Game 31 | Cleveland @ Los Angeles | December 25, 2009 | 5:00 EST

James said:

Cavs looked good today, but lets not start planning any parades.

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Why do we need a Celtics fan playing the "pessimist" role on this site? We have plenty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc01ztrRqyg

That Lake Erie administered ass whooping of the Lakers was the best Christmas present since dad (R.I.P) got me Optimus Prime in 1985.

Was the LA game a fluke?

*First I want to apologize for posting this much today, I am still hyped about today's game*

One thing I have noticed from Lakers fans around the internet and even the ESPN commentators that weighed into tonight's game is that it was more of a statement game for the Cavaliers and it was an off night for the Lakers.

Of course that is the case, but to me that implies that if the Lakers played like they are known to, it would have been an entirely different game.

I mean the Cavaliers defense certainly got under their skin with the Ts and Kobe not doing so hot, but what do you think....

Our intensity tonight vs the Lakers at full speed?

To me, it just seemed like one team outplayed the other, the only message you can take out of it is that the Cavaliers are capable of competing with the best in the league. Whether or not the best in the league had an off night is irrelevant.

-Akronite- said:

Why do we need a Celtics fan playing the "pessimist" role on this site? We have plenty.

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Why do fans of other teams bother coming here anyway. I dont give a shit about Celtics Hub, Clutch City or The Blue and Gold Forum.

Re: Was the LA game a fluke?

can't be a fluke when ya win by 15 and it really shoulda been 25

Re: Was the LA game a fluke?

I don't like how people bail out players by saying, "He had an off game". Our defence (LeBron, Parker, Moon and little Delonte) hounded Kobe like the dog that he is and forced him into horrible shots.

I didn't read any of this thread but this game was by far the best regular season Cavs game I have seen because we finally showed a good team who was boss. We played with swagger. Our big guns Mo/Lebron showed up offensively. We had awesome defense on Kobe. Parker/Moon/Delonte need to be commended for that. And Wow what a game by Jamario Moon. We F'N need someone athletic like that who can guard 3's and big 2's AND who can freaking finish on the break. Its pretty sad when besides Lebron your best Post up guy and best fast break finisher is a 6'3" skinny commando.

Andy played his role, Z had a great shooting game and defensively wow. Shaq finally had a presence offensively. Parker had his issues but still played good enough.

Delonte played well when he was on the court. Suprised he was only on the court for short spurts. He was very efficient though and very disruptive to the lakers. He usually doesn't play well when playign short spurts and spot minutes.

The Cavs played with some swagger today and it was awesome. The bench play tonight was just outstanding.

You could tell Kobe was impressed with our performance. I believe he really wants to see a Cavs/Lakers finals because he wants to beat the best. Last year, he did not get a chance to.

Re: Was the LA game a fluke?

Andrew said:

*First I want to apologize for posting this much today, I am still hyped about today's game*

One thing I have noticed from Lakers fans around the internet and even the ESPN commentators that weighed into tonight's game is that it was more of a statement game for the Cavaliers and it was an off night for the Lakers.

Of course that is the case, but to me that implies that if the Lakers played like they are known to, it would have been an entirely different game.

I mean the Cavaliers defense certainly got under their skin with the Ts and Kobe not doing so hot, but what do you think....

Our intensity tonight vs the Lakers at full speed?

To me, it just seemed like one team outplayed the other, the only message you can take out of it is that the Cavaliers are capable of competing with the best in the league. Whether or not the best in the league had an off night is irrelevant.

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Sometimes I can see this, but I saw the way Kobe played the night, the fact that he shot 32 shots and played 45 minutes, and the way he played throughout the game, Kobe was definitely trying his hardest. I don't know if you can say that about the whole team, but Kobe didn't take the game off, we just made him work really hard to get his.

People will point out that Moon had a great night, but Z and Hickson will rarely only score 4 points, AP played great D but couldn't buy a bucket, and Delonte West mysteriously only played 17 minutes despite the fact that he was extremely productive while he was out there. So in the end it all evens out in terms of guys over and under performing.

Re: Was the LA game a fluke?

Andrew said:

*First I want to apologize for posting this much today, I am still hyped about today's game*

One thing I have noticed from Lakers fans around the internet and even the ESPN commentators that weighed into tonight's game is that it was more of a statement game for the Cavaliers and it was an off night for the Lakers.

Of course that is the case, but to me that implies that if the Lakers played like they are known to, it would have been an entirely different game.

