Preview: Indiana Pacers @ Cleveland Cavaliers, Sunday,3.00 pm, Gund Arena <div align="center"> <font color="Yellow">Indiana Pacers</font> (48-16) @ <font color="DarkRed">Cleveland Cavaliers</font> (29-36)</div> Sunday, Mar. 14, 3.00 pm Eastern Gund Arena, Cleveland, Oh TV: No TV (Joe Tait time for Clevelanders) Vegas Line: Check back gameday Season Series: Cavaliers 0, Pacers 3 11.05.03 Cavaliers 90 @ Pacers 91 12.15.03 Cavaliers 85 @ Pacers 95 12.30.03 Cavaliers 89 @ Pacers 92 Previous Game Cavaliers 106 @ Raptors 92 Pacers 99 @ Celtics 81 Last 10 Games Cleveland: 8-2 (Won 5) Indiana: 9-1 (Won 7) Head Coaches Paul Silas/Rick Carlisle Probable Starters Jeff McInnis/Jamaal Tinsley LeBron James/Reggie Miller Eric Williams/Ron Artest Carlos Boozer/Jermaine O'Neal Zydrunas Ilgauskas/Jeff Foster 6th Men Tony Battie/Al Harrington Injury Update Cavaliers Ruben Boumtje Boumtje [Ankle] Kedrick Brown [Knee] Pacers James Jones [Leg] Jamison Brewer [Toe] Primoz Brezec [Hamstring] <div align="center">Players To Watch </div> <div align="center">LeBron James/Jermaine O'Neal James: 20.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.56 steals O'Neal: 20.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.7 blocks</div> Keys to the Game <u>Cavaliers</u> 1. Work it inside with Z and Boozer early and often 2. Keep the intensity up for a full 48 minutes 3. Play good perimeter defense: watch Reggie! 4. Bench MUST produce 5. Our big 3 can't pick up early cheap fouls 6. Don't get overconfident when a lead is established 7. Don't let Artest get under your skin, play physical basketball! <u>Pacers</u> 1. Get O'Neal started early 2. Artest must contain LeBron, and make him work on the offensive end. 3. Shooters must hit their shots from beyond the arc 4. Box out, hit the offensive glass JUICE's TAKE Each game the Cavs play from here on out becomes more and more important. The team has been playing well as of late, and they had better bring their "A" game against the Pacers. Z has to stay out of foul trouble, and he needs to produce on both sides of the floor for us to have a chance. Boozer will do his usual, but it might come down to LeBron's sucess against Artest as the determining factor. Jermaine will get his, we can't let him play the pick n' roll all day and get three point plays. No cheap fouls! I see a hard fought game, a physical game, in which the Cavaliers keep the streak alive and win in OT, <u>106-99.</u> NORWAY's TAKE Both teams are hot right now (Cavs 8-2, Pacers 9-1), and both teams have a good shot at winning this game. This game is a must win for the Cavaliers, who are still battling for a playoff spot, while the Pacers are close to clinching. Hopefully, the Cavs can keep that in mind during the game, and play inspired basketball in order to reach their goal of the postseason. If the game goes to OT, I think the Pacers have a better chance of winning, since they are more experienced than the young Cavs. If not, I think the Cavs will get the win in a close game, <u>Cleveland by 1.</u> Please visit NBA.com <font color="Red"> Thread edited by King James</font>
I would really want Cavs to win this game, but for Philly sake to make the playoff'. I hope they lose. I say Indy by 11.
Even though its at home for the Cavs, the Pacers are deadly anywhere, I say the Pacers win this one by 6.
I know every game is a huge game for the Cavs, but now this is one that will be a true test because the Pacers are one of the best teams in all of basketball. 24 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5 assists That is what LeBron James has done against Ron Artest and the Pacers this year. I am sure Ron will bring it his hardest this time as he hates it when people go off against him.
