Cavaliers Preview Game #51: Heat at Cavs
Written By: Andrew | Category: Cleveland Cavaliers | Comments: 35
Miami Heat (24-25) vs
Cleveland Cavaliers (39-11)
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
Thursday, February 4, 2010
8:00 PM EST
TNT, FSOH/WTAM
The short handed Cavaliers continue to count their blessings schedule-wise. Tonight they take on a Miami Heat team that just lost a tough game in Boston one night earlier, and now they must travel to Cleveland to take on the NBA’s hottest team. For the Cavaliers, winners of 9 straight, they will be looking for their first 10 game winning streak of the season. Of course, I say that like they grow on trees, but when this Cavs team comes out focused (and boy have these injuries forced them to do just that), they come out looking like they should win every game. This has been one of the most delightful stretches of Cavs basketball in my entire life, so I will just hope it keeps going tonight.
Projected Starting Lineups
Miami Heat:
-G Rafer Alston (8.8 ppg, 3.6 apg, 1.0 spg, 8.62 PER)
-G Dwyane Wade (27.0 ppg, 6.3 apg, .306 3P%, 27.79 PER)
-F Quentin Richardson (8.3 ppg, 1.2 apg, .393 3P%, 11.48 PER)
-F Michael Beasley (15.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 0.4 bpg, 17.11 PER)
-C Jermaine O’Neal (12.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.3 bpg, 17.48 PER)
Key Reserves: Udonis Haslem, Dorell Wright, Carlos Arroyo, James Jones, Joel Anthony, Daequan Cook
Injuries: Mario Chalmers (out)
Cleveland Cavaliers:
-G Daniel Gibson (6.7 ppg, 1.1 apg, 0.5 spg, 11.06 PER)
-G Anthony Parker (7.1 ppg, 1.7 apg, .450 3P%, 9.10 PER)
-F LeBron James (29.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 8.2 apg, 31.07 PER)
-F JJ Hickson (7.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.4 bpg, 13.68 PER)
-C Shaquille O’Neal (11.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.1 bpg, 17.93 PER)
Key Reserves: Anderson Varejao, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Jamario Moon, Jawad Williams, Danny Green
Injuries: Mo Williams (out), Delonte West (out), Leon Powe (out)
Team Efficiency Stats
Miami Heat:
-Off (96.8 ppg, 40.6 rpg, .455 FG%, 18.6 apg, 12.9 TOpg, Eff-104.6, Rank-15)
-Def (96.8 ppg, 40.6 rpg, .451 FG%, Eff-103.0, Rank-12)
Cleveland Cavaliers:
-Off (101.1 ppg, 42.6 rpg, .485 FG%, 21.6 apg, 14.8 TOpg, Eff-108.0, Rank-5)
-Def (93.8 ppg, 38.1 rpg, .430 FG%, Eff-99.6, Rank-3)
Previous Matchups
Future Matchups
None
Game Notes
Enjoy this one, Cleveland. I know nobody wants to hear this, but there are no guarantees. This could be the last time we see a LeBron vs Wade matchup. Ever. If all the pundits had their way, they would prefer to see these 2 stars team up, which would rob us all of these epic battles we’ve enjoyed so much through the years. And even if they don’t team up somewhere next year, there’s still the chance LeBron signs elsewhere, at which point the LBJ vs D-Wade matchups will be unbearable for Cleveland fans. So all I’m going to say is, enjoy this one. There have been no better head to head battles over the years than these two players.
As far as breaking down this game, I’m not going to say much this time around. When LeBron and Wade get into their mano-a-mano mode, they tend to break down all team tendencies and do their own thing. And whereas we normally get angry when LeBron does this, when it’s against Wade, we don’t mind as much because it’s so much fun to watch.
So all I’m going to say is, one more time, enjoy this one Cleveland. It’s always fun, and I expect tonight to be no different.
Vegas Line
Cleveland (-9.5)
Over/Under 187.5
Next Game For The Cavaliers
Saturday, February 6, 2010
7:30 PM EST
New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers
FSOH/WTAM
Author: AndrewSchnitkey
Andrew Schnitkey is a founding editor of WaitingForNextYear. Though he has written about every Cleveland franchise over the years, his primary focus is the Cavaliers and NBA basketball in general.Andrew Schnitkey has written 533 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
Cavs by 6.
Hopefully Lebron puts up another 22-15 night.
Oh, yeah. could be their last head-to-head because … Wade will sign with US! [Rocks back and forth, rubbing hands, laughs diabolically]
I watched the Heat-Celtics game last night. Miami was especially awful, letting the Paul Pierce-less C’s off the hook in the fourth quarter by bricking almost every shot, committing brainless fouls and dribbling directly into defenders time and time again. The Heat are awful. Not to bag on Udonis Haslem (who is a serviceable bench guy), but when he is the only trustworthy go-to second option behind Wade in the fourth quarter of a close game, your team is not good. How can Wade be satisfied with that organization after they have essentially wasted three years of his prime? The way he plays he probably won’t be in the league for as long as LeBron, every year is more important for Wade. If I’m him, the only reason I’d stay in Miami after this year is because of the weather. Why show loyalty to a team that has asked him to carry them every season and offered no help? At least the Cavs have done everything they can to put a competitive team around LBJ. I laugh every time another “LeBron to join Wade in Miami” rumor surfaces. Remember, this Miami team made all their coaching staff and front office people take massive paycuts last year because they couldn’t afford to pay the players. This is the organization that will suddenly pull two or three max free agents? Only if Pat Riley decides to work pro-bono.