I mean the Cavaliers defense certainly got under their skin with the Ts and Kobe not doing so hot, but what do you think....

Our intensity tonight vs the Lakers at full speed?

To me, it just seemed like one team outplayed the other, the only message you can take out of it is that the Cavaliers are capable of competing with the best in the league. Whether or not the best in the league had an off night is irrelevant.

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Oh, I think fans know... both Laker's and Cav's fans... that the Cavs took it to them and kicked the Laker's collective asses. I also think they all know LA didn't lay down and not play hard. We could all tell how pissed off they got. Kobe was upset. Artest was fit to be tied. Kasol was flustered all game long. Odom had a pained look on his face most of the game. Fisher was shaking his head the entire game. They didn't know what hit them.

It wasn't that the Lakers played awful or uninspired, but that the Cavs played tougher and were more aggressive, and just wanted to kick their ass. They did. Cavs win. Lakers lose. It's one game, but it's a game LA will remember, so when the next time comes along, LA won't want to be spanked again. I doubt LA has went to the locker room following a game this year and truly felt smacked around and bruised up like they did tonight.

That's exactly the thing about people saying that the Lakers had an off night.

How often does the #1 three-point percentage shooter brick 3-4 open threes? Go ahead and add at least 6-9 points to our score if Parker was shooting his average. He had an off night on the offensive end (although he did great on Kobe).

You know what else I loved about tonight's game? Everybody at full-friggin' strength.

There is no room to say "Oh, so-and-so didn't play..." or "Team X was on a back to back and Team Y had 3 days rest"

Nope. Just the real freaking Cavaliers vs the real freaking Lakers.

Guess who won.

Re: Was the LA game a fluke?

Andrew said:

*First I want to apologize for posting this much today, I am still hyped about today's game*

One thing I have noticed from Lakers fans around the internet and even the ESPN commentators that weighed into tonight's game is that it was more of a statement game for the Cavaliers and it was an off night for the Lakers.

Of course that is the case, but to me that implies that if the Lakers played like they are known to, it would have been an entirely different game.

I mean the Cavaliers defense certainly got under their skin with the Ts and Kobe not doing so hot, but what do you think....

Our intensity tonight vs the Lakers at full speed?

To me, it just seemed like one team outplayed the other, the only message you can take out of it is that the Cavaliers are capable of competing with the best in the league. Whether or not the best in the league had an off night is irrelevant.

Click to expand...

I have to laugh at all the analysts' comments about the Cavs wanting or needing this win more than the Lakers. That's the biggest cop out ever... and a load of crap. You mean to tell me that the Lakers didn't want a win today? Kobe didn't savor the opportunity to strengthen his claim to the "best player in the league" moniker (legitimate or not)? Were the Lakers' players getting so pissed and chippy late in the game because they didn't care that they were getting schooled? I call BS! It's not like the Lakers went out there with a half-hearted effort. The Cavs came out playing great D, got the Lakers out of their game and took it to 'em... plain and simple. On this day, the Cavs were the better team. It would be nice if somebody could acknowledge that fact instead of making excuses for the Lakers.

Also, I see a lot of people saying that the Cavs' role players played out of their minds today and that's the only reason we had a chance... That on a normal day, we lose this game because our "role players" don't usually give us that much production. Again, BS! If anything, our supporting cast played more poorly than usual on the offensive end (looking at stats anyway).

Parker 0-4 on 3-PTs...
Hickson goes 1-4 and Z goes 1-5...
Free throws 19-30 as a team...
AV had 9 pts 9 rebounds... season average = 8 and 8

So who exactly produced that much more than they normally do? I just don't think people that don't watch every Cavs game have the slightest clue what this team is about. They still look at us as the "Cleveland Lebrons". That's not the case anymore. This is a much more well-rounded team that people choose to acknowledge. Do we still have weaknesses? Sure. Are we "The Lebrons"? Not for quite a while now. If I'm not mistaken, we rank 4th or 5th in team defense. Today's game wasn't an aberration...

theSTEREO. said:

You know what else I loved about tonight's game? Everybody at full-friggin' strength.

There is no room to say "Oh, so-and-so didn't play..." or "Team X was on a back to back and Team Y had 3 days rest"

Nope. Just the real freaking Cavaliers vs the real freaking Lakers.

Guess who won.

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Apparently someone didn't see Luke Walton in street clothes...

I'm sorry if it was already posted here but can someone provide the stats for points in the paint?

I know last year when we played them in LA they dropped like 64 points on us in the paint and the result was similar when we played at home (mostly because of Odom).