2009 Game Previews
Delonte West Inactive
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Oct 27, 2009 5:22 PM CDT
in 2009 Game Previews
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Cavaliers Head Coach Mike Brown just informed the masses that G Delonte West will be Inactive for tonight's game against Boston.
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The Q is Ready to Roll!!
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Oct 27, 2009 4:31 PM CDT
in 2009 Game Previews
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About 2 hours before Tip-Off and Quicken Loans Arena seems quiet, too quiet. Not for long!
Below is the scene - the wine-colored seats covered with the T-Shirt Giveaway for tonight's game. Needless to say there is going to be a white-out in Cleveland tonight!
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Schedule Has Cavaliers Busy To Start New Season
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Oct 27, 2009 12:11 PM CDT
in 2009 Game Previews
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Perhaps lost in all the 'hoop'lah of tonight's opener against the Celtics is the fact that the Cavaliers will be playing 4 games in 5 nights to start the season. By the time Halloween comes and goes, the Wine and Gold will have played 4 games already. Here's a look at the Cavaliers first 4 games -
| 10/27 | Vs Boston |
| 10/28 | @ Toronto |
| 10/30 | @ Minnesota |
| 10/31 | Vs Charlotte |
While all 3 of the Cavaliers opponents after tonight would have the Cavs favored, the schedule makers certainly didn't do the team any favors as the season gets started. Mike Brown has already expressed concern where the team is at on both ends of the floor, and both Boston and Toronto are tough matchups. In a season with so much external attention, getting off to a fast start is key to avoiding a bunch of negative publicity - for whatever that's worth.
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Rapid Reaction: Bring on the Magic
by Turkmenbashi on May 18, 2009 5:39 AM CDT
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The Magic rolled over a despondent Celtics team to earn a date at the dance with our footloose Cleveland Cavaliers. A stellar three-point shooting performance led by Hedo Turkoglu's 4-5 from behind the arc helped the Disney darlings demolish the defending champs. Boston's injuries caught up and their luck finally ran out. Despite a good game by Ray Allen, Paul Peirce laid a satisfying egg and will be joining the rest of his team on the links shortly. Given the ugliness of the series, it's hard to say Orlando has "earned" a matchup with the Cavs but reagardless, here we are. And you know what? It's not gonna be another cakewalk for LeBron and the Horsemen of the Basketball Apocalypse.
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Cavs continue to reach their goals
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Apr 12, 2009 9:34 AM CDT
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The Cavaliers have done a pretty good job of reaching their goals this season, so far at least. Obviously, the biggest goal is still there to be obtained, winning a NB Title, but a couple of smaller, yet important, goals are right theri for the taking.
The Cavs can go a long way towards both of them this afternoon when the Celtics come to town. Whether they admit it or not, the Cavaliers want to match Boston's record for home wins in a season(40-1). While the record is nice, it certainly isn't the only motivation to put forth a solid effort against the defending Champs. Now would not be the time for the Cavs to let Boston feel they can come into Cleveland and win a game, especially when the home team has won 15-straight in the series.
Boston is without Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe and beat the Cavs handily in Boston when Garnett missed out. The Cavs need to make sure the Celtics don't gain any confidence today that they can use later on.
The Cavaliers are also on the cusp on clinching home court throughout the NBA Playoffs, Finals included. The Lakers are two games back in the loss column meaning if Cleveland can win 2 of their final 3 games they clinch the League's best record.
Sure, both of those are nice things to accomplish. The main goal, and frankly the only one that should matter, is still there to be had. It has been a magical season for the Cavaliers to this point, however, and adding two more accomplishments to the laundry-list of accolades this year would be, well, something more to remember in a season full of memories.
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The Race for the #1 Seed -- The Week Ahead(4/6)
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Apr 7, 2009 8:00 AM CDT
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Only two weeks left in the regular season, and what was once a 3-game lead for the Cavaliers over the Lakers has been trimmed to 1. The Cavaliers shook off their two-game losing streak by beating the Spurs by 20. Can they continue their success this week?
Cleveland Cavaliers(62-15) - Last Week(2-2) - This Week -- 3 Games(2 Home, 1 Away)
After winning 13 straight, the Cavaliers lost at Washington and Orlando. The doubters are now in full effect, despite the 20-point win over San Antonio. The Cavaliers at 2-6 against the best teams in the NBA, a stat the will no doubt gets drilled into our collective heads for the next 2 months.
