Pacers @ Cavaliers (Tonight) <font color="Yellow">Indiana Pacers</font> (21-10) @ <font color="DarkRed">Cleveland Cavaliers</font> (10-21) Tuesday, Dec. 30 7:00 pm Eastern Gund Arena, Cleveland, OH TV: FSOhio, NBALP Vegas Line: Pacers -2? Season Series: Pacers 2 Cavaliers 0 Friday, November 7th, Cavaliers 90 @ Pacers 91 Monday, December 15th, Cavaliers 85 @ Pacers 95 Previous Game Trail Blazers 74 @ Cavaliers 86 Pacers 94 @ Grizzlies 86 Last 10 Games Cleveland: 5-5 (Won 1) Indiana: 5-5 (Won 1) Head Coaches Paul Silas/Rick Carlisle Probable Starters LeBron James/Jamaal Tinsley Kedrick Brown/Reggie Miller Ira Newble/Ron Artest Carlos Boozer/Jermaine O'Neal Zydrunas Ilgauskas/Jeff Foster 6th Men Eric Williams/Al Harrington Players To Watch - High School Phenoms LeBron James/Jermaine O'Neal James: 20.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.58 steals O'Neal: 20.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.63 blocks Injury Lists Cavaliers Dajuan Wagner DeSagana Diop Pacers Kenny Anderson Jonathan Bender Primoz Brezec Anthony Johnson - out Fast Facts LeBron James will be celebrating his 19th birthday in this one, in his last 10 he has scored exactly 26 points per game. Ron Artest and Rick Carlisle are having a fued that has gone public, will that have any carry-over into this game? Keys To The Game <u>Cavaliers</u> Double-team/contain Jermaine O'Neal Don't allow Reggie Miller to get open looks Attack the basket Don't be afraid to play physical <u>Pacers</u> Get the ball out of LeBron's hands early Double Ilgauskas on the blocks Slow the game down to a half court battle The King's Take The Pacers and the Cavaliers have both played .500 ball of late, I expect a close one. Ron Artest was taken out of the starting lineup for missing a morning shoot around, but did play 35 minutes last night against the Grizzlies, and helped lead them to a win. The Cavs have played the Pacers well, losing both of the games they have played in the final minutes each contest. This one is at home. I'll call an upset, Cavs by a 2. <font size="1">Please visit NBA.com</font>
I hope the Cavs win cause i dont like the pacers but i like J.O'neal and plus the Pacers are in first in the eastern conference.
I found this interesting.... LeBron James against the Pacers this year. Game 1: 23, 5, and 5 Game 2: 27, 4, and 6 And he had that Ron Artest guy on him too.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PacerB53:</div><div class="quote_post">I think Ron Artest might start, he didn't yesterday but played 36 minutes and got 18 points.</div> I'll keep an eye on that of course and change the lineups at gametime if things are different, I just go by who the teams started last if I don't have solid information. Looks like Miles out out of the dog house of Paul Silas, who has been playing him and started him last game.
My turn, I say Cavs take this one. It's Lebrons birthday and I expect him and his team to bring it.It's nice to see Miles start lately,I've been missing him. He should show up tonight to with a big game.I hope Ilgauskas doesn't slip up a play so he can play the majority of the game now. He's fun to watch IMO. I say Cavs by 7.
I say the Cavs take it in a nail biting finish. As its LeBron's birthday I expect to see a full house with the crowd really getting behind him and the Cavs. Cavs will need to play a fast game and get to the line often. Cavs by 3
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting King James:</div><div class="quote_post">I found this interesting.... LeBron James against the Pacers this year. Game 1: 23, 5, and 5 Game 2: 27, 4, and 6 And he had that Ron Artest guy on him too.</div> Lebron has got to be the only player in the NBA this season who has not struggled with Artest.It is quite amazing the numbers he has put up against him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">Lebron has got to be the only player in the NBA this season who has not struggled with Artest.It is quite amazing the numbers he has put up against him.</div> Artest really went at Bron last game, they were hitting one another the whole time, late in the 4th quarter both of them stole the ball from one another on back to back possessions, was something to see. James does not struggle with him because of his size and strength, something that Bron has used a lot of the last few weeks. You just can't put a pg on the guy, so no matter what the cavs always seem to have an advantage somewhere on the court.
