Game 29| Wizards @ Cavs| Dec. 25, 2008| 8:00PM

[SanduskyCav]

The one thing I can say I loved about this game is it showed that we can win even if LeBron is off.

The thing is, LeBron wasn't off. I think he needed to be more aggressive and take more shots, he was 6/13 from the field. Thats not too bad of a shooting percentage. Just seemed to me like he was trying to pass the ball a little too much to get others involved. He averages 20 shots per game, he should have been more aggressive.

 

[Dungong]

Its the Wizards, we arent supposed to blow them out, it hurts them a little more that way. HUGE comeback in the 4th... again vs this team.

 

[wuck]

Another thing, has anyone mentioned Z's play? He was 1-5 from the floor for 5 points in 30 mins with 3 turnovers against a lazy unproven center in Blatche.

I think Z is bound to be inconsistent for awhile as his ankle recovers. Before the Rockets game, journalists were saying that he wasn't able to move laterally as well as before, and that it is going to take some time for him to get back to 100%. Better for him to work through the issues now than in May or June.

I'm a little less surprised he had a bad game tonight than I am that he had the awesome game vs. Denver on his first came back.

 

[Walter White]

I was hopin we could take full advantage of Z tonight with Jamison and Blatche guardin him. We just couldnt get him established which was part of the reason for the close game.

 

[camakazee]

I think Z is bound to be inconsistent for awhile as his ankle recovers. Before the Rockets game, journalists were saying that he wasn't able to move laterally as well as before, and that it is going to take some time for him to get back to 100%. Better for him to work through the issues now than in May or June.

I think that really killed us tonight. There were multiple occasions where they fed Z in the post and he had Jamison or someone else just as small on him, but instead of attacking tried to get too cute with the ball and either turned it over or missed the shot. Not being able to take advantage of the size differential really hurt the team tonight. But, luckily they were able to overcome it.

Also, I agree with the point above that LeBron should've attacked more. He looked far too content, even when the game was slipping away. For some reason, I could swear he looked sick tonight. Whether it be a simple cold, the flu, or too many Christmas Eve tequila shots, he just looked very lackadaisical out there. Hopefully it was just not getting up for a game on Christmas, when he'd rather be with family and friends.

 

[Chris]

WHy do people keep posting foreboding messages about LeBron's back? What happened?

 

[SanduskyCav]

WHy do people keep posting foreboding messages about LeBron's back? What happened?

Wondering the same thing.

 

[SoundBreaker]

^^ make that 3 of us...

 

[wuck]

If there was something major wrong with LeBron's back, I think we would heard it by now, considering that the AP report with post-game quotes (from LeBron and others) is out, Windhorst has published his game-story (but not his blog entry), the Cavs media availability is over, etc.

The good news about backs is that

1) Delonte West had treatment for his back and played big minutes
2) LeBron's girlfiend bought LeBron a back scratcher for Christmas.

LeBron did tell Craig Sager after the game that he wasn't feeling great physically in the late 4th quarter and he coughed as he went off camera. But I didn't hear anything about a bad back.

 

[Walter White]

Lebron didnt even act like his back hurt at all? Didnt even wince in pain or grab for it.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

After this one, I'm going to need some MAJOR therapy...


or my blankie....


either works.

 

[Chris]

Go to sleep, guys. I dunno bout you but that's like 5 hours of my Christmas spent on the edge of my seat between the Lakeshow and the Cavaliers. What a great Christmas, one of the best in recent memory.

Merry Christmas all- talk to you tomorrow.

 

[PIP]

The Cavs never ran any offense through Z, which was also a problem with LBJ's offense.. There was no inside-out type of offense tonight..

 

[PIP]

Its the Wizards, we arent supposed to blow them out, it hurts them a little more that way. HUGE comeback in the 4th... again vs this team.

Right... All by design to make them miserable...

But honestly, the problem tonight was the lack of defense...And that was a concern for all 48 minutes, because Jamison and Butler both had open 3's in the final minute or so of the game...

The interior defense was awful tonight, and the rotations were pathetic....

 

[wuck]

Earlier this month (including in Denver), LeBron has been setting the tone on defense, but he hasn't been playing as solid and smart in other games (including tonight). Windhorst talks about this in his blog tonight (LeBron going for steals, etc.). We'll see if it's a one game letdown or whether they've lost a little of their fundamentals.

It seems to me as if the Cavs are also rushing on the fastbreak. Mo knows just what to do, and LeBron can of course finish if he's ahead of the pack, but if others are involved, they are not always sharp. Mistakes, and the ball goes back the other way.