both 22, watch him play against the Sacramento Kings at a local sports bar in Taipei, Taiwan, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012.  (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

Linternational Sensation

That was a huge moment in Taiwan, which Lin’s parents left in the 1970s. Asia lost its biggest basketball star when Yao Ming retired last summer, but ratings are up in China, and TV stations around the continent have rushed to add Knicks games to their broadcasts.

“I like Jeremy Lin (more than Yao Ming) because Yao Ming was already famous (when he started playing in NBA). For Lin, it’s like nobody had heard of him before. Kobe gave an interview saying he did not know who Lin was. So this is truly a rising star,” Taiwanese university student Zhang Gan-yu said.

Lin, the NBA’s first American-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent, has been gaining followers on social media and had the NBA’s top-selling jersey online in the first week it was available. With Knicks games blacked out to many New Yorkers because of a local cable dispute, the Knicks held their first viewing party in Chinatown on Wednesday night.

Their hero had a relatively quiet game, scoring only 10 points with a career-high 13 assists in a 100-84 victory at home against Sacramento. Still, when it was over, the adoring Garden fans chanted “M-V-P” as he was doing a postgame interview on the court.

But Lin will have to have lasting success to be just a short-term phenomenon, even to Asians. Yao was beloved because he proved to be an All-Star. Yi Jianlian, drafted in 2007 and now with his fourth NBA team, has seen his popularity wane because he is a journeyman.

Not to worry, D’Antoni says. Lin’s the real thing.

“He’s going to be a good player,” D’Antoni said.

Associated PressKent State forward Justin Greene and the Golden Flashes will host Buffalo tonight at 7 in a key Mid-American Conference game that will be televised on SportsTime Ohio and broadcast on WNIR/100.1 FM.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today on the air

(Click on to links for more team or event information)

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL

7:30 p.m. Clearview at Elyria Catholic, WOBL/1320-AM

MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL

7 p.m. Buffalo at KENT STATE, SportsTime Ohio; WNIR/100.1-FM

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Kent State, Akron and MAC coverage)

7 p.m. Florida at Alabama, ESPN

7 p.m. Texas A&M at Texas Tech, ESPN2

7 p.m. Virginia at Clemson, ESPNU

9 p.m. Mississippi State at LSU, ESPNU

9 p.m. OHIO STATE at Minnesota, ESPN; WKNR/850-AM (preview)

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Ohio State coverage)

NBA

7 p.m. Miami at Indiana, NBATV (preview)

10 p.m. Washington at Portland, NBATV (preview)

NHL

7 p.m. St. Louis at COLUMBUS, Fox Sports Ohio (preview)

7:30 p.m. Anaheim at Minnesota, NBC Sports Network

SOCCER

2:30 p.m. APOEL Nicosia at Lyon, Fox Sports Ohio

WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL

7 p.m. USF at Marquette, CBS Sports Network

Associated Press(left to right) The Cavs’ Kyrie Irving (out with a concussion), Anderson Varejao (out with a fractured wrist) and Luke Harangody during Cleveland’s 99-84 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Again, as has so often been the case through their 42 NBA seasons, the story about the Cleveland Cavaliers begins with injuries.

Cleveland fashioned a respectable start to the season, going 10-14 before losses to the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers on Friday and Saturday nights, respectably. Remember, the Cavs finished last season 19-63.

Center Anderson Varejao, however, suffered a non-displaced fracture to his right (shooting) wrist against Milwaukee, and early estimates are that he will be out four to six weeks. Varejao was passed over this week as an Eastern Conference all-star selection, though most observers considered him a legitimate candidate.

Point guard Kyrie Irving has missed the last three games with a concussion, and is day-to-day. Irving is considered by most pundits as the leader in the Rookie of the Year race.

Not to be overlooked is the absence of veteran starting guard Anthony Parker, who has missed the last seven games with a sore back, and whose status is not yet certain for Cleveland’s next game — at home against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night. Parker may not be the classic scorer for his position, but he is one of the Cavs’ best shooters and a solid defender, and his absence makes the Cavs go one player deeper on the bench than they’d like.

