Cavs at Kings

[WitnessLBJ]

lol nice..definitely would have been a good game to go to, for the second half of it at least

 

[Wine and Gold]

The most amazing thing to me is Mike Brown seems to have found a way to get Drew Gooden focused ....which is something I didn't ever expect.

The guy is playing strong defense ....and when was the last time that Drew started a game just like he did tonight, and turned it around and got his game back together .....I can't think of that ever happening.

His M.O. is that he starts bad and just mentally caves in and can't get his confidence flowing again.

This is now three straight games of strong play on both sides of the court ..I know that doesn't sound like a whole lot, but, we're talking Drew Gooden here ..'The Enigma' ...

If Mike Brown has found the key to this guy, we have another all star in our ranks ....

We're running the same offense that strugled and looked horrid at times this season ...the two key points are ...we're making shots, and getting more players involved earlier in the shot clock. Most notably Hughes, Z, and Gooden are bringing offensive games with regularity.

The most stellar dynamic is a defense that is hitting levels I never thought imaginable with this collection of players. But, when Lebron buys in, and statrts busting his ass with consistency on defense, the entire team will feed off that and follow suit.

To me, that is precisley what is going down at this point in the season.

We played pretty mediocre basketball for the majority of our first 25 or so games this season, and because we had a weak schedule we still had a passable record. But, now, we are just starting to gel and get it together ..this team could go on a nice run if we can keep the momentum and keep feeding off our defensive pressure.

Add to what we have a PG that in spots can push the pace off misses, and spread the floor even more with an outside shot, and we could really go up one more notch.

A championship this year is looking like it can be a strong possibility from my standpoint ...the East is for our taking this year at the very least.

 

[Jon]

The whole team is realizing that when they play shutdown defense good things happen. So maybe, just maybe, Drew won't worry so much about whether his first shots go down... just keep hustling, rebounding, playing D; and things will take care of themselves. Even Larry shooting 3-16 is forgivable if his misses are resulting in o-boards and putbacks *and* he's playing solid D.

 

[WitnessLBJ]

The guy is playing strong defense ....and when was the last time that Drew started a game just like he did tonight, and turned it around and got his game back together .....I can't think of that ever happening.

I agree. MB is working a miracle on Drew. I may soon have to change my Fav Cav, Past Cav info by the avatar.

Well said W&G, the East definitely is ours for the taking at this level of play.

 

[Karma]

Just the tonic for a strong Western road trip. Scary start and we were scaring down the barrell of a blowout loss heading into Phoenix. Thankfully we have momentum now. Not that that will help too much tomorrow night.

 

[chiefwahoo]

Some video highlights of the win in Sactown:

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[Kypus]

ESPN recap:

LeBron, Cavs rally past Kings for eighth win in nine tries


SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- LeBron James' three quick 3-pointers were a dramatic flourish on 13 commanding minutes as the Cleveland Cavaliers turned a 17-point deficit into a comfortable lead.

When one of their best stretches in an outstanding season was over, the Cavs had made a 42-12 run -- and they were much more proud of the 12 than the 42.

The Kings lost to the Cavaliers at home 108-98 after Sacramento had a 17-point lead in the second half. Earlier this season the Kings lost at home to the Jazz after having a 21-point second-half lead. No other NBA team has lost two home games this season after having a lead of more than 15 points in the second half.

James scored 34 points in the arena where he made his NBA debut, and Cleveland rallied for its eighth victory in nine games, 108-98 over the stumbling Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.

James started slowly but scored 24 points in the second half as the Eastern Conference leaders showed that this seven-game West Coast road trip probably won't resemble the difficult odysseys of past Cavs squads.

Last season, the Cavaliers lost the first five games of a similarly epic Western road trip in January. Sure, LeBron's brilliance is a big reason for this good start -- but his teammates' defense seems even more important.

"We know that what we've got to take care of is the defensive end," James said. "We got stops that helped us on the offensive end. That's the formula that's been working for us."

Coach Mike Brown has preached defensive consistency as a way to generate more offense, and the results were evident in Sacramento. Most importantly, the Cavs switched their defense to attack Mike Bibby's pick-and-roll tendencies, and the point guard's teammates couldn't answer.

