Details: When: Sunday, January 16th Where: KeyArena, Seattle Time (Seattle): 6 TV: Fox Sports, League Pass Projected Starters: <font color="green">Seattle (26-9)</font> Luke Ridnour Ray Allen Rashard Lewis* Reggie Evans Jerome James <font color="darkred">Cleveland (22-13)</font> Jeff McInnis Ira Newble LeBron James Drew Gooden Zydrunas Ilgauskas Injury Troubles: <font color="green">Seattle</font> Mateen Cleaves: Strained shoulder, ruled out. Casanova Swift: Strained hip, ruled out. Damien Wilkins: Knee tendinitis, ruled out. *Rashard Lewis: Quadricep contusion, probable. *Reggie Evans: Forearm contusion, gametime. <font color="darkred">Cleveland</font> Luke Jackson: Back spasms, ruled out. DeSagana Diop: Elbow contusion, ruled out. Dajuan Wagner: Colitis, not with team. Brief Notes: <ul> [*]LeBron James and the Cavaliers march into Seattle, keen to prove last season's series sweep was not a fluke. The Sonics have had a day off after dispatching Golden State, while Cleveland are in the second of a back to back set, after clinically defeating the Jazz in Utah, 84-71. As I said, last season the Cavs won both games, surviving a strange Calvin Booth statline of non points or rebounds, but 10 blocks, and the debut of Seattle's bana yellow throwbacks, which have been put in mothballs with a 0-5 record to their name. [/list] <ul> [*]The Sonics have two guys who have done well against Cleveland in the past questionable for the game. Rashard Lewis, who hit his first six three pointers against the Cavs three seasons ago, is still not 100%, while Reggie Evans, who grabbed 10 of his career-high 17 in the first quarter of a game against Cleveland in his rookie season, has followed up his stomach problems with a forearm bruise. If neither pull up, it is likely Nate McMillan will go with a small line-up again, inserting Antonio Daniels and Vitaly Potapenko. For the Cavs, LeBron James is still in his facemask and Drew Gooden has been in a form slump, but both will start the game. [/list] <ul> [*]Presidents of the United States of America: And Gary Payton moves on, bounce pass upcourt to Shawn, and the crowd signs along (dun dun dun) Supersonics, oh yeah (dun dun dun dun dun dun) Supersonics, not just a regular team, wah![/list] <ul> [*]Word of the day: Picayune; adj. (A person or thing) of little value or worth. [/list] <div align="center">"It is strange that the Denver Nuggets want to claim Mark Pope off waivers, as he is a picayune."</div> <div align="center">Random Family Guy Quote </div> Peter: Well, how about this. Until you put Gumbel 2 Gumbel back on the air, I'm going to go on a hunger strike. Think you can live what on your conscience, huh? Big shot? ...*Pause*... Are you gonna eat that stapler? Executive: Mr Griffin, you can't eat a stapl... Peter: We can split it. All predictions, analysis and discussion relating directly to the game, both before, during and after, to be posted in this thread.
Well if we play the way we have in the past three games, then we lose this one. Yes, the record shows 2-1, but we have played some bad basketball. IF we would play teams throughout the whole games like we play in the fourth quarter, then we would be really rolling and teams would have a lot of trouble with us. In this game, I think it will be very close. The rebounding battle, I think we will win with Gooden, Varejao, Z, and the rest of the guys. Of course, what we need to do is stop the three point threats on the Sonics teams. If Ray and Rashard have big games, which they usually do, then we are in trouble. As mentioned, Gooden has definitely been slumping. He needs to turn it up today and be a beats on the board along with Mr.Energy, Varejao. Score for this one?.... Cavs: 90 Sonics: 86
This is going to be an extrmemly tough for us to win, but think we can give them all we got. We must shutdown the likes of Lewis, Allen, and Ridnour from shooting the three. I think we can win the rebounding battle with all the depth we have down low in Big Z, Gooden, Varejao, and Tractor Traylor. Z has thr advantage downlow in my opinion mostly because of his size over James. We'll give them all we got, but will come out with a tough loss.... Cavs- 92 Sonics- 96
It's at the defensive end the Cavs need to rebound, as the Sonics are the best offensive rebounding team in the league. Evans, Fortson and Collison are all strong rebounders, while Danny averages over three offensive boards a game in under 20 minutes. He is also an expert at getting to the line after an offensive snare, and he doesn't miss from the stripe.
I think this will be a tough game for the Supes. LeBron James will most likely cause a bunch of problems with his athleticism and it will be up to the Sonics defensively to shut him down. I still think we should be able to take this with another strong bench showing.
Man! My two fav. teams going at it. This is going to be close and this game will be decided by who can lock down who at the SG postion. I am expecting both of them to have 30 plus games and the Cavs to win. Cavs Supes 91 85
I think we'll get up 105 - 97... Ray and Vladimir to light it up, LeBron will for the Cavs. Antonio Daniels will continue his stellar form in the starting line-up. Oh yeah, Danny Fortson will probably get fouled out at a ratio of less than 3 minutes to each foul.
very entertaining game, none the less the cavs were beaten. i saw a great effort put up by each squad. I believe the sonics showed alot in this win while there staresque player in rashard was down.
It's all about the Vlad. Luke is now the guy you least want to put on the line, too. Which is strange as he can't hit anything from the field, but put him on the stripe and it's suicide. It's just all about rhythm.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">Next.</div> I think we found our forum slogan...
I didn't get to watch the game, but from watching highlights and looking at the boxscore, it looks like we didn't rebound to well with Gooden and Z combining for only seven rebounds. Vlad must have tore us up off the bench going for 23/11, and of course, I knew Ray Allen would have a solid game. But Silas better get this team a bit more physical on defense, because we're not looking to good as of late...
Only downside is that we can't defend James. He did what he wanted and those turnovers - unbelievable - Ray dribbling off his heel, Luke passing to LeBron, Potapenko, stripped - totally unforced TO's. 23 TO's and they still won this game! Better take care of the basketball next games!