Conrad Kaczmarek, writing for the blog “Fear The Sword,” reviews the Cavs’ 99-84 homecourt loss to the 76ers on Saturday night and comments:

The idea that this game was going to be horrible was pretty clear to me. It was Cleveland’s fourth game in five nights, the Sixers are a really good team, and the Cavs were without their two best players. Initially, it seemed the Anderson Varejao merely had a sprained wrist, but an MRI revealed that he had a fracture in his wrist. Ugh. Once this was announced, it seemed like much of the excitement and energy around the Cavaliers dissipated. Without their star rookie and emotional leader, the Cavs had nothing to offer and sleepwalked through this blowout.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Cavaliers coverage includes Tom Reed’s Cavaliers Insider, focusing on Varejao’s injury; Reed’s game story on the Cavs’ 99-84 loss to Philadelphia on Saturday night; “Terry Pluto’s Talkin;’ “ Reed’s “Days of Wine-N-Gold;” his NBA Insider; his “Hey, Tom!;” his “Tom Reed’s Tipoff;” and more.

Cavs post-ups

Anderson Varejao’s injury changes the outlook for the Cavaliers. On the blog “Waiting For Next Year.”

Kyrie Irving begins the process to return from his concussion. By Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal.

NBA notes by Bob Finnan for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal, highlighted by the early evidence that Kryie Irving and forward Tristan Thompson were the correct first-round picks for the Cavaliers.

NBA observations and other news — mostly about the Cavaliers — by Bob Finnan for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

Cavs lose the game and, for now, their star center. By Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal.

On NBA.com/cavaliers, video of Cavs’ coach Byron Scott’s interview with the media following the loss to Philadelphia.

View full sizeSteve C. Wilson, Associated PressYes, we know — you would give anything to have Kevin Durant’s hops. The Thunder are living up to expectations as the shortened NBA season approaches the halfway point.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Our weekly assessment of who’s rising and falling in the league, through Friday’s games.

1. Chicago Bulls

Last week: 1

Does Carlos Boozer really live in his mom’s basement, or was Will Ferrell making that up?

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week: 2

Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden might be the league’s true Big 3.

3. Miami Heat

Last week: 4

For all the hype, Heat haven’t been atop power rankings in weeks. Just blame LeBron.

4. San Antonio Spurs

Last week: 9

They have rocketed up rankings thanks to a 13-1 home mark.

5. Atlanta Hawks

Last week: 6

Hawks hanging tough without Al Horford, by playing good defense.

6. Philadelphia 76ers

Last week: 7

There are soccer matches with more offense than your typical Sixers game.

7. Indiana Pacers

Last week: 5

Pacers required 26 games before losing two straight.

8. Los Angeles Clippers

Last week: 8

Clippers lose Chauncey Billiups to season-ending injury, but all Mo Williams wants to know is why no one feels sorry for him.

9. Dallas Mavericks

Last week: 12

Dirk Nowitzki doesn’t belong in All-Star Game – and he’d be the first to admit it.

10. Denver Nuggets

Last week: 3

To extend our Danilo Gallinari looks like Jimmy from Seinfeld riff … Jimmy’s down, and so are the Nuggets.

11. Houston Rockets

Last week: 13

Rockets, who had struggled mightily away from Toyota Center, have won three straight on the road.

12. Orlando Magic

Last week: 10

Beat the Heat, then lose to the Hawks. Magic can’t shake their funk.

13. Los Angeles Lakers

Last week: 11

Lakers adjusting nicely to being Los Angeles’ second NBA team.

14. Portland Trail Blazers

Last week: 15

The good news here is LaMarcus Aldridge finally gets his All-Star due.

15. Boston Celtics

Last week: 16

Celtics looking so old they have been invited to perform at next year’s Super Bowl.

16. Utah Jazz

Last week: 14

New Orleans has as many road wins (2) as the Jazz.

17. Memphis Grizzlies

Last week: 17

Rudy Gay deserved some All-Star love.

18. Milwaukee Bucks

Last week: 20

Drew Gooden making clutch shots and smart plays at The Q. Cavs fans have to wonder where that was several years ago.

19. Minnesota Timberwolves

Last week: 18

Ricky Rubio wants to know, “Who is this Jeremy Lin and what happened to all my fawning media types?”

20. New York Knicks

Last week: 22

Memo to Baron Davis: You can now take all the time you need rehabbing your back.

21. Cleveland Cavaliers

Last week: 22

D’Antoni riding Lin like Secretariat. Scott riding Jamison like Budweiser Clydesdale.

22. Golden State Warriors

Last week: 21

They are fun to watch – unless you’re a coach stressing defense.

23. Phoenix Suns

Last week: 24

Marcin Gortat is averaging 15.2 points per game and leading an NBA team in scoring.

24. Toronto Raptors

Last week: 25

They need a visit from the Cavs to cure what ails them.

25. Sacramento Kings

Last week: 26

Counting down the days until J.J. Hickson’s visit to The Q.

26. New Jersey Nets

Last week: 19

The Nets reeling, losers of five straight.

27. Detroit Pistons

Last week: 28

Maybe Lawrence Frank can salvage the season after winning four games.

