Game 21 | Cleveland @ Memphis | December 8th, 2009 | 8:00pm EST

[jlj3184]

@

Cleveland Cavaliers (15-5) at Memphis Grizzlies (8-12)
8:00 PM EST, 08 December 2009

FedEx Forum

Television: Fox Sports Ohio

Vegas Line: Cavs -7.5, O/U 193

Game Outlook:

Memphis is not a very good team, folks, but they do boast some decent wins (vDal, @Por). After a 1-8 start to the year (and the subsequent departure of Allen Iverson), the Grizz have won 7 of 11. They have one of the youngest teams in the league and no dearth of talent on the offensive end with guys like Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, and OJ Mayo. The problem for Memphis is defense, where they rank 26th in the NBA in points allowed and 29th in opponent's FG%. Expect the Cavs to take full advantage of Memphis' defensive problems and exploit the paint for many easy buckets. As usual, expect them to force feed Shaq early in the game to get Marc Gasol in foul trouble, further opening up lanes for LBJ, Mo, Delonte and whoever else decides they want to take their man off the dribble. With the Cavs seemingly back to playing the defense we've seen from them the last few years, I don't expect this score to be very close. Memphis will be coming off 3 days of rest, but the Cavs still (Rick) roll, 106-92.

Starting Lineups
Cavs
Mo Williams, PG

Anthony Parker, SG

LeBron James, SF

JJ Hickson, PF

Shaquille O'Neal, C

Grizzlies
Mike Conley Jr., PG

OJ Mayo, SG

Rudy Gay, SF

Zach Randolph, PF

Marc Gasol, C

Bench
Cavs

Boobie Gibson | Danny Green | Zydrunas Ilgauskas | Darnell Jackson | Coby Karl | Anderson Varejao | Delonte West

Grizzlies

DeMarre Carroll | Steven Hunter | Hamed Haddadi | Hasheem Thabeet | Jamaal Tinsley | Marcus Williams | Sam Young

Injuries/Inactives
Cavs

Jamario Moon | Leon Powe | Jawad Williams
Grizzlies

Darrell Arthur | Marko Jaric

Grizzlies Dance Team
Anya

Brittnye

Demetriss

Erica

Eunitta

Jackie

Jennifer

Jessami

Jessica

Julie

Keri

Linae

Noelia

Sheena

Stephanie

Tiara

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STATS, INC. Preview

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ early-season struggles appear to be a thing of the past - not all that surprising considering they won a league-best 66 games in 2008-09.

The Memphis Grizzlies’ turnaround from a slow start, on the other hand, is quite surprising.

Cleveland has taken control of the Central Division by winning four in a row and seven of eight, and looks for its eighth straight victory over the improving Grizzlies on Tuesday night at FedEx Forum.

The Cavaliers (15-5) lost their first two games and three of their first six as they adjusted to having new center Shaquille O’Neal and dealt with the uncertain status of troubled guard Delonte West, who was arrested on weapons charges during a tumultuous offseason.

West has played in 12 games after sitting out the first three, and when he’s played more than 10 minutes, Cleveland is 7-2. The Cavaliers’ fourth-leading scorer (11.7 points per game) last season had his most effective game since the Eastern Conference finals Sunday, when he scored 21 points off the bench in a 101-86 win at Milwaukee.

West had 14 straight points to start the second quarter - part of a 29-0 Cleveland run that turned a seven-point deficit into a 22-point cushion. Two nights earlier against Chicago, West had played five scoreless minutes.

“He started for us on a 66-win team last year,” coach Mike Brown said. “We know what he’s definitely capable of. We’re going to be patient with him. The team’s going to be patient, I’m going to be patient and just continue kind of plugging along.

“When he gets his opportunity and he’s playing well, we’ll keep playing him. But we won’t expect that every night.”

A wrist injury sidelined West for the Cavaliers’ seventh straight win over the Grizzlies, 94-79 in Cleveland on Feb. 24. The guard had 19 points Jan. 13 in the Cavaliers’ last trip to Memphis, a 102-87 victory aided by LeBron James’ triple-double (30 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists).

James, who had 51 points, nine assists and eight boards as visiting Cleveland beat the Grizzlies (8-12) in overtime on Jan. 15, 2008, is averaging 35.4 points in his last five visits to Memphis.

