2009/2010 NBA Regular Season
	VS
41-23		51-15
March 14, 2010
Quicken Loans Arena
3:30PM
Radio - WTAM 1100 / ABC
Probable starters:
Rajon Rondo	PG	Mo Williams
Ray Allen	SG	Anthony Parker
Paul Pierce	SF	LeBron James
Kevin Garnett	PF	Antawn Jamison
Kendrick Perkins	C	J.J. Hickson

The Cavaliers and Celtics.  National TV.  Sunday Afternoon.  Mid-March.  Does it really get any better than that?  The Celtics and Cavaliers renew their rivalry this afternoon at the Q.  Both teams have won a game this season - on the other team's home court - after the home teams dominated this series over the past 3 or 4 years.  The Celtics will likely have a bit of revenge on their mind after Cleveland turned an early 13 point deficit into a commanding 20-point win in Boston a couple weeks ago.  Since then, the Celtics have played better basketball, despite an embarrassing home loss to the New Jersey Nets.

For Cleveland, I'm going to go ahead and guess the Antawn Jamison plays.  Jamison was brought in to help the Cavaliers beat Boston and Orlando - if he has to sit against a team like the Pistons in order to play against the Celtics I am all for it.  If Jamison doesn't go, Leon Powe will get his second start.  Powe will likely have a little extra pep in his step going against his former team in a big game.

Some how, some way, the Cavaliers have to find a way to get in front of Rajon Rondo.  Mo Williams struggled against Rondo big time in Boston which helped the Celtics get out to a big lead.  The Cavaliers have to prove they can defend smaller guards or they will keep getting eaten up.

Cleveland has won 8 of their last 10, while the Celtics have gone 6-4 in the same span.

3-in the Key

1. At 51-15 (.773), Cleveland owns the NBA's best record and leads the league with highest point differential at +7.1. The team has won eight of their last nine games and is 25-7 (.781) in 2010, which is the best mark in that span. After going a league-best 66-16(.805) last season, the Cavaliers could become the first team since the Chicago Bulls in 1995-96 (72-10) and 1996-97 (69-13) to have sole possession of the best record in the regular season in consecutive years.

2. Cleveland owns the best home and road records in the NBA. At home, the Cavaliers are 28-4 (.875) and play nine of its remaining 16 games at The Q. The Cavs have won 26 of their last 28 home games and are averaging 105.4 points on .513 shooting, while holding their opponents to just 95.1 points on .438 shooting during that span. Since the start of the 2008-09 season, the Cavaliers are 67-6 (.918) at home, which is also an NBA-best. After being tied for the third best home record in league history last season at 39-2 (.951), the team is trying to hold the best home record in consecutive seasons for only the 14th time in NBA history and seventh time (five teams) in the last 35 years. The team's 100-95 victory on Friday over Philadelphia was the 14th road win in its last 19 road games, taking them to a league-leading 23-11 (.676) record away from The Q.

3. At Boston, LeBron James scored a game-high 36 points on 11-23 shooting (.478), seven rebounds and nine assists. James has averaged 37.0 points on .511 shooting, 5.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists in two games against Boston this season and his career average against the Celtics is 30.4 points. Only one player in NBA history has a higher mark against the Celtics: Michael Jordan at 30.7. Since 2003-04, no player in the NBA has recorded more 30+ point games against the Boston than James with 13.

2009/2010 NBA Regular Season
	VS
23-40		50-15
March 12, 2010
Wachovia Center
7:00 PM et
Radio - WTAM 1100 / FSOhio
Probable starters:
Louis Williams	PG	Mo Williams
Jrue Holiday	SG	Anthony Parker
Andre Iguodala	SF	LeBron James
Elton Brand	PF	Leon Powe
Samuel Dalembert	C	J.J. Hickson

It seems like forever since the Cavaliers played a basketball game.  In NBA circles, getting 4 days off in mid-March is forever.  The rest came at the perfect time.  LeBron James was able to take a week off and only miss 2 games.  Antawn Jamson will sit tonight, giving him 6 days off between games.  He hopes to play Sunday against the Celtics.  All the bumps, bruises and finger injuries - Mo Williams and Anthony Parker -should be feeling much better.  Oh yea, #23 returns to the lineup and he should be filled with energy.

