LyXo
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Cleveland Cavaliers (47-30) Hosting Detroit Pistons (62-15)
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Time: 8:00
TV: ESPN
Radio: WTAM 1100
Location: Palace of Auburn Hills
Head Coaches
Mike Brown / Flip Saunders
Probable Staters
Eric Snow / Chauncey Billups
Flip Murray / Richard Hamilton
LeBron James / Tayshaun Prince
Drew Gooden / Rasheed Wallace
Anderson Varejao / Ben Wallace
Cleveland Cavaliers Bench
Damon Jones/Larry Hughes/Sasha Pavlovic/Donyell Marshall/Alan Henderson
Detroit Pistons
Lindsey Hunter/Maurice Evans/Carlos Delfino/Antonio McDyess/Dale Davis
2005-06 SERIES: Pistons: 2-1
LAST MEETING: February 26-27...The Cavs could not handle the back to back games against the NBA's best team... lost both home and away game
Cavaliers' Notes:
* Cleveland has won 11 of its last 12, with its sole loss coming off a back-to-back road game.
* The Cavs have been without the services of Zydrunas Ilgauskas for 3 games. His status is still undecided.
* With their win over New Jersey on Saturday, the Cavs clinched the 4th seed, guaranteeing them home court advantage in the first round. This is the highest they can achieve this season, so the outcome of the rest of their games is meaningless with regards to seed. The starters, as seen through last night's rotations, will see more rest than usual in this stretch towards the playoffs.
* The Cavaliers are 18-20 on the road.
Pistons' Notes:
* Once projected to win 70 games this year, the Pistons faltered and fell short of that benchmark, but their 62 wins so far is no joke this competitive league.
* The Pistons have no major injuries, and have been fortunate all season not to lose a starter his job.
* Detroit has clinched the best record in the East. It retains the best record in the league still, but continues to fight for the best record in the NBA to secure home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
* The Pistons tie for second best home record with 27-12.
lyXo's Keys to the Game
* The Cavs are weak guarding the 3, while the Pistons remain one of the best in the league. Guarding the likes of Rasheed Wallace out on the perimeter should be a top priority.
* While on the subject of three pointers, we must not fall in love with the shot. Even though we have been on fire as of late, that fire could easily be quelled when rebounds are gobbled up by the Wallaces. Attacking the basket will be equally as difficult. A mixture of the two combined with passing to find the open man should be the game plan.
* Without Z, we have shifted to a more fast-paced game. It won't be as easy, as it worked against mediocre defensive teams, but against Detroit, their transition defense will slow us down. Plus, they are quite talented at scoring off turnovers. Take every fastbreak opportunity possible, but don't always force it.
* We'll see how the LeBron-Hughes-Flip works in real time, against a real team. It'll be interesting to watch these three guys with similar games work against a complete team in the Pistons. It'll be a good measuring stick as to whether Flip stays or not.
Final Note:
This is a nice 2nd round playoff preview for the second round. I expect it to be a very good, fast paced game. There is the factor that the Cavs are playing for nothing while the Pistons still compete for home court throughout the playoffs, but that won't stop LeBron. I just hope we'll save enough energy for our back-to-back tomorrow, or we may get embarrassed by NYK twice in a row. Regardless, tonight's game will be one to remember. Don't miss it.
