<div align="center"><font size="5">purpleb0n9's <font color="Blue">Pre-game</font> <font color="Orange">Analysis</font>:</font> @ <font color="navy">Detroit Pistons (42-23)</font> @ <font color="darkred">Cleveland Cavaliers (34-30)</font> Time: Sat, Mar. 22, 2005, 07:00 P.M. Eastern Time TV: NBALP Place: Gund Arena, Cleveland, OH --- Ballers: <font color="navy">Ben Wallace</font> ( C), <font color="navy">Rasheed Wallace</font> (PF), <font color="navy">Tayshaun Prince</font> (SF), <font color="navy">Rip Hamilton</font> (SG), <font color="navy">Chauncey Billups</font> (PG) Top bench baller: <font color="navy">Antonio McDyess</font> Coach: <font color="navy">Gar Heard</font> (interim coach with Pistons) --- Ballers: <font color="darkred">Zydrunas Ilgauskas</font> ( C), <font color="darkred">Drew Gooden</font> (PF), <font color="darkred">LeBron James</font> (SF), <font color="darkred">Jeff McInnis</font> (SG), <font color="darkred">Eric Snow</font> (PG) Top bench baller: <font color="darkred">Anderson Varejao</font> Coach: <font color="darkred">Brendan Malone</font> (interim coach with Cavaliers) <font size="5"><font color="blue">Top</font> <font color="orange">Ballers</font>:</font> <font color="navy">Rip Hamilton: 30 pts, 5 assists, 3 steals.</font> <font color="darkred">LeBron James: 35 pts, 10 rebounds, 5 assists.</font> <font size="5">purpleb0n9's <font color="Blue">Team</font> <font color="Orange">Analysis</font>:</font> <font color="navy">- Detroit:</font> They've been consistently up and down, the stretch's been like this since January 7th: win 6, lose 4... win 13 of 14, lose 4 of 5... and now they've won 5 straight coming into this game... what's next? The D hasn't been as consistent as last season, when they stopped teams from scoring 70 pts for 7 consecutive games. Although they've allowed some 100 pts recently they're still capable of locking it down when it matters the most, and the D still can get scary as evidenced by Utah's recent 62 pt outings. And it's always nice when one of your four starters can produce 20 pts a night, and they seem to take turns... part of their strategy to save some fuel for the playoffs? It was Tayshaun then Rip and now Chauncey is the latest with 26.7 ppg in last 3 games. I think they're going to Rip in this game. Watch out for the screens! <font color="darkred">- Cavs:</font> For a while it appeared they've come back from 6 straight losses with a 3 game winning streak. But then they proceeded to lose to sub .500 teams 3 straight, including the latest @ Toronto that saw LeBron score a career high 56 pts. The new Cavs owners could not take it anymore and fire coach Paul Silas, who was replaced by assistant Brendan Malone. According to this article by Sean Deveney, Silas just could not trust his bench anymore. Personally, I think their bench is not deep, but can still be productive if each of them's effectively given the right amounts of playing time. Jiri Welsch, Lucious Harris, and Aleksandar Pavlovic can shoot, Anderson Varejao can rebound and hustle, and Robert "Tractor" Traylor can still put 7-10 pts along qith 6-8 rebds a night as Z's back up. They just have to understand their roles. Without a doubt, they play an important role in the Cavs' success for the rest of the season. LeBron's 56 pts were not "selfish" points... those were "will" points, as in "the will to carry his team to victory". Only it was still short. To his fairness, it wasn't LeBron's fault, he had no choice because Silas would not play his bench. McInnis, who would have helped LeBron putting some points on the board, did not even play. Bottom line, they need each other. I think the new interim coach will put McInnis back in the starting line up to make life easier for LeBron. <font size="5">purpleb0n9's <font color="Blue">Game</font> <font color="Orange">Prediction</font>:</font> Even if the Cavs responded to the coaching change, I still think Detroit's simply too deep for them to beat. Unless LeBron is his usual magnificent self, Z plays like an all star, Drew holds his own against Sheed, and the rest just step up, Detroit will win this one, 105-96.</div>
Good job man. I too see the Pistons taking care of us tonight, but I expect to see LeBron have a good game as usual. Big Z and Gooden need to be ready for 'Sheed and Ben downlow. I can't wait to see what the new coach does about the point guard situation.
We looked great tonight but the only question I have is where was Gooden? He played most of the first half, but I didn't see him at all in the second half. Could've been because of how good Varejao was playing but I want to see more of Gooden. Bench scored 26 points tonight! Varejao was by far the best off the bench with 11 points and 6 boards. I also like what Snow did tonight; 10 assists and got the ball to Big Z just fine. I wonder what McInnis thinks about all of this stuff? Anyways, this win feels great!
lol Rip didn't even play... I didn't know he was injured in the previous game vs. Spurs. LeBron was great with those tough long jumpers over Tayshaun... and Varejao provided the well-needed spark for them. Great game for the Cavs.
