Game 14 | Cavaliers @ Knickerbockers Nov. 25th, 7:30 P.M. (ET)

[Numbers Guy]

Regular Season Game #14
Cleveland Cavaliers (10-3) @ New York Knicks (7-6)
Game Date: Tuesday, November 25th, 2008
Game Time: 7:30 P.M. ET
Location: Madison Square Garden
TV: FOX Sports Ohio HD, NBA TV
Radio: WTAM 1100

Head Coach:

Probabale Starters
PG: Mo Williams | 2008-2009 Stats: 17.2 PPG, 4.6 APG, 2.70 RPG

SG: Delonte West | 2008-2009 Stats: 11.4 PPG, 2.6 APG, 3.30 RPG

SF: LeBron James | 2008-2009 Stats: 29.1 PPG, 7.0 APG, 7.80 RPG

PF: Ben Wallace| 2008-2009 Stats: 2.9 PPG, 0.7 APG, 7.20 RPG

C: Zydrunas Ilgauskas | 2008-2009 Stats: 14.8 PPG, 1.6 APG, 6.80 RPG

The Rotation

Daniel Gibson | JJ Hickson | Wally Szczerbiak | Anderson Varejao | Sasha Pavlovic | Tarence Kinsey | Lorenzen Wright

Inactive

Jawad Williams | Eric Snow | Darnell Jackson

Head Coach:

Probabale Starters
PG: Nate Robinson | 2008-2009 Stats: 15.3 PPG, 4.60 APG, 4.5 RPG

SG: Chris Duhon | 2008-2009 Stats: 10.4 PPG, 7.2 APG, 3.70 RPG

SF: Quentin Richardson | 2008-2009 Stats: 11.6 PPG, 1.3 APG, 5.90 RPG

PF: Wilson Chandler | 2008-2009 Stats: 15.2 PPG, 1.7 APG, 5.80 RPG

C: David Lee | 2008-2009 Stats: 12.2 PPG, 2.0 APG, 7.50 RPG

The Rotation

Malik Rose | Anthony Roberson | Al Harrington | Cuttino Mobley | Tim Thomas

Inactive

Danilllo Gallinari | Jerome James | Eddy Curry | Jared Jeffries | Stephon Marbury

The trade between the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers involving forward Zach Randolph, forward Tim Thomas, guard Cuttino Mobley and guard Mardy Collins is currently in limbo because of a physical concern raised by the Knicks about Mobley, according to a source. As a result, Randolph was not in uniform for Monday's Clippers game against New Orleans.

Cavaliers report: Notes, quotes


--The Cavaliers have been on a tear behind the 3-point arc in the last four games. They are shooting 40.4 percent from long range (36 of 89), and have outscored their opponents 108-66 from behind the 3-point line.

--The Cavs have never won as many as half their road games since F LeBron James has arrived in Cleveland in 2003. In fact, they've finished .500 on the road just twice in their history -- 22-19 (.537) in 1991-92 and 21-20 (.512) in 1995-96. They are currently 3-3 away from The Q.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"He's able to push the ball so he can create some tempo. He can create his own shot. He's a very, very good pick-and-roll player, and he's an explosive scorer. He can get it going. Plus he's not afraid of the big moment. He'll take big shots and make big shots." -- Nets coach Lawrence Frank, on Cavs G Mo Williams.

Tuesday Night's Fast Facts:


* Cleveland has won nine of their last 10 games and their 10-3 start marks the Cavs third best start in franchise history. The last time the Cavs started a season this well was the 1988-89 season when they started 10-3. Cleveland is winning games by an 8.2 point differential, which ranks 2nd in the NBA (Los Angeles Lakers). The team has an even higher point differential in home victories (11.1).

* The Cavs 7-0 start at home marks the third best home start in franchise history. The team started 9-0 at home in both 1991-92 and 1976-77. At 7-0 at home, Cleveland is the only team in the Eastern Conference and one of three teams in the league that is currently undefeated at home, joining Utah (6-0) and Portland (4-0). In seven home games this year, Cleveland is averaging 105.4 points per game and is shooting .497 from the field, while holding opponents to 94.3 points per game on only .425 shooting.

* The Cavs rank 6th in the NBA in defensive field goal percentage at .431 (434-1008) while allowing opponents to only score 93.1 points per game, which ranks 7th in the NBA. The team ranks 1st in the NBA in opponent rebounding, holding opponents to only 37.2 rebounds per game. Cleveland also averages 5.8 blocks per game, which ranks 7th in the NBA.

