Mavericks @ Cavaliers Preview <div align="center"> <font color="Navy">Dallas Mavericks</font> (33-19) @ <font color="DarkRed">Cleveland Cavaliers</font> (20-33)</div> Wednesday, Feb. 18, 7:00 pm Eastern Gund Arena, Cleveland, OH TV: FSOhio, NBALP Vegas Line: Check back gameday Season Series: Cavaliers 0, Mavericks 0 First Meeting Previous Game Nets 105 @ Cavaliers 85 Knicks 90 @ Mavericks 105 (Plays @ Memphis tonight) Last 10 Games Cleveland: 5-5 (Lost 1) Dallas: 7-3 (Won 1) Head Coaches Paul Silas/Don Nelson Probable Starters Jeff McInnis/Steve Nash LeBron James/Michael Finley Eric Williams/Josh Howard Carlos Boozer/Antoine Walker Zydrunas Ilgauskas/Dirk Nowitzki 6th Men Dajuan Wagner/Antawn Jamison Injury Update Cavaliers Ruben Boumtje Boumtje DeSagana Diop - out (ankle) Mavericks Tariq Abdul-Wahad Tony Delk Jon Stefansson <div align="center">Players To Watch LeBron James/Dirk Nowitzki James: 20.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.48 steals Nowitzki: 21.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.26 blocks</div> Keys To The Game <u>Cavaliers</u> Transition defense Must stay in front when playing defense, keep hands up Feed Ilgauskas & spread the floor Double Nowitzki and make him pass the ball Attack the basket, make freethrows, run the floor and don't turn the ball over <u>Mavericks</u> Run the floor every possession Must box out on both ends Double Ilgauskas Play that shadow defense on LeBron, get him out of the ball game Spread the floor on the offensive end, it will pay off The King's Take Cavs have played some very tough defensive teams of late, so the Mavericks can be a blessing in disguise. We must attack the basket with wrecklessness abandon. Our poor perimeter defense will be tested for sure in this one, and the Cavs know they can't afford to give these gunners those open looks. If we can control that, attack the basket, make free throws, and control the glass (as I know we will against this soft team) we can pull out a win. I'll call an upset as LeBron showed to me he is back to all star form in the rookie game. Cavs by 5 <font size="1">Please visit NBA.com</font> <font size="1">Note: Danny Fortson did not play last game for Dallas, I am unsure about his status of yet.</font>
Mavs haven't got a good center(only Bradley). But i think that Dallas is too much for us. Even if Iluglauskas play his best ever career game, Dallas will win this game. Mavs are going to be in Finals, they are too much for poor team from east. Mavs by 10.
If they give up as many fast breaks as they did in the Jersey game they'll get run off the court again...and that's what we'll probably see.
Ah, this game doesn't look to well for our beloved Cavs people. The Dallas squad is full of talent on the floor as well as on the bench. Unless the Mavs shooting turns into sub-zero degrees, then the Cavs have a chance. The Cavs are very well rested, had some fun, but have to get back into things. We will trail the whole game. Mavs by 8, short run in the forth by the Cavs but come up short.
Thats a nice little factoid, Cavs were mentally fatigued before the break. Hopefully they are fully rested to play a strong game against the Mavs. But I still think we will fail.
Yeah, let's remember, I did call an upset, so that means the Mavs should win. The big key will be stopping Steve Nash, when he is aggressive, pushing that ball and penetrating to some hot shooters, they are indeed very hard to beat.
Nash is definatly one of the best point guards in the West. But he looks like Jonny Depp. (I know that was a useless factoid)
The Cavs will jump out to a 12 point lead, blow most of it in the second, keep it close in the third and get blown out in the fourth.
I agree I see LeBron having a big game, he always does when playing teams with a weak D along with running the floor a lot for more scoring opportunities.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Joesanity:</div><div class="quote_post">The Cavs will jump out to a 12 point lead, blow most of it in the second, keep it close in the third and get blown out in the fourth.</div> Here's a guy thats been paying attention. This has been the Cavs MO all year. I don't like our chances in this one very much. Dallas has too many guys that can shoot the ball and our D is weak. Hopefully we can exploit Z offensively, but we hardly ever do. Cavs lose by 10.
LMAO, I hear ya redscoon, that has been the case so much that we could just put that inside every game preview, ha.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CANT STOP ME:</div><div class="quote_post">im going to say cavs by 3</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quoting CANT STOP ME:</div><div class="quote_post">somehow i dont think it will happen tonight</div> Anyways I'll take Dallas by 9. LeBron is gonna have a great game against this terrible defence.
I'm gonna listen to this game on the radio, just because I don't wanna see Mark Cuban running around the gund like a madman when they get a nice lead. I hope he gets robbed in the parking garage.
