Game 15 | Cleveland @ Detroit | November 25, 2009 | 8:00 PM EST

[Typhoon]

INJURY REPORT:

Cavs: Leon Powe: Left Knee Surgery (O) // Shaq ("shoulder sprain") He should play this game though
Pistons: Tayshaun Prince (back) [Out] // Richard Hamilton (ankle) [Out]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1Px-jPm_TU

Cavaliers-Pistons Preview

By BRETT HUSTON
Posted Nov 24 2009 12:28PM

The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Shaquille O'Neal with the playoffs in mind, and the big man is set to make his return after resting his injured shoulder for five games.

Hardly looking like a postseason contender of late, the Detroit Pistons don't need any more obstacles to overcome.

The Cavaliers last left The Palace of Auburn Hills with a first-round sweep in April, and they'll likely get O'Neal back Wednesday night as they seek an eighth straight victory over the reeling Pistons.

Cleveland's big offseason acquisition averaged 11.3 points in his first nine games with his fifth NBA team before straining his shoulder. Not wanting to risk the 37-year-old center's health too early, the Cavaliers (10-4) refused to give O'Neal a cortisone injection to treat the injury, instead opting to let him rest.

O'Neal was back at practice Monday and is probable to return against the Pistons (5-9), losers of five in a row.

"Anytime someone misses a couple of games, it takes a little bit to be reacquainted," coach Mike Brown said. "But he's got a great feel for the game. We think he'll step right in."

The Cavaliers have won seven of eight, going 4-1 without O'Neal. LeBron James has been the catalyst as usual, averaging 34.3 points and 9.3 assists in his last four games while shooting 58.3 percent.

Though James had a game-high 32 points and nine assists Saturday as Cleveland rallied past Philadelphia 97-91, much of the postgame talk focused on the defense, which allowed 10 fourth-quarter points as Cleveland overcame a six-point deficit.

"That's where we make our mark at," James said. "We just lock down. ... When we're playing defense like that at a high level, it's hard to beat us."

James averaged 32.0 points, 11.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists as Cleveland held Detroit to 78.0 points per game in a four-game sweep to open last season's playoffs. Including that series, the Cavs have won seven straight over the Pistons by an average of 14.1 points.

Cleveland had assistant John Kuester guiding its offense during those victories, but now Kuester, largely credited with the Cavs' improved ball movement and spacing during their 66-win season in 2008-09, is the head coach in Detroit.

Kuester has had some bad breaks running the Pistons. Richard Hamilton (ankle) and Tayshaun Prince (back) have played a combined four games, leaving free agent acquisitions Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva to lead their new team.

They haven't had much success lately. Gordon went 1 of 16 from the field and scored a season-low five points in a loss to Dallas on Nov. 15, then the Pistons were swept during a four-game western road trip that concluded with a 117-91 loss at Phoenix on Sunday.

"Until this game, we lost three games that we can learn a lot from," said reserve guard Will Bynum, who's averaged 17.7 points on 57.4 percent shooting in his last six games. "... We just have to get things back going and get back home and have the fans behind us. We should be fine."

The Pistons' biggest problem has been finding offense inside with former Cavalier Ben Wallace and Jonas Jerebko starting up front. Detroit is among the league's bottom five teams in points in the paint (36.1 per game), and Cleveland (34.1) allows the fewest.

The Pistons last lost six in a row during an eight-game skid from Feb. 8-25.​

Pistons Cheerleaders:

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[Marcus]

Damn... these threads have been unbelievable all year. I'm beginning to think I'm gonna be sorely outmatched when it comes time for me to make one :sad:


Great preview, though.

 

[MikeSwim07]

Pistons: Tayshaun Prince (back) [Out] // Richard Hamilton (ankle) [Out]

Oo that sucks

Too bad I can't watch this game...=(

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

Damn... these threads have been unbelievable all year. I'm beginning to think I'm gonna be sorely outmatched when it comes time for me to make one :sad:


Great preview, though.

Just get a bigger version of your avatar and put that in your thread.

Guaranteed rep.

 

[Karma]

Looks like Shaq is back and he'll get a night off defensively going against Big Ben.

If I was Jonas Jerebho I'd wake up with a mystery illness. That or get hurt real bad by LeBron.

 

[Da_James_Gang]

Nice job Typhoon, but i think that last cheerleader has a little something extra downstairs.

 

[blank964]

Someone had to do it so...

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[JJ Smooth]

Nice work Typhoon as usual.

This will be a good game for JJ's development. While its been reported that Charlie V. is weak with his defensive capabiliites, the guy can score in bunches. I'm hoping we see JJ show some grit with his defense and work on that side of the floor with this game. Also, I'm hoping Delonte is active and has his head straight, I recall Ben Gordon putting a spanking on the Cavs on more than one occasion when he was playing for Chicago. Heck, this is what this game is going to be about, defense and getting stops. Calling for a Cavs victory, but I'm thinking like the last two games they might have to work for it.

 

[Creamy]

Cavs need to go inside early and often.

Is Shaq playing? If so i'd have him post up Ben all night.

 

[Smooth]

Don't know if anyone noticed but the funniest part of the picture is this chick trying out to be a Pistons cheerleader with her right arm in a sling.. (Took me awhile to notice the sling though, )

Gotta love the commitment...

 

[Lionheart]

Leave it to Typhoon to make these kick-ass previews, damn!

I however, have lots of things to improve:

 

[RonG]

Don't know if anyone noticed but the funniest part of the picture is this chick trying out to be a Pistons cheerleader with her right arm in a sling.. (Took me awhile to notice the sling though, )

Gotta love the commitment...

I still do not see a sling wtf is wrong with you smooth?

 

[Real Deal]

Someone had to do it so...

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aktLRiWXfqg&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aktLRiWXfqg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

That bitch in the orange is fugly. She need to go. Btw i never saw orange weave before.

 

[Numbers Guy]

Nice to have Shaq back.. We don't really need him for the next two games but I'm happy he won't miss the Dallas game on Saturday.

 

[Adam]

I'm hoping the cavs get back to their steadily growing offensive repitoire, lets get some lepost ups and some cuts off of shaq. I hope MB sticks moon on ben gordon for a stretch of the game, it would be funny to see him try and shoot over the top of his outstretched arm.