Grizz @ Cavs Preview! <font size="1">by Wave and King James</font> Memphis (6-8) @ Cleveland (4-12) Saturday, 7:30 pm ET Gund Arena, Cleveland Ohio TV: NBALP, WMC Radio: WHBQ-560AM Previous Game Grizzlies 98 @ Timberwolves 102 Cavaliers 88 @ Pistons 92 Head Coaches Paul Silas/Hubie Brown Probable Starters Zydrunas Ilgauskas/Jake Tsakalidis Michael Stewart/Pau Gasol Ira Newble/Mike Miller Ricky Davis/James Posey LeBron James/Jason Williams Injury Lists Cleveland Cavaliers Dajuan Wagner - Shoulder Memphis Grizzlies Troy Bell - IL Theron Smith - IL Ryan Humphrey - Concussion Keys To The Game Cleveland - The Grizzlies can score, they hustle and claw their way to every loose ball, so getting back on defense will be key for the Cavs. Not letting Mike Miller and Pau Gasol operate will also play an important part in this game. LeBron James must do everything he can to keep Jason Williams in front of him to keep him out of the lane. Offensively the Cavs must not stop feeding the ball to Ilgauskas, it is frustrating how they start these games off giving him the ball, seeing him get off early, then seeing Big Z just get lost out there, so keep feeding and give him a clear block to operate on. For the first time this year, I would like to see Paul Silas isolate James on the block against Williams, LeBron has such a size advantage over these other point guards we must take advantage of that. Fellow rookie Jason Kapono has showed that he can score in this league, but at times he is very hesitant to shoot. If Jason shoots the ball fearlessly, he can be what the Cavaliers desperately need, our outside shooting threat. <ul> [*]Get back on defense [*]Feed Ilgauskas [*]Attack the basket [/list] <font face="Georgia"><div style="padding-left: 20px;"> - <font color="DarkRed"><u>K</u></font><font color="darkslategray">ing </font> <font color="DarkRed"><u>J</u></font><font color="darkslategray">ames</font></div></font> Memphis - Memphis needs to remain focused as always. They are on a three game losing skid and they don?t want to add to it. It?s important that they don?t go into the game looking at it as an easy win. Right now, the main concern which Hubbie Brown has is the second line. In the past, the second line has been the reason for the team winning games, but lately no one in that second line has shown up on offense. Earl Watson?s lack of ball control has a lot to do with this. Although there was doubt as to whether or not Jason Williams was the defined starter, it is pretty clear that is no longer an issue as Earl Watson ranks number one for ?Turnovers Per Forty-Eight Minutes?. The Grizzlies need better production from just about everyone on their team right now. Their opponents are averaging better feild goal, three point, and free-throw percentages. The only other concern about the Grizzlies is one that I?ve talked about before. Memphis also needs to work on maintaining leads. Against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Boston Celtics, and Houston Rockets the Grizzlies took a large lead (by eight or more points) early on in the game only to lose it by the third quarter. The way that the Grizzlies will win this game is by using their size to their advantage. The Grizzlie?s frontline (C, PF, SF) has a little more than three inches on the Cavaliers and they also have the weight advantage. They need to be able to limit LeBron James? offensive productivity which is why I hope Hubbie Brown assigns James Posey to guard LeBron James. The height advantage that James would have over Williams should be overbearing. <ul> [*]Stay focused and don't let the lead slip. [*]Get productivity out of the second line. [*]Lock LeBron James down with James Posey on deffense. [/list] <font color="Blue"><div style="padding-left: 20px;"> ~~Wave~~</div></font> Key Matchup - Zydrunas Ilgauskas/Pau Gasol This won?t be the match-up that everyone is focused on, but it should be the most interesting matchup none the less. The two players are remarkably similar in height and weight. Gasol stands at 7-0 and 240 lbs. while Ilgauskas stands at 7-3 and 260 lbs. These two players are the biggest that their respective teams have to offer, but they have two entirely different games. Gasol has more of a finesse game while Ilgauskas is very raw. I am certainly excited to see how the big fellas do when matched up. X-Factors - Ricky Davis/Stromile Swift (Lorenzen Wright) Both of these players (Davis and Swift/Wright) are having problems with their team. While Davis? situation is more public, not many people quite know what is going on with Lorenzen Wright and Stromile Swift. They are in perfect health, but both of them have gone games without playing any minutes whatsoever. It is really odd because both of them are playing great though. I listed them as X-Factors because when these guys play, they absolutely bring their (Davis included), but it?s always uncertain whether or not you?ll see these guys on the floor. I feel like the outcome of the game will be determined with these guys.
