Game 48 | Cavaliers @ Pacers | January 29, 2010 | 7:00p EST

[jlj3184]

Cleveland Cavaliers (36-11) @ Indiana Pacers (16-30)

@

Friday, 29 January, 2010, 7:00 PM EST

TV: FS-OH, FS-IN

RADIO: WTAM 1100

VEGAS ODDS: Cavs -7. O/U 205.5
Where the Magic Happens:

Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN

OUTLOOK

On paper, the Pacers have no business being in the same building as the Cavs. They have one star (Danny Granger) and a bunch of average role players (Troy Murphy, Dahntay Jones, Brandon Rush). They are built a lot like the Cavs of yesteryear, just not as good. Granger is a homeless man's LeBron James, with an ability to score in a variety of ways. The Pacers are lacking suitable depth at nearly every position. Expect the Cavs to go to Shaq early and often to get Troy Murphy into foul trouble and out of the game. The key will be containing the Pacers small lineup on the other end of the floor. Shaq simply cannot guard Murphy out on the perimeter, so if he is unable to get Murphy in early foul trouble, I'd expect to see a lot of Andy in this game. The Pacers were just blown out at home by the Lakers and I expect them to put up a fight (like they always do against the Cavs). That said, they simply don't have the weapons to beat the Cavs as well as they've been playing. Cavs win 102-95.

COACHES

Record | Portland | Mugshot | Mugshot | Cleveland | Record
270-280 | Jim O'Brien |

|

| Mike Brown | 247-128

STARTING LINEUPS
Cleveland

Daniel Gibson, PG

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Anthony Parker, SG

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LeBron James, SF

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JJ Hickson, PF

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Shaquille O'Neal, C

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Indiana

Earl Watson, PG

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Brandon Rush, SF

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Dahntay Jones, SG

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Danny Granger, PF

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Troy Murphy, C

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BENCHES

Indiana | Mugshot | Mugshot | Cleveland
A.J. Price |

|

| Cedric Jackson |
Luther Head |

|

| Danny Green |
Mike Dunleavy |

|

| Zydrunas Ilgauskas |
Josh McRoberts |

|

| Darnell Jackson |
Roy Hibbert |

|

| Anderson Varejao |
T.J. Ford |

|

| Jamario Moon |
Solomon Jones |

|

| Jawad Williams |

INJURIES

Cleveland
Mo Williams, Shoulder
Delonte West, Finger
Leon Powe, Recovering from Knee Surgery

Indiana
Jeff Foster, Sore Lower Back
Travis Diener, Toe
Tyler Hansbrough, Inner Ear Infection

STATS, INC. PREVIEW

LeBron James wasn’t concerned that he tied his lowest-scoring effort of the season in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ latest game, instead enjoying a rare fourth quarter off.

Rarely has James taken it easy against the Indiana Pacers.

James has averaged more than 41 points in the Cavaliers’ last three visits to Conseco Fieldhouse, and he’ll look to help Cleveland win for the 12th time in 13 games against the Pacers on Friday night.

James came into Wednesday’s game against Minnesota having averaged 32.9 points, 7.8 assists and 7.7 rebounds in January, likely cementing his third straight Eastern Conference Player of the Month Award.

Many of those big efforts came in tight games. The Cavaliers (36-11) had won five straight - all by single digits and three by one point - before finally getting a breather against the Timberwolves. James scored 12 points but dished out 11 assists before taking a seat for the fourth quarter of a 109-95 win.

“It’s good every now and then to get one of these wins and be able to relax,” James told the NBA’s official Web site. “A win is a win.”

J.J. Hickson led the Cavaliers with a career-high 23 points, one game after going scoreless in 13 minutes against Miami. Hickson has shown positive signs in his second season - his 11 points and 14 rebounds were instrumental in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers last week - but he’s often made mental errors that have forced coach Mike Brown to limit his minutes.

When Hickson tops his average of 6.9 points, however, the Cavaliers are 19-0.

Hickson had 15 points and seven rebounds in a 105-95 win at Indiana on Nov. 20 in which Cleveland was without Shaquille O’Neal and Delonte West. James had 40 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

That effort was hardly unusual for James against the Pacers (16-30). He’s averaged 41.3 points in his last three road games versus Indiana, and he had a triple-double in his two previous visits to Conseco Fieldhouse.