28. Washington Wizards

Last week: 29

Wizards have yet to win two straight.

29. New Orleans Hornets

Last week: 27

Keeping Will Ferrell as the PA announcer might be the only thing to keep Hornets fans showing up.

30. Charlotte Bobcats

Last week: 30

Don’t look now but the Bobcats are halfway to the Cavs’ 26-game losing streak.

View full sizeMark Duncan, Associated PressKyrie Irving, right, talks with Antawn Jamison during the second half Friday at The Q. Irving sat out his second game because of a concussion.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cavaliers fans saw Kyrie Irving in an unfamiliar role Friday at The Q — well-dressed cheerleader.

His wine-and-gold No. 2 jersey was replaced with a shiny charcoal-colored suit. The only time he left the bench was to stretch his legs during timeouts. The rookie point guard had Ryan Hollins instead of coach Byron Scott in his ear all night.

It’s an uncomfortable scene that will be repeated at least one more night as Irving recovers from a concussion.

He missed his second consecutive game Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks, and already has been ruled out for Saturday’s game with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Scott said his point guard is feeling better, but he would not address whether his symptoms persist. Irving, 19, also was at the team’s Independence training facility Friday morning, but took part in no activity.

Irving sustained the injury Tuesday against Miami and missed his first game Wednesday, when team doctors diagnosed the concussion about an hour before tipoff.

There is no timetable for his return.

“We all know how serious this thing can be,” Scott said. “That’s why we are taking such a cautious look at this so that when he comes back, he is OK. The NBA has done a terrific job with trying to diagnose and figure out what to do with concussions.”

Irving is the NBA’s most high-profile case for its new concussion guidelines, which establish mandatory baseline assessments, prohibit players from resuming activity until they are symptom-free and require them to follow a multiple-step return-to-play protocol. Irving must increase his exertion level from riding a stationary bike to agility work to non-contact drills without setbacks. Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, program head at the University of Michigan, also must be consulted before final clearance is granted.

“Being cautious about it is important,” Scott said. “Kyrie understands. He wasn’t real happy about it the other night, but I think he understands we’re doing all this in his best interest.”

Point guard signed: The Cavaliers signed point guard Ben Uzoh to a 10-day contract as an insurance policy in Irving’s absence. He played 42 games last season for the New Jersey Nets, averaging 3.8 points and 1.6 assists.

Scott said team scouts classified Uzoh, 23, as the best point guard in the NBA Development League. He was averaging 16.8 points and 4.4. assists in 34 minutes for the Rio Grande Vipers. But it is Uzoh’s toughness and ability to defend the coach likes.

The Cavaliers did not consider promoting Manny Harris, playing for the Canton Charge, because they needed a point guard, Scott said.

All-Star reactions: Anderson Varejao said he was not disappointed to learn of his omission from the All-Star Game. He was not picked by coaches for one of the seven Eastern Conference reserve spots.

The converted power forward is averaging a career-best 11 points and 11.8 rebounds. Scott felt bad Varejao didn’t make the midseason showcase but said players such as Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge sometimes need one big season before earning an All-Star bid the following campaign.

“It was great [to be considered],” Varejao said. “It means you’re doing something right. It was good to hear from a lot of people that you should be there. . . . All I could control is my play. I had no control of the voting. As I’ve said, the most important thing for me is to make the playoffs.”

Olympic update: It looks as if Irving, who has yet to announce whether he’ll pursue a bid to play for the Australian Olympic basketball team, will have to wait a bit longer for a chance to compete for Team USA in the Olympics.

In the wake of Chauncey Billups‘ season-ending Achilles injury, a USA Basketball spokesman said there are no plans to replace him in the pool of candidates for the 2012 U.S. Olympic team. That pool, now down to 19, already is guard heavy with Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose, Chris Paul, Eric Gordon, Russell Westbrook and Deron Williams.

Furthermore, Irving did not appear in the initial pool of 33 candidates, which included guards Rajon Rondo, O.J. Mayo, Tyreke Evans and Jason Kidd. It’s possible Irving’s best chance for involvement with the U.S. Olympic team this time around could come if the U.S. squad elects to practice against young NBA stars in its training camp in Las Vegas in early July. In 2008, players such as Rose and Kevin Durant got their start with the Olympic team that way. Both would seem to be locks to be selected for the 2012 team.

Dribbles: Tristan Thompson returned to the lineup Friday after missing six of the previous nine games with an ankle injury. . . . Anthony Parker (back) remained out of the lineup. . . . The Bucks’ Larry Sanders was a late scratch due to illness.