JJ Smooth
I never sleep
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2008
- Messages
- 995
- Reaction score
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- Points
- 93
The Place of Battle: Quicken Loans Arena (20,562 ALL DAY!)
The Good Guys:
Coach Mike "Grimace" Brown
Mo "Gotti" Williams
Anthony "Shoot the J" Parker
Lebron "Triple Dub any day of the week" James
Anderson "There he goes shooting again" Varejao
Shaquille "Welcome to the block party" O'Neal
Delonte West / Zyndrunas Ilgauskas / Daniel Gibson / Jamario Moon /
J.J. Hickson /Danny Green / Darnell Jackson / Jawad Williams / Coby "F'in" Karl
The Bad Guys...
Coach Flip Saunders
IN ORDER: Gilbert Arenas (PG) / Mike Miller (SG) / Caron Butler (SF) / Fabulous Oberto (PF) / Brendan Haywood (C)
Randy Foye / Abraham Lincoln / Dominic McGuire / Andray Blatche / Javale McGee /
Mike James / Nick Young / Paul Davis / Javaris Crittenton
Strategy...
The Washington Wizards were laughed at due to their 19 win season just prior, but the Wiz are expected to have a turnaround year this outing. With only one injury to concern themselves with (Jamison) the team still have several capable weapons. Lion chest tattoo aside, the team begins and ends with point guard Gilbert Arenas. Definitely a shoot- first type of player, opponents need to be cognizant that when he starts making shots you need to tighten the defensive grips. Expect a lot of chucking coutesy of Gil, so contest, contest, contest and have him make poor decisions having defense lead into easy offense. Also, be aware that if Arenas is out there are still capable point guards in Randy Foye and Mike James to make the offense work. Foye can light up a scoreboard, but a tight defense will make his mediocre playmaking skills all the more apparent. Against smaller units Foye does well in his position, but larger guards (AP, lookin' at you bud) will be able to give him a few fits. Bring the pressure and the head of the Wizards will crumble.
Center Brendan Haywood is an inconsistent player, but a quality shot-blocker; yet he is going up against Shaq so it'll be a tough night of work for him. I'd like to see a lot of feeds to Shaq in the post with easy hooks to the basket (Closer O'neal! Get closer!). Shaq will muscle him up, so I'm expecting a similar effort to say, Tyson Chandler on Halloween.
I'd like to see plenty of ball movement again with Shaq being a focal point. Pass inside and if the double comes, move out and around until the open man has a look. In the early games there was too much iso play and not moving without the ball; we're taking a step in the right direction against the scrub teams, so let's put the practice to use against a better talent.
Caron Butler is a heckuva talent on their team, and I have a lot of admiration for "Tough Juice", but knowing Lebron he will bring that defensive effort on one of the Wiz's main offensive weapons. Butler will get some points, but in no way will he be a game changer. Honestly, I'm curious what a Jamario Moon would do on a proven starter like Butler; perhaps Brown can spare a few minutes for that matchup?
The Wizards always seem to bring their "A" game for us, injured team or not. It's important that we do not play down to our opponent (and why should we? Being 2-2 and all!), hit them early and never give them a chance to get into the game. Encourage bad Wiz shots, feed Shaq, ball movment, and play four quarters of basketball. Sounds like a winning formula to me. I have no doubt that the Wizards will try to turn this game ugly with stupid fouls and shake our focus, and it'll be important for us to stay poised when they bring that strategy. This is their NBA Finals, this is just another day at the office for the Cavs. Go get 'em Cavaliers.
Can't make the game? No problem! Here's your hookup!
http://www.ticketcity.com/nba-tickets/nba-east/cleveland-cavaliers-tickets/wizards-at-cavaliers-tickets-quicken-loans-arena-november-3-700pm.html
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