<table class="gamePreview" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="center" colspan="2"> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana">January 25 @ 7:00pm EST Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH RTC, FSN Ohio, My45 HD</font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="Home"> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">Cleveland Cavaliers (23-18)</font></p> </p> </td> <td class="Road"> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><font color="#412367" face="Verdana">Phoenix Suns (30-13)</font></p> </p> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4 align="center"><font face="Verdana">Projected Starters</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="roster"> <td> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana"> <font face="Verdana" color="#b90456" size="2">PG Larry Hughes SG Devin Brown SF LeBron James PF Drew Gooden C Zydrunas Ilgauskas</font> </p> </td> <td> <p align="center"> <font face="Verdana" size="2" color="#412367">PG Steve Nash SG Raja Bell SF Grant Hill PF Shawn Marion C Amare Stoudemire</font> </p> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Season Stats</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="seasonStats"> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">Points</td> <td>97.0 ppg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">FG%</td> <td>43.8%</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">3pt%</td> <td>35.2%</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">Rebounds</td> <td>44.7 rpg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">Assists</td> <td>19.5 apg</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#412367">Points</td> <td>110.0 ppg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#412367">FG%</td> <td>49.1%</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#412367">3pt%</td> <td>38.6%</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#412367">Rebounds</td> <td>41.0 rpg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#412367">Aassists</td> <td>27.6 apg</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Season Team Leaders</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="seasonStats"> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">Points</td> <td>James 29.5 ppg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">Rebounds</td> <td>Ilgauskas 9.5 rpg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">Assists</td> <td>James 7.4 apg</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#412367">Points</td> <td>Stoudemire 22.7 ppg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#412367">Rebounds</td> <td>Marion 10.1 rpg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#412367">Assists</td> <td>Nash 12.1 apg</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Key Matchup (PG) - <font color="#b90456">Larry Hughes</font> v <font color="#412367">Steve Nash</font></font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="keyMatchup"> <td colspan="2"> <font face="Verdana"> v Nash is one of the greatest players in the League at dictating the tempo of the game. When he hits the right notes, the Suns' brand of basketball is fast, exciting and near enough unstopppable. It is up to out-of-form Larry Hughes to try to stop the former MVP from dominating the game. I'd like to see Mike Brown give Eric Snow extended minutes, as he iis a proven on the ball defender of Point Guards. Hughes is, but has been taking, and missing lots of shots on the offensive end of the floor. At least Snow doesn't demand too many shots, but they have similar effects on the defensive end.</font></p> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Keys to the Game</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="keyStrategy"> <td> <ul> <font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">[*]Win the Battle of the Boards - This shouldn't be too difficult for the Cavs; the Suns average 41 boards per game but give up 46.6, but it is an absolutely essential factor in tonight's ballgame. The Cavs need desparately to play to their strengths, and rebounding is one of their main ones. [*]Keep the momentum from Wednesday - The Cavs looked incredible on Wednesday, where they demolished the Wizards by an astonishing 36 points. If they can play the same sensible basketball tonight, they could just beat the Suns. [*]Keep the tempo down - As stated above, the Suns are close to unstoppable when their offense clicks and runs at a high tempo. Conversely, the Cavs prefer a slower tempo, half-court game. If they can force the Suns into playing the Cavalier brand of basketball, they stand their best chance of winning.</font> [/list] </td> <td> <ul> <font face="Verdana" color="#412367">[*]Push the tempo - Whilst the Cavs have proven that they can play in high-scoring games, they do prefer to be in lower-scoring-lower-tempo games. For the Suns to stand their best chance at breaking the 5-game win streak, they need to increase the tempo to the max. [*]Contain LeBron - A combination of Shawn Marion and possibly Raja Bell will be required to halt LeBron is his tracks. He is playing fantastic basketball recently, averaging 36.2 points in his last 5 games. If he contributes like that again, the Suns will probably lose, but if they can stop him, they will probably win. [*]Come out strong after the break - The Cavs are notoriously poor in the third quarter (though they scored 43 points in it against the Wizards) and it is a weakness which is often exploited by their opposition. If the Suns can come out fast and strong in the third, they could open up an unassailable lead.</font> [/list] </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">The Cavs since 2003 v Phoenix</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="since03"> <td colspan="2"><font face="Verdana">The two teams have met 9 times, though the Cavs have won just twice. They average 98.7 points, whilst the Suns average 108.3 points and have won 7 games. LeBron James averages 31.1 points (the most against any team), 7.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists in the 9 games against the Suns.</font></td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Prediction</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="prediction"> <td colspan="2"> <font face="Verdana">The Cavs are 11-2 since Christmas Day and have shown no signs of backing down when faced with such opposition as the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs. The Suns pose a different threat, though, as their style of basketball is at a polar opposite to that of the Cavs. On a side note, Sasha Pavlovic sprained his foot and will be out for 2 months so Devin Brown and Daniel Gibson will likely pick up some slack at the 2. Tonight should be a very interesting game, with two contrasting styles coming head to head. The winner will likely be the team which imposes their style upon the other team better which, unfortunately, I think could well be the Suns.</font></p> <font face="Verdana" size="4"><font color="#b90456">110</font> - <font color="#412367">103</font></font></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </p>
Phoenix always goes on a run at some point. The Cavs just have to stick with their game plan and not panic.
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Damon Jones missed a game-winning shot. They were nearing a 5 second violation and had to throw it to him, but he was smothered by multiple defenders so missed the shot
