W Cavalier's 88 Grizzlies 84

[MHSpecialist]

Re: Cavalier's 88 Grizzlies 84

Hey guys, I was down at the game tonight. First off, me and my brother were way up top in the corner. It sucked pretty bad up there, so at halftime we skated past the 17 year old looking usher and camped ourselves in seats about 10 rows behind the Cavs bench. No one bugged us at all, not that they would for a preseason game. It was like going from watching it outside to being on the court, pretty unbelievable. As for the Cavs, here's what I saw:
1. Lebron is still awesome, only one assist but D. Jones couldn't handle Lebron's mustard.
2. Gooden looked pretty damn good offensively and defensively- he had the sky hook and up and under move in mid season form. He was blocking shots and moving his feet. Unfortunately, he lost position on rebounds to easily to Pau Gasol (sporting the preseason beard to look tougher). He obviously needs to improve that.
3. Defensively, we looked pretty good- lots of contested shots, rotating, hands up, much more effort than last year.
4. The offense looks pretty sloppy. I know they have focused on defense, but they need some work on the other end. Lots of missed passes and fumbles out of bounds. These guys need to get to know each other a little more.
5. No scrubs in this game- I think Coach Brown was coaching this one like a real game for the home town fans and also b/c we're halfway through the preseason.
6. Damon Jones' defense really surprised me. I think I counted two or three steals, tipping passes, not letting his man beat him. He wasn't hitting his shot too much, but he was very active defensively.

Overall, it was a sloppy game, but the potential for greatness is there. I know I rarely post anymore, but I just wanted to share my views with you guys.

 

[Karma]

Re: Cavalier's 88 Grizzlies 84

Thanks for that MHSpecialist. Always great to get a recap from people at the game.

Lepip, Snow and Jones have alternated each game starting. So if it continues in that pattern, Jones starts tomorrow. In saying that, Jones has struggled with both lineups offensively. Good to see him working on defense, as that is very key to our overall team defense. I still have Snow as my preferred starter until Jones proves me wrong.

 

[PIP]

Re: Cavalier's 88 Grizzlies 84

I just wonder how much LeBron plays tomorrow in the back 2 back ?

I am glad to read the defense aspect of Jones looked solid..

 

[Maximus]

Re: Cavalier's 88 Grizzlies 84

Tired.....talk tomorrow....Rivera cut.

 

[Karma]

Re: Cavalier's 88 Grizzlies 84

The King Reclaims His Court

Wednesday night’s matchup with Memphis had all the makings of a regular season game, replete with LeBron James’ heroics and the starters battling it out into the fourth quarter as Cleveland topped the Grizzlies, 88-84, at Quicken Loans Arena.

James, who battled through a bout with pleurisy that forced him out of the last three preseason games, looked to be in mid-season form. He notched a game-high 26 points – including nine in the fourth quarter – as Cleveland snapped a two-game losing streak.

"To hold a team like that to 39 percent and 84 points from the field, that’s the style of basketball we want to play," said Cavaliers rookie coach Mike Brown.

LeBron went 9-of-17 from the floor and 3-for-6 from behind the arc. One of those three pointers came when the Cavaliers needed it most as he hit a bomb to the game at 82 with 1:19 remaining. He and Damon Jones drained four free throws in the closing minute to seal the deal. James added five boards and three steals to his impressive total.

"I’m not even 100 percent yet," said the Young King. "If I looked sharp tonight, wait until I get 100 percent. I think I can do a lot better than what I did tonight."

Drew Gooden was solid once again, tallying 18 points and five boards while doing battle with his former teammate, Pau Gasol. Gooden blocked a game-high four shots on Wednesday night. He was forced to play many of his minutes in the pivot as Zydrunas Ilgauskas fouled out early in the fourth quarter with eight points.

Gooden has been strong all preseason and is easily the Cavaliers most consistent performer.

"We were active out there defensively," said Gooden. "And I think as time goes on we'll begin to mesh offensively."

Gasol led the Grizzlies with 24 points, eight of which he scored in the fourth quarter as he and his mates sliced into a seven-point Cavaliers lead. Dahntay Jones’ 10-footer with just over three minutes to play gave Memphis a one-point lead, but the Wine and Gold scrapped back behind LeBron’s Herculean late-game effort.

