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2009-2010 Pre-Season Game 1 VS Bobcats

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Vindicate2 said:
I could be off based here, but did anyone else notice that Lebron didn't look as "cut" (muscle definition) as his did last year? Is he trying to gain some more flexiblity/speed or is it early in pre-season?

Does anyone habe any insight on this ... just curious.
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I noticed this too. Lebron just seems way smaller than last season.
 
Just got back from the game. Here are a few observations:

a) Mo needs to get the headband back.

b) Boobie looked to improve his ball-handling and defense. However, none of that matters seeing as how he is AWFUL at initiating the offense.

c) The Cavs need to get with Trill to work on their gif and animation during timeouts. What I saw tonight was pathetic.

d) JJ is going to be good...once he learns to play defense. I don't know if you guys could see on TV, but he runs the court like a gazelle. However, his defense was awful - help, pick & roll and straight up.

e) The refs were awful. Often times seemed out of position and called every flop there was.

f) You have to see Jamario live. He is fast, but his length is what makes him a true asset. He deflects and steps out on shooters better than anyone not named LeBron.

g) Darnell looks trim and ran the court well. Still fouls too much though.

h) Fans are HUGELY behind Z. When he got off the bench, before he even checked in, fans were chanting "Z!" I know the idea has been kicked around of trading Z at the deadline if another piece becomes available, but I feel like the "common" fan would go ballistic. Granted, I know people on here are smarter, but that place went nuts when he got off the bench. Just an interesting note.
 
Nice breakdown. Lot of work went into that. My vote goes for Karl. Good backup incase something happens to Mo/Boobie/Delonte. He did some nice things tonight, looked calm, moved the ball well, and made some key free throws.

I think once Powe comes back, and if JJ continues to play well we will have plenty of bigs. Thus I'm not sure what to make of Kurz and J.Williams, fairly redundant guys.
 
rabman_gold said:
It'll be interesting.

Here's all the contracts that are guaranteed and non-guaranteed:
Rank|Player|Guaranteed|Non Guaranteed|Specialty
1|LeBron James|Yes|No| MEGASTAR
2|Shaquille O'Neal|Yes|No|Star
3|Mo Williams|Yes|No|Star
4|Anderson Varejao|Yes|No|Defender
5|Anthony Parker|Yes|No|Shooter/Defender
6|Jamario Moon|Yes|No|Defender
7|Zydrunas Ilgauskas|Yes|No|Shooter
8|Daniel Gibson|Yes|No|Shooter
9|J.J. Hickson|Yes|No|Offense
10|Danny Green|Yes|No|Defender/Shooter
11|Delonte West|Yes|No|Facilitator/Defender
12|Leon Powe|Yes|No|Post Presence
13| Jawad Williams |No|Yes|Shooter (1/6, 5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assists, 1 block, 12 minutes)
14| Darnell Jackson |No|Yes|Defender (3 rebounds, 4 points, 13 minutes)
15| Rob Kurz |No|Yes|Shooter (1/2 3s, 2 rebounds, 1 turnover, 7.5 minutes)
16| Andre Barrett |No|Yes|Facilitator (2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 9.75 minutes)
17| Russell Robinson |No|Yes|Facilitator/Defender (4 points, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 personal fouls, 2 turnovers, 9.75 minutes)
18| Coby Karl |No|Yes|Facilitator/Shooter (15.25 minutes, 8 points, 1/5, 6/8 free throws, 2 rebounds, 2 personal fouls, 1 steal, 1 turnover)
19| Darryl Watkins |No|Yes|Post Defender (6 minutes, 3 rebounds, 1 offensive rebound, 2 personal fouls, 1 block)
20| Luke Nevill |No|Yes|Post Defender (6.5 minutes, 4 points, 2/2, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 personal foul, 1 steal, Ajinca trouble...)

So, who's looking the most impressive of the 8?

Personally, this is one of the best garbage time experiences I have seen from the Cavs. They were all fighting hard for that last spot, especially Luke, Coby, Rob, and Russell. Jawad and Darnell are looking a little laid back, but are trying as well. Watkins was meh while Andre did some decent things on the court.

So...

