Game 37 | Cavaliers @ Bulls Jan. 15th, 8:00PM (ET)

[chiefwahoo]

***It wasn't my turn in the rotation but I'm picking up the slack so we can talk about tonight's matchup***

@

(30-6)                (17-22)

Thursday January 15th, 2009
8:00 pm ET, United Center, Chicago, IL
Available tickets here, courtesy of TicketCity
TV: Fox Sports Ohio HD, TNT HD
Radio: WTAM 1100

(turn down the volume on your TV and listen to a legend)

HEAD COACHES

Mike Brown
REGULAR SEASON
W 175 L 107 (.620)
POST SEASON
W 26 L 20 (.565)

Vinny Del Negro
REGULAR SEASON
W 17 L 22 (.436)
POST SEASON
W 0 L 0 (.000)

Probable Cavs Starters

PG: Mo Williams | 2008-2009 Stats: 15.7 PPG, 3.9 APG, 3.2 RPG

SG: Delonte West | 2008-2009 Stats: 12.3 PPG, 3.5 APG, 3.1 RPG

SF: LeBron James | 2008-2009 Stats: 27.7 PPG, 6.7 APG, 6.7 RPG

PF: Lorenzen Wright | 2008-2009 Stats: 1.1 PPG, 0.1 APG, 1.1 RPG

C: Anderson Varejao | 2008-2009 Stats: 9.4 PPG, 0.9 APG, 7.1 RPG

Bench Bunch

     (.)(.) Gibson | JJ Hickson | Walter Szczerbs | Pip's Mancrush | Tarence Kinsey | Darnell Jackson | Jawad Williams



Probable Bulls Starters

PG: Derrick Rose | 2008-2009 Stats: 16.9 PPG, 6.3 APG, 3.5 RPG

SG: Ben Gordon | 2008-2009 Stats: 20.6 PPG, 3.7 APG, 3.3 RPG

SF: Luol Deng | 2008-2009 Stats: 13.4 PPG, 1.8 APG, 5.6 RPG

PF: Tyrus Thomas | 2008-2009 Stats: 8.1 PPG, 0.9 APG, 5.4 RPG

C: Joakim Noah | 2008-2009 Stats: 4.5 PPG, 0.9 APG, 5.9 RPG

Bench Bunch

     Kirk Hinrich | Aaron Gray | Andres Nocioni | Sefalosha| Lindsey Hunter | Laura Hughes | Cedric Simmons

Injury Report
Cavs
Ben Wallace - PF, Stomach flu, game-time decision
(BW now says he thinks he will play: http://www.cleveland.com/podcast_files/windhorst011509.mp3)
Zydrunas Ilgauskas - C, Chip fracture of the ankle, out
Eric Snow - PG, Knee, Soon to be retired

Bulls
Drew Gooden - PF, Ankle/Groin , Questionable for 1/15 vs. Cleveland (Yiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!)
Michael Ruffin - C, Ankle, Out indefinitely

Keys to the Game

• The bulls played a tight game on the road last night, jump on them early
• As usual, try to limit Derrick Rose's penetration into the lane
• Improve on the 11-5 road record with another victory over an inferior (albeit healthy) foe
• Don't get caught looking ahead to Friday night vs. the Hornets

Useless Stats that May Only Amuse Me

• This is the Cavs' third of four straight 8PM starts, their longest such stretch this season.
• This is also the fourth and final time we play the Bulls (a Central Division rival)
  and we're a month away from the All-Star break.
• This is the Cavs' third road game of eight total this month, their most of any month this season.

Relevant News

Larry Hughes out of Bulls' rotation :chuckles:

10:30 PM CST, January 14, 2009

TORONTO - It's clear Larry Hughes is out of the rotation as the Bulls continue to shop him in advance of the Feb. 19 trade deadline.

Hughes played only seven minutes Monday night against Portland and didn't play by coach's decision Wednesday night for the first time this season and possibly in his 10-year career.

Luol Deng returned to the starting lineup with a standout performance that included 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Thabo Sefolosha played 13 minutes 33 seconds off the bench. Hughes declined to comment.

Coach Vinny Del Negro has said he understands Hughes' desire to play more, but his comments following a question about the luxury of bringing Hughes and Kirk Hinrich off the bench were telling.

"We'll figure it out as we go," Del Negro said. "Kirk will be out there. He takes pressure off Derrick [Rose] and puts defensive pressure on the ball.

"And we always get leadership."

Source

Wallace better: Ben Wallace did not take part in all of practice, but he was able to work out and shoot a little. It was a sign he's getting over the flu that knocked him out of Tuesday's win. He's questionable for the Bulls.

"I'm feeling better, but I don't have all my strength back," Wallace said.