Cleveland, which could get West (fractured finger) back Friday, has outscored Indiana by an average of 11.2 points in winning 11 of 12 meetings.

Indiana will be facing its second straight elite team after losing 118-96 to the Lakers on Wednesday night. The Pacers were down three at halftime but were outscored by 19 in the second half and outrebounded 62-42.

“We played them pretty well the first half, but we couldn’t get it going and let them beat us up on the boards in the second half,” said Troy Murphy, who had five rebounds after averaging 11.8 in his past 11 games. “We just didn’t have the run in it to get us back in there and get the game to our side.”

The Pacers are 0-20 when Murphy fails to record at least 11 rebounds.

Murphy and center Roy Hibbert will have their hands full inside with O’Neal, Hickson, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Anderson Varejao, but to stay close they’ll likely need more from Danny Granger.

Indiana’s leader with 23.2 points per game, Granger has been held to 19.3 on 35.1 percent shooting in his last four games against Cleveland.

Sexy Time

 

[Mike Manifesto]

My boy Pyscho T is not playing in this game. I have yet to see him play this year in the Association.


Expecting nothing less than a double digit win, nevertheless.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

Will not be an easy game. These guys can score the basketball, and Danny Granger always brings his best against LeBron.

 

[chiefwahoo]

Side note - if anyone is pondering whether or not to attend this game, I highly recommend that you do. It's a Friday night, a short drive, and Conseco is amazing. I wrote this up after attending the game there in November:

http://numbersdont.com/?p=258

 

[jlj3184]

My boy Pyscho T is not playing in this game. I have yet to see him play this year in the Association.

Expecting nothing less than a double digit win, nevertheless.

Correct. He is away from the team indefinitely pending a trade/buy out. He wore out his welcome in Indy just like he has in several other places.

 

[chiefwahoo]

Correct. He is away from the team indefinitely pending a trade/buy out. He wore out his welcome in Indy just like he has in several other places.

Tyler Hansbrough? He is out with an ear infection.

 

[jlj3184]

Tyler Hansbrough? He is out with an ear infection.

Didn't know that was his nickname. Thought he was talking about TJ Ford. Never seen anything with Tyler Hansbrough that would earn him that moniker.

 

[Gordon Bombay]

does indiana even have hotter cheerleaders than us? this is getting pathetic

 

[Mike Manifesto]

Pyscho T is Tyler Hansbrough, his nickname when he was on Carolina and probably still is. I am a Carolina fan, and thus I would of liked to see Hansbrough playing.

SI: So 'Psycho T' could laugh it off. Can you give the full story on how you got that nickname?

TH: My strength coach [Jonas Sahratian] at UNC gave it to me while we were lifting in the weight room. I was pushing up some heavy weights -- doing bicep curls -- and he just started screaming. I got into it with him, and he called me "Psycho T." Ever since then, it's stuck.

http://www.mrtarheel.com/hansbrough.html

 

[Green Lantern]

This is not going to be a easy game..Granger always tries to go off against Lebron..

 

[chrisrich91]

Side note - if anyone is pondering whether or not to attend this game, I highly recommend that you do. It's a Friday night, a short drive, and Conseco is amazing. I wrote this up after attending the game there in November:

http://numbersdont.com/?p=258

Me and 7 or 8 of my floormates are driving from Miami's campus to see the game. Question: I know that Loudville seats in the Q provide a pretty decent view of the game, does the same apply at Conseco? I sure hope so. :chuckles:

 

[Surge]

My brother's friend's cousin told me that Murphy was staying in Cleveland after the game...

 

[jlj3184]

My brother's friend's cousin told me that Murphy was staying in Cleveland after the game...

Doesn't make much sense considering the game is in Indianapolis. Better luck next time, friend.

 

[Chardon]

Am i the only one who sort of forgot about the pacers? I just havent heard much from them.

 

[Lee]

Am i the only one who sort of forgot about the pacers? I just havent heard much from them.

Considering their starting pf has been linked numerous times in trade talks to us, i am sure many of us have not forgotten about the Pacers.