]<div align="center"> <font color="Navy">Golden State Warriors</font> (33-42)@<font color="DarkRed">Cleveland Cavaliers</font> (32-43) </div> Saturday, 7:30 pm Eastern Gundarena, Cleveland, OH TV: FS Oh Head Coaches Paul Silas/Eric Musselman Probable Starters Mateen Cleaves/Speedy Claxton LeBron James/Jason Richardson Lee Nailon/Mike Dunleavy Carlos Boozer/Clifford Robinson Zydrunas Ilgauskas/Erick Dampier 6th Men Tony Battie/Calbert Cheaney Injury Update Cavaliers EWill JMac Boom-Boom Warriors Evan Eschmeyer Nick Van Exel <div align="center">Players To Watch LeBron James/Jason Richardson James: 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists Richardson: 18.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists</div> Keys To The Game <u>Cavaliers</u> Perimeter D Go to Big Z early to try and get Dampier in early foul trouble Don't give JRich any open looks Attack the basket, make freethrows, don't turn the ball over, zone it up <u>Warriors</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 Be careful with the basketball, take your time Infante's Take With the Cavs playoff hopes quickly vanashing, this is a very winnable game. In order to win this one we must have the crowd behind us threw out the entire game. That means we MUST keep the opposing team's lead down to less than double digets. As long as we can do that we can come up big and take on final breath in chasing the post season. Toss up. <font size="1">Please visit NBA.com</font>
This should be a close one, I just want to see Bron go against Jrich. But I like the Cavs better so Cavs by 4.
Im going to say Cavaliers by 6 because this game my man Mateen Cleaves is gonna show what he's made of. UNLOAD OLLIE AND SIGN CLEAVES.
Warriors beat the Cavs 103-100. J-Rich scored 35 points in his 42 minutes of play. LeBron James played a great game scoring 34 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds.
Cavs lost the game, that's too bad, James (34 pts) tried to step it up, scoring and carrying the team down the stretch, but Jason Richardson (35 pts) kept nailing the intentional foul free throws. This may have killed the team playoff hopes. I kept thinking, why wouldn't the Warriors let the Cavs have this one? Even when they won it, they wouldn't get any seed in the Western Conference, while for the Cavs they've still got the chance. If they could play this well, why didn't they play this well all season long and play like a contender? They're just playing a spoiler, I totally hate spoiler teams like the Warriors.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PupMelo:</div><div class="quote_post"> I kept thinking, why wouldn't the Warriors let the Cavs have this one? Even when they won it, they wouldn't get any seed in the Western Conference, while for the Cavs they've still got the chance. </div>That is an embarrassing comment. How can you even make a statement like that? This is the NBA. Teams aren't going to roll over and die for teams in the playoff hunt. Notice how the Warriors have a better record than the Cavs? The Warriors still have their pride.
I agree ^ That is just a dumb comment. I'm proud of the Warriors for not laying down on their 4th road game in 5 nights, with 8 guys suited up and only thier pride and a love of the game to play for. They are true professionals. The Cavs are an up and coming team. I like them and would have liked to see them make the playoffs. However, if you can't beat a team that isn't in the playoff race on your home court when all the chips are down then you just gonna have to wait for next year. Don't blame the Warriors. They're just doing their jobs.
You guys Warrior backers didn't answer my question "why didn't they play this well all season long and play like a contender?" Well, let me do it for you, early in the season the Warriors were playing with pressure and some sort of expectation by some people that they should make the playoffs. That's why they lost and lost and lost, now that the team is eliminated, they're like, "phewww, now we can finally play!" and stopped sweating. I'm just guessing that's their pressure-free attitude, which is common for pretenders. But, yeah I agree with one of your points: it's the Cavs' bad they couldn't win against pretenders... not an excuse.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PupMelo:</div><div class="quote_post">You guys Warrior backers didn't answer my question "why didn't they play this well all season long and play like a contender?" Well, let me do it for you, early in the season the Warriors were playing with pressure and some sort of expectation by some people that they should make the playoffs. That's why they lost and lost and lost, now that the team is eliminated, they're like, "phewww, now we can finally play!" and stopped sweating. </div>You are embarrassing yourself more and more with each post. The Warriors didn't make the playoffs because of injuries. They do not have the type of team that could win without key players. The Warriors are also playing in the WEST. Put your Cavs team there and they wouldn't be anywhere close to the playoffs.