The biggest play late in the game was not a three-pointer or free throw, but instead a tipped pass by Larry Hughes, who played a brilliant all-around game. After gaining possession off a jump ball with 24 seconds to play, Mike Miller fired a pass down to Gasol, who was waiting on the block. But Hughes got his hand on the pass and it wound up in the hands of James, who calmly sunk two free throws on the other end.

Hughes, the only other Cavalier in double figures, finished with 13 points, six boards, four dimes and a pair of steals. His quick hands and defensive prowess are what made him such a coveted commodity in the off-season, and he showed that skill set in Wednesday night’s win.

Coach Mike Brown went with his main rotation throughout the ballgame. James played 33 minutes, Gooden 37 and Hughes 32. Bubble players like Kelenna Azubuike, Zendon Hamilton and Mike Wilks were forced into spectator roles as the Cavaliers tried for and got the win to get back on track.

Damon Jones picked up his game late in the fourth, drilling a three-pointer and two of three free throws in crunch time.

Donyell Marshall finished with eight points off the bench, but only hit on two of ten shots.

For Mike Fratello’s squad, aside from Gasol they were led by Shane Battier, who notched 13 points and five boards. The only other Grizzlie to net double-figures was Eddie Jones, who tallied 12 points in the loss.

Statistically, the game was as close as the final score would indicate. Both teams shot under 40 percent on the night. Memphis had a slight edge in rebounding and the Cavaliers blocked three more shots, but overall it was a nip and tuck affair from the opening tip.

The Cavaliers look to maintain their winning ways as they travel to Trenton, N.J. to take on the Philadelphia 76ers, who topped them five days ago at the Q. Of course, that was without a healthy LeBron James. After Thursday’s second half of a back-to-back, the Cavaliers prepare for a matchup with Toronto on Sunday evening in Columbus.

NBA.com

 

[Karma]

Re: Cavalier's 88 Grizzlies 84

Drew Gooden addresses the crowd. "Which hand is the microphone in?" A serious Gooden asks.

Sasha Pavlovic helped keep Mike Miller from hitting a field goal.

LeBron James scores 2 of his game high 26 points.

Drew Gooden's battle with Pau Gasol was a highlight.

 

[Pioneer10]

Re: Cavalier's 88 Grizzlies 84

I think the coach should start Jones this next game.. At least to get a look at what it might bring in the future.

Jones is coming into the games with Luke and that second unit.. Quite frankly, that won't get it done..

The man cannot create his own shot, and it makes no sense for him to have to look for his offense when he is here to shoot..

He needs someone out there to create a shot for him.. Who is doing that in the second unit exactly ?

Donyell :shakehead
Sasha :shakehead
Luke :shakehead
Hamilton/White :shakehead

I still say it makes ZERO sense to sign shooters and bring them off the bench, when the guys that needs the shooters on the floor to take the pressure off them are

Z
LeBron
Larry

Great Post. I'm beginning to think Jones will be useless unless he's fed open shots off double teams going at James or Z.

I'm not to worried about the offense yet. We add one guy who dramatically changes the offense in Hughes and then lose the other big cog in James for a few games. Will have to be patient on the offensive side of things till people get used to playing with each other

 

[AustinCarr]

Re: Cavalier's 88 Grizzlies 84

Hopefully the problem of who is a starter and who is not will not amount to much of a issue. We got so used to Silas, who made substitutions like he was coaching hockey, that we forget that most coaches rotate players in and out, so that there are always at least a couple of the starters in the game (except junk time in a blowout). Unless Brown proscribes to the Silas "first line second line" style of substitution, there will always be a Hughes, lebron, or Z on the floor to attract attention, help create shots, and kick it to a shooter.

at least I hope. That hockey style substitution pattern makes me want to gouge my eyes out.

 

[Cleveland56]

Re: Cavalier's 88 Grizzlies 84

Ilgauskas was efficient out there in a game plagued by fouls.

not to bash Z, but I was at the game...he looked awful. he fouled out in 20 minutes.

 

[chiefwahoo]

Re: Cavalier's 88 Grizzlies 84

Karma: exactly how was Z's game efficient last night? I was in my season tix in section 118 last night and saw something much different. Read the box score, it doesn't lie:

Ilgauskas 22 min 2-4 fg, 4-4 ft, 6 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 0 blk, 1 to, 6 pf, 8 pts

 

[Karma]

Re: Cavalier's 88 Grizzlies 84

Efficient might not have been the right word, but he was our most effective boarder, and actually hit free throws unlike most the squad. He created foul problems for the opposition as well. Z had 2 dumb loose ball fouls which really wrecked his night.