W Clippers 105 Cavaliers 112 OT

[Hurl Bruce]

vs

LA Clippers (10-4) VS Cleveland Cavaliers (9-4)

Wednesday, November 30th
7:00pm ET
TV: Fox Sports Net
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland

Head Coaches

Mike Brown / Mike Dunleavy Sr.

Probable Starters

Eric Snow / Sam Cassell

Larry Hughes / Cutino Mobley

LeBron James / Corey Maggette

Drew Gooden / Elton Brand

Zydrunas Ilgauskas / Chris Kaman

Cleveland Cavaliers Bench

Damon Jones / Luke Jackson / Sasha Pavlovic / Donyell Marshall / Alan Henderson

Clippers Bench

Howard Eisley / Daniel Ewing / Quinton Ross / Chris Wilcox​

Clippers Notes
The Clips are coming off of a road victory against the same Timberwolves team that just beat the Cavliers. The former Dookies, Brand and Maggette, are leading the charge as the Clippers are resurgent this year. Even though the team lost some outside punch with Jaric and Simmons leaving the team. Elton Brand is a beast and Corey Maggette is coming into his own. *thinks of drafting Trajan Langdon and shudders*

Cavaliers Notes
The Cavaliers enter this contest hoping to avoid their longest losing streak of the season. The Timberwolves ruined the Cavalier's perfect home record, so the team should be looking to re-establish their home court dominance. The team needs to shoot much better from the field. Damon Jones and Donyell Marshall, two players that established a deep threat for the team, went 0 for 15 from the field and Z and Hughes didn't do much better going 5-26 combined. Lebron can't do it all out there. Hopefully a few days off will put some spring in the team's step.

Overview
The Clippers come to town for the second half of a back-to-backer. The Cavaliers are well rested and should be ready to take on this young team in hopes of ending the two game losing streak. Elton Brand will be tough to contain inside. If Drew is put on him, then he will be undersized. If Z is put on him, he will be a step slow. It will take a team effort to stop this all-star PF. Lebron's supporting cast will need to step up and lend the young star a hand. Donyell and Damon need to find their range from beyond the arc if the team is to do well.

I see the Cavaliers reclaiming their home court and beating the tired Clippers 96-89.

 

[Karma]

Re: LA Clippers @ Cleveland Cavaliers

The Clips will slow this game down again if they have their way. Cassell and Brand are excellant in the half court, whilst Kaman is also suited in this style of contest. Gooden and James have a tough night ahead matching Brand and Magette. Cassell for the most part has been strong, but I can see Snow being able to contain him somewhat. Mobley has been a quiet achiever, giving them a strong perimeter threat and good passer.

If we can get the ball inside, whether it be Ilgauskas, Gooden or James, we can create some foul trouble for their bigs. Outside of Wilcox, they have little in the way of reserves.

The Clips are backing up after a tough win in Minny with Brand, Mobley and Maggette playing big minutes. That win should take a little hunger away, and their tired legs may not have the fight in them. In saying this, Minny were on a back to back and took us.

Cavaliers should prevail in a tight one.

 

[LyXo]

Re: LA Clippers @ Cleveland Cavaliers

This is a very, very tough matchup. The Clippers are loaded with weapons. Perimeter threats in Cassell and Mobley, slasher in Maggette, and potent post scorers in Brand and Kaman. They may be tired from the travels, and the Cavs play extremely well at home. We've been rested and our shooting woes should be demolished. I hope so at least.

But we have one great thing going for us. It is Z bobblehead night. Last time this happened, I was there. 4th quarter, we rallied back from a 19 point deficit to the waning moments, being behind by 3. Big man Z hits the final trey to send it into overtime, and we eventually win. I'm feeling a big game for #11 tonight.

 

[B Mac]

Re: LA Clippers @ Cleveland Cavaliers

Ill be there tomorrow for my second game this year. What a coincidance my last game was against Seattle and LeBron bobblehead night. Heres to hoping Z comes out and performs on his night, and the rest of the crew stick it to the Clips and rebound from last week.

 

[Dungong]

Re: LA Clippers @ Cleveland Cavaliers

Its going to be all about the execution. The Cavs must avoid the watch Lebron offense. If they can execute in the half court game, they'll be fine. This was happening in the first 7 games, but a couple blowouts got the team playing sloppy again. On defense, things are looking better, but treys are still a glaring problem in each of our losses. Rotations must close out the perimeter.