The Cavs get to exact some revenge against the Wizards this week and finish the week with a visit from the Celtics. That should be fun.
4/08 - Washington (18-60)
4/10 - @ Philadelphia (40-36)
4/12 - Boston (58-19)
Los Angeles Lakers(61-16) - Last Week(3-1) - This Week -- 4 Games(2 Home, 2 Away)
Another 3-1 week for the Lakers who sit just 1 game behind the Cavaliers, and own the tie-breaker. A relatively easy week up-comin, with a trip to Portland on Friday night the only potential bump in the road(sure, they play Denver too, but that is in LA.
Neither the Cavs or Lakers can really afford to lose this week.
4/07 - @ Sacramento (16-60)
4/09 - Denver (52-26)
4/10 - @ Portland (48-28)
4/12 - Memphis (22-54)
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Cavs need to just plain beat the Wizards tonight
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Apr 2, 2009 11:22 AM CDT
in 2009 Game Previews
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Despite the fact that the Cavaliers return to action tonight against a team with the worst record in the Eastern Conference, I am really looking forward to this game. For one, I really enjoy watching every minute of every Cavaliers game. In addition, I really, really don't like the Washington Wizards. Even better, they don't like the Cavaliers much either.
Yes, beating the Wiz three straight years in the playoffs was awesome, and the DeShawn Stevenson - LeBron Jame feud was laughable, but somewhere amongst their cockiness is something that really bothers me.
Washington, as bad as they are and as good as the Cavaliers are, really give the Cavs a tough time. It happened on Christmas night when the Cavs had to rally from 8 points down in the final minutes to get a win. Then again 10 days later when the Wizards beat the Cavaliers by 3 in Washington. Both of those games were played with the Wizards missing Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Hayward.
Tonight, both appear to be in action, including Arenas who sat out last night's loss to Memphis. Arenas scored 15 points and brought down 10 rebounds in his only game this season, Saturday night against Detroit, and we all know he has this game penciled in as one he wants to play in.
Overall the Cavaliers have lost 3 straight in Washington, 7 of 8 overall. This entire season has been about the Cavaliers overcoming obstacles, and tonight would have to be considered another. The Wiz have won 17 games all season, the Cavaliers 16 in March alone. The Cavs are still fighting for the overall #1 seed in the NBA, and face a tough trip to Orlando tomorrow. Tonight would almost be considered a must win, though should the Cavaliers lose it would matter little.
I just want to see the Cavs give the Wizards one more beating before moving on to bigger and better things. They'll play the Wiz in Cleveland next week, but a road win in Washington would be sweet indeed.
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Cavs V. Pistons still evokes emotions
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Mar 31, 2009 12:02 PM CDT
in 2009 Game Previews
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The Cavaliers get back to it tonight at The Q when they welcome the Detroit Pistons to town. For Detroit, a string of 6 straight trips to the Eastern Conference Championship Series is in serious doubt. Sitting at 36-37, Detroit has struggled all year, especially after trading their team leader Chauncey Billups to Denver for Allen Iverson. The move was done for salary reasons, with Iverson a free agent after the season, but no one thought Detroit would struggle as mightily as they have.
All that said, there is still something special about these two teams that evokes emotion in me. there have been team battles, like the thrilling 7-game series in 2006, with the Cavs losing that decisive Game 7 in Detroit. Or the rematch in 2007 that saw the Cavaliers win their first Eastern Conference Championship by knocking off the Pistons in 6-games, thanks in large part to LeBron James and his legendary performance at the Palace in game 5.
There have been personal battles, such as Rasheed Wallace blasting Zydrunas Ilgauskas in the head, bloodying the Cavalier.
Much of the growing up the Cavs have done, as a team, and as individuals has come during games against the Pistons. Only this season did the Cavaliers finally wrestle away the Central Division from Detroit.
The latest chapter in this stroy goes much deeper than just tonight's game. If the playoffs started today, Chicago would be Cleveland's first round opponent, but they are only 1 game behind Detroit for 7th place. It is not far-fetched to think that a first round matchup with Detroit could be lingering, and you get the sense that the Pistons are going to have little fear of any team they play, should they get into the playoffs in the first place.
No matter what happens, there will always be something special to me when the Cavs and Pistons play. Regardless of the records, these two teams just don't like each other that much and I expect to see Detroit's best, tonight and should the teams meet in a few weeks with more important things at stake.
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