* Cleveland ranks 1st in the Eastern Conference and 4th in the NBA (Phoenix, Sacramento, Utah) in field goal shooting at 473-997 (.474) while ranking 2nd in the Eastern Conference (New York) and 4th overall (Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State) in the NBA in points per game (101.2).

* Cleveland shot a season-high .913 (21-23) from the free throw line against the Hawks and have shot above .800 from the line in seven of 13 games while winning all seven games. The Cavs .913 from the line is best Cleveland has shot from the stripe since November 26, 2005 against Minnesota when they shot .917 (22-24). The Cavs currently rank 4th in the NBA in free throws made per game (21.8), rank 6th in the NBA in free throw attempts per game (27.7) and rank 8th in free throw percentage (.786).

* Cleveland also ranks 10th in the NBA in fast break points per game, averaging 13.2 points this season.

* Mo Williams is averaging 21.6 points on .506 (42-83) shooting and 4.2 assists in his last five games. He is currently 32-33 (.970) from the line on the season, which ranks 2nd in the NBA (J. Calderon - Toronto).

* Delonte West is averaging 14.5 points on .512 (21-41) shooting, including 10-20 (.500) on three pointers, with 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists over his last four games.

* Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds on Saturday. Ilgauskas has scored in double figures in all 13 games this season and 26 consecutive games, dating back to last season.

* In three games against the Knicks last season, LeBron James averaged 42.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 4.3 steals.

Match Up To Watch
Cavaliers Inactive Roster Vs. Knicks Starting 5​

 

[JayP146]

lol @ the Chris Duhon picture.

 

[3 Da Hard Way]

looks dope

Knicks have Chandler playing the 4? Dude is a beast though

 

[Josh Criiiiibbs]

Cavs 112 - Knicks 91

 

[MDLT]

Is that for real? The trade was upheld?

 

[Numbers Guy]

looks dope

Knicks have Chandler playing the 4? Dude is a beast though

Dantoni loves the small ball.. there playing a 6-8, 6-9 guy at center.. we got one of those at SF. :chuckles:

 

[TAS]

WTF @ the total for this game being 220. I am going with the under.

 

[TAS]

& If our bench gets outscored i am going to have a heart attack

 

[JJ Smooth]

So will ESPN count this as a home win or away win for the Cavs? Also, if the Knicks fans chant "MVP" for Lebron I will laugh my keester off.

The Knickerbockers are going to be very raw with the trades (if they fell through), Cavs should and will take advantage. Look for a blowout win by the wine and gold (111-86).

 

[Adam]

It would be great to see a few things:

1. Boobie get back to his aggressive drive and kick game of the begginning of the season

2. Wally get 20 mins get hot and so pumped his head explodes

3. Lebron and Z rest quite alot

4. Less of a paniced deer impression from JJ

Cavs win

98-80

 

[Krolik1157]

It would be great to see a few things:


3. Lebron and Z rest quite alot


98-80

Good luck with that. LBJ's going for 50. #25 defensive team in the league, short-handed, playing a lightning-fast pace, and I've heard a rumor somewhere that LeBron likes New York or something like that. (That's some inside info, that right there.) Wouldn't be surprised if this was his season high game. What's the over/under for LeBron against NY and OKC @home over the next two games?

 

[Numbers Guy]

This should be a fairly easy game if we don't make all stars out of role players. 2 Cavs killers won't be playing.. Crawford and Curry.. the man who has only 1 good game a year and its against us.

Nate Robinson went off for like 45 that game LeBron went for 50 I believe.. we can't let something like that happen.

 

[neaorin]

Man, someone tell Mike Brown that is a horrible tie.

I hope we blow them out and the crowd starts chanting "we want Lebron!" early in the fourth.

 

[Rick Astley]

We're gonna raze the Garden to the ground! Or just destroy the Knicks.

 

[Wes]

Thank goodness this isn't an ESPN/TNT game. I couldn't imagine national commentators analyzing every move that James does, and how it relates to him signing with the Knicks in two years.

Crawford always seemed to play well against the Cavs, so it's good to see him gone. However, Nate Robinson is one of those quick guards that tends to give the Cavs fits. Hopefully the help defense will be on top of their game, because I have a feeling there are going to be several instances where Mo Williams will not be able to keep Robinson in front of him. They may switch West over to guard Robinson, but I don't know how much that will help, although Delonte has been playing some good defense as of late.

Fast-paced offensive teams, like the Suns and the AI-led Nuggets, have also given the Cavs a challenge, so this game could be closer than people think. I still think the Cavs will pull it out, but expect the Knicks to keep it close for a good portion of the game.

Cavs 107 - Kincks 95