The Cavaliers, undermanned from top to bottom, beat the Spurs on Monday night.  It was the type of win that can give everyone on the roster, from #1 to #15, the confidence necessary to finish the season and head into the playoffs.  It was the 50th win of the year for the Cavaliers - the first team in the NBA to win 50 games this season.  That is significant too.  The past two years, the team that got to 50 wins first has won the NBA Championship.  Boston did it in 2008, the Lakers did in 2009.  Can the Cavs make it 3 straight years?  

3-in the Key

1. At 50-15 (.769), Cleveland owns the NBA's best record and leads the league with highest point differential at +7.2 and has won seven of their last eight games and is 24-7 (.774) in 2010, which is the best mark in that span. With Monday's win over San Antonio, the Cavaliers became the NBA's first team to win 50 games this season and a playoff spot. It's the first time in franchise history that Cleveland has been the first NBA team to reach 50 wins in a season and the fourth time in the last five seasons they have reached the 50-win mark: (2005-06, 2006-07, 2008-09, 2009-10). 

2. The Cavaliers have won 13 of its last 18 road games and at 22-11 (.667), their road record is tied for the best (Boston) in the NBA. LeBron James leads the league this season in scoring on the road at 31.0 ppg.

3. Cleveland has defeated Philadelphia six consecutive times at the Wachovia Center, outscoring the 76ers 100.8-94.2 and outshooting them .478-.458 in those games. In the Cavs win on Dec. 16, LeBron James tallied 36 points, six rebounds, seven assists, three steals and one block. With Philadelphia leading 94-90 midway through the fourth, the Cavaliers held the 76ers to one field goal in the final five minutes to close out the game.

2009/2010 NBA Regular Season
	VS
36-24		49-15
March 8, 2010
Quicken Loans Arena
7:00 PM et
Radio - WTAM 1100 / FSOhio
Probable starters:
George Hill	PG	Mo Williams
Roger Mason	SG	Anthony Parker
Keith Bogans	SF	Jawad Williams
Tim Duncan	PF	Antawn Jamison
Antonio McDyess	C	J.J. Hickson

The Cavaliers are in full playoff prep mode.  They sat LeBron James in Milwaukee on Saturday night to give his aching body a rest and by the sounds of Mike Brown earlier today that are likely to do it again tonight.  That would give LeBron a full week's worth of rest, well deserved and much needed this time of year.  James did not participate in the team's shoot-around this morning, another indication he will likely take the night off.

All that said, the Cavaliers didn't lose to Milwaukee because LeBron James was in jeans on the bench.  Antawn Jamison(30 points) and Delonte West(27 points) more than made up for James' absence.  It was the rest of the team combining for just 28 points that did the Cavs in.  Sure, it is a lot easier with James in the lineup, but the Cavaliers have good enough players - I'm talking to you Mo Williams - to be able to win a game without him.  Too bad it hasn't happened in three seasons - the Cavs are 0-7 without James the past 3 years.

3-in the Key

1.  At 49-15 (.766), Cleveland owns the NBA's best record and leads the league with highest point differential at +7.2. The team is 23-7 (.767) in 2010, which is the best mark in that span. With a win versus San Antonio, the Cavaliers will become the NBA's first team to win 50 games this season.

2. With 10 of the team's remaining 18 games at The Q, the Cavaliers own the NBA's best home record at 27-4 (.871). The Cavs have won 25 of their last 27 home games and are averaging 105.7 points on .515 shooting, while holding their opponents to just 95.1 points on .439 shooting during that span. This season, Cleveland has had two streaks of double-digit home winning streaks after winning 11 straight games at The Q from Nov. 14 - Dec. 30 and Jan. 6 - Feb. 11.

