GT: Detroit Pistons @ Cleveland Cavaliers Feb 4

bbwchingy0007 · Feb 4, 2007

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This game sees the 27-18 Detroit Pistons take on the 27-20 Cleveland Cavaliers at The Quicken Loans Arena. With Coach Mike Brown being a contender to become the Eastern Conference Head Coach at the All-Star Game, it is essential for the Cavaliers to win their upcoming games in order to get some glory for their coach, as well as to catapult their own league position.

<div align="center">Detroit Pistons

C Chris Webber PF Rasheed Wallace SF Tayshaun Prince SG Richard ?Rip? Hamilton PG Chauncey Billups 

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C Zydrunas Ilgauskas PF Drew Gooden SF LeBron James SG Larry Hughes PG Daniel Gibson

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Key Matchup ? PG ? Chauncy Billups v Daniel Gibson

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Some might be surprised that I have chosen this matchup to be the pivotal matchup, but I have my reasons. Finally, the Cavs have a starting Point Guard who has good vision and can score and now he faces his biggest task yet ? to play Chauncey Billups. If he can rise to the occasion, then the Cavaliers know that he is here to stay. If, however, he curls into a ball and it trounced by Billups, then we have a problem.
If Daniel Gibson can possibly contain Billups, then the Cavaliers stand a good chance of winning the game. If not, then expect to see Eric Snow getting some minutes in an effort to try to stem the flow of points that Billups will no doubt be scoring and creating.

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Cavaliers? Keys to Victory
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[*]Crash the boards. The Cavaliers average slightly more rebounds than the Pistons and, in a game against one of the League?s best teams, they need every advantage they can get.
[*]Contest the Pistons? three point shots. When the Cavaliers have played the Pistons, they have been killed when the Pistons get on a three-point roll. When they can stop them from hitting these shots, they are always in with a chance.
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Pistons? Keys to Victory
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[*]Block shots. The Pistons average an almighty 6 block per game, and can shift or multiply the momentum with each one. If these are timely blocks, it could be the difference between a win and a loss.
[*]Send the Cavaliers to the free throw line. The Pistons needn?t worry about sending the Cavaliers to the line ? as they shoot awfully from it. That means one thing ? more block attempts.
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Prediction
Since October 2003, the Cavaliers and the Pistons have met twenty times, including their playoff matches, with the Cavaliers winning 8 and the Pistons winning 12. The Cavs average 82.9 points per game, whilst their Motor City-based counterparts average 85.4. LeBron James has participated in all 20 games, and averages 24.4 points, 7.05 rebounds and 5.85 assists. The Cavaliers have been looking slightly better in their past two games, but with LeBron James? niggling injury, I cannot see them defeating the Pistons tonight.

95-89