I say that the big match up is not LBJ and Ronny, it's gotta be Boozer, O'Neil no doubt about it. Maybe even put Z on O'Neil, but whoever is going up against him, better bring there A game, and I think that person will. I say Cavs by 10
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting King James:</div><div class="quote_post"> That is what LeBron James has done against Ron Artest and the Pacers this year. I am sure Ron will bring it his hardest this time as he hates it when people go off against him.</div> I go on a limb and say Artest holds Lebron to 14 5 and 5. Stopping Lebron is the key to winning the game. I'll say Pacers by 5
James has went up against some of the toughest defenders in the NBA. 24 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5 assists against Artest (3 games) 32 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists against Bowen (1 game) But has not had big games against.. 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists against Houston (2 games) Well, if you want to call that an off games? I though I could find more teams/matchups that James has had problems with, and I guess I failed, ha. That is why the Cavs have been hard to beat, James always fills the stat sheet and is a constant threat while he is on the court. Boozer and Ilgauskas have finally been consistent as scoring options and have been playing much better defense. Jeff McInnis has stepped up his game huge and has emerged as another consistent scoring threat and has been distributing the basketball at an elite level the last few weeks. Anthing Wagner, Williams, Battie, Kapono, or Nailon gives us are just extras. Back to my point though, watching James and Artest hit one another again will be a joy to watch. The 2nd game of this series had a play I'll never forget... Artest stole the ball from James and took it in for a score. The very next possession James stole it from Artest, took it the length of the floor right at Jermaine O'Neal for the score. O'Neal bounced off of James as there was no stopping his momentum between him and the basket. That was when I was in "awe" of LeBron's body and knew that he at any time could take anyone to the basket that he wanted (well, not counting Shaq of course)
You forgot Trenton Hassell of the Wolves: First game was 8/19 shooting 19 and 9 and 2 Second game 6/18 shooting 14 points, 9 brds, 5 assists Not much of a difference except for the second game. As for the "I was in awe of his body" comment.....I'll take the high road and agree that he has an strong NBA body. Its gonna be a good matchup, I wish they had it on TV so I could see it
I did not forget Hassell, he did force James into some tough shots, but still look at the stats though, was hard for me to say that was a bad game. PS: You can think that about bodies if ya want, I won't tell anyone
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting King James:</div><div class="quote_post">I did not forget Hassell, he did force James into some tough shots, but still look at the stats though, was hard for me to say that was a bad game. PS: You can think that about bodies if ya want, I won't tell anyone </div> LB had a good first game against Hassell but in the second game it looks like Hassell got the best of him forcing him into a 6/18 shooting night. PS: I wasn't in "awe" of anyones body Anyways back to the topic at hand.......What is everyone else's take on this game? It looks like consensus says that the Pacers will take it.
Yea Artest hasn't really shut down LJ's scoring, I don't know if he guarded him when Ricky was still their I don't remember. Anyways what Artest has done though is force LJ to commit turnovers b/c he's averaging 5.67 tpg against the Pacers. (Artest 1.33 against the Cavs) I don't know why JO is such a scare, he's good, but he's been such a low percentage scorer this year (43.1%, getting to thel ine 6 times per game), and was shut down by the Celtics yesterday and Bosh really handled him well when they played the Raps.
JO is one of the top 5 power fowards in the league. If anything it has been him and Artest winning games for the Pacers.
Pacers will be too much in this game, Artest is an Offensive threat and I think he is the key for the Pacers, he needs to make shots...We all know JO will have his stats because he gets shots, but Boozer needs to make him have a horrible shooting night...Lebron will struggle I think, Artest will bring it hard this game and will have an impact, I take the Pacers by 5
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">JO is one of the top 5 power fowards in the league. If anything it has been him and Artest winning games for the Pacers.</div> Yea I know, its been a mostly them but also things like having Harrington off the bench, JO and Artest's defense, and just the whole team working. The thing is that the JO I know is a guy that shoots close to 50% (48% range), not 43%, so if he wasn't so low this year imagine home much more they'd be winning.
It doesn't really matter how much games they win because they have a lock on first place. 6.5 games above the rest if I'm not mistaken. These guys don't need to win more games, they have to worry about how to beat the West
Do you think against the West it would be better for them having Pollard play the 5 rather than Foster?