<div align="center"><u><font size="5"><font color="#BDA066">PHILADELPHIA 76ERS</font> @ <font color="#B84056">CLEVELAND CAVALIERS</font></font></u> <u><font size="3"><font color="#B84056">PROJECTED STARTERS</font></font></u> <u><font size="2"><font color="#BDA066">76ERS</font></font></u> <font color="#BDA066">C Samuel Dalembert PF Chris Webber SF John Salmons SG Andre Iguodala PG Kevin Ollie</font> <font color="#B84056">C Zydrunas Ilgauskas PF Drew Gooden SF LeBron James SG Aleksandar Pavlovic PG Eric Snow</font> <u><font size="2"><font color="#B84056">CAVS</font></font></u> <u><font size="3"><font color="#B84056">MATCHUP BREAKDOWN</font></font></u></div> <font color="#BDA066">Samuel Dalembert</font> v <font color="#B84056">Zydrunas Ilgauskas</font> – The Cavaliers will have to face the number one blocker in the NBA tonight, at the Q. Samuel Dalembert averages 3.21 blocks per game, and will be looking to keep up his impressive record that he has amassed thus far. Dalembert, 6-11 from Seton Hall, is having a career season, averaging 9-10 so far, whilst Ilgauskas, 7-3 from Lithuania, is averaging 15-7. I expect this matchup to be tough, fiercely contested and with no true winner. Both players may play well, but if Dalembert sends Ilgauskas to the charity stripe too many times, there will be trouble for the Sixers. <font color="#BDA066">Chris Webber</font> v <font color="#B84056">Drew Gooden</font> – Webber will have to step up for Philadelphia tonight, as he will have to take on the huge responsibility of taking on part of the void that Allen Iverson could leave with his left ankle sprain. Webber has almost been averaging 20-10 this season, whilst his Cavalier counterpart, Drew Gooden, is closer to 11-9. I expect Webber to come out on top, partially because he will be the man that the Sixers will look to for leadership tonight. <font color="#BDA066">John Salmons</font> v <font color="#B84056">LeBron James</font> – This is the matchup that all Sixers fans are dreading, and all Cavaliers supporters are relishing; MVP candidate LeBron James will take on John Salmons who, although improving, is nowhere near the standard set by the 6-8, 240lbs Forward from Akron, Ohio. LeBron James will look to keep his current form heading into the all-star break and I predict that this could be a huge day for him, especially if he lights it up from the floor like everyone knows he can. Salmons will strive to contain LeBron, but I can’t really see that happening. <font color="#BDA066">Andre Iguodala</font> v <font color="#B84056">Aleksandar Pavlovic</font> – Philadelphia’s dunk contest competitor, Andre Iguodala, will be looking to surpass Pavlovic and go further, in order to take on some of the responsibility, along with Webber, so score the points Iverson can’t. If Aleksander “Sasha” Pavlovic cannot batten down the hatches, or score his fair share of points on offence, then this could be Philadelphia’s silver lining in the dark cloud left by Allen Iverson. <font color="#BDA066">Kevin Ollie</font> v <font color="#B84056">Eric Snow</font> – Ollie is having to try to do anything he can to help the Sixers win, but I feel that this matchup will be a very minor one. Both players are not likely to trouble to scorers too much, with slightly lacklustre offence. However, they can both prevent opposing players from scoring and some plays that they make can be key. Regardless of that, I see Snow coming out on top, but not by much. <div align="center"><u><font size="3"><font color="#B84056">OTHER NOTES</font></font></u></div> <ul> [*]Since LeBron entered the League, the Sixers-Cavs series is tied at 4-4. [*]The score is 756-734 in Philadelphia’s favour. [*]LeBron James averages 28.1ppg, 7.3rpg and 7.4apg against the Philadelphia 76ers. [*]The Cavaliers are currently 27-18 overall and 7-3 in their last 10. [*]The Sixers are23-23 currently overall and 5-5 in their last 10. [*]Allen Iverson is listed by CBS as questionable for this game, though I expect him to play little or no part in the game. [/list] <div align="center"><u><font size="3"><font color="#B84056">SCORE PREDICTION</font></font></u></div> <u> <font size="2"><font color="#BDA066">91</font> - <font color="#B84056">103</font></font></u>
Surprise Chingy! AI not only played, he played very well, as if he has not missed a beat since his injury. The 76ers played good, but they also held their opponents to under 100 points.
