<u>Golden State Warriors</u> (1-6) at <u>Cleveland Cavaliers</u> (3-3) Monday, November 15, 2004 at 4:00 PM PST At Gund Arena, in Cleveland, OH Golden State: 3.5 GB (Pacific, 5th place) Cleveland: 1.5 GB (Central, 3th place tied) Probable Starters: Cleveland Cavaliers PG Jeff McInnis SG Ira Newble SF LeBron James PF Drew Gooden C Zydrunaus Ilgauskas Golden State Warriors PG Speedy Claxton SG Jason Richardson SF Mike Dunleavy, Jr. PF Troy Murphy C Cliff Robinson Quick Recaps The Cavs are relying heavily on sophomore LeBron James, who has not disappointed, displaying Jordan-esque statistics and crunch-time clutch performances. The statistical comparison to Jordan is suprisingly close - James is scoring 27.8 points per game on 45% shooting to go along with 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.7 blocks per game. Jordan, in second full season (his third season in the league - he missed a large portion of his second season due to a foot injury) averaged 37 points a game on 48% shooting to go along with 5.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 2.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. The comparisons even extend to their respective teams. Indeed, in Jordan's first year, the Bulls went 38-44. Last year, in LeBron's first year, the Cavs went 35-47. The only difference is that Jordan brought the Bulls to the playoffs in hs first year, while LeBron and the Cavs missed the playoffs by one game in his first year. This season, LeBron has dedicated himself to making the playoffs, and by helping the Cavs to win three straight games after an 0-3 start, reaching .500 for the first time in over two years. The Warriors avoided a seven game losing streak to start the season by defeating the Bobcats 103-87 on the road. They shot 52% and displayed an excellent transition game, running up and down the court. Although the Warriors won both games against the Cavs last year, this team hasn't yet shown the same cohesiveness that led the league to believe that the Warriors could be a bunch of young upstarts again this season. The Warriors will need to build on its victory and the individual players must build on their personal successes from the Bobcats game. Key Matchup LeBron James v. Jason Richardson Although these two will probably not be matched up often on offense or defense, they are both the focal points for their team's offense. As noted above, James is showing that he can carry his team to victory, having played over 45 minutes a game and giving his team the fourth quarter push in each of the team's wins. On the other hand, the Warriors have not been able to fully rely on Jason Richardson yet, but have few other options to go to for scoring. J-Rich has only potsed two 20+ point games, but he will need to have another and keep up with LeBron on the other end of the floor. Prediction The Warriors, just getting warmed up from their first win and scoring over 100 points for the first time this season, are hitting the Cavs while they are red hot, scoring an average of 104 points and winnining by an average of 13.3 points in the last three games. To win, the Warriors must stop James and also prevent the Cav's consistent core of Gooden, Ilgauskas, and McInnis from providing that extra support, and also work together as a team themselves on both offense and defense.
Let's see if Bobcat game will end the slump, and we will revert back to last year's scrappy ball club, instead of playing like first 6 games. Now, Robinson is center? Gee... As much as Robinson is a good post up defender, things may go ugly against big z and his 7'3" frame...
I agree with you Kwan. I think this game will be won down low for the Cavs. Sure Lebron is great and all, but Gooden and Z could end up killing the Warriors. It would not suprise be if their big 3 scored 70pts while our big 3 only score 50pts.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Warriorfansnc93:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree with you Kwan. I think this game will be won down low for the Cavs. Sure Lebron is great and all, but Gooden and Z could end up killing the Warriors. It would not suprise be if their big 3 scored 70pts while our big 3 only score 50pts.</div> Whenever Murphy plays Gooden he has always kept him in check. If we play in the passing lanes and move the ball around like in Charlotte, we'll be in good shape.
Cleveland will get the win here against Golden State,but honestly if things play out well for the Warriors they could make this a close game. Cleveland 88 Golden State 82
I don't see how GS will stop Z. I still don't get it why Montgomery is keeping Biedrins on the bench all the time. I know that he is not realy ready to play at high level in NBA, but still he could contribute more than Foyl. At least he is puting up same stats in 2 minutes, than Foyl in whole game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting hipokrat_x(LV):</div><div class="quote_post"> At least he is puting up same stats in 2 minutes, than Foyl in whole game.</div> Thats great! I might put that quote in my sig... I agree, I am ready to see Biedrens play. He should play in at least every blow out, whether it is a blow out win, or blow out loss.
