This game sees the 9-6 Cleveland Cavaliers take on the 6-7 Atlanta Hawks at the Phillips Arena. <div align="center"><font color="#B94056"><u>Cleveland Cavaliers</u> </font> C Zydrunas Ilgauskas PF Drew Gooden SF LeBron James SG Shannon Brown PG Eric Snow @ <font color="#CE364F"> C Zaza Pachulia PF Shelden Williams SF Josh Smith SG Joe Johnson PG Speedy Claxton <u>Atlanta Hawks</u></font></div> <u>Key Matchup</u> – SF – LeBron James v Josh Smith v Both players are highly explosive, so expect an intense matchup. Josh Smith is an immensely talented shot-blocker and dunker, whilst LeBron James is a better scorer and also plays decent defense, though not great defense. Smith is currently averaging 12 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and a steal per game, whilst James averages 27 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and a block and a steal. It will be an intriguing pivotal matchup that I believe LeBron should be victorious in. [div=50%] <font color="#CE364F"><u>Hawks’ Keys to Victory</u> <ul> [*]Contain LeBron James. When the phenom is contained, invariably the opposing team wins. Therefore, it is quintessential for the Hawks to contain him if they wish to stand a chance in the game. [*]Send the Cavaliers to the charity stripe. The Cavaliers are currently the fourth-worst shooters in the League from the line, at just 70%. With a lot of missed free throws, they could struggle to win. [*]Get Joe Johnson going quickly. Joe Johnson is a player who can make or break a game for the Hawks. If he plays well so, usually, do the Hawks. He will need to be on top from for the Hawks tonight. [/list] </font> [/div] <font color="#B94056"><u>Cavaliers’ Keys to Victory</u> <ul> [*]Contain Joe Johnson. As mentioned previously, he is capable of winning the game for the Hawks, and the Cavaliers must stop him from doing so. [*]Get LeBron James going. He can, and often does, win the game for the Cavaliers and, with enough points, he should do so again in this game. [*]Ensure that Ilgauskas has a good game. Ilgauskas is a key member of the team, capable of grabbing in excess of 13 rebounds and scoring more than 20 points. When he does this, the Cavaliers find it easy to win. [/list] </font> <u>Prediction</u> The two have met 11 times since LeBron James entered the League in 2003. The average score in this time frame is 101-93 to the Cavaliers, who have won 8 times to the Hawks’ 3. However, Atlanta were victorious in Cleveland earlier this season. LeBron, himself, averages 27.7 points 7.3 rebounds and 6.6 assists in his 10 games against the Hawks. It is also worth noting that, although Speedy Claxton tends to start at the 1, Tyronn Lue plays more minutes than him in most games. The Cavaliers should reign supreme, but it could well be a close game.. <font color="#B94056">97</font>-<font color="#CE364F">93</font>
nice preview, I like it. I think that it too should be close. I wont be able to watch this one tonight, I might catch the last part of it but this one will be a good one..hope the cavs get it. -Witness
Great preview Chingy. Hawks matchup well with Cleveland and beat them soundly 104-95 in the first meeting. The Hawks will miss not having Josh Childress available, he gives them a lot of production off the bench and can defend LeBron with his length and speed. Hawks rely a lot on Joe Johnson to keep them in games, right now they are dependent on him to score over 25 points to stand a chance. Cleveland needs to contain JJ and force him to give up the ball. Cavs need to start winning on the road, tonight is a good start.
