Dr. Gymbo
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(4-12)
vs. (6-10)
Date: December 1st, 2012
Where: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
Time: 7:30 pm [EST]
[video=youtube;hg_TZk45b84]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg_TZk45b84[/video]
Watch on Fox Sports Ohio with:
Listen on WTAM with:
Coaches
Byron Scott
vs.
Terry Stotts
Presumed Starting Lineups (Updated 12/1/12 @ 11 AM EST)
Point Guard: Jeremy Pargo
Shooting Guard: Dion Waiters
Small Forward: Alonzo Gee
Power Forward: Tristan Thompson
Center: Anderson Varejao
Shooting Guard: Dion Waiters
Small Forward: Alonzo Gee
Power Forward: Tristan Thompson
Center: Anderson Varejao
Vs.
Point Guard: Damian Lillard
Shooting Guard: Wesley Matthews
Small Forward: Nic Batum
Power Forward: LaMarcus Aldridge
Center: J.J. "Remember My Small, Stone Hands?" Hickson
Donald Sloan
Daniel "Poor Man's Kyrie Irving" Gibson
Omri "Assfingers" Casspi
Chuck Jumpers "C.J." Miles
Tyler Zeller
Samardo "Almost Out of the League" Samuels
Vs.
Nolan Smith
Will Barton
Sasha "Still Doesn't Shower" Pavlovic
Luke Babbitt
Jared Jeffries
Meyers Leonard
Nolan Smith
Will Barton
Sasha "Still Doesn't Shower" Pavlovic
Luke Babbitt
Jared Jeffries
Meyers Leonard
Injuries
Kyrie "Needs Calcium Supplements" Irving
Game Preview
Trail Blazers-Cavaliers Preview
The Portland Trail Blazers already have fallen to the NBA's worst team and suffered a pair of double-digit defeats during their disaster of a road trip.
After a thrilling victory, it doesn't appear the Cleveland Cavaliers will make things any easier for them.
Slumping Portland looks to get back on track by beating Cleveland for the fourth straight time Saturday night.
The Blazers (6-10) have lost the first four of their seven-game Eastern trip after falling 96-78 to a Boston team playing without suspended All-Star Rajon Rondo on Friday. They also lost to Brooklyn and Detroit before being the first victim of previously winless Washington on Wednesday.
LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 23 points Friday while former Cavalier J.J. Hickson and rookie Meyers Leonard added 11 apiece for the Blazers, who dropped to 2-7 on the road.
They were averaging 99.5 points prior to their trip, but they're scoring only 86.5 per game during their skid.
"We came out passive and they came out really aggressive," Aldridge said. "After the last game (with) everything they had going on, they had to set the tone early and they did."
Nicolas Batum finished 2 for 11 from the field with nine points and is shooting 31.0 percent over his last five games.
"Of course we're frustrated," Batum said. "The start of the season we played great, so we have to show some pride and (not) play ridiculous like we did (Friday)."
Portland got 22 points off the bench, but its reserves are averaging only 12.9 points - by far the worst mark in the league. The Cavaliers' bench isn't much better, though, ranking 28th with an average of 24.6 points.Cleveland, though, ended a four-game losing streak after Alonzo Gee's putback with less than a second remaining gave it a 113-111 win at Atlanta on Friday.
"That was my first game-winning shot, and it's a great feeling," Gee said. "This was a big game for us. We really needed this win, and hopefully we can move on tomorrow and get another one."
Jeremy Pargo scored 22 points, Dion Waiters added 21 and Anderson Varejao finished with 20 and 18 rebounds for the second straight game for the Cavs (4-12), who set a season high for points after scoring only 78 in each of their past two games. They also improved to 2-4 since guard Kyrie Irving was sidelined with a fractured finger.
Coach Byron Scott was pleased with the victory, but he knows his team still has to improve considerably. "We still made a lot of mistakes throughout the game, such as missing switches and allowing offensive rebounds," Scott said. "These are things we can't afford to let happen if we want to win more consistently."
Varejao has been doing his part, posting seven straight double-doubles. He has 11 games with at least 15 rebounds this season, and he leads the NBA with 15.1 per contest.
Aldridge scored 28 points and Wesley Matthews added 24 in a 98-78 home victory over the Cavs in the most recent matchup Jan. 8. The Blazers had lost seven straight in Cleveland before a 111-105 win Feb. 5, 2011
What to Watch:
1. Rookie Matchups: Dion Waiters vs. Damian Lillard. Given that Dion has spent time at both guard positions with Kyrie's injury, I think it's plausible that we will see the two rookie guards dual each other. If we see more of the facilitating Dion that we saw last night, we should be in a good place regarding this game. Also, Tyler Zeller vs. Meyers Leonard could be an interesting battle off of the bench. I've been very happy and encouraged based on what I've continued to see out of Zeller in his limited minutes this season.
2. Frontcourt Bigs Battle: I'd expect to see Andy go after LaMarcus Aldridge while Tristan and J.J. battle against each other. Can Andy keep up his torrid rebounding numbers? This will be a good battle for Tristan against J.J., since Hickson is likely playing the undersized center role. It's also interesting because Hickson is playing against his replacement.
3. Bench Scoring: Who will step up off of the bench? Gibson has played well in spurts, but the oft-injured guard can be inconsistent if he's not playing at full strength. Can we rely on Casspi? Miles?
Gameday Booty: Holiday Edition
http://www.maxim.com/girls/holiday-hotties (Added link for those at work)
It's Game Time!
[video=youtube;ZO-LUmfowLw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO-LUmfowLw[/video]
Go Cavs!!!
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