3. Since the start of the 2008-09 season, the Cavaliers are 66-6 (.917) at home, which is also an NBA-best. After having the best home record last season at 39-2 (.951), the team is trying to hold the best home record in consecutive seasons for only the 14th time in NBA history and seventh time (5 teams) in the last 35 years: (Boston Celtics (twice): 1985-86 & 1986-87 & 1987-88, Utah Jazz - 1990-91 & 1991-92, Chicago Bulls - 1995-96 & 1996-97, Sacramento Kings (twice): 2000-01 & 2001-02 & 2002-03).

2009/2010 NBA Regular Season
	VS
32-29		49-14
March 6, 2010
Bradley Center
8:30 PM et
Radio - WTAM 1100 / FSOhio
Probable starters:
John Salmons	PG	Mo Williams
Brandon Jennings	SG	Anthony Parker
Carlos Delfino	SF	Jawad Williams
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute	PF	Antawn Jamison
Andrew Bogut	C	J.J. Hickson

After a tough victory over the Pistons - in more ways than one - the Cavaliers head right back on the road with a trip to Wisconsin for a battle with the surprising Bucks.  Despite having won 6 straight games, the Bucks are actually the hottest team in the Central Division, winners of 8 of their last 10.  Over their last 7 games, the Bucks have gone 6-1 with big wins over the Knicks(17), New Orleans(20), Miami(23) and a home and home sweep of the Wizards, beating Washington on the road by 28 last night.

For the Cavaliers, they turned what looked to be a blowout into a big win last night at The Q.  Looking flat and lethargic early on, the Cavaliers fell behind by 21 points in the 2nd quarter before rallying to win 99-92.  Cleveland didn't lead the Pistons until Antawn Jamison his a 3 to start the 4th quarter, giving the Cavaliers a 71-70 lead.  LeBron James scored 40 points on Mike Brown's 40th birthday, but was once again hobbling after rolling an ankle.  At some point it might be nice for James to sit on out, now that the Cavaliers have a 6-game lead in the East, and a 3 game lead over the Lakers for best record in the NBA - and home court advantage throughout the playoffs - with 18 games to go after tonight.

3-in the Key

1.  At 49-14 (.778), Cleveland owns the NBA's best record and leads the league with highest point differential at +7.5. The team is 23-6 (.793) in 2010, which is the best mark in that span, and has won six straight games for the third time this season. The Cavaliers have won 13 of its last 17 road games and at 22-10 (.688), their road record is tied with Boston for the best in the NBA. LeBron James leads the league this season in scoring on the road at 31.0 ppg.

2. The Cavaliers will face five Central Division opponents in the next eight games. Cleveland has defeated Milwaukee six consecutive times, including the last three at the Bradley Center. The team is 7-1 (.875) against their division this season and holds a commanding 16.0 game lead over Milwaukee, the largest division lead in the NBA.

3. The last time the team faced the Bucks, Delonte West scored a season-high 21 points and scored 14 points during a 29-0 first-half run for the Cavaliers. The Cavs defense forced Milwaukee to miss 12 straight shots to start the second quarter and went 11:22 without a point, which became the longest streak in the NBA that one team has kept another scoreless.

2009/2010 NBA Regular Season
	VS
21-40		48-14
March 6, 2010
Quicken Loans Arena
7:00 PM et
Radio - WTAM 1100 / FSOhio, ESPN
Probable starters:
Rodney Stuckey	PG	Mo Williams
Richard Hamilton	SG	Anthony Parker
Teyshaun Prince	SF	LeBron James
Jonas Jerebko	PF	Antawn Jamison
Jason Maxiel	C	J.J. Hickson

It's Snuggie Time at The Q!  The Cavaliers face the Pistons tonight looking for their 6th straight win.  IN some ways, however, the crowd at The Q are going after something much larger - a World Record.  At tip-off, 20,592 fans will have put on the comfortable blanket with sleeves to break a World Record.  Fans will have the wear the Wine-colored fleece for 5-minutes.  You have to hand it to the Cavaliers - the team is 47-12, best record in the NBA, selling out every night, yet they still try and make it fun for the fans.

