Game 10 | Jazz @ Cavaliers | 7:30 PM EST | November 14th, 2009

[DougHeil]

He was playing against Boozer, who's a damn good offensive player and rebounder. Boozer makes plenty of people look bad on defense.

I'll take any type of improvement, offensive or defensive. I don't expect him to be a perfect player after 5 starts.

Yes. The thing is when other teams start focusing on JJ, it opens up everyone else as well. So yeah, they can go for it.

We are witnessing right before our eyes the development of one of the most feared PF in the league by the end of next year..... Mr. Hickson.

Who will teams double team and focus on even by the end of this year? LeBron? Fine; Mo and JJ are open.... with Shaq. Shaq and Lebron? Won't work either. Worried about JJ? Fine; Mo and Shaq are still open. A team can only double or focus on a few players at a time.

I liked the Moon game as well. Parker hit some big shots.

 

[Rimage]

That looked like the Cavs cruising the whole night and then winning it at the end. Only thing good about tonight was JJ and the win.

 

[Gunther]

Shaq is OK.

Night off is preventive maintenance for Shaq: Cavaliers Insider
By Brian Windhorst

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Having Shaquille O'Neal on the roster takes management and taking the long view at times.

That is what the Cavaliers did Saturday when they sat O'Neal against the Utah Jazz. The official reason for putting him on the inactive list was a shoulder strain, but mostly it was out of caution and rest. It is a pattern that could be repeated from time to time this season as the Cavs attempt to keep nagging injuries or fatigue from slowing O'Neal down.

The team didn't say when O'Neal suffered the injury, but he didn't need treatment for it after the game Thursday night in Miami.

He played 75 games last season but it was his most in 10 years and just the second time in the last eight that he played more than 70. In the first three weeks of the season, the Cavs have played the second-most games in the NBA and next week play four games in five days for a second time.

That schedule and the sore shoulder made the decision easier. With Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who made his first start of the season Saturday, there will likely be more rest days this year for O'Neal.

 

[MYoung23]

JJ had a great offensive game. But was horrendous on defense and boxing out again.
Good teams will shut him down offensively. And if he wants time he has to learn to play defense and certainly needs to rebound.

This was not a great game for him. He was abused defensively.

Hickson played hard on both ends. He was actually average on defense most of the game. He wasnt getting constantly drove on and taken to the rim like Varejao.

I dont know what many of you expect from Hickson. The guy hasnt played 82 games as a pro yet and people want him to be Ben Wallace in his prime. The kid is making progress, damn.

 

[Rimage]

Must be nice to be able to coast until the last 2 minutes and then be the hero.

This what people measure greatness by...if Lebron coasted and then tried in the last 2 minutes more often, he would be considered clutch.

 

[DDJ7777]

Welcome to Clevelan.

Where's the D?

Nobody knows just yet.

 

[action]

Our defense just doesn't feel the same without Delonte.

My nerves can't handle the scary dropoff in our perimeter D. I really really hoped that it wasn't only Delonte that kept us contained against quick guards last year. Everytime one of those rooks blew into the lane I had flashbacks to 07 and our ole' defense on the other Tony Parker. I'm going to have to start grabbing the liquor for tipoff. I know it's the last thing to come together, but it looks like a rough ride.

 

[moohead]

Postgame show is over. I hope we can generate more phone discussion after games. It would make the show more enlightening. The replay of the show is now up, for those who missed it. Thanks.

Moo

 

[Typhoon]

HICKSON HAD 20 PTS!!!! WAT!?

 

[JayP146]

HICKSON HAD 20 PTS!!!! WAT!?

Lebron seemed intent on giving him a lot of opportunities to score tonight.

 

[elcheato]

I don't understand all of the hate on JJ.. He's still learning, and we haven't had an actual good, young prospect like him who we can develop into a good/great player since LeBron. He has all of the tools to be a beast, he just needs to put it all together..

 

[Splitz]

1 game outside of first place now.

 

[Otsego Mar]

Our next 5 or 6 games are very winnable......hopefully we can extend this nice little streak and push up further in the East standings.

 

[theSTEREO.]

1 game outside of first place now.

Yup. Even weirder...?.... The teams standing in our way.... The Hawks, Heat, and Bucks. :chuckles: BOS & ORL all tied with us for losses.

 

[theSTEREO.]

This is what the championship teams need to do...

Most nights, you're in the driver's seat most of the game. Then you have games like this, and you have to find a way to win on an off night. We weren't doing that 2 weeks ago. We're doing it now.