Cavs vs Wiztards 12:30pm Saturday Game #1

[TheAdmin]

<table width="525" border="1" bordercolor="#ab1111" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><th align="center" bgcolor="#ab1111" colspan="4"><font color="#ffffff">Cavaliers Vs. Wizards Game 1 At Quicken Loans Arena</font></th><tr><td><b>Date:</b> 4/19/08</td><td><b>Time:</b> 12:30PM</td><td><b>TV:</b> ESPN/TBD</td><td><b>Radio:</b> WTAM 1100</td><tr><td colspan="4"><img src="http://www.realcavsfans.com/ben/img/q.jpg" height="121" width="522"></tr></td></table>
<table width="526" border="1" bordercolor="#002b60" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"><th colspan="2" bgcolor="#002b60" align="center"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Head Coaches</b></font></th><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td><img src="http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/mike_brown.jpg"</img></td><td>Cavaliers Head Coach Mike Brown is in his third season as Cleveland’s head coach and has already become the winningest head coach (in terms of winning percentage) in team history. Brown has currently won .589 (145-101) of his games which edges out Lenny Wilkens .551 percentage</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td><img src="http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/eddie_jordan.jpg"</img></td><td>Eddie Jordan became Washington’s first Head Coach to helm four consecutive playoff teams since Dick Motta from 1976-80…Jordan’s Wizards became the third Washington team ever to win the season-series against the NBA’s top regular season team (3-1 vs. the Boston Celtics).</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#002b60"><td colspan="2" align="center"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Advantage: Cavaliers</b></font></td></table>
<table width="526" border="1" bordercolor="#002b60" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"><th colspan="2" bgcolor="#002b60" align="center"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Point Guards</b></font></th><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td><img src="http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/delonte_west.jpg"</img></td><td>Averaged 14.9 points on .515 shooting including .500 (13-26) from three-point range, 5.1 assists and 4.0 rebounds from March 30 to April 13. Really has shown flashes of being a solid starting point guard since being traded from Seattle to Cleveland. </td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td><img src="http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/antonio_daniels.jpg"</img></td><td>Antonio Daniels led Washington to a 37-26 record in a career-high 63 games started. Averaged a career-high 4.8 assists per game. Ranked 5th in the NBA in assists per turnover (3.73). Scored a season-high 18 points twice (last: vs. UTA, 2/1). Had three double-doubles.</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#002b60"><td colspan="2" align="center"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Advantage: Wizards</b></font></td></table>
<table width="526" border="1" bordercolor="#002b60" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"><th colspan="2" bgcolor="#002b60" align="center"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Shooting Guards</b></font></th><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td><img src="http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/wally_szczerbiak.jpg"</img></td><td>Wally Szczerbiak has been given the starting nod and must play at his full potential for the Cavaliers to win this series. Historically the more playing time he gets the better performance he turns in. Mike Brown will have him on a short leash. One missed rotation and Devin Brown will replace him.</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td><img src="http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/deshawn_stevenson.jpg"</img></td><td>Stevenson scored a career-high 33 points, including a game-winning three-pointer at NO (2/25). Scored 20+ points in six games. Has the NBA’s second longest streak of consecutive games started (250); behind only Tayshaun Prince. Made a career-high 158 three-point shots this season.</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#002b60"><td colspan="2" align="center"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Advantage: Wizards</b></font></td></table>
<table width="526" border="1" bordercolor="#002b60" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"><th colspan="2" bgcolor="#002b60" align="center"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Small Fowards</b></font></th><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td><img src="http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/lebron_james.jpg"</img></td><td>Lebron James can not wait for the game to come to him in the playoffs. He has to set the tone early and dominate. The Wizards will be thinking about last years playoffs and Gilbert's choke job the year before.</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td><img src="http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/caron_butler.jpg"</img></td><td>Caron Butler recorded nine double-doubles and three triple-doubles this season. Is a back-to back NBA All-Star (2007, 2008). Was one of four NBA players (K. Bryant, L. James, V. Carter) to average 20+ points, 6+ rebounds and 4+ assists per game</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#002b60"><td colspan="2" align="center"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Advantage: Cavaliers</b></font></td></table>
<table width="526" border="1" bordercolor="#002b60" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><th colspan="2" bgcolor="#002b60" align="center"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Power Fowards</b></font></th><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td><img src="http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/ben_wallace.jpg"</img></td><td>Which Ben Wallace will show up? The dominating shot blocking Wallace that made his name in the playoffs or the stiff backed slow to rotate Wallace that was traded for a bag of chips and a kiss on the cheek? Hopefully for us fans its the former.</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td><img src="http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/antawn_jamison.jpg"</img></td><td>Jamison recorded a career-high 44 double-doubles this season. Was one of five players in the NBA to average 20 points and 10 rebounds per game...Recorded his first career 20-point, 10-rebound season...Averaged a career-high 10.2 rebounds.</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#002b60"><td colspan="2" align="center"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Advantage: Wizards</b></font></td></table>
<table width="526" border="1" bordercolor="#002b60" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><th colspan="2" bgcolor="#002b60" align="center"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Centers</b></font></th><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td><img src="http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/zydrunas_ilgauskas.jpg"</img></td><td>Zydrunas has to be a huge part of the Cavaliers offense or they are going to fail. The pick and pop play be there all night because Haywoodyablowme rarely comes out of the paint to defend and when he does that leaves a poor defending Jamison to play matador defense.</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td><img src="http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/brendan_haywood.jpg"</img></td><td>Brenda Haywood averaged a career-high 10.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, and had a career-best .735 ft% (NBA-best .187 improvement from last season). Recorded 16 double-doubles. Scored a career-high 25 points at CHI (4/5). Ranked 10th in the NBA in blocks per game (1.68).</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#002b60"><td colspan="2" align="center"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Advantage: Cavaliers</b></font></td></table>
<hr>
*Game Notes*​