I was reading intreview with Biedrins in our loclal magazine about sport, and respect to that guy, because he stays very positve no mater what. If Montgomery says that he is not ready than he is trying trying to work more harder. He has great work etics, nobody didn't belive that he will make it to the draft, but here we are.... Still my position is souch, that he is draft 11th pick and he deserves some play time. I know that Montgomery is rokie hater, and hi is benching him just because hi is a rokie, but comon, this is to much! I am afraid that Montgomery will do the same, waht L.Brown did with Darko. ( How could some one waste a 2nd draft pick like that?) And now Montgomery is doing the same thing - he says that Biedrins is doing fine playing against Robinson and others in pratice, but he is not investing no playtime in him! The same what LB did with Darko, who was working with Wallace and others, and here we are!!! I don't get it! Montgomery expects, that one day he will call him of the bench and hi will have Chris Bosh type of player!!!??
He'll get playing time eventually. I would hope the reason they're doing more of Murphy, Robinson and Najera is to get their trade value up. Robinson shouldn't be hard since he's already a solid professional that seems to never get hurt and he is a leader and he is a great defender and he has an expiring contract.
Well we lost, no suprise. Everybody needed to perform and if you got one or two guys with subpar games you're going to lose. We have no inside game....
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">Well we lost, no suprise. Everybody needed to perform and if you got one or two guys with subpar games you're going to lose. We have no inside game....</div> Oh man you couldn't be more right. We don't have anyone with an inside game. Dale Davis isn't great but he's the best option so far. Murphy is a disgrace. There was a period where Gooden got 4 consecutive offensive rebounds on one possession. How can that be Monty's fault? Richardson is the most aggressive guy grabbin boards. When draft time comes around we have to look for a quality big man who can step in and make an impact right away. Someone who is athletic as well as freakishly strong, someone like Amare Stoudamire. Forget about the euro's who play the outside/inside game. We get that guy and with Biedrins we could be good in a few years. What a joke huh?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting upsidedownside7:</div><div class="quote_post"> When draft time comes around we have to look for a quality big man who can step in and make an impact right away. Someone who is athletic as well as freakishly strong, someone like Amare Stoudamire. Forget about the euro's who play the outside/inside game. We get that guy and with Biedrins we could be good in a few years. What a joke huh?</div> This is what I have been saying for years. Damn those ping pong balls!
Murph has to get better with the post moves, he's had all this time to perfect a step back turn around jumper from 12' by working his man in the post or a drop step hook. This guy's like an empty box. Nothing inside. I think the only reason we got him was to spread the floor for guys like Jamison and Dampier to do their work down low. I think we need to ship him because I'm suprised he was that awful inside for being such a big dude. I think we need to blow up the franchise period. At our rate the bobcats will be seeing the playoffs! Somehow I just dont' see a guy like Jrich or Dunleavy making this team better because either they don't have a lot of offensive punch and at the same time they're not very defensively oriented... so it's like how do you expect our team to have leaders when they can't get it done on both ends of the court or they get taken out of the game so easily. It's just ridiculous. Then to get a coach like Montgomery and lock up players that either won't fit within the system or learn it very easily is just messed. I can see Montgomery already cringing when he's forced to play DFish or Foyle at times. I don't see why those were FA's worth pursuing.
Personally, if I was Chris Mullin, I would have signed Jrich to his contract, but then waited on Murphy and used the excuse of his injury plagued season last year. Yeah, so you played well in the pre season, lets see how you do in a 82 game season, then we will talk. With Fisher, its like, the man is already 29 going on 30 why sign him to a 6 year deal? 4 at the max. If he goes to Houston, LET HIM GO TO HOUSTON! That was too big/long of a deal. The Foyle deal, I dont really blame on Mullin. We needed somebody to play center, just like we do now. We thought Foyle was our best option. We did not want to run the risk of paying Damp the money he wanted, then to have him as a huge weight on our team. If he does not perform, we would have blamed it again on how he was just playing for a contract and we would be just as pissed as we are now. I still have faith in Foyle to be a good PF, but as center, he just is not big enough. Now work on that low post game and jumper from the elbow...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post"> I can see Montgomery already cringing when he's forced to play DFish or Foyle at times. I don't see why those were FA's worth pursuing.</div> It's funny because Monty was excited to have Fisher here when he first signed.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting upsidedownside7:</div><div class="quote_post">It's funny because Monty was excited to have Fisher here when he first signed.</div> He was like Derek Fisher... I've heard of him! He's Shaquille O'neil and Kobe Bryant's teammate! Every championship squad has their point guard remembered no matter how mediocre they were on some other team. Remember B.J. Armstrong?
