2008 Post-Game Reaction
Despite loss, Cavaliers may have won big against Philly
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Apr 15, 2009 10:11 PM CDT
in 2008 Post-Game Reaction
15 comments
39-2 will have to do. I don;t think anyone is ashamed of that. Especially if they watched how the Cavaliers, with 6 of their top 7 players in street clothes, took playoff-bound Philadelphia to Overtime before bowing out 111-110.
Even in defeat, the Cavaliers may have won bigger than they ever thought possible. Daniel Gibson has found his shot, and in a big way. Gibson scored 28 points on 12/24 shooting, including huge 3 after huge 3 in the 4th quarter. If not for a slip with 3 seconds to go Gibson may have drilled the winning shot. As it is, Gibson should head into the playoffs full of confidence. That is a big plus for the Cavaliers who may be able to surround LeBron James with yet another shooter.
Wally Szczerbiak also turned back the clock a bit, going off for 21-8-8. Wally found his stroke as well. Sasha chipped in with 20 giving the Cavaliers another option if they need it.
40-1 would have been great, but the most important thing is the ring. The Cavaliers bench-bunch made all of us roud tonight and reminded us just how deep this team really is.
Now the fun starts. Soon we'll find out when the Cavaliers start their run to a Title. Everyone now starts at 0-0 in a race to 16. Buckle up, it should be one hell of a ride!
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The Road to the NBA Finals will roll through Cleveland
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Apr 13, 2009 8:45 PM CDT
in 2008 Post-Game Reaction
4 comments
They did it. It took 81 games and a club-record 66 victories but the Cavaliers got it done, on the road, against an opponent that has traditionally given the team a hard time. As the buzzer sounded to end a hard-fought 117-109 win over the Indiana Pacers the relief of another goal accomplished could be seen on the faces of LeBron James, Mo Williams and Delonte West.
Don;t get me wrong. Finishing the regular season with the League's best record isn't the prize everyone wants. We all know that a NBA Title is the real goal. At the same time, however, don't listen to those that think it is no big deal, or even a curse.
We need look no further than last season to see what home-court advantage can mean to a team. I'm sure the Celtics, who finished with the NBA's best record last year, appreciated having that Game 7 in their building against Atlanta. I'm sure they enjoyed the home cooking against the Cavaliers as well. Both series went the distance, both series saw the home team win every contest. No, regardless of what Boston or LA might say over the next few weeks having home court is never a bad thing and for a team on the cusp of finishing 40-1 at home, well, that is what I consider an advantage.
Tonight, however, was a display of everything the Cavaliers have done well this year, and some things they have struggled with. Anderson Varejao was a crazy-man, especially in the 2nd quarter when every 50-50 ball, and even some that were closer to 70-30, seemed to end up in his hands. Varejao finished with 11 rebounds, 7 on the offensive side of the floor, and was a key component during a 36-20 2nd quarter that gave the Cavs a tenuous lead they enjoyed for most of the night.
LeBron did his thing, scoring 37 points, and played with a certain 'we will not lose this game' approach. You could see it on his face, and on the faces of his teammates. The Cavaliers wanted to win this game, on the road, so that Wednesday can truly be an appreciation of the fans, and of an incredible season that is seemingly just getting started.
That attitude nearly cost the Cavaliers as the game turned into a scoring fest, just the way Indiana likes it. Content with going up and down the court with the Cavs, the Pacers simply would not go away, cutting a 15-point lead to 4 in the final minutes. Unlike their last trip to Conseco, however, the Cavaliers were able to execute down the stretch and get the W.
All that remains is to find out who the Cavs will face when the Playoffs start this weekend. Until then, the Cavaliers and their fans should take time to appreciate another goal accomplished, and prepare what is certain to be a fun 6-week long roller coaster ride.
GO CAVS!
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Playoff preview?? Cavaliers crush Celtics, near League's best record
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Apr 12, 2009 5:58 PM CDT
in 2008 Post-Game Reaction
10 comments
It was supposed to be a preview of what could be to come in the playoffs. Despite the fact the game had no real playoff implications, it was supposed to be played like it did. One of the two teams in today's battle of NBA titan's lived up to their end of the bargain. The other never got off the bus.
Behind a barrage of dunks, blocks and three pointers, the Cavs thoroughly beat-down the defending champions 107-76 in a game that wasn't nearly as close as the score indicated. LeBron James scored 29, despite resting the entire 4th quarter, while four other Cavaliers scored in double-digits.
After being embarrassed in back-to-back road games last week, the Cavaliers have won 4 straight games by an average of 18 points. Three of those games came against teams heading to the playoffs. To say the Cavs are ready is an understatement.