· The Cavaliers and Wizards will meet in the NBA Playoffs for the third straight season and the fifth time in history. The Cavaliers lead the all-time playoff series 13-7 while Cleveland has won eight of its 10 home games against Washington in the playoffs. Entering the series, Cleveland has won six straight playoff games against Washington.

· Entering the 2008 Playoffs, LeBron James has averaged 27.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 33 career postseason games. No other player in NBA playoff history (min. 20 games) has ever averaged over 25.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. James’ 27.3 points per game average (901 points) is the highest point average of any player in the NBA since James made his first playoff appearance in 2006.

· In three games against the Wizards this season, Zydrunas Ilgauskas averaged 14.7 points on .704 shooting, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.7 blocks per game while LeBron James averaged 27.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game in three games against Washington this season.

· LeBron James captured his first NBA scoring title at 30.0 points per game becoming the first Cavalier to ever lead the NBA in scoring. He is one of only three players in NBA history (Jordan, Robertson) to average at least 30.0 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game in a season.

· Zydrunas Ilgauskas finished the regular season scoring in double figures in each of his final 13 games. Over that stretch, he averaged 17.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. It marked his longest stretch of double-figure scoring games since he did it in 14 consecutive games from March 5-April 2, 2006.

 

[TheAdmin]

* More to come later

 

[Karma]

Cannot wait for this series to start. Washington will do the talking, whilst we do the walking.

 

[Houston RZ34]

Somebody get in the stands, wear a Wizards jersey and call LeBron's mom a hoe.

 

[Wally World]

Somebody get in the stands, wear a Wizards jersey and call LeBron's mom a hoe.

Please tell me how you can save photos like this(from flash player) like from NBA.com?I really want to save few of them...Answer

 

[Thomas#8]

Please tell me how you can save photos like this(from flash player) like from NBA.com?I really want to save few of them...Answer

Print Screen, its a button above the insert and delelte, next tot the scroll lock.
After you press it, open a program like Fireworks, Adobe or even paint, click paste and: Tadaa!

Good luck!

 

[Erbium]

I see game 1 as a must win. Losing this game will bring all that smack talk to the forefront of the national media, and I just don't see our team as that cohesive unit that will overcome a rough start to the series.