Brace yourself: LeBron James is staying tight-lipped about his new teaser ads running on television that depict him about to make a big announcement at a press conference.

Informed sources say it is part of a new campaign for State Farm and will depict James as a wide receiver for the Browns, complete with a No. 23 jersey with "LeBron" on the back. It will be a series of commercials leading to a climax, which won't be revealed here.

(images here in case you've been hiding under a rock the last couple of days)

James, a former All-Ohio receiver in high school, filmed the spots at the University of Akron's indoor football complex. He also plays with friends in the off-season.

"We've got a flag football league we play down at St. Vincent-St. Mary," James said. "I am a football player, it just so happens I play a little basketball, too."

Dribbles: James' triple double on Tuesday was the fourth time this season James led the Cavs in points, rebounds and assists in one game, the highest total for any player in the NBA. ... With the win over the Grizzlies, the Cavs have started the season 10-1 against the Western Conference, best in franchise history. ... James has now held the opposing small forward under his scoring average 24 times in 36 games. ... James is the only player in the NBA averaging more than 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals per game in the NBA.

Source

=============================================
CHIEF'S PREDICTION
Cavaliers - 101
Bulls - 94
=============================================

​

 

[Dungong]

Too bad Larry is out of the rotation, nothing would bring me more joy than seeing him on a fast break and throwing up a 20 foot brick. Actually, thats a popular ending to many Larry scenarios. We'll see how much of a problem Rose presents, he's tore it up in other games against us this year, the rest of the Bulls I'm not all that concerned with, but watching Noah and Andy out there at the same time is pretty fun.

 

[PIP]

GO CAVS !!!

(((Has nothing to do with our game)))

 

[Brizzle]

Drew has the weakest groin, he's always having problems with it.

Drew: "Look at me, DeShawn, look" and "Come and touch it, DeShawn."

 

[Casualties14]

Even if Ben is still out I don't see their front court doing much damage to us.

 

[PIP]

| Pip's Mancrush |

So uncalled for...

 

[LeBrao Ming]

does anyone know if charles is back on tnt... they are so funny together

 

[SoundBreaker]

:thumbdown for that pic



Cavs better stomp them out early then get the starters out and rest for Nawlins


WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE!

 

[_amon _ones]

GO CAVS !!!

(((Has nothing to do with our game)))

Where did you get that picture of Max's body? Lee will be so pissed you raided his photo stash.

 

[chiefwahoo]

I've enjoyed watching LeBron get annoyed with Nocioni in the past. Hope that continues tonight...

 

[Green Lantern]

The Bulls will try to attack the paint and get Rose/Deng going ..but "THEY BETTER NOT BRING THAT WEAK STUFF IN HERE!"

 

[chiefwahoo]

Some hard-hitting insider info from Fred about yesterday's practice:

From Halfcourt
Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 04:20 PM EST [General]

The guys went back to college today, as they often do on the road...a practice session at Illinois-Chicago, where a Cleveland State banner hangs along with the rest of the Horizon League teams. After a video session, Mike Brown made this offer to cut practice early - make two halfcourt shots and it's back to the hotel (I figured this was a lock since Delonte had made back to back shots in Denver in a recent individual competition). Everyone shot one, including the coaching staff, the training staff, Mark Cashman - the equipment manager/traveling secretary - and Cobra front ironed it!!! All of us took a crack at it, 31 in all (don"t ask)! Director of Security, Marvin Cross nailed one (he's a long time hooper) and the place erupted. The guys hugged Marvin like he had just beaten the Lakers at the horn in June...

But the team needed one more...shot after shot came close...Boobie had one go half way down and pop out (but this offer only stood with two makes). Tarence Kinsey took Mike's shot...and he missed. Anderson finally nailed one, he said it was for "Z". One problem though...Andy, who shoots these regularly after practice, HAD ALREADY taken two other shots for Zydrunas and misfired....so, the swisher did NOT count (because Mike was keeping count). In the end no one could get that 2nd 47 footer to drop (perhaps saving it for the United Center), so practice went as usual, but some January dog days drama anyway...(again, don't ask!!!)

See you on the broadcast...gotta go and work on my release.

Source

 

[chiefwahoo]

An interview with Ben from Chicago:

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/video/2009/01/15/mcleod.090114.cavaliers/index.html?player=team&q=CLE

 

[Prekazi]

This won't be an easy game. Last game Derrick Rose played like Dan Dickau and Varejao played like Tim Duncan. Can't see that happening again. Plus Luol Deng is back to the Bulls lineup. They'll give their best to avoid a humiliation on national tv. We must take this game seriously!

 

[chiefwahoo]

Windhorst says he thinks Ben will play tonight... participating in the shootaround and Chicago is extra motivation for him to be out there.

http://www.cleveland.com/podcast_files/windhorst011509.mp3