"It was mental toughness and focus," Brown said. "We decided we wanted to get defensive stops. ... We never feel like we're out of any game. I don't care how bad we shoot the basketball. Championship teams are defensive teams. If we get stops, we'll figure out how to score."

James awed the hostile Sacramento crowd with those three 3-pointers -- each longer than the last -- in four possessions early in the fourth to put the Cavs ahead to stay in their fifth straight win. Drew Gooden added 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 17 points and nine boards.

Damon Jones hit four 3-pointers against his former team, gleefully taunting the crowd that once loved him as the Cavs won their third straight road game for the first time in nearly a year.

Bibby scored 26 points -- 20 in the first half -- and Brad Miller had 24 for the Kings, who followed up consecutive overtime losses to the Lakers and Portland with a dismal second-half effort to close a five-game homestand.

Bibby, Miller and Ron Artest all refused to speak to reporters after the game, leaving Kevin Martin to explain another discouraging effort.

"We came out for the third quarter, and all of a sudden the lead is gone," said Martin, who had 23 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. "We're like, 'Where did it go?' We need to stay together. We started getting down when they made their little run."

Cleveland beat the Kings 102-97 last season at Arco Arena, with James scoring 11 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter. James was an 18-year-old No. 1 draft pick when he made his NBA debut here on Oct. 29, 2003, scoring 25 points and playing splendidly in a loss.

Cleveland hadn't won back-to-back games in Sacramento since 1997-98.

"I remember coming in here, and those guys were the best in the league," said Larry Hughes, who scored 11 points on 3-of-16 shooting. "It's a different team now, but it's always good to come in here and get a win."

Bibby scored 20 points in the first half, and Miller's perimeter jumper was at its sharpest as the center made eight of his first nine shots, including two straight after halftime as Sacramento went up 61-44.

James scored 13 points in about 4 minutes early in the fourth, but Sacramento got within 98-94 on Martin's 3-pointer with 1:14 to play. Gooden then completed a three-point play, and Artest bricked a 3-pointer to complete a 4-of-14 shooting night.

"LeBron James had an unbelievable spurt that was obviously tough to overcome," Kings coach Eric Musselman said. "We got stagnant with the ball in the second half, and we didn't get the same shots. They turned up the intensity."

Game notes
James caught up to Martin on a fast break and blocked his layup attempt from behind in the second quarter -- though it appeared to be goaltending that wasn't called. ... Denver Broncos WR Javon Walker watched the game from courtside. ... The Kings play nine of their next 12 games on the road.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=270109023

How bad are Bibby and Kevin Martin probably hating Artest after that 4-14 shooting performance and getting burned by Lebron? Especially with Martin tearing it up all year at over 50 FG% :chuckles:

 

[Deadlock]

Artest is the best defender in the league? Please.. Bron was treying up 3's right in your face.

 

[RuanuLaw]

Artest is the best defender in the league? Please.. Bron was treying up 3's right in your face.

Doesn't happen often, does it?

 

[NarlCavs]

The 3rd quarter last night was the best stretch of basketball that I've seen the Cavs play all year.

I have to give credit to Mike Brown for a very nice coaching job last night. He did what needed to be done to get these guys to start performing. We also saw some solid halftime adjustments. Sometimes that isn't the case which is why Brown receives some criticism. That was also the most fired up that I've ever seen M. Brown.

Wesley once again showed he probably doesn't deserve minutes. I'd rather see the young G's get any of Wesley's minutes. If the Cavs were showcasing him for a future deal it certainly didn't help.

The thing that still concerns me a little is the number of minutes for LeBron and Larry. Both played the entire 2nd half and played approx. 43 minutes. That is now the norm in typical games.
I just don't want to see the Cavs sacrifice the long term and the long term health of both players for a little short term success. It's especially risky with an injury prone player like Hughes. I think the Cavs can still be successful with these 2 playing under 40 a night. It also proves again the need to acquire a wing player who M. Brown will trust and give minutes to.

Anyway, great win and 2nd half performance last night.