The Cavaliers have built a 5 1/2-game lead in the Central by winning 12 of 14, while the Grizzlies are simply trying to work their way out of the Southwest Division basement after a 1-8 start.

They seem to be on their way. Memphis has won seven of 11 since its ugly beginning, with the biggest improvement on the defensive end. The Grizzlies allowed an average of 111.1 points in their first nine games but have yielded just 100.0 in their last 11.

Their best defensive effort yet came Friday, when they held division-leading Dallas to 35.2 percent from the field in a 98-82 victory.

“I’m just pleased with the way we’ve been able to come back,” coach Lionel Hollins told the NBA’s official Web site. “… I told them if you keep making noise like this, you start getting respect. You get it from the referees, you get it from the fans, and most importantly, you get it from the rest of the NBA.”

Rudy Gay’s 20.5 points per game lead the Grizzlies, but he averaged just 11.5 on 34.4 percent shooting last season against the Cavaliers.

A big game from Zach Randolph (18.2 ppg) would also help Memphis as it seeks its first win over Cleveland since Nov. 5, 2005. Hollins’ club is 6-3 when Randolph scores at least 20 points.

Yes, I know that is Pau Gasol, not Marc...​

 

[milk]

aha,i kno that one is pau,too.:chuckles:

 

[Randolphkeys]

I have asked Wine and Gold dozens of times if the Cavs were looking at Marc Gasol in the 2007 draft, never got a clear answer. I always saw great potential in man boobs if he lost the weight. Good for him.

That said, The Griz are an apathetic team in a college town. The people of Memphis care much more about their Volunteers and Tigers than pro sports, with the possible exception of the Titans who moved to Nashville due to lack of local support.


BTW:

Who's your Haddadi?

 

[Rick Astley]

Haddadi looks like the fucking God.

 

[Pioneer10]

They better not take Memphis lightly. The Grizz have been playing pretty good since the Canswer left. They pretty much have a scoring threay from every spot on the floor

 

[ChicagoCavFan]

Their cheerleaders look scary.

 

[kookoo]

Their cheerleaders look scary.

I was about to say. Their cheerleaders look like cheap hookers. And most of the names correlate with that assessment.

 

[DougHeil]

I was about to say. Their cheerleaders look like expensive hookers. And most of the names correlate with that assessment.

Fixed.

I've seen Cheap. That isn't the cheap look.

 

[jlj3184]

Their cheerleaders look scary.

I'd eat the corn out of Jessica's feces.

And I don't pick 'em, just post 'em.

 

[Cratylus]

I'd eat the corn out of Jessica's feces.

And I don't pick 'em, just post 'em.

That nasty imagery is burning an indelible mark on my brain. Thanks a pantload, Juice.

Jessica is fine though, damn!

I remember watching that Clipps game where Zach whiffed on the 3-ball at the end. What a complete imbecile that guy is; he's the kind of guy who would find a way to fuck up a wet dream!

 

[demondeacs13]

What the fuck kind of name is Jessami?

 

[MYoung23]

I'm getting disappointed in RCF. We've had 20 games and not one "Z for Zach Randolph" trade thread. :thumbdown

Btw, I'd definitely smash the Grizzlies cheerleaders.

 

[*THE ORIGINAL*]

Thought this was pretty funny. Didn't want to make a whole thread on it though.
I heard practice was canceled yesterday, but not why.


Per WIndy's Tweet.

How did Cavs dodge practice 2day? Mike Brown said if anyone hit a halfcourt shot, he'd cancel. Andy Varejao made it on 1st try.

Shocked, Mike demanded someone make another 1. Z stepped up, 1st try=swish. Mike gave up, canceled. Most guys stayed for shooting, tho.

link


Who would have thought those two would have done it, first try!

 

[Soda]

I'd eat the corn out of Jessica's feces.

And I don't pick 'em, just post 'em.

FETISH ALERT :chuckles:

In all seriousness though, I would like to see Danny Green continue to get time. He looks like he can hit some shots and that seems to put him ahead of Karl.. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get a couple of meaningful minutes.

 

[Typhoon]

So Cleveland doesnt have the worst cheerleaders in the league after all. Learn something new everyday