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West Remy

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Game 24
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vs
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Cleveland Cavaliers (14-9) @ Chicago Bulls (12-12)

Thursday, December 22, 2005
Time: 5:00pm PT, 8:00pm ET
TV: TNT
Radio: WTAM 1100
Location: United Center, Chicago, Illinois

Head Coaches
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Mike Brown / Scott Skiles

Probable Staters
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Eric Snow / Chris Duhon

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Larry Hughes / Kirk Hinrich

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LeBron James / Luol Deng

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Drew Gooden / Andres Nocioni

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Zydrunas Ilgauskas / Mike Sweetney

Cleveland Cavaliers Bench
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Damon Jones / Luke Jackson / Ira Newble / Donyell Marshall / Alan Henderson

Chicago Bulls Bench
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Jannero Pargo / Ben Gordon / Darius Songaila / Tyson Chandler

Cleveland Cavaliers' Notes

* Be ready to play a scrappy game against the Bulls, who will use combinations of Deng/Nocioni on James.

* Duhon and Hinrich give Chicago solid guard play. Cleveland’s point guards can’t allow themselves to be completely outplayed at this position.

* Chicago has had trouble offensively in some games this season and if Cleveland could give a solid defensive effort, like they gave for the majority of the Miami Heat game, the Cavaliers will have the ability to control the game.

* The shooters need to nail their shots to stop the Bulls’ from crowding James. With better shooters on this year’s team than last, the Cavaliers need to quickly discourage any plans of Bulls zone or sagging defense. If Cleveland succeeds on this front, the Bulls’ defense will be at Cleveland’s mercy.

Chicago Bulls Notes

* Try to contain LeBron James’ scoring, make him pass the ball relatively soon after catching it and tempt Snow to take jumpers.

* While being at a disadvantage in the post, the Bulls should remain aggressive with their post defense. Group swarming and different looks may temporarily confuse the Cavaliers post players, getting them off to a slow start.

* Remain patient on offense through the use of constant ball movement. Eventually, Cleveland’s defense will be a step slow or simply fail to react, yielding high percentage shots. Chicago can get good shots if they remain focused.

Overview

Cleveland has all the tools necessary to win this game. The Bulls will try to win this through hustle, energy and grit. Cleveland needs to avoid a letdown by matching Chicago’s intensity. If the team begins with low energy levels, they’ll let Chicago dictate the pace and direction the game will take. Considering the Bulls are coming fresh off a loss at home against the Bobcats, they will try to take out their frustrations on Cleveland.
 
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Re: Cavs @ Bulls

While this is just my opinion, I think that this game is the MOST IMPORTANT game of the young season so far. We have taken the 0-fer so far against the Central and the key to moving up the playoff ladder is to beat the teams within the division. There is absolutely no way this team can match us talent-wise. All they are going to be able to do is be pesky and play with a great deal of intensity because they are an inferior team. We should be able to use our size advantage and get lots of points in the paint. I expect Z and Drew to have big games. I don't want to see Larry and LBJ jacking up shot after shot from the outside because they have no inside defensive presence and hence, no shot blocking capabilities.

This could be the springboard for a nice run going into the West Coast trip. I feel that back-to-back wins within the division against an inferior Bulls team and an Artest-less Indiana team will officially right the ship.

All we need to do is match their intensity and keep their guards in check. A strong defensive effort is all we really need because they won't be able to hold us down on the offensive end.

Cavaliers get a nice win on national TV and people again take notice.

Cavs 104 Bulls 89
 
Re: Cavs @ Bulls

the bulls are a team in disarray. chandler has had health problems preventing him from breathing properly. they really miss antonio davis, who provided vocal veteran leadership last year. they are extremely undersized, especially at shooting guard. they do not have a shooting guard who can stay with hughes. they do not have anyone who can score on ilaguskas. they have not been giving a consistent effort this year, as they are waiting to cash in on the draft picks they received from the knicks in the eddy curry trade. gooden and marshall need to stop songalia from having a big game. and hughes needs to stop hinrich, who is undersized for his position.

this should be an easy win against a team that lost to charlotte, who was missing three players including okafor.
 
Re: Cavs @ Bulls

We have a lot of talent... much more than them. But that's pretty much what everyone said about them last season, and they made the playoffs, with a reasonably high seed. Why?
Skiles had them playing like a team, playing gritty, stingy defense, and scoring just enough to win it in 4 quarters. They wore the opposition down the first 3 quarters, then Ben Gordon stepped in to finish them off.

This will be an interesting game, dominated by defense. It's who comes out on top in that area that will probably win the game. I sense a low scoring, but close game.
 
Re: Cavs @ Bulls

Hughes is questionable for tomorrow.....family problems. He did not make the flight out today.
 
Re: Cavs @ Bulls

Thanks for letting us know Big Max. I wonder if it has to do with his younger brother Justin(?), with the heart transplant i think..... :(
 
Re: Cavs @ Bulls

I haven't heard for sure, but that is what everyone is assuming. He had the transplant 8 years ago....i think he's 19 now.
 
Re: Cavs @ Bulls

Damn! Who is going to guard Gordon or Deng? Shit.........
 
Re: Cavs @ Bulls

12/21/2005, 8:56 p.m. ET
The Associated Press

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers guard Larry Hughes left the team on Wednesday to attend to a family matter and is questionable for the club's game on Thursday night in Chicago.

Hughes did not practice and did not accompany the Cavaliers on their trip.

Cavs coach Mike Brown said he didn't know if Hughes, who is in his first season with Cleveland, would be back in time to play against the Bulls.

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Hughes scored eight points in Cleveland's 110-85 win over Utah on Tuesday. He also drew his first technical foul after complaining about a traveling call.

The 6-foot-6 Hughes signed a five-year, $60 million free agent contract with the Cavaliers in August after spending three seasons with the Washington Wizards. He's averaging 16.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.
 
Re: Cavs @ Bulls

Yeah I heard that on the radio earlier today. Hopefully everything is ok.
 
Re: Cavs @ Bulls

This is a big game....the Cavs have lost their past 12 divisional road games dating to February 2004.
 
Re: Cavs @ Bulls

Yeah this game should be exciting! We can still win without Hughes. We just better come out strong like the Miami game, or we will fall behind. The Bulls are gonna play hard. If we can give good effort for the whole game and LBJ gets everyone involved, Cavs will win. Im interested in the James/Nocioni matchup. He plays LeBron tough and will be physical. LeBron's gotta take it to him and not become a jump shooter.
 
Re: Cavs @ Bulls

This is a good chance with the Bulls down on confidense to steal a road win and take control of one series with a divisional rival. Chicago are struggling to find the rythym that carried them to the playoffs last season. Offensively they haven't replaced Curry's scoring or the intangibles that Davis brings inside. What they do have are players in Sweetney, Harrington and Songaila who can sneak up on you.

Last seasons wonder kid Gordon has been inconsistent in his performances, but that can change in the blink of an eye. Hinrich is a good worker and will make Hughes work hard on defense. Snow will battle to keep Duhon from penetrating, whilst James has the same job with Deng. Ilgauskas is up against a very small team which should allow for some easy offense. But he struggled in a similar circumstanse against a hustling Collison.

Bench play could be the deciding factor. We at least have to match Gordon, Songaila and Pargo. With renewed confidence, Marshall and Jones should do this, and with the extra help of Ira Newble, should allow for a more balanced rotation.

I see the Cavaliers finally ending their run of outs on the road against central teams with a hard fought scrappy one. Not one for the purists.
 
Re: Cavs @ Bulls

Cavs win the tip. Hughes chucks it out.

No Chandler tonight
 

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