  1. Darnell (did seem to do anything negative)
  2. Jawad (was fairly decent, but did screw up a little, looked like a point forward)
  3. Coby Karl (drew fouls, was smart, was able to keep the ball moving effectively, unlike guys like Tarence)
  4. Rob Kurz (hit a three, did fairly well boxing out, was a factor somewhat)
  5. Russell Robinson (great effort on defense, twice did very good plays, drew attention somewhat, but very sloppy)
  6. Andre Barrett (managed to run the unit well on the floor, but couldn't do much defensively)
  7. Darryl Watkins/Luke Nevill (tied for last; one managed to do some work defensively, but was laid back; the other put in furious effort, but was manhandled by Ajinca)
It'll be an interesting battle that we should all pay attention to. Yes!
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Fixed it for you.:chuckles:
 
Ben said:
What did Boobie Gibson work on all summer? It damn sure wasn't his point guard skills.
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I think all that Boobie did this summer was fondle and/or massage Keyshia Coles boobies :chuckles:
m6ae0.jpg
 
jonzee330 said:
Just got back from the game. Here are a few observations:

a) Mo needs to get the headband back.

b) Boobie looked to improve his ball-handling and defense. However, none of that matters seeing as how he is AWFUL at initiating the offense.

c) The Cavs need to get with Trill to work on their gif and animation during timeouts. What I saw tonight was pathetic.

d) JJ is going to be good...once he learns to play defense. I don't know if you guys could see on TV, but he runs the court like a gazelle. However, his defense was awful - help, pick & roll and straight up.

e) The refs were awful. Often times seemed out of position and called every flop there was.

f) You have to see Jamario live. He is fast, but his length is what makes him a true asset. He deflects and steps out on shooters better than anyone not named LeBron.

g) Darnell looks trim and ran the court well. Still fouls too much though.

h) Fans are HUGELY behind Z. When he got off the bench, before he even checked in, fans were chanting "Z!" I know the idea has been kicked around of trading Z at the deadline if another piece becomes available, but I feel like the "common" fan would go ballistic. Granted, I know people on here are smarter, but that place went nuts when he got off the bench. Just an interesting note.
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Z would only be traded if it meant getting THE piece, I think, as in like...a young All Star caliber player.
 
LeBron-Shaq debut a success in preseason win

CLEVELAND (AP) - The LeBron and Shaq Show is off and running.

NBA icons, All-Stars and A-plus-list celebrities LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal made their debut as Cleveland teammates on Tuesday night in the Cavaliers' 92-87 preseason-opening victory over the Charlotte Bobcats.

LeBron James scored 15 points in just 14 minutes.

The two are hoping to end this city's pro sports championship drought stretching to 1964, and while they are as much as nine months away from accomplishing that goal, it's already clear their pairing will be fun to watch.

James, wearing a pink pair of his signature Nikes for breast cancer awareness month, scored 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting in 14 minutes. O'Neal, who said his goal is to "win a ring for the King" in Cleveland, scored six points and added three rebounds and a block in 15 minutes. Neither played in the second half.

D.J. Augustin, whose third-year option was exercised before the game, scored 12 for the Bobcats. Charlotte was without injured starters Tyson Chandler (ankle surgery) and Boris Diaw (ankle sprain). Bobcats coach Larry Brown was called for a technical foul by official Ben Taylor, one of three replacement referees being used while the regular refs are locked out. Brown spent most of the night chirping at the refs.

Everything James and O'Neal do together will get added attention this season, and it won't be limited to their on-court moves. The Cavaliers' pregame introductions, which already ranked among the league's splashiest before Shaq's arrival, could rival Broadway productions.

The Cavs didn't provide any sneak preview, as James and O'Neal simply slapped hands and saluted each other when they were introduced.

While the James-O'Neal pairing seems ideal, some are wondering if their personalities will mesh and if the arranged marriage will work.

"I don't see why not," Brown said. "LeBron's gotten better every second he's been in the league. To get a quality player like Shaq, who's been special his whole career, without giving up anything, it's phenomenal."

Cavaliers guard Delonte West, battling mental sickness and legal troubles, had been expected to play 15 to 20 minutes but didn't leave Cleveland's locker room. He warmed up 90 minutes before tip-off and sat in his cubicle before the game, but never joined his teammates on the bench.

West, who has bipolar disorder, was arrested last month on weapons charges in Maryland after police found him carrying three loaded guns while riding a three-wheel motorcycle. He faces a likely league suspension pending the resolution of his criminal case. West didn't show up for team's first four practices of training camp last week, absences the team termed unexcused.

The Cavs have been taking a one-day-at-a-time approach with West, who has been their second-best player in the past two postseasons. For now, the team is content to give West space and time.

O'Neal has missed more than 5,000 free throws during his career, a flaw that led to the birth of Hack-A-Shaq, a late-game strategy teams have used against the big man for years.

O'Neal scored the game's first point from the line, drawing a huge ovation from Cavs fans hoping its an omen of made free throws to come.
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Source: http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/10179782/LeBron-Shaq-debut-a-success-in-preseason-win

Not much news here, but it's positive feedback from the opening game, that's always good...
 
