W Cavaliers 103 Bobcats 91

[Glen Infante]

GAME #43​

Charlotte Bobcats (11-34) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (25-17)​

Charlotte Arena
Monday, January 30, 2006
7:30pm ET
TV: FSOhio
Radio : WTAM 1100

Head Coaches

Mike D'Antoni / Mike Brown

Probable Starters

Raymond Felton / Eric Snow

Kareem Rush / Sasha Pavlovic

Gerald Wallace / LeBron James

Emeka Okafor / Drew Gooden

Primoz Brezec / Zydrunas Ilguaskas

Cleveland Cavaliers Bench

D Jones/D Marshall/L Jackson/A Varejao/A Henderson/M Wilks/Z Hamilton

Charlotte Bobcats Bench

A Anderson/K Bogans/K Burleson/M Ely/J Jones/B Knight/S May​

The Charlotte Bobcats have lost a franchise-record 11 straight games and the prospects of ending that Monday seem dim.

The short-handed Bobcats welcome LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to Charlotte Arena.

The Bobcats are 0-4 all-time against the Cavaliers with James' point total having risen in each game. James is averaging 24.8 points per game against Charlotte.

Charlotte's losing ways continued Saturday with a 107-97 loss to the Washington Wizards despite 27 points and 12 rebounds from center Primoz Brezec.

"We fought and fought and fought," said Bobcats forward Melvin Ely, who added 11 points. "The only thing we can do is play the same way and hope that things go our way in the end."

Charlotte's losing streak eclipsed a 10-game mark set from Jan. 7-27, 2005 and matched March 2-19. The Bobcats have not won a game since a 111-106 double-overtime win against the Houston Rockets on Jan. 10 and have scored 100 points just once since then.

The Bobcats have been devastated by injuries this season to Brevin Knight (concussion), Gerald Wallace (leg), reigning Rookie of the Year Emeka Okafor (ankle), Kareem Rush (finger), first-round draft pick Sean May (knee), and Keith Bogans (knee)

Coach Bernie Bickerstaff has dressed 10 or fewer players in 12 of the last 13 games, with only rookie point guard Raymond Felton appearing in all 45 games.

Brezec has recorded double-doubles in three of his last five games.

James, meanwhile, is coming off one of his best games of the season. He scored 32 of his 44 points in the second half of Cleveland's 113-106 win Sunday over the Phoenix Suns.

Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said his team cannot overlook Charlotte.

"We have to feel good about this win, but we have a back-to-back against Charlotte (Monday)," Brown said. "We have to come out focused and ready to play (Monday).

We are not a great road team, and until we can go out on the road and win consistently, we have to continue to not get too high on one win, but continue to concentrate on our next game."

Cleveland has won five in a row overall, but is only 3-5 in its last eight road games.

TEAM LEADERS: Cavaliers - James, 31.2 ppg and 6.3 apg; Gooden, 8.8 rpg. Bobcats - Wallace, 14.5 ppg; Okafor, 10 rpg; Knight, 8.1 apg.

2004-05 SEASON SERIES: Cavaliers, 4-0.

LAST MEETING: Jan. 11, 2005; Cavaliers, 100-98. At Cleveland, James fell two rebounds and an assist shy of a triple-double, finishing with 29 points, eight rebounds and nine assists. Former Cavalier Knight tied a career-high with 20 assists for Charlotte.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Cavaliers - 9-12 on the road; Bobcats - 7-13 at home.


http://www.sportsline.com/nba/gamecenter/preview/NBA_20060130_CLE@CHA

 

[highplainsdrifter]

Re: Cavaliers @ Bobcats

Cavs 'should' win this one. But we learned from both Atlanta games this season we still have to play hard to beat lesser teams. If the Cavs dont play with intensity, we risk the chance of losing. I think theyve learned this lesson by now.

If the Cavs play strong, i see a win of 15+!!!

 

[Cleveland56]

Re: Cavaliers @ Bobcats

My main worry is this is their fifth game in seven days. Bobcats usually play hard so hopefully Cavaliers can jump on them quick.

 

[Kypus]

Re: Cavaliers @ Bobcats

Are we sure Okafor and Rush will be playing? They've both been out a very long time. Plus they're missing Brevin Knight to a concussion. And Sean May was never able to come back after knee surgery (no surprise there).

This team is in disarray, we should stomp them if we get them down early. The only thing they have going for them is Felton trying to steal the starting PG job while Knight is out, so he'll have to play well. Other than that they have nothing going well. Brezec, who is possibly slower than Z, can't block shots even though he's 7'1 or something. Z is going to make him dance the Nutcracker Ballet with his spin moves in the post. This should be great!

 

[Glen Infante]

Re: Cavaliers @ Bobcats

Ahh, injuries..

K. Bogans
B. Knight
S. May
E. Okafor
K. Rush
G. Wallace

So yeah, this should be a complete massacre.

 

[Glen Infante]

Re: Cavaliers @ Bobcats

Wow, the Bobcats are terrible.

 

[Glen Infante]

Re: Cavaliers @ Bobcats

Cavs up 14-7 after LeBron drains his 2nd 3.

Sasha is already sittin' for 2 fouls.

 

[bob2the2nd]

Re: Cavaliers @ Bobcats

take good shots lebron not 20+ footers, remember the suns game when you took it to the hole

 

[West Remy]

Re: Cavaliers @ Bobcats

Cleveland leads by 17 at the half (56-39).

 

[Karma]

Re: Cavaliers @ Bobcats

We've continued on early in the 3rd. Good chance tonight to rest some weary legs and get some burn for Varejao and the like.

 

[Karma]

Re: Cavaliers @ Bobcats

LeBron may have got player of the week, but it didn't help his confidense at the line.

 

[Karma]

Re: Cavaliers @ Bobcats

LeBron and Ilgauskas super efficient tonight, both scoring at a point a minute.

 

[Karma]

Re: Cavaliers @ Bobcats

Cleveland look comfortable to go 6-0 as the Sashalier's.

 

[Karma]

Re: Cavaliers @ Bobcats

Good to see Jumaine Jones still loving the baseline 3!

 

[Karma]

Re: Cavaliers @ Bobcats

If we maintain this 20+ break into the 4th, LeBron should sit the entire quarter. Give Jackson a few more minutes to cheer him up some.