If you missed the first 4 minutes of the game you missed it all. The Cavs jumped out to a 16-6 lead and never looked back. The Celtics were still without Kevin Garnett, but that didn't stop them in Boston and Doc Rivers will likely not use it as an excuse. At one point, Rivers pleaded with his team by proclaiming he could guard them, a reference to their immobile offense and penchant for hoisting long-range jump-shots.
Now the 1985 Celtics will have to rely on the 76'ers to save their record. Now sitting at 39-1 at home this season, perhaps only Mike Brown can save the Celtics, should he decide to rest his starters. This team has earned the right, however, to go after every record, every accolade it can, and I look for the Cavaliers to show their appreciation to the hometown fans by giving it their all on Wednesday night.
The Cavs' magic number for clinching home court through every playoff series now sits at one, making it a virtual certainty that the Cavaliers will finish the regular season with the NBA's best record. Add it to the list.
Next up, a trip to Indiana tomorrow night to face the Pacers.
GO CAVS!
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We're #1! Cavaliers Clinch East's #1 Seed with win over Sixers
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Apr 10, 2009 8:41 PM CDT
in 2008 Post-Game Reaction
22 comments
It was a road win over a playoff team in April. Those are always good. What made it sweeter was the fact home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs came along with it. In another workman-like performance, the Cavaliers went to Philadelphia and toughed-out a 102-92 victory.
For the Cavaliers, you can tell Mike Brown is getting set on a playoff rotation. Anderson Varejao is now firmly entrenched as the starter at Power Forward, and a role coming off the bench seems to fit Ben Wallace well. The two combined for 9 points and 12 rebounds and brought their typical energetic defense.
The offense was also a 3-headed monster with LeBron James leading the way with 25 points and 10 assists.James ended with only 2 rebounds, both of which he gobbled up in the final seconds.
Mo Williams chipped in with 18, while Delonte West scored 11 to go along with 7 rebounds. The Cavs are nearly unbeatable when they get a big impact from a bench player and tonight was no exception. Wally Szczerbiak seemed to break out of a late-season funk with 18 points on 6-7 shooting. Wally was 4-4 from deep.
Overall this is the type of performance you look for heading into the playoffs. The fact that the road to The Finals has to go through Cleveland is definitely icing on the cake. What remains to be seen is how hard Mike Brown will go after the League best record. Brown has said repeatedly that the #1 seed in the East is the big prize and once obtained he would give his team a rest accordingly.
With Boston coming to town on Sunday, with a real chance at equaling Boston's 40-1 home record, you wonder if the players will take Brown up on the offer.
GO CAVS!
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Cavs dissect Wizards, on brink of East's #1 seed
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Apr 8, 2009 9:50 PM CDT
in 2008 Post-Game Reaction
3 comments
Now that's more like it. Last week the Cavaliers were embarrassed by the Wizards, being dominated from the onset before losing by 8. Tonight, a different story as the Wine and Gold took a double-digit lead in the first quarter and barely broke a sweat, coasting to a 98-86 win, their 38th in 39 games at The Q.
The win put the Cavaliers on the cusp of clinching home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs. The next Cavs' win or Celtic loss will finish the job.
It was easy to see, right from the start, that the Cavaliers had no desire to allow Washington to think they had a chance on the Cavaliers home court. Cleveland never trailed and dominated the first quarter behind even scoring and solid defense. As healthy as they have been all season, the Cavaliers welcomed Anderson Varejao and Ben Wallace back to the rotation and the results were instantaneous.
Varejao scored 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 25 minutes, while Wallace came off the bench to chip in 7 points and 6 rebounds. Both will be a big part of what the Cavaliers need to do in the playoffs, especially on defense.
LeBron James did what he does, lead the team in scoring with 21 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals. The MVP-campaign is in high gear the LeBron did little to disappoint. Mo Williams(14 points), Delonte West(13 points) and Daniel Gibson rounded out the scoring for Cleveland, one of their most steady, consistent offensive performances of the season.
It was short on excitement or drama, but it was just what a team with 62 wins should do to a team with 18 wins.
Up next for Cleveland is a trip to playoff-bound Philadelphia on Friday night.
GO CAVS!
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Streak Over - Wizards beat Cavs in D.C., again
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Apr 2, 2009 10:03 PM CDT
in 2008 Post-Game Reaction
4 comments
What can be said that really needs to be. The Cavaliers have lost 14 games all season, and two of those have come to the Washington Wizards. There is littel doubt that the Wiz bring their 'A' game when Cleveland comes to town, but it seems to go deeper than that. The Cavaliers get out of their game.
Tonight it seemed non of the Cavaliers really wanted to be out there, at least after the Wine and Gold jumped out to an 11-2 lead. Not much went right for the Cavaliers and despite trimming a 15-point deficit to 1 late in the fourth, the Wizards, as they so often do, made all the hustle plays and got the job done.