Did everyone watch it on FSN OHIO? I just got home, excited to watch my recorded game, only to find out freaking soccer and Best Damn in the place of the game. It said "Preseason Basketball Cavs vs Bobcats" in the description.

a) Did anyone else have this issue?

b) Does anyone know somewhere I can find the game online?


PISSED at U-verse right now to say the least... :mad:
 
HotMic said:
Did everyone watch it on FSN OHIO? I just got home, excited to watch my recorded game, only to find out freaking soccer and Best Damn in the place of the game. It said "Preseason Basketball Cavs vs Bobcats" in the description.

a) Did anyone else have this issue?

b) Does anyone know somewhere I can find the game online?


PISSED at U-verse right now to say the least... :mad:
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http://bt.davka.info/ may have it in the next couple days, but it's really a crapshoot.

I will search private sports torrent trackers to see what they have ...
 
Pluto's take:

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index.ssf/2009/10/the_game_wasnt_very_real_but_t.html

The game wasn't real, but the anticipation sure is for the Cavaliers: Terry Pluto
By Terry Pluto
October 06, 2009, 11:05PM

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's still hard to believe, Shaquille O'Neal in a Cavaliers uniform.

Then there's LeBron James, the league's Most Valuable Player -- and he's yet to celebrate his 25th birthday.

And there's Mo Williams, an All-Star guard. Anthony Parker and Anderson Varejao, two respected role players who'd start for most teams.

That was Tuesday's starting five: Parker, Williams, O'Neal, Varejao and James.

As for Delonte West, he remains a question mark because of his emotional and legal issues.

Obviously, with West, the Cavs are a stronger team. But even minus their starting guard, they are still loaded with talent. You could see it Tuesday night in the preseason opener, a 92-87 victory over Charlotte at Quicken Loans Arena.

"I really noticed it when we went to the bench," said coach Mike Brown. "We have real depth."

That's because Brown turned to Jamario Moon (135 starts in the last two seasons) and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, the team's starting center for all of his 11-year career until O'Neal arrived.

Aside from James, Moon may be the Cavs' most athletic player. He's 6-foot-8 with the arms of a 7-footer and pogo sticks for legs and a love to defend the best player on the opposing team.


You watch Jamario in practice, and you forget that he's 29," said Brown. "He tries to dunk everything. It's like he's right out of college. Sometimes, the guys throw lobs higher than they should -- wanting to see if he can go up and get them."

Brown said that he called Ilgauskas the moment the O'Neal deal was made, knowing that the 7-3 veteran had just lost his starting job.

"Z probably was upset, but you'd never know it," said Brown. "He kept saying he'd do whatever we need to win. He's such a good guy. This will be an adjustment for him, but Z has gotten about everything out of basketball except a [championship] ring."

He knows the addition of O'Neal and others gives the Cavs their best chance to make that happen.

Ilgauskas can be a game-changer coming off the bench. His medium-range jumper is better than you find with some guards. His still can block some shots and works well in Brown's defensive system. He often will be guarded by backup centers, which should enhance his production. It also will make life easier for him on defense.

"Wait until you see more of Parker," continued Brown. "We've never quite had a shooter like this, a guy who can come around a pick and hit that jump shot. He's 6-foot-5, leans back a bit as he shoots. It's a tough shot to block."

Brown's hope is that West recovers in the near future, then he has three starters coming off the bench in Parker, Ilgauskas and Moon. Not only does Brown savor their experience, but they also have size and can defend.

"I like our young guys," said Browns, meaning J.J. Hickson and Darnell Jackson.

Hickson has been especially impressive early in camp, scoring 15 points in 16 minutes Tuesday. Brown stressed that Hickson has to block out for rebounds, help out on defense, and do some of the little things required of a winning team. But the coach loves Hickson's speed running the court on fast breaks, his scoring touch near the basket and his decent mid-range jumper.

It's hard to imagine the Cavs repeating their 66-16 record of a year ago, or even their dominating 39-2 mark at home. Guys get hurt. The issues with West could linger, and that will mean more minutes for Daniel Gibson as the backup point guard -- a spot where he sometimes struggles dribbling the ball up the court.

But this still may be the best Cavs team -- ever.

"You play against Shaq, you play against LeBron, you play against a team that could easily win a championship and many championships," said Charlotte coach Larry Brown. "I don't think it gets any better than that. From my perspective, the Cavs are really well-coached. ... I just love the way they play and how they built this team."
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^^ High praise from Larry Brown ..
 
Who else thinks Larry Brown looks like Hermit the Frog...:chuckles:
 
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