That said, I’m feeling another home court laugher for the Cavs tonight. This one won’t be close like the last game in Miami. LBJ v Wade might be a show, but Shaq will destroy their banged up frontcourt. Jermaine O’Neal still hasn’t recovered from the back problems that started after he took that charge from LeBron last time. He was having big problems boxing out against Perkins last night, Shaq and Andy will not be any easier.
“one of the most delightful stretches of Cavs basketball in my entire life”
for realz?
Delight is delicious. SNOWPOCALYPSE IS UPON US!!!
In what quarter is someone going to knock Lebron’s headband off tonight?
That’s become like taking the mask off the ol’ Lone Ranger.
I think the only way this game is close is if Lebron and DWade get into a one on one 3pt. shootout. If Lebron is out looking to distribute like the past 3 weeks it should be an easy double digit win in the Q!
With Oscar season upon us, I’m ready to see some great acting by DWade tonight by drawing phantom foul calls left and right. I considered making a DWade drinking game and take a drink every time he draws a phantom foul call, excessively celebrates and average play or fakes an injury, but then reconsidered because I have to work in the morning and want to be functional.
On justin’s comment,
Some speak negatively of LeBron’s 3-point-kick-a-thons, but I love it when they’re hitting. L-O-V-E.
Dude, I want to see LeBron achieve the first quadruple double since the 1996. Maybe not tonight, but it’s gonna happen…
As expected, Mo and Delonte are out tonight. But, you can still catch more of their hilarious antics on the bench: Fox Sports Ohio Follow-Cam
@Oppie: Or you’d die from alcohol poisoning. That wouldn’t be good.
Back to backs for Miami the Cavaliers will put it on ‘em!
The cavs have never won more then 11 in a row. Did that 3 or 4 times. Pretty confident their gonna do that this time.
Is there any statistical evidence to support the assumption that teams fare worse when playing the second of two back-to-back games? Has anyone run across this?
Danny Ferry on Reghi’s 850 show: “It’s unlikely we make a trade, Michael.”
@Phil M- the Heat are 2-7 in the second game of back to backs. That’s a pretty telling stat.
Losses to-
Atlanta, Lakers, Spurs, Jazz, Thunder, Bobcats, Bucks.
And how ’bout Memphis? Beat the Lakers one night, then are completely uncompetitive against the Cavs the next night on the road. Second night on the road games are tough.
Cavs are 9-4 by the way. (.692 winning %) 39-11 overall (.780%)
@ Jack – he says that to avoid looking desperate. He’s spending plenty of time on the phone.
@ Oppie – Nice.
Windy just reported Boobie is out for personal reasons, so Jawad will be making his first career start, meaning no one in our starting lineup is shorter than 6 6…I’ll miss Boobie’s shooting, but yowza that’s a big group
Saying the Cavs are thin at guard tonight is an understatement. Going to test the vaunted depth. It is crazy vaunted!
Hey D-Wade how’d that Hickson slam taste? Wade fouled him too but of course no call.
D-Wade just got posterized by . . . JJ??
Gibson’s reality star/singer fiancee Ms. Cole is supposedly giving birth that’s why no Gibson tonight.
That dunk by JJ made me sooo happy. Surprised DWade didn’t fake an injury as an excuse of why he didn’t get the block.
Lets see if TNT shows Hickson’s dunk like they did when Wade went over Varejao but man these refs are calling fouls on the Cavaliers left and right.
I hope Gibson’s child is born with hair b/c chances are there would be a design in it as well.
^^^LoL well Gibson is back in uniform for the second half according to Fred McLoud.
Nice Blowout! No need to trade here!
Kudis to daniel gibson for being a good husband. Also big kudis to the cavs on another well played game.
anyone else worry about how easy this is? i felt like we mailed it in and won by 15 against a decent team. what happens in the playoffs when they want and theyre trying but also theyre tighter? /debbiedowner –> http://sadtrombone.com/
@jimkanicki- Cavs mailed it in and won by 15 against a terrible team. As it should be. Don’t be fooled because D Wade is SUPERSTAR- that Heat team is a turd.
Cavaliers need a trade Charles Barkley reaffirmed it last night at halftime and as much as I hate to listen to The Big Doughnut he’s absolutely right. I hope Ferry is a hockey fan and he saw what the NJ Devils just did in trading for Kovalchuk to win a championship NOW! Ferry go out and get Jamison and don’t listen to Cavs Fanatics.com people like TS/Troy Smith on here. His username speaks for itself!