Game #49| Cavs vs Lakers| Sunday Feb. 8th, 2009| 3:30pm [ET]

[Cratylus]

TV: ABC / Radio: WTAM

The Coaches:

The Starters:

The Benches:

Cavs - Wally Szczerbiak, Anderson Varejao, Boobie Gibson, J.J. Hickson, Darnell Jackson, Lorenzen Wright, Trey Johnson. Injuries: Delonte West [wrist], Tarence Kinsey [ankle], Eric Snow [knee, game].

Lakers - Trevor Ariza, Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, Josh Powell, Chris Mihm, Didier Ilunga-Mbenga, Sun Yue, Adam Morrison, Shannon Brown. Injuries: Andrew Bynum [knee].

Keys to the Game:

-- The Lakers are soft in the paint so the Cavs need to drive the lane, attack the Lakers' bigs, and control the boards.

-- The Cavs should be fired up and motivated to give a hell of a performance on national TV against the best team in the Western Conference, especially after Mo was snubbed AGAIN and LeBron had his triple-double taken away by Emperor Douchebag (David Stern). Look for Mo to have a big game and for LBJ to DOMINATE.

-- This is the last game of the Lakers' east coast road trip. Let's send them home with a loss and up our home court record to 24-0!

 

[King of the Cavs 23]

Nice Thread Mate!!


All i want to see is LBJ vs Kobe all game!

 

[-Akronite-]

Headline on Monday Morning: "24th win courtesy of #24"

 

[Karma]

Thank Cratylus for the preview. Our designated guy for this game is MIA.

Not too much to add here, just pumped for it to start.

We should be full strength minus West which is just matched with Bynum for the Lakers, albeit their's probably hurts much more. Lakers have the depth to ovecome Bynums injury but do they have enough interior defense to stop LeBron when he penetrates?

Glad to have Sasha back as he has a job and a half tagging Kobe for the most part. Keeping out of foul trouble will be key.

 

[Da_James_Gang]

Really hope we pull this one out, everyone is pretty much picking the Lakers to end our streak.

 

[Jc.16]

1st post on RCF but i cant wait for the game 2marrow

 

[wuck]

Any news on whether Wally or Sasha will start? If Wally starts, LeBron has got to cover Kobe until Sasha subs in.

EDIT: Just saw Karma's post on another thread that Sasha is expected to start.

 

[Cratylus]

Thank Cratylus for the preview. Our designated guy for this game is MIA.

Yeah, I didn't see a thread and people were chomping at the bit for one. I just was hoping I wasn't out of line or stepping on anyone's toes by posting one.

 

[Karma]

Yeah, I didn't see a thread and people were chomping at the bit for one. I just was hoping I wasn't out of line or stepping on anyone's toes by posting one.

No toes were stood on. I was looking for a replacement previewer when yours was put up. Thanks again. We'll try and get this machine oiled back up for the next game.

 

[Cratylus]

Any news on whether Wally or Sasha will start?

If Wally starts, LeBron has got to cover Kobe until Sasha subs in.

Karma apparently heard that Sasha is starting so I just changed it.

 

[Karma]

1st post on RCF but i cant wait for the game 2marrow

Be sure to spell out the words entirely in future. Posts with 2marrow and the like are frowned upon. Just trying to help out mate.

Back on topic, Sasha must start with Wally going back to his role backing up both forward spots.

 

[Zog]

If Wally starts then LeBron will have to Kobe pretty much the hole time... I really hope we have Sasha in there.

 

[Karma]

If Wally starts then LeBron will have to Kobe pretty much the hole time... I really hope we have Sasha in there.

Exactly. I'd prefer to save LeBron defending Kobe till down the stretch. Exerting a great deal of energy through the first 3 quarters chasing Kobe makes little to no sense.

 

[Jc.16]

Thanks Karma ill keep that in mind

 

[wuck]

Yeah, if Sasha is well enough to play, there is no reason not to start him with the matchups presented.

Wally can still log a lot of time, but you don't want Kobe scoring at will or getting the Cavs into foul trouble from the get-go. LeBron will get to cover him in due course. Just buy as much time as possible with others guarding him.