Nice win tonight, good times ahead

[aaronr]

Defense was the name of the game against the Nets. Snow, Varejao, Pavlovic and even Lebron played solid games defensively. When Hughes gets back, we are going to be tough to beat. Varejao gives us five solid performers on the front line, and Pavlovic gives us four in the backcourt. If Jones and Marshall ever regain their shooting eyes by the time the half-court playoff games start, we could give the Pistons some trouble.

 

[Maximus]

injury update - Ira is not travelling tonight and will miss the game tomorrow....wicked facial abscess had him at the clinic today. Honestly, his foot can probably use the additional rest.

 

[Wine and Gold]

A facial absess ? That sounds sweet ... He wasn't playing very well, anyway. He just wasn't anything close to the Ira Newble that finished out last season, where he began to look like the Ira Newble we saw in Atlanta. It would be a great addition to our perimeter defense if he were to return to his old self, but, when Hughes returns and Sasha playing well, I honeslty don't see where his minutes will come from.

His foot was still bothering him quite a bit, I read....and had figured they were just shutting him down again in order to finally get it 100%. Didn't hear or see anything regarding the 'facial abcsess' ...and it doesn't sound like anything I'd like to see either ...

Thanks for the info though, Maximus.

As for the game tonight ....another win that we rack up without even playing a very fluid brand of basketball. Enjoy watching how our 'help' defense just continue to progress. And to me that was the key difference in this game ....our ability to work in concert to keep a man in front of Kidd, and keep Carter distracted once he put the ball on the floor. To me, those are two keys with NJ ....you gotta stop the dribble penetration and make them pass out of their initial lead-in ...you have relative success inthat regard and you will be effective in disturbing offensive flow. It also helps to completely dominate the boards, which we should do to them consistently.

The negative was an over reliance on perimeter shooting early on, and for a spell in the 2nd half. But, that's what they were giving us, for the most part.

Good, if not spectacular, victory. We should be clearly better than them by season's end.

 

[Cleveland56]

I have to say before the game when they did the injury report, that was the first time i ever remember hearing: 'facial abcsess'

hopefully ira is ok.

 

[aggressivestyle]

Only Lebron and Sasha Minutes exceeded 30 minutes, These 2 played like Vets in the 4th. I know lebron usually always plays like a vet, But throw another Youngster like Sasha in the mix thats just amazing.

 

[The George]

Sasha came up huge in the 4th....overall huge win for our team adn we can show that we have really arrived with a big win in Miami tomm night....bt tonight was the important win

 

[Karma]

Tonight against Miami, I just want us to compete. I want us to show we can give effort consistently. We have enough raw talent that if we are hustling hard, points will come. Z has had some low minute nights of late which is a perfect preperation for a torid physical encouter against Shaq. We needed him somewhat fresh.

Snow has been great defensively, and will need that again with Wade.

We are winning ugly lately which is a sign that defensively we are getting it done.

 

[ChicagoCavFan]

When I saw the graphic on the game last night that Ira was out - facial abscess - I said WTF?

Let's just hope Coach Brown's cut on his head doesn't become infected ala Edwards and Winslow. I swear its the water in Cleveland.

 

[natedagg]

With a facial abscess, Ira will not look even more like the Predator.

 

[Jimmy]

must agree that sasha is playing very well and even being aggressive...i would still like him to be a bit more looser when he has the ball and be closer to the ground as he doenst bend his knees much which doesnt really intimidate the defense.

but also gotta love AV

 

[ootbttnlagitnbasf]

with hughes back in the lineup, and jones and marshal just bound to regain their shooting touch, i don't think that we will have any trouble dismissing detroit. we might even sweep them, given our superior playoff record and experience.

 

[CleveRocks]

Miami win or lose will be a good guage. How do we defend Wade, How do we defend Shaq?

 

[Karma]

Exactly Oot.....

People tend to forget Detroit got beaten in the playoffs last season whilst we went undefeated. This will put us in a good position come June!

 

[Mac]

How do you defend Wade? Stand 5 feet in front of him and dare him to shoot from 20 feet out.

Thats how.