This game is all about how LeBron James and Carlos Boozer is playing. Without them doing their job, we're done! But I think they'll do their job as good as possible and give Pacers some pressure! I think Artest will start instead of Harrington, remember the hard defense Artest had on LeBron last game With Lebron and Carlos in shape, Cavs win with 5 to 10 points, without, lose by 10 points
I was bored... The Vegas odds in this game are the Pacers -2? Looks like we all expect a close one fellas! <font size="1">PS: I'll start doing these in all my previews.</font>
I like the Cavs in this one. Its Lebron's birthday and there should be a big holiday crowd in attendance to get behind the team as well. We've played the Pacers pretty much even both games this year and both were at Conseco. I have a feeling that Lebron will get his first triple double of the year tonight and Z will come out with something to prove after being benched for the last 35+ minutes of the Blazers game. A key will be attacking the hoop and trying to get O'Neal in foul trouble. If we can contain O'Neal and Brown stay on Reggie and doesn't let him get off clean looks at threes, I think the Cavs will take this one. Cavs by 5. Happy Birthday Lebron.
Updated the starting lineups Cavs up 6/4 with 9:24 left in the first. ---------- Cavs up 28/22 after 1 James has 13, 3 boards, and 1 assist, caused 2 early fould on Artest Kedrick Brown has 9, 3, and 2 Boozer has 2 5, and 2 O'Neal has 8, 3, and 2 ---------- Cavs up 47/43 @ the half James has 15, had an extended break not checking back in until 3:24 left in the 2nd after playing the entire 1st quarter. Ilgauskas has 6 with a block O'Neal has 10, 5, and 2 Tinsley has 6, 2, and 4 Artest has 3 fouls, 2 points and 1 assist ---------- Pacer up 76/65 after 3 A terrible quarter for the Cavaliers, they could not seem to find offense anywhere. James has 17, 7, and 4 Boozer has 12, 7, and 5 O'Neal has 17, 9, and 3 Tinsley 11, 4, and 8 Artest has 15 ---------- Pacers win this one 92/89 James had 22, 10, and 4 Boozer had 17, 11, and 6 Miles had 12, 7, and 1 Tinsley 11, 5, and 9 O'Neal, 21, 10, and 4 with a few blocks Artest had 18 Freethrows lost this game for the Cavaliers, going 12-22 from the line, you don't deserve to win when you shoot that bad from 15 feet. ----------
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">LeBron James had the wrong guys show up for his party. Jermaine O'Neal scored 21 points and Ron Artest hit a crucial 3-pointer in the final minute as the Indiana Pacers wrecked James' 19th birthday Tuesday night with a 92-89 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Artest scored 18 points, none bigger than his 3 with 54.6 seconds left, as the Pacers improved to 23-10 -- the best record in the NBA's Eastern Conference. James finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in 38 minutes but the Cavaliers' rookie guard couldn't shake free and take over in the closing minutes with Artest playing belly-to-belly defense on him. James, who came in averaging 27.8 points in his last 10 games, finished 9-of-20 from the floor and missed all four of his 3-pointers. The Cavaliers hurt themselves with 18 turnovers and 10 missed free throws -- six in the fourth quarter.</div> Full Story Box Score
Yeah, the main problem in this game was the shooting, it wasn't good! The only guy that had an ok shot was Carlos Boozer, who hit 8 of 14 from the field and 1 of 2 from the threepointerline! The rest shoot under ok as I see it and that's what killed us in today game! Better luck in next game Cavs, against the New Jersey Nets!
It looks like Artest did a good job on Lebron, especially in the second half when it counted. Gutty performance from both teams.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rudeezy:</div><div class="quote_post">It looks like Artest did a good job on Lebron, especially in the second half when it counted. Gutty performance from both teams.</div> I love watching these 2 go at it, I think they are rivals now, and they respect one another big time. By the way, LeBron James against the Pacer in 3 games... 24 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5 assists Maybe he should play Artest more often, haha.
