GT: Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics

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<p align="center"><font face="Verdana">December 2, 2007 @ 12:30pm EST
TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA
FSN Ohio, CSNHD</font></p>
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<p align="center"><font face="Verdana" color="#00a35f">Boston Celtics
(13-2)</font></p>


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<p align="center"><font color="#b90456"><font face="Verdana">Cleveland Cavaliers
</font><font face="Verdana">(9-8)</font></font></p>


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<h4 align="center"><font face="Verdana">Projected Starters</font></h4>
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<font face="Verdana" color="#00a35f" size="2">PG Rajon Rondo SG Ray Allen

</font><font face="Verdana" color="#00a35f" size="2">SFPaul PiercePF Kevin Garnett C Kendrick Perkins
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<font face="Verdana"><font size="2"><font color="#b90456">PG Daniel Gibson SG Sasha Pavlovic

SF LeBron James PF Drew Gooden C Zydrunas Ilgauskas</font>
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<h4><font face="Verdana">Season Stats</font></h4>
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<td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00a35f">Points</font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#00a35f">102.3 PPG</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00a35f">FG%</font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#00a35f">48.3%</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00a35f">3pt%</font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#00a35f">39.9%</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00a35f">Rebounds</font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#00a35f">42.5 RPG</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00a35f">Assists</font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#00a35f">24.2 APG</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">Points</font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">99.2PPG</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">FG%</font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">44.4%</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">3pt%</font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">37.1%</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">Rebounds</font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">44.2 RPG</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">Aassists</font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">19.5APG</font></td>
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<h4><font face="Verdana">Season Team Leaders</font></h4>
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<td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00a35f">Points</font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#00a35f">Pierce22.0 PPG</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00a35f">Rebounds</font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#00a35f">Garnett11.8 RPG</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00a35f">Assists</font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#00a35f">Rondo5.4 APG</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">Points</font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">James 30.7 PPG</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">Rebounds</font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">Ilgauskas 11.2 RPG</font></td>
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<td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">Assists</font></td>
<td><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">James 8.1 APG</font></td>
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<h4><font face="Verdana">KeySituation -<font color="#b90456">Will LeBron James play?</font></font></h4>
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All eyes are on this 'game-time' decision. LeBron James took part in parts of practice yesterday, and I expect him to at least attempt to play in this matine&eacute; game. If he doesn't, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Cavs absolutely demolished by the Celtics, out to gain revenge for the OT loss they suffered just recently. If he plays, there is every chance that he will show signs of his injury and not play well. However, if he plays well and manages to chake off any effects from the injury, he could manage to propel the Cavs to an unlikely victory.</font></p>
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<h4><font face="Verdana">Keys to the Game</font></h4>
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<ul>[*]<font face="Verdana"><font color="#00a35f">Play smart basketball- If the Celtics play to their strengths and play the way they want to play, the Cavs can't beat them.
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[*]<font face="Verdana"><font color="#00a35f">Lock down on LeBron- If LeBron does play, it will be important for the Celtics to lock down on him, so he doesn't feel comfortable at any time. With a slight injury, this may not be too difficult to do.</font></font>
[*]<font face="Verdana"><font color="#00a35f">Hit shots - With Garnett, Allen and Pierce hitting shots, it would be virtually impossible for any team to beat them. When you put a depleted side with a sub-100% star, you realise that it should be a comfortable win if they can do so.</font></font>[/list]
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<ul>[*]<font face="Verdana"><font color="#b90456">Move the ball around - Fresh back from injury (or perhaps not back at all), LeBron will not be able to carry the Cavs as much as he has been doing so far this season. They must look to spread the floor, so other players, especially Boobie, must shoot well.</font></font>
[*]<font face="Verdana"><font color="#b90456">Crash theboards- If the Cavs are to even remain within touching distance of the Celtics, they must ensure that they grab hold of every rebound they can, getting second chance opportunities aplenty. If they do so, they might just be able to battle their way past the Celtics.
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[*]<font face="Verdana"><font color="#b90456">Get in the Celtics' face -The time when the Celtics were at their worst last week was when the Cavs were gettingin their faces, frustrating them. If they can repeat that feat, especially with KG, they could find themselves in a position to win.</font></font>[/list]
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<h4><font face="Verdana">The Cavs since 2003 v Boston</font></h4>
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<td colspan="2"><font face="Verdana">The teams have met 15 times. The Cavs have won 10 of the games, and average 99 points per game, whilst the Celtics average 97.3 points and have won 5 games. LeBron James has missed two previous games against the Celtics (could become 3 tonight), but averages 30.5 points, 6 rebounds and 6.1 assists in the 13 games in which he has competed.</font></td>
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<h4><font face="Verdana">Prediction</font></h4>
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<font face="Verdana">It will be so important for the Cavs to get a lot of second chance points tonight, and for them to restrict the Celtics' opportunities. They must be tenacious on defense, to try to somehow stop the flow of points from the Celtics. Short of another LeBron James miracle, I can't see any other way for them to beat the Celtics.</font></p>


<font face="Verdana" size="4"><font color="#00a35f">105</font>- <font color="#b90456">91</font></font></p>
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LeBron is out. Not gonna play one bit I don't think. SO starters for the Cavs will be Gibson, Devin Brown, Pavlovic, Gooden and Ilgauskas. Could be a huge loss.</p>

 

I don't want to hijack the thread but do you think he will play on Tuesday?</p>

 

I was expecting him to play today, so based on that yes I do. But the fact that he's not playing today could mean that the injury is worse than first thought and that he could be out longer.</p>

So yes I think he will play, but it does seem a major possibility that he won't.</p>

 

Not a bad game considering no LBJ in the line-up especially in Boston.</p>