This game sees the 2-0 Cleveland Cavaliers take on the 0-2 Charlotte Bobcats at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena. The Cavaliers have started the season strongly, even though their free throw shooting has been almost obscene. They managed to beat the Spurs in San Antonio for the first time in 17 attempts. The Bobcats have started less well; losing their first two to the Indiana Pacers and the Memphis Grizzlies. <div align="center"><font color="#B94056"><u>Cleveland Cavaliers</u> C Zydrunas Ilgauskas PF Drew Gooden SF LeBron James SG Larry Hughes PG Eric Snow </font> @ <font color="#F15A30"> C Emeka Okafor PF Sean May SF Gerald Wallace SG Raymond Felton PG Brevin Knight <u>Charlotte Bobcats</u></font></div> <u>Key Matcup</u> – SF – LeBron James v Gerald Wallace v After a stellar showing last night in San Antonio, LeBron James should have a big game tonight. Standing in his path, however, is Gerald Wallace who averaged 15 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and 2.5 steals last season. He truly is a player capable of great things, taking over a game for small periods of time on defense or on offense. However, LeBron came through the greatest perimeter defender in the League in Bruce Bowen last night, and scored 35 points. As usual, LeBron should come out on top and it will be an interesting, explosive matchup at the 3. [div=50%] <font color="#F15A30"><u>Bobcats’ Keys to Victory</u> <ul> [*]Contain the King. They need to prevent his scoring often enough to even stand a chance at winning this game. [*]Send the Cavaliers to the line. They have shot just 33-60 (55%) from the line so far. By sending them to the line, they could restrict their scoring a lot. [*]Play solid defense and simple offense. With Emeka Okafor and Gerald Wallace hitting hard on defense and Brevin Knight along with Adam Morrison adding to the offense, they have a good core of players who can deeply impact a game. [/list] </font> [/div] <font color="#B94056"><u>ROAD TEAM’S Keys to Victory</u> <ul> [*]Get LeBron James and Larry Hughes going early. They are both on form and healthy and have been the X-Factors for the Cavaliers so far this season. [*]Play simple basketball. They play best when making the simple pass and making clever runs. The explosive and difficult plays will come, but they shouldn’t run into them as much as they sometimes do. [*]Crash the offensive boards. The Cavs are averaging 12 offensive boards and grabbed 8 against one of the best defensive rebounders the San Antonio Spurs. More offensive rebounds means more second chance opportunities which should mean more points. [/list] </font> <u>Prediction</u> Since the Bobcats’ inaugural season, all 7 games between the two teams have ended in a Cavaliers win, with a cumulative score of 724-660. LeBron James averages 28.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 7.4 assists against the Charlotte-based team. Look for him to have a similar night tonight, perhaps with more points, and also look for a similar outcome. <font color="#B94056">104</font>-<font color="#F15A30">91</font>
LeBron and the other team is in a pretty good shape. It should be an easy win. I except to get a 37-40+ points contest from LeBron. Cavaliers will win by 15+.
I hope they are a long way ahead in the fourth, so we get to see the likes of Shannon Brown get some minutes and start to prove themselves.
What was that game, a jump shot drill? Too many jump shots in the 4th and not enough takes to the basket. It looked like Bron wasn't even trying and just giving the rest of the team opportunities. Drew had a damn good game.
Loss.:S I think that LeBron felt that he's off and tried to play the playmaker part this time. James had only 16 points with 3-13 from the field.:S Atleast he had 9 rebounds and 7 assists which is good. Hughes didn't have the best day also. Drew was great.
Cleveland basically got humiliated, Gooden in particular. I think everyone that got a blocked shot in that game can attribute one of those from him.