^^ That's alright don't bother me being embarassed my skin is thick like rhino you kno, anyway Damp's their key player tonight, he didn't play and they still managed to win the game. So, the Warriors can actually win games without key players just like the 76ers right? That doesn't erase the fact they couldn't win early in the season. No matter what team plays in what conference, there's a fine line between winners and losers. The Cavs are winners, they're playing for something here. Your team isn't playing for nothing, except for ending the season quick and off to holidays. But yeah they won, so what? You expect me to yell, "Go Warriors go!"?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PupMelo:</div><div class="quote_post">^^ That's alright don't bother me being embarassed my skin is thick like rhino you kno, anyway Damp's their key player tonight, he didn't play and they still managed to win the game. So, the Warriors can actually win games without key players just like the 76ers right? That doesn't erase the fact they couldn't win early in the season.</div>Yes it does! The Warriors were playing against the Cavs, they are not even a playoff team in the East. Now if the Warriors beat a decent team in the West without Damp you would have a point. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> No matter what team plays in what conference, there's a fine line between winners and losers. The Cavs are winners, they're playing for something here. </div>How are they winners when they have a losing record? LOL <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Your team isn't playing for nothing, except for ending the season quick and off to holidays. But yeah they won, so what? You expect me to yell, "Go Warriors go!"?</div>No this team is playing for pride and I don't need you to give the Warriors any props at all. I was just letting you know that you looked like a fool with that immature 1st grade comment you made in your first post.
How are they winners when they have a losing record? True winners never fold during tough times, record doesn't show that, it's something more meaningful and important beyond record. They're competitive out there, playing for a reason. Ever heard a guy on a losing team say, "I'm a winner"? Countless times. That's why they play great. The Cavs lose this time, yeah but they're still winners because they're fighting, clawing, pushing, kicking, playing hard every game. That's winners... they never give up because they know if they don't give up there's a chance for them to do sth special: playoffs, duuhhh! The Warriors also didn't give this game up, which is.... good if they would have played their entire season like the way they play lately, I wouldn't give you all Warriors a hard time huahahaha.
The conference does matter. They are no better than the Warriors. They play in a weaker conference against much weaker teams and their record is worse than the Warriors is. They were in the the playoff race because in the east you can be 12 games under 500 and still have a chance, which by the way is pathetic. Only 3 teams in the east are over 500. So please don't preach about how much better the Cavs are. The Warriors did not have their whole team for even 1 game this season. Tons of injuries ruined their chances. It's that simple.
I'm finished wasting my time with you kid. The Warriors have fought and have lost many close games this years. They just lack consistency. If you knew anything about basketball besides lebron and Melo than you would know that.
I think Rudeezy also neglected to point out the details of how injuries that go two or three positions positions deep can affect a team's consistency. Like for instance in the beginning of the year there was no backup center, there was no starting point guard, there was no starting power forward. And now we have no starting center, no point guards at all (avery, claxton, and nve are all hurt). There was also a lot of periods of adjustment in learning how to play with new faces coming on board and how to play without a franchise star Antwan Jamison and rising star Gilbert Arenas. Also there's even more of an adjustment period when those current players on this year's roster get hurt for long periods of time and then get replaced by the old guys coming off the injured reserve late in the season. (Players coming in who have never even played with the team all season, NOT even preseason because of injuries). And then let's not forget all the close games where the players just got tired because they didn't have the depth at certain positions to keep up. Fatigue is especially taxing to teams on the road who have no depth to hold the other team late in the game. Of course the team is going to struggle and be inconsistent at times if you've got these types of injury problems going on all year long. I mean Rudeezy is right you better do your homework before you start making effete and specious statements and talking about how your "skin is thick like rhino".
Wow. Anyways, Good effort by the Cavs today. LeBron did his thing again but in the end we just didn't have a good look for a shot. Warriors really locked down on Bron, Ked and JayK. Playoff hopes are gone, but all in all, the Cavs made a strong push to demand respect from the league and the fans and i feel it was granted.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mr_Infante:</div><div class="quote_post">Wow. Anyways, Good effort by the Cavs today. LeBron did his thing again but in the end we just didn't have a good look for a shot. Warriors really locked down on Bron, Ked and JayK. Playoff hopes are gone, but all in all, the Cavs made a strong push to demand respect from the league and the fans and i feel it was granted.</div>Exactly. I have given the Cavs their props and they are much deserved. I just had a problem with pupmelo's immature comments, not with the Cavs. Congrats on a much improved season.
What was that about an IQ test to gain membership to JBB again? Sometimes that seems like a mighty fine idea.
