GT: Indiana Pacers @ Cleveland Cavaliers Dec 9

bbwchingy0007 · Dec 9, 2006

This game sees the 11-10 Indiana Pacers take on the 11-7 Cleveland Cavaliers at The Quicken Loans Arena.

<div align="center"> Indiana Pacers

C Jeff Foster PF Maceo Baston SF Al Harrington SG Stephen Jackson PG Jamaal Tinsley

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C Zydrunas Ilgauskas PF Drew Gooden SF LeBron James SG Daniel Gibson PG Eric Snow

Cleveland Cavaliers </div>

Key Matchup ? SF ? Al Harrington v LeBron James

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In all honesty, it is a toss up how both teams will match up, in terms of personnel and in terms of guarding duties. Nevertheless, I feel that LeBron James could well be up against Al Harrington as the Pacers attempt to force LeBron to play outside, rather than posting up against Harrington. No doubt LeBron will still be able to drive a fair amount but, by using Harrington to guard him, the Pacers may be able to limit the opportunities for him. One thing that will be sure is that the performance of LeBron James will be pivotal to the outcome of the game.

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Cavaliers? Keys to Victory
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[*]Get LeBron James going. LeBron is a player who should be able to dominate a game such as this. If he does, it should be curtains for the Pacers.
[*]Crash the boards. The Pacers will be distressed on the glass without Jermaine O?Neal and it is key to take advantage of this. The Cavs are a good rebounding team anyway so should come out way on top over the Pacers on the glass.
[*]Continue the momentum from the last game against the Raptors. The Cavaliers were strong, and should continue the form against the sub-par Pacers. With a quick start from LeBron and co, the Pacers should stand no chance.
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Pacers? Keys to Victory
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[*]Contain LeBron James. As always, it will be important for the opposing team to try to prevent LeBron from scoring too many. If they manage to do so, the Cavaliers will find it very difficult to win.
[*]Get hot from downtown. The Pacers are a strong three point shooting team and as such must ensure that they prove this. Without their main inside presence, it is essential that their three point shooting is up to scratch.
[*]Send the Cavaliers to the free throw line. The Cavs are the third worst shooting team from the charity stripe. This is probably the Cavs? main weakness, so it must be taken advantage of.
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Prediction
Since LeBron James? entry to the NBA, the two sides have met 13 times, including once already this season. The Pacers won the meeting in November as well as 7 of the other games, leaving the Cavaliers with just the 5 wins. The Cavaliers average 90.6 points compared to the Pacers? 93.8 in these games. LeBron James averages are substantially sub-par for himself as they are 24.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists, compared to his career averages of 26.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 6.6 assists. In fact, along with the New Orleans Hornets and the Houston Rockets, the Indiana Pacers are the only team against which LeBron James does not average in excess of his career average in at least one of these categories. Without Jermaine O?Neal, I feel that the Pacers will not quite have enough of an inside presence to defeat the Cavaliers, although if their shooting is very good, they do stand a decent chance of winning.

92- 96