Joe Smith left the game early and Darnell Jackson, who has obviously passed J.J. Hickson on the depth chart, played well in his place.
Other than that, it was a 3-point shot fest ofr Cleveland, a style of play that fits right in with what the Wizards like to do, turn your misses into easy points. The Cavaliers were 11-30 from behind the arc, a far cry from the 28-53 they shot from inside the 3-point line.
The Wizards took advantage of the same vulnerability that has plagued the Cavaliers in the past - Antawn Jamison(19 points), Brendan Haywood(12 points) and Darius Songalia(17 points) got anything they wanted inside.
Overall it is what it is for the Cavaliers. They still have the best record in the NBA, though that distinction is in a bit of trouble with a trip to Orlando on tap for tomorrow.
Until then, file this game where it deserves to be filed and move on. The Magic await!
GO CAVS!
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'Are You Kiddin' Me?!?' Cavaliers win lucky 13, beat Detroit 79-73
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Mar 31, 2009 8:58 PM CDT
in 2008 Post-Game Reaction
2 comments
It had a playoff intensity right from the start. In a game that felt like 2006 or 2007, the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers went back and forth for 48 minutes before the Cavs did what they have done all year - execute better and play better defense in the final 5 minutes than their opponent. The result was a hard fought 79-73 win over Detroit.
The Pistons came in healthy, getting Allen Iverson and Rasheed Wallace back and they played like a team that was both desparate for a win while looking to regain some of the aura they had lost. For 12 minutes it looked like it might happen as the Pistons opened a 9-point lead, a lead they carried midway through the 2nd quarter. Much like Sunday againt Dallas, however, the Cavaliers were able to stem the tide, get back in the game and get it close to even at the half.
From there the two teams exchanged the lead multiple times, with the Pistons enjoying a 2-point lead with 4:39 to go. From there, the Cavaliers shut the Pistons down and finished the game on a 12-4 run.
There were heros all over the court for the Cavaliers. First, defensively, Delonte West was simply awesome on Richard Hamilton. West bothered Rip all night, holding Hamilton to 13 points on 4-14 shooting. He did it offensively as well, scoring 12 points on 6-11 shooting.
LeBron was LeBron of course, scoring 25 points while grabbing 12 rebounds. Perhaps the past two games show just how great James is. On Sunday, James did it with the pass, dishing out 12 assists. Tonight, with the Pistons dominating the glass, James took over the rebounding battle grabbing 12 rebounds. It is that versatility that proves James is the MVP. No doubt about it.
In a game that the Pistons needed alot more than the Cavs it was the home team that shoed the sense of urgency over the final 5 minutes. It has been that killer instict that has propelled the Cavaliers all season long. Thanks to the Charlotte Bobcats, the Cavs now have a 3-game lead in the race for the #1 seed in the NBA Playoffs. The Cavs are that close.
Next up, a tough two-game road trip starting with Washington on Thursday night.
GO CAVS!
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Message Sent; Cavaliers embarrass Mavericks, win 12th straight
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Mar 29, 2009 3:38 PM CDT
in 2008 Post-Game Reaction
6 comments
60 wins? Check. 12-game winning streak? Check. Give LeBron James a 4th quarter off? Check.
The Cavaliers accomplished all those things and so much more on a nationally televised beatdown of the Dallas Mavericks 102-74. The final 'diff' was no indication of just how badly, how soundly the Cavaliers outplayed the Mavericks over the final 34 minutes.
It also does little to provide any type of indication as to how poorly the Cavs were playing over the first 14 minutes. Outplayed for most of the 1st quarter plus, the Cavs found themselves down by 15 points with 10 minutes to go in the 1st half. It was the biggest deficit the team had faced at home all season. The ABC crew made sure everyone knew that. Even after cutting the lead to 2 by halftime wasn't enough to shut the big mouth of Michael Wilbon in the studio who praised the Mavericks.
Those middle 20 minutes, from the 10 minute mark of the 2nd quarter to the 2 minute mark fo the 3rd, the Cavaliers outscored the Mavericks 54-21. It was as impressive a showing by the Cavaliers as we have seen all season, and the fact the Cavaliers did it for the world to see makes it that much better.
Perhaps this game, more than any other, is the final act of a MVP regular season for LeBron James. Not because of the scoring, but because of the way he set his teammates up, especially in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. LeBron scored 24 points, had 6 rebounds and an incredible 12 assists in just 31 minutes, spending the entire 4th quarter having a blast on the bench with his teammates.
The Cavs broke another team record, this time for consecutive wins in a season with 12 and added to their record for wins in a season, now at 60. The Cavaliers also improved to 25-4 against the Western Conference, best in the NBA.
Up next for the Cavs, another home game, this time against their possible 1st Round foe, the Detroit Pistons.
GO CAVS!
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