The Cavaliers open the regular season tonight. After four weeks of training camp, you'd think yesterday would have been a light day.

Hardly. Coach John Lucas had two practices, one at noon and one at 7 p.m., as the Cavs prepared to face Boston at Gund Arena.

``The home opener is exactly that,'' Lucas said. ``It's the home opener. It doesn't make or break our season. If we win it, great. If we don't, great.''

With nobody at Gund thinking about printing playoff tickets, Lucas cares more about the long-term future. That's why he added a second practice after he was displeased with the team's effort during the first.

Lucas said practice would end if the Cavs could make 150 layups during a four-minute full-court drill. After they failed four times, he ordered the players back for the night session.

``Whatever coach asks,'' center Michael Doleac said.