L Cleveland 87 Portland 89

[highplainsdrifter]

vs

Cleveland Cavaliers (20-14) VS Portland TrailBlazers (12-24)

Sunday, January 15, 2006
9:00pm ET
TV: WUAB
Rose Garden, Portland

Head Coaches

Mike Brown / Nate McMillan

Probable Starters

Eric Snow / Steve Blake

Damon Jones / Juan Dixon

LeBron James / Viktor Khryapa

Drew Gooden / Zach Randolph

Zydrunas Ilgauskas / Joel Pryzbilla

Cavaliers Bench

Mike Wilks / Luke Jackson / Ira Newble / Donyell Marshall / Wild Thing

Blazers Bench

Sebastian Telfair / Ruben Patterson / Theo Ratliff / Travis Outlaw / Jarrett Jack
​

Blazers Notes
The worst team in the West has won 2 straight. They are led by stud Zach Randolph, who leads the team in points and rebounds. Former Cavalier Darius Miles is out with an injured right knee.

Cavaliers Notes
The Cavs have lost 3 in a row and are 0-2 on the West Coast trip.However, they had a chance to win in both losses. LeBron and Z are coming off strong games in the loss to the red-hot Suns. Will Drew Gooden be healthy to play?

HPD's Prediction
Its must win time for the Cavaliers. Will they have the energy to win after running with the Suns the night before? Luke Jackson is returning to his home state, will he play well in front of family and friends? Will Wild Thing finally make an impact on a game after his injury? The Cavs will gut this one out and win by 5+.

 

[TheAdmin]

Re: Cleveland @ Portland

Don't believe the standings. Portland is the worst team in the league. I can't think of one decent thing to say about this team. They are one of the worst defensive teams in the league. They are one of the worst offensive teams in the league. They are one the worst rebounding teams I have ever seen.

Even a hobbled Cavs team should beat the holy hell out of these guys.

 

[hughes1988]

Re: Cleveland @ Portland

cavs got to starters out for this one unless gooden is good to go... but blazers are not as good at shooting as the suns so we get a break. we should win this one 103-93

 

[Karma]

Re: Cleveland @ Portland

Please put Snow on Dixon as Jones will get scorched all night.

 

[cdt]

Re: Cleveland @ Portland

We will lose this game. Randolph and Joel pwn us all night long abusing Marshall or Gooden and Z on both ends..

Cavaliers 87 Blazers 94

 

[Karma]

Re: Cleveland @ Portland

LeBron has a massive advantage going up against Khryapa. Hopefully this leads to an allround game where he can abuse the Russian whilst also dishing off for some offense elsewhere. LePip has been harping on LeBron and Z running some offense off the pick. Tonight is a great example of this. Drag Przybilla/Ratliff out of the paint. They are their only defensive presense in the squad. If Telfair gets some burn, he may cause some problems. His quickness is a worry, meaning we'll likely see Wilks tagging him. As much as Wilks has been giving his all, I do not want to see him playing major minutes. He's not a bad changeup guy, but not a major rotation piece.

 

[Dungong]

Re: Cleveland @ Portland

The last 3 losses have been losses, but the Cavs have actually played pretty damn well in those last 3. If they keep playing well, this should be a win, the Blazers won't shoot 60% in a half or 65% from the 3 pt line.

 

[Karma]

Re: Cleveland @ Portland

Dungong we certainly have better in these last few losses then our previous funk. However this is the 2nd game of a back to back which will make it tough. Energy is the key.

 

[PIP]

Re: Cleveland @ Portland

LeBron has a massive advantage going up against Khryapa. Hopefully this leads to an allround game where he can abuse the Russian whilst also dishing off for some offense elsewhere. LePip has been harping on LeBron and Z running some offense off the pick. Tonight is a great example of this. Drag Przybilla/Ratliff out of the paint. They are their only defensive presense in the squad. If Telfair gets some burn, he may cause some problems. His quickness is a worry, meaning we'll likely see Wilks tagging him. As much as Wilks has been giving his all, I do not want to see him playing major minutes. He's not a bad changeup guy, but not a major rotation piece.

I keep finding my name in your posts today... (Losing brings out a bipolar Karma.) :chuckles:

With this post, i'm right, so that means you're right, my friend.... The LeBron and Z two man game has been a thing of beauty.... Z is growing on me, at least until he starts to suck once again.. Then, the hell with him... But as of now, he is playing with a passion out there..The only one to show up to the dance along with "THE KING"... Kudos

The pick and roll should be used a lot in this one.

The Blazers are bad.... If we lose this ? WATCH OUT!!!!!!!!! We are in for a free fall that will resemble the likes of last year....

Ben is right... There is nothing positive that could be said about the Blazers...

I do like Joel P though.... It will be interesting to see him play... I would love to have him on this roster next season...

 

[Maximus]

Re: Cleveland @ Portland

I'm being told Drew is out. Z is playing with his banged up knee and Donyell is playing with a tweaked ankle.

 

[Karma]

Re: Cleveland @ Portland

I'm being told Drew is out. Z is playing with his banged up knee and Donyell is playing with a tweaked ankle.

And I am watching with lack of faith!

I guess this gives us an indication of how our front court will look without Drew if a move is made. His exclusion should see Varejao see decent minutes. Marshall and Z, particulary with niggling injuries should be capped around to 35 minutes maximum. This allows Henderson and Anderson some burn.

 

[West Remy]

Re: Cleveland @ Portland

The Blazers have four quick, athletic guards who have all had at least one great game this season (Jack, Telfair, Dixon, Blake). We often struggle against teams with speedy backcourts and every guy they can call upon will have an advantage over us. That means good help defense and timely rotations are a must to counter their penetration.

 

[Karma]

Re: Cleveland @ Portland

Portland although disjointed, do have some dangerous players. Off the bench particulary with Patterson, Telfair, Ratliff and Outlaw can bring a boost, which we lack at the moment from our 2nd unit. A strong start from our first squad followed by some steady play from our other rotation guys is essential. Back to backs are tough to make late comebacks in.

 

[Karma]

Re: Cleveland @ Portland

Will be interesting to see the rotations tonight.

Gooden is out so will Henderson, Varejao or even Hamilton play major minutes.

Who will split time at the two guard? Newble has been ok on D, woeful on offense. Jones has been bad as mentioned numerously, Jackson has broke out for for 5 minutes, but outside that nothing, and Sasha has just played 1 game in a month.

It would be great to have players pressing for minutes rather then working out who is the lesser evil!

 

[Karma]

Re: Cleveland @ Portland

It looks as if Alan Henderson to start. Not a bad move if Damon can help Ilgauskas and James on offense.