Most definantly. Ricky! Play some D. Rip was all over you last night. And Memphis shouldn't be as good. Take advantage of that! Ricky- Keep up the scoring! Helping the team tremendously. LeBron- Basically what KJ. LeBron needs to become more determined, agressive and the game wont seem half as hard. Ilgauskis- 3 rebs last night? And hes the center. I know he only played 20 mins last night, but only 3 reb in that period of time. He must also be more agressive. Own the paint big man. Hes bigger and taller than most C's in the league. Pau will be ruined tonight if Z plays hard.
These teams do not match up well at all and there will be plenty of mismatches in this game. The team who can take advantage of those mismatches will come out on top. The Cavs have a mental block at winning on the road, but the Grizzlies are only playing .500 ball at home and are on a current losing streak. Of course those 3 losses have come against superior teams, Kings, Lakers & T-Wolves. Both teams played tough games last night, but the Grizzlies deep bench will be the difference in this game. They have a solid 8 man rotation and a lot of athletes who can run the floor and finish. Mike Miller is starting to heat up from long range, so watch out for him tonight. Rip lit the Cavs up for 44, and Miller is a similar scorer, he could have a monster night.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">These teams do not match up well at all and there will be plenty of mismatches in this game. The team who can take advantage of those mismatches will come out on top. The Cavs have a mental block at winning on the road, but the Grizzlies are only playing .500 ball at home and are on a current losing streak. Of course those 3 losses have come against superior teams, Kings, Lakers & T-Wolves. Both teams played tough games last night, but the Grizzlies deep bench will be the difference in this game. They have a solid 8 man rotation and a lot of athletes who can run the floor and finish. Mike Miller is starting to heat up from long range, so watch out for him tonight. Rip lit the Cavs up for 44, and Miller is a similar scorer, he could have a monster night.</div> As saying of Miller may have a monster night, any requests who should play D on him and who would do a good job. Miller play SF right? First Id think to put Davis or Newble on Mike. Anyone else?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting The Answer:</div><div class="quote_post">As saying of Miller may have a monster night, any requests who should play D on him and who would do a good job. Miller play SF right? First Id think to put Davis or Newble on Mike. Anyone else?</div> This is the dilemma for the Cavs every night. Who plays D? Ricky Davis is a liability on defense with whoever he guards. Depending on who the Cavs start, I think Kapono or Miles is going to draw the defensive assignment on Miller. I think Ricky Davis is going to guard Posey and LeBron will man up on JWill. Unfortunately for the Cavs, Miller can create his own offense so if Kapono guards him Miller is going to be hitting from outside, and if Miles is on him, Miller will use his quickness to take it to the rack. The Cavs lack the interior defender to stop Miller, unless Boozer plays, but if Boozer comes over to help, Miller will dish it off for Gasol for the dunk.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Drew Gooden:</div><div class="quote_post">Ricky Davis can play defense, at least everytime I see him he looks like a good defensive player.</div> Sadly its not that true. I know Rip is a great player and hard to guard, but Ricky could've put pressure, he just looked tired or lazy. He wouldnt be tight and in the guys face. I dont think Rip turned it over once from Ricky's D. Next time Cleveland plays a team with a great SG. (LAL,PHI,ORL,MIN) I dont suggest Ricky to guard them unless he improves throughout this season.
Ricky Davis is a good defensive player, not sure where you guys got that from, his work on Allen Iverson was amazing. One on one Davis can hold his own with a lot of players, but Ricky is terrible with defending pick and rolls and screens, and that is how Rip Hamilton scores the majority of his points. Watch the games before you speak!
Raising the bar once again on the team previews, I will have to do you one better on the Laker v. Pacers tomorrow. I disagree with Ricky Davis as a good defender. I remember John Lucas begging him to use his physical ability to focus more on the defensive side of the court. Ricky Davis is a do-as-he-pleases player. If he wants to play defense and shut a player down he is capable of it one and one like you mentioned, but he gets lost in team defense and never helps out from the weakside. Paul Silas gave up on him in Charlotte because of his lack of defensive intensity, and it looks like Silas is throwing in the white towel again on Davis.
35/14 Cavs, end of 1st James is taking over this ball game by pushing the ball up the court. They are playing flawless right now, lets see if they keep this up. 57/41 Cavs @ the half. James has 11 points, 7 boards, and 3 assists. Davis has 10 points, 2 boards, and 4 assists. Newble has 8 points. Gasol leads the Grozz with 10. ---------- 80/64 after 3.
Good win for the Cavs tonight. LeBron was looking awesome. 28-15-7 for him tonight. He was crashing the boards like crazy tonight. Can't wait till he gets that first triple double!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MVPlaya:</div><div class="quote_post">I bet if they trade Ricky, cavs will do better.</div> That does not make any sense.
