<div align="center"><u><font size="5"><font color="#FF0033">CLEVELAND CAVALIERS</font> @ <font color="#FFCC33">INDIANA PACERS</font></font></u> <u><font size="3"><font color="#FF0033">PROJECTED STARTERS</font></font></u> <u><font size="2"><font color="#FF0033">CAVS</font></font></u> <font color="#FF0033">C Zydrunas Ilgauskas PF Drew Gooden SF LeBron James SG Larry Hughes PG Eric Snow</font> <font color="#FFCC33">C Scot Pollard PF Jermaine O?Neal SF Ron Artest SG Stephen Jackson PG Jamaal Tinsley</font> <u><font size="2"><font color="#FFCC33">PACERS</font></font></u> <u><font size="3"><font color="#FF0033">MATCHUP BREAKDOWN</font></font></u></div> <font color="#FF0033">Zydrunas Ilgauskas</font> v <font color="#FFCC33">Scot Pollard</font> ? Pollard showed against the Rockets that he could rebound the ball adequately, but not get sufficient points for a player in his position. He needs to make 5 or 6 more points in a game, or grab around 14 boards to become a serious threat to others in the League. As it happens, he can?t and therefore does not pose much of a threat on Ilgauskas. I would be surprised if Ilgauskas loses this one. <font color="#FF0033">Drew Gooden</font> v <font color="#FFCC33">Jermaine O?Neal</font> ? Gooden has a major problem when he squares off with O?Neal. JO7 has everything you could want in a Power Forward; strength, tenacity, spirit, power ability to make a mid-range shot. Gooden has these skills, but not in the same abundance that O?Neal has them in. Without question, I am tipping O?Neal to come out of this on top. <font color="#FF0033">LeBron James</font> v <font color="#FFCC33">Ron Artest</font> ? On his day, Artest can shut down anybody and this could be problematic for the Cavaliers. If he can shut LeBron down and frustrate him, the Cavs will have to look elsewhere for the main body of their points. The source may have to be Hughes, but we have yet to see if he is capable of carrying the entire team ? he can play in tandem with LeBron but not necessarily by himself. Back to this matchup, and I think that Artest will come out on top if he can stop LeBron, but LeBron will be victorious if he is able to play his natural game. <font color="#FF0033">Larry Hughes</font> v <font color="#FFCC33">Stephen Jackson</font> ? If the pair of players were both playing at the top of their games, this would be as even a matchup as you?d ever see. As it is, however, Hughes is playing far better than Jackson. Thus, I believe that Hughes will prevail and play his part in a close game. <font color="#FF0033">Eric Snow</font> v <font color="#FFCC33">Jamaal Tinsley</font> ? By averaging more of everything, I believe that Tinsley should be the top Point Guard in this game by providing more opportunities for his team-mates and by scoring more points himself. <div align="center"><u><font size="3"><font color="#FF0033">OTHER NOTES</font></font></u></div> <ul> [*]Last season the Pacers went 3-1 against the Cavaliers. [*]The Pacers are coming off a three night rest, whilst the Cavs have had just one night?s rest. [*]LeBron James scored 104 points in the 4 games last year. [*]LeBron James averages 25.2ppg when playing a Pacers side that includes Ron Artest. His career average is 24.3ppg. [/list] <div align="center"><u><font size="3"><font color="#FF0033">SCORE PREDICTION</font></font></u></div> <u><font size="2"><font color="#FF0033">89</font> - <font color="#FFCC33">91</font></font></u>
unfortunately i cant predict a pacer victory as much as i want too. there is one simple reason rebounding the pacers so far have been horrible on the boards and have in no way, been able to keep other teams of the boards now add the fact that the cavs have one of the best offensive rebounding lineups and that leaves me with a horrible picture i think that the pacers are going to be beaten purely by second chance points and i wouldnt be surprised if it was by a margin of 7-15 points i predict the cavs will take this one 105-93
wow i eat my words, big time. thats the way to stop a team on a 9 game winning streak thats the way to make a guy whos scored an average of 35 points over the last few game and thats the way to make King jame work for every point. shot 6-20 and 0-4 from three. it brings a tear to my eye when the pacers play like this. by the way jasikevichis big time players play in big time games! just like larry.