On to the game, where John Kuester brings in his Pistons in the midst of a really tough season.  At 21-40, Detroit will likely nt make the playoffs, making their meteoric fall from the top of the Eastern Conference complete.  Even though Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace are gone, there is still something about the blue and red Pistons unis that boil my blood.  

3-in the Key

1.  At 48-14 (.774), Cleveland owns the NBA's best record and lead the league with highest point differential at +7.5. The team is 22-6 (.786) in 2010, which is the best mark in that span. With 11 of the next 20 games at The Q, the Cavaliers own the NBA's best home record at 26-4 (.867). Since the start of the 2008-09 season, the Cavaliers are 65-6 (.915) at home, which is also an NBA-best. After having the best home record last season at 39-2 (.951), the team is trying to hold the best home record in consecutive seasons for only the 14th time in NBA history and seventh time (5 teams) in the last 35 years.

2. The Cavs will face six division opponents in the next nine games and consecutive foes in Detroit and Milwaukee in their next two.  The team is 6-1 (.857) against the Central this season and holds a commanding 16.0 game lead, the largest division lead in the NBA. Cleveland has defeated Detroit four straight games and the last two times at The Q and will play them three times in 16 days.  

3. Against the Nets, J.J. Hickson posted his second career double-double (both this season) with 20 points, 13 rebounds and two steals.  In his first two games starting at center, he has averaged a double-double of 18.5 points on 15-21 (.714) shooting and 11.0 rebounds.

2009/2010 NBA Regular Season
	VS
31-25		45-14
February 26, 2010
Air Canada Centre
7:00 PM et
Radio - WTAM 1100 / FSOhio
Probable starters:
Jarrett Jack	PG	Mo Williams
DeMar DeRozan	SG	Anthony Parker
Hedo Turkoglu	SF	LeBron James
Andrea Bargnani	PF	Antawn Jamison
Rasho Nesterovic	C	Anderson Varejao

How quickly things change in the NBA.  The Cavaliers looked like a team that had no idea how to play the game for the better part of 3 1/2 games.  They had lost 3 of 4, were down double-digits in Boston, where they had lost 10 straight games, and were looking at a tough back to back in Toronto.  Then something happened.  Shaquille O'Neal got hurt, forcing Mike Brown to go against his basketball roots - meaning small and fast.  The result?  The Cavaliers outscored the Celtics 87-57 the final 3 quarters, en route to a 20-point win. 

Just like that, mojo back, attitude changed.

Tonight they head to Toronto, minus Shaq, and look to win their 3rd straight.  Toronto will be without Chris Bosh, meaning the Cavaliers should have the advantage.  Will they make the most of the advantage?

3-in the Key

1.  Tonight's game features two of the top shooting teams in the league. The Cavs rank second in the NBA in both field goal percentage (.486) and three-point shooting (.399) while the Raptors rank fifth (.479) and fourth (.374) respectively. In two matchups against Toronto this season, LeBron James is averaging 25.5 points on .405 shooting, 10.0 rebounds and 11.5 assists in 40.2 minutes per game.

2.  Cleveland is in the midst of playing six of nine games on the road and will play three of its next five games away from The Q. The team has won 11 of its last 15 road games and at 20-10 (.655), their road record is tied for the best in the NBA with Boston. LeBron James leads the league this season in scoring on the road at 31.0 ppg.

3.  Last night the Cavaliers defeated the Boston Celtics 108-88 after trailing by as many as 13 points in the game. The Celtics led the Cavaliers by 10 points after the first quarter on Thursday, and they held a one-point lead going to the fourth quarter, but Boston wound up losing by 20 points to Cleveland, 108-88. It was Boston's largest-ever margin of defeat in a game in which it led going to the fourth quarter. The previous most was 18 points, at Milwaukee in 1979 and at Charlotte in 1993.