Akron Aeros Named Baseball America’s 2009 Minor League Team of the Year
December 23, 2009While We’re Waiting… Christmas-Related Readings
December 24, 2009
Cleveland Cavaliers (21-8) vs. Sacramento Kings (13-14)
Arco Arena, Sacramento, CA
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
10:00 PM ET
FSOH, WTAM 1100AM
The Cavaliers looked flatter than ever agasint the short-handed Dallas Mavericks but managed to bounce back against a high-scoring Phoneix Suns offense. Tonight, they get to play one of the younger teams in the league in the surprising Sacramento Kings.
With one of the league’s best rookies in Tyreke Evans, the Kings have managed to play .500 ball without their leading scorer in Kevin Martin as well as key role player Francisco Garcia. Evans has done more than his share of stepping up by averaging more than 20 points, five rebounds and five assists – something that only three other players in the NBA are currently accomplishing. Thankfully, for Cavaliers fans, one of those three is LeBron James. This one has the makings of another trap game that the Cavaliers have been prone to dropping, as the Kings are an amazing 10-3 at home. However, the Kings lack considerable size in their front court and could have some issues if Shaquille O’Neal and the rest of the Cavs post players are on their game.
Projected Starting Lineups
Cleveland Cavaliers
-G Mo Williams (16.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.8 apg, 16.56 PER)
-G Anthony Parker (7.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.7 apg, 9.79)
-F LeBron James (28.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 7.8 apg, 29.92 PER)
-F J.J. Hickson (7.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 0.2 apg, 13.71)
-C Shaquille O’Neal (10.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.4 apg, 15.18)
Key Reserves: Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Daniel Gibson, Anderson Varejao, Delonte West
Injuries: Leon Powe (out), Jamario Moon (questionable)
Sacramento Kings
-G Tyreke Evans (20.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 5.0 apg, 18.68 PER)
-F Andres Nocioni (10.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.4 apg, 11.77 PER)
-F Jason Thompson (15.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, 17.78 PER)
-F Omri Casspi (11.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.1 apg, 15.57 PER)
-C Spencer Hawes (10.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.8 apg, 13.65 PER)
Key Reserves: Donte Green, Sergio Rodriguez, Ime Udoka, Beno Udrih
Injuries: Sean May (questionable), Kevin Martin (out), Francisco Garcia (out)
Team Efficiency Stats
Cleveland Cavaliers
– Offense (99.7 ppg, 41.4 rpg, 48.1 FG%, 20.9 apg, 14.5 topg, Eff: 107.0, Rank: 8)
– Defense (94.2 ppg, 39.2 rpg, 43.4 FG%, Eff: 100.1, Rank: 5)
Sacramento Kings
– Offense (103.9 ppg, 42.5 rpg, 47.2 FG%, 20.5 apg, 15.6 topg, Eff: 106.0, Rank: 9)
– Defense (104.7 ppg, 41.6 rpg, 47.1 FG%, Eff: 107.4, Rank: 26)
Previous Matchups
None
Future Matchups
March 28, 2010 in Cleveland
Game Notes
The Cavaliers are 10-3 in their last 13 games with an overall record of 8-3 against western conference opponents. Elias Sports tells us that no other team in the NBA has a better record against the opposing conference from the beginning of last season than the Cavaliers. Common knowledge tells us that this doesn’t matter when playing a team that can surprise you on any given night. Thankfully, the Cavaliers have had the Kings’ number over the years, winning each of the last six contests – four of which were held at Arco Arena. The last Kings win came in March of 2006, but these wins have not come easy. If you recall, the Kings took the Cavaliers into extra periods last season with a win coming thanks to 51 points from LeBron in a come-from-behind game for the ages.
This game will be a bit different with the ever-electric Evans leading the way. He paced the Kings to a huge come-back win over the Chicago Bulls just a few nights ago and is not shy of facing the stars of the NBA. Also a bit different this time around is the fact that the Kings, while not having a lot of depth at center, tend to run with three forwards on the floor which could pose a problem for Anthony Parker or Delonte West on the defensive end. A win for the Kings tonight would tie their home win total from all of last season – quite a feat considering that we are still in the month of December.
Mo Williams will have to be careful as to not get into a dual of sorts with Evans, who may or may not break out the “Big Balls Dance” once again. The key to this game will come down to the Cavaliers’ ability to work the post. As we saw when the Suns came to town – and even in the last game held in Phoenix – if the Cavaliers can establish a post presence early against a smaller team, they have been able to focus on high percentage shots while forcing the opposition to settle for more jumpers. We know that LeBron can score on the Kings, it’ll just be a matter of building off of the solid defensive efforts in Phoenix and making sure that the team doesn’t get back into the stand-around-dribble-dribble funk of a few games back. The Kings defense is among the worst in the league in terms of efficiency – let’s hope the Cavaliers can find a way to exploit this weakness.
Vegas Line
Cavaliers (-6)
Over/Under: 204
From the Outside Looking In
Ghostface Ziller/Sactown Royalty
Cowbell Kingdom
Sac Bee Kings Blog
Next Game for the Cavaliers
Friday, December 25 at Los Angeles Lakers
5:00 PM ET
WTAM 1100 AM, ABC/HD
61 Comments
Dont look now, but the Cavs have now won AT Orlando, AT Phoenix, AT Sacramento, and AT Miami. Lots of teams with awesome home records.
Every time I watch the Cavs on national TV (or their highlights), I find myself screaming at the screen, “NO ONE CALLS Z ‘BIG Z’ IN CLEVELAND.” When did ESPN start calling him Big Z? It’s Z. Plain and simple.
Hey Guys,
Here are 2 signs for the Xmas Cavs-Lakers game that I am thinking of making and bringing to the game:
Ohio
Apreciates
Lebron’s
Loyalty
Santa:
Thanx for
Lebron
I’m also buying a red Lebron jersey tomorrow, and am borrowing my friend’s Santa hat.
Jack: Your sign idea is also great.
I also like Jack’s ideas:
“Lebron: Clev’s Love is Unconditional”
“Lebron belongs in Cleveland”
And the other idea:
“Clev loves Lebron: Please stay”
Thanks for sharing your ideas, guys.
How about:
“Miracle on 23rd Street”
Or “Miracle on 23 Clev.Street”
“Miracle on 23 Cavs Street”
“Miracle on #23 Cavs Street”
(It’s late here in LA, my wife is asleep, and my mind is working overtime thinking about the game…)
“Miracle by the Lake: Lebron”
Or
“Miracle by the Lake: #23”
“Lebron: Miracle by the Lake”
“Lebron: Clev’s Miracle by the Lake”
(Time for sleep… And for you guys to wake up)
The game is being broadcast on ABC:
Always
Believe in
Cleveland
Jack, you should really consider going with an ABC acronymical play. They always put those up. And I think it would be fun to speak directly to Bron:
Merry Christmas, LeBron!
Always
Be(longs) in
Cleveland
I really think that’s your best bet.
That is, if you want to get on national television…
Thanks, Jack…
My main goal is to offer a meaningful message for the Cavs and Cleveland fans.
I just bought posters paper and sharpies, and am going to create the posters tonight…
I also picked up both a red and a white official Nike Lebron Jersey that someone was selling here in Los Angeles on Craigslist. (I bought them both for $60). The seller said that I was the only one who called for them 🙂 My lucky day.