The Clips are a good team this year and they do the little things, they don't turn it over and they hit their free throws, so dont expect too many fast breaks or return on fouling on D.

Hopefully, Damon and Marshall will be back to providing some offense this game. Also, when Marshall is playing outside shooting 3's, we need someone else inside along with Z/Gooden because theres no one there to grab rebounds when your 4 is hanging beyond the arc.

 

[West Remy]

Re: LA Clippers @ Cleveland Cavaliers

Brand has been playing like a true MVP candidate. Against certain power forwards like Walker or Brand, Gooden struggles. That said, Drew has been playing great this year and if he can hold his own with Brand, we'll all be able to see just how far Drew has come.

Maggette went to the line 18 times in his last game. Just like Paul Pierce, Corey lives at the line and gets you into foul trouble quickly.

 

[fsqp13]

Re: LA Clippers @ Cleveland Cavaliers

cavs 102 - clips 99

 

[TheAdmin]

Re: LA Clippers @ Cleveland Cavaliers

I actually think this is the kind of team that the Cavs should handle fairly easy. They don't really have a 3pt threat and those players who can shoot marginally well from outside (Cassell and Mobley) will be defended by our best perimeter defenders. The Clippers are just as bad shooting from behind the arc as the Cavs were last year and thats scary bad. Snow finally gets to guard a point who doesn't have blazing speed, he should do well and Hughes has to be getting over the flu with all this rest.

We can finally pack the lane and allow James and Hughes to free lance a bit which should spark our running game. Maggette will have to guard the bigger, stronger, faster James which should take Corey completely out of his game.

Look for our bench bunch to shine tonight, the Clippers bench looks like a who's who of busted picks and guys who should be showcased on VH1's "I love the 90's".

It should be another blowout at home. Cavs 107 - Clippers 93

 

[Kypus]

Re: LA Clippers @ Cleveland Cavaliers

The Clippers have an impressive record, but this team is always going to be worse than the sum of its parts. Come on, they're still the Clippers!

Maggette will annoyingly draw fouls all night, even if we get a big lead. If we get a big enough lead early, our bench will play loose, keep them buried, and keep our bigs out of foul trouble. Mobley's fast, I don't think his injuries have slowed him down much, but Hughes can keep up with him.

The wild card on their team is Chris Kaman, I was very impressed with his speed and offense in person last year. I could see him getting Z in foul trouble, but Alan Henderson can defend him no problem.

We should be able to play "our" game after establishing Z in the post, 114-102, Cavs for the win.

 

[Slim Sheedy]

Re: LA Clippers @ Cleveland Cavaliers

rcf, im goin to the game tonite..trying to complete my bobblehead collection... got bron, hughes and now Z....

 

[highplainsdrifter]

Re: LA Clippers @ Cleveland Cavaliers

My main concern is the energy the Cavs play with. They have been in a funk the last 2 games. I think this is the breakout game though, they will have a strong first quarter and should win by around 10.

 

[Karma]

Re: LA Clippers @ Cleveland Cavaliers

What will be interesting is to see if Brown has made any notable changes to the offense and also his rotations. He has had plenty of time in Cleveland since the Pacers game to start implementing change.

 

[Karma]

Re: LA Clippers @ Cleveland Cavaliers

The Clippers hold opposing teams to 41 percent shooting, tops in the NBA.

 

[MarkPrice25]

Re: LA Clippers @ Cleveland Cavaliers

I feel that we will come out with alot of energy early and take it to them in the first half. I expect to see "end of game" work being done on the defensive end from the start. The first 12 minutes are going to be very interesting in my opinion.

Speaking of "end of game" defense, that's what really pissed me off about Saturday night's game. When it came down to crunch time, Minnesota's only offense came on an AMAZING shot by Garnett with the shot clock expiring and a Jaric jumper against the clock off a cross-court pass that was almost knocked away. I know teams don't play that kind of defense all game evey game, but we were swarming those last three minutes. It looked like we had 7 out there. Why can't they bring it like that earlier?

 

[Karma]

Re: LA Clippers @ Cleveland Cavaliers

Energy is the key. There veterans, particulary Cassell who is still unhealthy will find it tough if we lift our intensity levels. Our best offense comes from tight defense from the perimeter. Hopefully we will see that as well as some improved looks inside.