If we come out early and smack them this game, I predict they will roll over and die. I don't see much fight or heart in many of those Wizards.

Needless to say, very important game. But I see it as a very important 1st quarter too. Time to send a message.

 

[DDJ7777]

See you there. I can't wait to see the Wuss-ards get smoked in game one in person.

 

[chiefwahoo]

A scout's view on the matchups from Windhorst:

http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/17894474.html

A scout's take on Cavs-Wizards matchup

By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter

POSTED: 11:56 a.m. EDT, Apr 18, 2008

POINT GUARDS

DELONTE WEST

6-foot-3, 180 pounds, 4th season

Stats: 10.3 ppg, 4.5 apg

vs. Wizards: 10 ppg, 7.0 rpg

Scout's take: Left-handed combo guard who likes to push it full court. Often will reverse dribble behind his back, allowing for steal chances. Excellent finisher in traffic but almost always goes left and uses right side to create space. Average outside shooter. Suspect on-ball defender, especially against quick guards.

ANTONIO DANIELS

6-4, 205, 11th season

Stats: 8.4 ppg, 4.8 apg

vs. Cavs: 7.0 ppg, 7.3 apg

Scout's take: Combination guard who has been playing more point guard than any other time in his career, but dribbles a lot and looks for his own shot a lot. Looks to push the ball on the offensive end. Pretty good first step to basket but usually goes with right hand. Effective mid-range player, not a great distance shooter. Average on-ball defender.

Edge: Even.

SHOOTING GUARDS

WALLY SZCZERBIAK

6-7, 245, 9th season

Stats: 8.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg

vs. Wizards: 6.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg

Scout's take: Above average spot-up shooter who can also shoot off dribble. Below average defender but has good size and width than can be used to make up for some quickness issues. Will crash glass for rebounds, which slows him in transition.

DESHAWN STEVENSON

6-5, 220, 8th season

Stats: 11.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 3.1 apg

vs. Cavs: 9.5 ppg, 2.8 apg

Scout's take: Athletic wing player who is known for playing hard every night. Much better driver than shooter, but will often settle for jumper which has improved this season. Good crossover move and can drive right or left. Uses hands a lot on defense, does not handle dribble drives well.

Edge: Wizards

SMALL FORWARDS

LEBRON JAMES

6-8, 250, fifth season

Stats: 30.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 7.2 apg

vs. Wizards: 27.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 7.7 apg

Scout's take: One of the league's best scorers. You must not allow him to get any momentum toward the basket because he can finish with both hands and is too strong to body. Improved mid-range jumper but still a weak 3-point shooter, which he will settle for. Picks his spots defensively, solid on ball defender but doesn't stay attached well on help defense as he looks for steals, rebounds and blocks.

CARON BUTLER

6-7, 230, 6th season

Stats: 20.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 4.9 apg

vs. Cavs: 18.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg

Scout's take: Highly athletic and strong player. Strong rebounder but sometimes looks to leak out on the defensive end to start fastbreaks. Prefers to score on mid-range jumpers but is an effective driver, right-handed but prefers to go left. Can score from the block, but always prefers right shoulder moves. Average defender, does help weakside.

Edge: Cavs.

POWER FORWARDS

BEN WALLACE

6-9, 240, 12th season

Stats: 4.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg

vs. Wizards: 8.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg

Scout's take: Physical defender who uses athleticism and positioning. Thrives on the weakside, coming off for rebounds and blocks and in help capacity. Not as strong on baller defender, but hard to move in post. Has little offensive game, but will again stay on weakside for dishes and offensive rebounds.

ANTAWN JAMISON

6-9, 235, 10th season

Stats: 21.4 ppg, 10.2 rpg

vs. Cavs: 15.0 ppg, 8.5 apg

Scout's take: Highly talented offensive player who moves well without the ball and has a strong low post and mid-range game. Average 3-point shooter. Looks to cut back door and for offensive putbacks from the weakside. Not a good defender, slow lateral movement and instincts

Edge: Wizards

CENTERS

ZYDRUNAS ILGAUSKAS

7-3, 260, 10th season

Stats: 14.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg

vs. Wizards: 14.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg

Scout's take: Very long big man who is effective inside and out. Excellent offensive rebounder and can score from the post, though highly favors the left block. Above average mid-range shooter, especially off pick-and-rolls. Good shot blocker but not a strong defender and has slow recovery on pick-and-rolls.

