This game sees the 22-12 Cleveland Cavaliers take on the 26-8 Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. <div align="center"><font color="#B94056"><u>Cleveland Cavaliers</u> </font> C Zydrunas Ilgauskas PF Drew Gooden SF LeBron James SG Larry Hughes PG Eric Snow @ <font color="#412367"> C Amar? Stoudemire PF Boris Diaw SF Shawn Marion SG Raja Bell PG Steve Nash <u>Phoenix Suns</u></font></div> <u>Prediction</u> The Cavaliers and the Suns have met 6 times since October 2003, with the Suns winning 4 to the Cavaliers? 2. The Cavs average 101 points per game, whilst the Suns average 108. LeBron James, himself, averages 31.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.8 assists against the Phoenix-based team. The Cavaliers have won their last 3 games on the road, whilst the Suns have won their last 5 at home. It is sure to be an interesting matchup as one of the top teams faces up to one of the best players. The question on everyone?s lips asks whether LeBron James can carry the Cavs over the Suns. My answer to this is short and sharp: no. <font color="#B90456">95</font>-<font color="#412367">110</font>
Cavs are hot, but Suns are hotter. If LeBron wont have a monster game or if Z, Gooden or Hughes wont bring their A game. It should be a W for Phoenix. I believe that Marion can defend James pretty well.
Until LeBron James dedicates himself to becoming a better defender, the Cavs are not going to take the next step. He was making mistake after mistake on the defensive end last night. Cleveland went into panic mode after the Suns took a 12 point lead, and started settling for jumpshots. The Cavs should have stock with their style of play and waited for Phoenix to let them back in this game. The Cavs didn't use their size advantage at all, and did a terrible job of establishing Ilgauskas early on. Missed 3 pointers led to Phoenix fastbreaks and Cleveland got run out of the gym.
