While We’re Waiting is Wearing a Greenman Costume
March 6, 2010NFL Free Agency: Browns start slowly
March 6, 2010The Cavs game last night was overshadowed by Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey slumped over on the bench late in the third quarter. Reports emerging during the game and later on showed that Stuckey was breathing on his own and in good condition. We’re all hoping for the best for Stuckey and his family and teammates going forward after that scary situation that resulted in a 12 minute game delay last night. According to Natalie at Need4Sheed, Stuckey suffered a similar (but less severe) occurrence last season.
The game itself was quite interesting leading up to the end of the third (afterwards it felt rather meaningless). The Cavs got off to a very slow start, trailing by as much as 21 in the second quarter. However, the Cavs were fueled by an excellent third quarter, when the turnaround happened. Though it’s hard to determine how much the Pistons were in the game mentally after Stuckey left the game on a stretcher, the Cavs’ comeback certainly had legs prior to the timeout when Stuckey collapsed. Antawn Jamison’s offense proved to be huge for the Cavs at the start of the fourth while LeBron sat out. The Cavs ended up winning by a final score of 99-92.
The Cavs of course couldn’t coast to victory, trading missed free throws with Ben Gordon late in the fourth before pulling away. LeBron finished with 40, 13, and 6. The next-leading scorers for the Cavs were Antawn Jamison (17) and Andy Varejao (16).
Now for some bullets:
- Delonte working in the low post is pretty much awesome.
- LeBron is a bit concerned about his ankle that he twisted last night, according to Windhorst.
- I really am not certain why the crowd had to wear their snuggies for 5 solid minutes to set the ‘world record’. Seems like some sort of cruel joke coming from the fine folks at St. James’ Gate to me.
- I’m pretty glad we didn’t end up with CV31.
- Good to see Delonte have a solid night with quality minutes down the stretch after his scheduled night out against the Nets.
- The lineup on the floor down the line: Mo, Delonte, LeBron, Antawn, Andy. Perfect. Maybe not the best defensive lineup, but absolutely the best overall lineup this team can put out there in crunch time. Andy, LeBron, and Delonte make for a formidable D, even with Mo and Antawn out there. The offensive options are there as well. This likely will be our end-of-game lineup, save for Orlando. I really, really dig this lineup.
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Photo Credit: AP Photo/Tony Dejak
8 Comments
Agree on the final lineup.
Side note: What is Mo’s deal lately? He’s looked like a shell of himself. Even worse D than normal. Multiple bad passes and pretty poor shooting, minus some big 4th Q shots. Hopefully he can get this going soon.
Class act by Lebron to call everyone together after the game for a prayer. Best wishes to Stuckey and his family.
So hate to see stuff like what happened to Stuckey last night. Young guy, pro athlete in great shape- collapses on the sideline are never good. I hope he gets hooked up to every scanner available until they figure out his deal.
Mo has been awful. But as long as he isn’t costing the team wins he needs to be out there to work through this slump. Cavs need him for the playoffs. Plus, I swear it is because Mo’s shot has been off that the Cavs yips at the free throw line have gotten really fierce. Foul shooting is contagious, and since 90% Mo isn’t getting to shoot many ‘throws these days the rest of the team has been tragic at the stripe.
Other than that I’ve got no complaints.
Hard to comment on this one without mentioning the terrible feeling inspired by the sight of Stuckey reaching out for the support of a trainer as his body gave out in one way or another. Let’s hope this doesn’t turn out to be a serious condition for him beyond what we have already seen.
Echoing dgriff13, yeah, in the aftermath, the Cavs put on a class act, led by LeBron. It’s the sort of thing Cavs fans can expect from him and that his many detractors might want to take note of.
About the game, I still cannot get over the fact that there’s a Cleveland team so good that, even if down by a period’s worth of points, does not convince me that they are actually going to lose. Rather, the gaping deficit against an inferior opponent initiates a sort of curiosity: just when will they turn this thing around? Late second? Third? Mid-fourth?
How luxurious it is for a Cleveland sports fan to entertain such thoughts.
@phil m- in the same luxury fandom theme- it has been really gratifying to read through comments on the Lakers’ boards and see how much those fans are tripping about how their team has been faltering while the Cavs look tougher than ever. They are all scoreboard watching in panic alert while Cleveland is busting up chumps and cruising easy. This has never happened.
Agreed about Mo maybe he’s doing his best Daniel Gibson impression just to make us feel better ya know hit a few threes and basically nothing else. Btw I really miss Gibson (tears of a clown). If not for Delonte West the Cavaliers guards would have had another substandard game last night old man RIP abused Parker off those picks.
Beware of the giant slaying Bobcats!
Let’s lay off Mo. He was out for about 6 weeks and has been back for about two? If he doesn’t turn it around in another two weeks then maybe we can start to call him out. Not necessary right now.
Where has Gibson been the past 2 weeks? Did he vanish? As far as Lakers losing and Cavs winning, remember it is the regular season. A lot of us got caught up in the regular season last year and look what that got us. I do not want the Cavs from 08-10 to be remembered as one of the best regular season team but as the champs.