Cavaliers @ Jazz, Tonight <div align="center"> <font color="DarkRed">Cleveland Cavaliers</font> (12-26) @ <font color="Purple">Utah Jazz</font> (21-17)</div> Thursday, 10:30 pm Eastern Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT TV: NBALP, WUAB Vegas Line: Jazz -7 Season Series: Cavaliers 0, Jazz 0 1st Meeting Previous Game Cavaliers 102 @ Warriors 119 Heat 85 @ Jazz 97 Last 10 Games Cleveland: 3-7 (Lost 1) Utah: 6-4 (Won 3) Head Coaches Paul Silas/Jerry Sloan Probable Starters LeBron James/Carlos Arroyo Dajuan Wagner/DeShawn Stevenson Eric Williams/Andrei Kirilenko Carlos Boozer/Michael Ruffin Zydrunas Ilgauskas/Greg Ostertag 6th Men Darius Miles/Raul Lopez Injury Update Cavaliers J.R. Bremer Jazz Keon Clark Curtis Borchardt Ben Handlogten Matt Harpring <div align="center">Players To Watch LeBron James/Andrei Kirilenko James: 20.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.54 steals Kirilenko: 16.0 points, 8.10 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.13 steals, 2.84 blocks</div> Fast Facts The Cavaliers have never won at the Delta Center, and Cleveland?s last win on Utah?s homecourt was on December 11, 1989. Overall, the Cavaliers trail the all-time series 31-42, and are 10-27 on the road. Keys To The Game <u>Cavaliers</u> Zone it up, keep hands in their faces, and box out Go to Big Z early, get him involved Must get back on defense fast Attack the basket, make freethrows, don't turn the ball over, zone it up <u>Jazz</u> Get the ball out of LeBron's hands early Double Ilgauskas on the blocks every time Keep a body on Carlos Boozer, keep him off the glass Zone it up, make the Cavaliers shoot Run the floor hard, out work the Cavs The King's Take I personally don't like the Cavs chances in this one people, the Jazz just hustle and work too much. If the Cavs walk the ball up the floor and don't attack the basket, they have no chance. I'll call Jazz by a nickle. <font size="1">Please visit NBA.com</font>
Linko is having a break away season and Sloan is just a genious. Another good game. Hopefully LeBron intensity picks up early. If he does, Cavs have a chance. Down to the wire, Jazz by no less than 8.
Im gonna say Jazz by 5, Like Mr.Infante said Kirilinko is having a breakout season, hes in his prime so its gonna be hard for boozer to stop him.
The sad thing is the Jazz have half the amount of talent and are doing alot better in the West than the Cavs are doing in the East. I say Jazz by 4. Lebron will put up 22 and 8 ast tho.
I think Jazz take this one as well, I agree with KJ, the fact that they work too hard. Also they have the advantage of having the awesome Sloan as a coach. I say Jazz by 7 or more.
I say the Cavs take this one. Andrei Kirilenko will make the game close for the Jazz but I think the Cavs will barely pull away with the W. Cavs by 5.
Nice preview, I didn't have time to make on I've just got back from a holiday. I think the Jazz will win this one, and Andrei will have another monster game. Michael Ruffin can't get in foul trouble, and not let Boozer dominate him in the post. That way AK47 can stay at SF, which he is better at. In his last game, he was 1 assist and 2 steals off another 5x5.
The Cavs will learn alot from this game if they win or lose. KC was right, talent wise the Jazz are at the bottom of the league. I mean really, the Hawks have more talent than these cats, but they play as one of the best teams in basketball, right up there with the Kings and Nuggets. I want Cleveland to zone it up some and make this team shoot it. Not saying they can't shoot it, but that is their offense, everything goes to the basket. I can't wait to watch this game.
I'm amazed at what the Jazz have been able to accomplish with such a small payroll and talent level. A lot of teams could learn a lesson from Utah (Yes, Cleveland, you are included). Anyway, so far on this trip the Cavs have played horribly in every game that I thought they had a decent shot at winning, and extremely well in the one game I thought they had no shot at winning. Based on this I say that the Cavs play a solid game and it stays close throughout. I'm tempted to pick the Cavs by 3, but since I've promised myself that I'll never pick the Cavs to win a game the rest of the year... Jazz by 3. Kirilenko will give the Cavs fits. I don't think Williams nor Boozer are quick enough to guard him, and with our ineptness at blocking out on missed shots, he'll probably have a field day flying in for put backs. On our end, we need to start utilizing Lebron's size advantage against opposing guards. Last time I checked, there weren't too many 6'8" 240lbs. PGs in the NBA. Lebron's perimeter game has been a little shaky the last couple of weeks, so I wish we would start posting him up. There is no way Arroyo can keep LBJ from backing him down. Z once again SHOULD have a big game, but he rarely does. Our insistance on not using him to his full potential is getting extremely annoying. Either post him up down low where he is at his best instead of running pick and fades for him, or just trade him already. Michael Ruffin is starting for the Jazz and they are a 21-17 team? Are you serious? I know Harpring usually occupies that spot, but come on, Sloan for coach of the millenium...he's got my vote.
Ahhh the Cavs are playing like crap, like usual. Looks like LeBron was ready to take this game in the 1st quarter but he was shut down completely in the 2nd. Cavs arent coming back. Game over.
Utah 65 Cavs 50. Z and Ostertag just broke out in a mini brawl. Both ejected. That was quite amusing.
I saw the fight, both will miss time. Z put a move on Ostertag and got him off his feet to draw the foul. Ostertag came down hard with his elbow/forearm and Z finally snapped (he almost did so a few weeks ago) and pushed him away, both then threw punches (missed) and were thrown out of the game. As Ostertag left he was breaking/throwing stuff around. 57/71 Jazz after 3 Heart, hustle, and solid coaching, just typical Jazz basketball. James has 20, 4, and 1 (no one is moving around to help him)
Hmmmm....Z ejected, Cavs down 2 with a little over 3 minutes left on the clock. Good run Cavs! LeBron is doing great taking charges for the team.
Going onto overtime 85-85 exciting game. However LeBron seemed to have twisted his ankle. Hopefully he can walk it off.
LeBron James has injured his right ankle and is headed back to the locker room. He helped bring the Cavs back from 18 down to force this game into overtime. 29, 7, and 2 Stay tuned.
Boozer has 30 and 17 with a block. Cavs up 3, 22.1 left, Jazz ball, amazing game, this has had EVERYTHING. I feel bad for Bron, the cavs, and myself
Jazz lose How do they lose an 18 point lead to one of the worst teams in the NBA? I guess Ostertag was waaaaaay mre important than I thought.
