Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors

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INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Dion Waiters was ready to play about four days ago, his sprained left ankle finally feeling stable and pain-free for the first time in weeks. But he waited.

Now that the Cavaliers' rookie guard has endured a full Byron Scott practice, he actually has clearance to play Tuesday evening against Toronto. The waiting, at last, is over. No matter what anyone else thinks, that's a good thing.

Both Waiters and point guard Kyrie Irving will be in the lineup against the Raptors, the first time that the starting backcourt has been available -- although Irving still will sport a protective mask to shield his fractured upper jaw -- since a Nov. 18 game against Philadelphia.

For the first time in 15 games, Cleveland's entire roster can suit up -- although three players still wear protective face masks.

"It's almost like starting over again," Scott said Monday. "Even though they know a little bit about each other, you want to get these guys on the court as much as possible so they know each other like the back of their hand. As much as I can get them on the court together for the next 57 games, the better it'll be for those guys."

The addition of Waiters -- Scott wouldn't offer any hints on whether he'll resume his starting role immediately -- is sure to help the offense, despite Waiters' 36 percent shooting.

It's not Waiters' individual offense that most helps the Cavaliers' engine run. It's his ability to attack the rim and open up opportunities for teammates that has been missed in the eight games the shooting guard has missed since suffering a sprained ankle Dec. 1 against Portland.

Scott already has talked with Waiters about rededicating his focus on driving to the basket rather than settling for jumpers.

"The thing that it does for our team when he does attack is he finds people when [defenses] collapse," Scott said. "He's not a reluctant passer, he's a very good passer. So the more he can be on attack mode, the better it is not only for him, but for us as a team."

As proof, the Cavaliers shot 39 percent through eight games without Waiters. In four games without both Waiters and Irving, Cleveland was a woeful 36.9 percent from the field. When both players were in the lineup for the first nine games, the Cavaliers shot 43 percent.

"It helps them when both of them are out there together to take pressure off each other," Scott said. "It means Kyrie doesn't necessarily have to handle the ball the whole time he's on the court. He has another guy who can handle the ball and create shots for himself and for his teammates, and can run the offense, as well. It can give Kyrie a little bit of a break, and vice versa."

Waiters settled more for jump shots as the season progressed, in part because that's what defenses allowed, and in part because he was frustrated by the lack of fouls called when he attacked the rim.

"I can shoot, but I'm better attacking and finding open guys and just creating plays," he said Monday. "I've just got to be more aggressive. If I don't get a call, I've got to run back and try to put pressure on the defense and the refs just to make calls. That's my most important thing, just focus on getting to the rim."

With Waiters' return, it likely means moving C.J. Miles to a reserve role. Miles is averaging 22.5 points on 45.6 percent shooting in the last four games as a starter.