Cavs vs. Wizards Preview! Washington Wizards (3-2) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (0-5) Saturday, Nov. 8, 7:30 EST Gund Arena, Cleveland, OH TV: Local Previous Game Wizards 86 @ Raptors 60 Cavs 90 @ Pacers 91 Head Coaches Paul Silas/Eddie Jordan Probable Starters Zydrunas Ilgauskas/Christian Laettner Carlos Boozer/Kwame Brown Darius Miles/Jarvis Hayes Ricky Davis/Larry Hughes LeBron James/Gilbert Arenas Injury Lists Cleveland Cavaliers Dajuan Wagner Bruno Sundov Washington Wizards Jerry Stackhouse Mitchell Butler Keys To The Game Cleveland - The Cavs played their best ball of the season against the Pacers, and should now have a better idea of what to do to get the job done. I would pound the ball inside to Ilgauskas to take advantage of Christian Laettner. I would keep giving touches to LeBron James. Davis and Miles need to stay very aggressive as they have been these last 2 games. Finally I would get the ball out of the hands of Gilbert Arenas as much as I can, you stop him, you stop the Wizards. Washington - Double Ilgauskas every time he receives the basketball. Set some solid picks for Arenas to cause some possible confusion for the Cavs defense and to give Gilbert some driving lanes to score and create. Kwame Brown had his way with Boozer in the last preseason games that these 2 teams played, I would post Kwame early on to see if this trend can continue. As usual, keep the ball out of LeBron's hands at all costs. The King's Take Close game, but the Cavs should be very angry after that loss at Indiana. I think the Cavs will use that anger and aggression to win this ball game. Cavs win!
My money's on the Wiz cos they are hot at the moment, but the Cavs played some nice ball today too. I think Z's the key here, eh sould be able to have his way inside and if he comes up big I wouldn't be surprised to see the Cavs get up.
Z has really been out of place with this new O, he has a new role now. Regardless, he must get the ball and attack Laettner, I want to see that from possession #1.
I agree with Sir Desmond, the cavs had a great game but Laettner has been huge for the Wizards, Arenas is making the big shots, hughes isnt jacking up wild shots any more, and KWAME cand produce if the minutes are given.i agree with you KJ that the cavs need to give it to Lebron early so he can get going.
I have to give this one to the Wizards but I pray to God that the Cavs come out with a W. Arenas/Lebron match up is definately in Arenas' favor.
Cavs up 25/23 after one. They are playing great team D as of now. Miles is taking advantage of Hayes with 8 points. LeBron James is so much larger than Larry Hughes, he backed him down easily for a layup on one possession, I hope he keeps that kind of play up.
Ira Newble is making his Cavs debut tonight as he is now in the game with 8 and change left in the 2nd 32/26 Cavs
47/46 Wizards at the half. This game has been very close as I expected. Cavs biggest lead has been 6, 3 for the Wizards. James has 10 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds. Miles has 12 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds. Hughes has 13, while Arenas and Hayes have 11 a piece.
Cavs up 75/73 at the end of 3. Ricky Davis scores double figures in the quarter to give him 16 for the game. Gilbert Arenas did not start the 2nd quarter and did not play at all. The Wizards have said that there is nothing wrong with him, so sounds like somebody is in the dog house.
Last year this game was a sell out because of Michael, this year it's a sell out because of Lebron. Changing of the guard
Cavs win 111/98! James had 17 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds. Davis had 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Miles tied a career high with 26 points, had 7 assists, and 6 rebounds as well. Boozer had 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. DeSagana Diop was our 4th quarter man again coming in blocking shots and grabbing rebounds while hitting another mid range jump shot, I am so happy for the kid. Stay tuned for more news and a box score to this one.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Diop Blocks Five Shots LeBron James finally has the one stat that was missing from his NBA resume. James got his first win as a pro Saturday night when Darius Miles and Ricky Davis scored 26 points apiece to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 111-98 victory over the Washington Wizards. Davis scored 23 in the second half, and the Cavaliers used a 13-2 burst midway through the fourth quarter to separate from the Wizards. James had 17 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for the young Cavaliers, who started the season 0-5 and looked listless while losing their home opener to Denver earlier this week. But after losing by one point at Indiana on Friday, the Cavs looked like a different team, executing their halfcourt offense and playing with intensity on defense -- something that had been missing in their first five games. For the second straight night, backup center DeSagana Diop came up big for Cleveland. The 7-footer had four rebounds and five blocks in 18 minutes, forcing Cavs coach Paul Silas to leave starter Zydrunas Ilgauskas on the bench for all but four minutes of the second half. Rookie Jarvis Hayes and Gilbert Arenas had 22 points each and Larry Hughes had 20 to pace the Wizards, who were within 81-78 with 9:00 remaining. But that's when Miles, who played his best all-around game since joining Cleveland before last season, took over. The 22-year-old scored eight straight points as the Cavaliers opened a 94-80 lead with 5:13 left on a putback by James. Hayes hit a 3-pointer with 2:06 left as the Wizards pulled within 99-92, but James sealed Cleveland's first win this season with a steal and monster slam with 1:01 left. When the game was over, James calmly walked off the floor and flung his headband and wrist bands into the crowd. Arenas scored 11 points in the first half but was benched for the entire third quarter by Wizards coach Eddie Jordan, who may have been upset with his player for throwing the ball into the stands at halftime. James, who has already lost more games as a pro than he did during his entire four years in high school, was hoping this would be the night the Cavs finally got win No. 1. "It's about time," he said before the game. "We're about due." After scoring just seven points in his home debut, James missed his first four shots against Washington before making four straight and finishing with 10 points, five assists and three rebounds at half. Hayes was just as impressive, scoring 11 points to help the Wizards take a 47-46 halftime lead.</div> Full Story Box Score