Brendan Haywood

7-0, 265, 7th season

Stats: 10.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg

vs. Cavs: 13.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg

Scout's take: Aggressive and athletic big man who had the best season of his career. Chases rebounds, especially offense and blocks, which sometimes gets him out of position. Has post moves, including a hook shot, but the Wizards never run plays directly for him. Emotional player who tends to be streaky depending on mood.

Edge: Cavs.

BENCH

CAVS

G Devin Brown, G Daniel Gibson, F/C Anderson Varejao, F Joe Smith.

Comment: The Cavs will play their bench heavy minutes, especially at the end of the game. They have a solid big-man rotation, and Brown is a good defender. Gibson is the team's best shooter but has been in a slump since returning from an ankle injury.

WIZARDS

G Gilbert Arenas, F Darius Songalia, F Andray Blatche, G Roger Mason.

Comment: The Wizards have decided to leave Arenas coming off the bench, which gives them an excellent scoring punch as he will see major minutes. Songalia and Blatche are both versatile with good size and are good shooters. Rookie Nick Young also may see playing time.

Edge: Wizards

COACHES

CAVS

Mike Brown, third season, 145-101 regular season, 19-14 postseason.

Comment: A defense-first coach whose style has proven to be very effective in the playoffs. His offensive concepts have come under question, and he is often not quick with in-game changes. He is, however, 2-0 against the Wizards in playoff series and 4-2 overall.

WIZARDS

Eddie Jordan, seventh season, 229-278 regular season, 6-14 postseason.

Comment: Excellent offensive coach who has installed a complex and effective system. Has gotten the Wizards to play better defense and guided them through major injuries this season. However, defense issues have often caused problems in tight playoff games. He is 1-3 in playoff series as a coach.

Edge: Cavs.


Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/

 

[CBBI]

Maybe the first time Mike Brown has ever won the "Advantage: Cavs" coaching match up.

 

[CavsRules]

Maybe the first time Mike Brown has ever won the "Advantage: Cavs" coaching match up.

:chuckles:

He lost it the last two years, and he finally wins it. Who would you give the advantage to, though. A coach who knows his starters and bench players, or a coach who is putting guys in and out and still is unsure on a starting five.

 

[Redz West is Best]

I like www.ohio.com review of the matchups..pretty well put in every position. But he didn't mention Delonte's problem of turnovers in bunches which in the playoffs I hope doesn't happen in key situations. Also he didn't mention Delonte's clutchness which is very very good. Other than pretty good.

I tend to think the key to this series is not only whether Lebron takes over which is probably the biggest key but if Ben Wallace can guard Jamison. Jamison is pretty damn good offensively and scores in a circus of ways. I think Lebron would be the better player to guard Jamison but I can't see Wallace playing Butler. IF IF the Cavs are having a hard time guarding Jamison with Big Ben, then i think they should stick Lebron on him. Butler to me would be the easier person to guard with Wally/Devin... rather than trying Andy/Joe Smith on Jamison.

End of games:

Cavs -
West
Gibson
Wally/Devin
Lebron
Big Z

Wiz
Arenas/Daniels
Deshawn/Daniels
Butler
Jamison
Haywood

 

[Wally World]

Look guys....I think that i am most excited about tomorrows game....If Wally and Boobie step-up and rest of team play good along with King's clutch moves and we won....I think that i will be most happy man on the world....This year will be like 2004.....

 

[CavsRules]

Look guys....I think that i am most excited about tomorrows game....If Wally and Boobie step-up and rest of team play good along with King's clutch moves and we won....I think that i will be most happy man on the world....This year will be like 2004.....

I think you're just happy Wally is starting...

 

[wallyfor3]

I think you're just happy Wally is starting...

If that's true, he's not the only one. lol :chuckles: