Ross vs. Lil G
- Thread starter Ross White
- Start date
We're only 1/4 through the NBA season. Cleveland has a roster full of solid players like LeBron, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Carlos Boozer, along with a couple of great athletic talents in Darius Miles and Ricky Davis. The Cavs also have one of the NBA's best coaches to guide their young players.
Currently, the Cavs are 5-16. Only a handful of their losses have been over 10 points. They've been in every single one of their games, with the exception of one. It just so happens that they haven't gotten the breaks thus far. Things will even out.
I still think the Cavs have a shot at the playoffs. Why? Because the Eastern Conference is awful.
This thread will now be home to Cleveland Cavaliers team news, updated scores and trade rumors.
Currently, the Cavs are 5-16. Only a handful of their losses have been over 10 points. They've been in every single one of their games, with the exception of one. It just so happens that they haven't gotten the breaks thus far. Things will even out.
I still think the Cavs have a shot at the playoffs. Why? Because the Eastern Conference is awful.
This thread will now be home to Cleveland Cavaliers team news, updated scores and trade rumors.
Final
Cleveland 94
Miami 93
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Ira Newble didn't slap any hands until after his game-winning block.
Newble swatted away Dwyane Wade's layup in the final second, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 30 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers matched their win total from last season by defeating the Miami Heat 94-93 Wednesday night.
Wade, returning to the lineup after missing 13 games with a sprained wrist, had his short shot underneath knocked out of bounds by Newble as Cleveland improved to 17-28.
"I got it," Newble said, insisting he didn't foul Wade. "And it felt great."
Wade remained face down on the floor for more than a minute before getting up, and then the rookie from Marquette stormed off complaining he was fouled.
"I thought I had the layup, and then something happened," Wade said. "Somebody pushed me. I was just mad."
Rookie LeBron James added 27 points -- 11 in the fourth quarter -- and Dajuan Wagner scored a huge basket with 7.9 seconds left for the Cavs, who won despite not having forward Carlos Boozer.
Boozer, averaging 23 points and 16 rebounds in his last five games, left the team to attend a family funeral.
Ilgauskas finished 14-of-16 from the field for the Cavs, who went 4-1 on a homestand.
"I kind of knew it was going to be my night. The first shot I threw up bounced five times and went in," Ilgauskas said.
With 37 games left, Cleveland, which hasn't made the postseason since 1998, is just two games out of the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
"That feels great," James said. "That's why they drafted me, to get this thing turned around. It's all coming together."
Eddie Jones had 16 points, and Wade and Lamar Odom had 15 apiece for Miami, which took a 93-92 lead on Malik Allen's running hook shot in the lane with 35 seconds left.
Wagner missed a 3-pointer with 15 seconds remaining, but Kevin Ollie got the long rebound and gave it back to his teammate. Wagner had to avoid two players on the floor in the lane as he dropped in a high-arching layup with 7.9 seconds to go.
"I had to make that one," Wagner said. "I thought the 3 was going in. I got another chance and had to do it."
On Miami's final possession, the Heat nearly threw the ball away before it was recovered near midcourt by Jones. He drove the lane, but instead of trying a shot, delivered a pass through traffic to Wade.
Newble was in position and blocked it from behind.
"I dropped back and read the play," he said. "This win was all about defense."
Ilgauskas made all seven of his attempts in the first half before missing a jumper on his first try after halftime. He also had 11 rebounds.
"Z is the key to this team," said James. "He led us the whole game."
James got Allen to bite on a ball fake and drove the lane for a monster, two-handed dunk while being fouled by Odom. His free throw gave the Cavs, who trailed by 11 points early in the period, a 92-88 lead with 3:00 left.
Jones responded with a 3-pointer for the Heat, who scored just 14 points in the fourth.
Boozer had planned to fly back from the funeral and arrive right before tipoff. However, after traveling to Washington D.C. for the funeral, he decided to remain with his grieving mother.
It was Cleveland's first win in seven games this season without Boozer, who missed six games with an ankle sprain.
The Heat were without center Brian Grant, who didn't make the trip because of a bruised left knee and tendinitis in his right knee. Miami coach Stan Van Gundy said he doesn't know how long his second-leading rebounder will be out.
Allen started in Grant's place and matched a season-high with 14 points.
With Ilgauskas making all six of his shots, the Cavaliers built a 14-point lead in the first quarter.
Game notes
The Cavs went 17-65 a year ago. ... All-Star reserves will be named next week, and Cavs coach Paul Silas said James ought to be one of them. "He should (make it)," Silas said. "He's putting up the numbers and we're winning. In my mind, he certainly deserves it." ... Jones scored his 11,000th career point in the third quarter. ... Silas was surprised by Boston coach Jim O'Brien's resignation. "It was a big shock," said Silas, who wouldn't speculate that O'Brien's quitting had anything to do with the six-player trade the Celtics made with the Cavs earlier this season. "I'm sure he had his reasons," Silas said. ... TV journalist Geraldo Rivera attended the game.
Cleveland 94
Miami 93
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Ira Newble didn't slap any hands until after his game-winning block.
Newble swatted away Dwyane Wade's layup in the final second, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 30 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers matched their win total from last season by defeating the Miami Heat 94-93 Wednesday night.
Wade, returning to the lineup after missing 13 games with a sprained wrist, had his short shot underneath knocked out of bounds by Newble as Cleveland improved to 17-28.
"I got it," Newble said, insisting he didn't foul Wade. "And it felt great."
Wade remained face down on the floor for more than a minute before getting up, and then the rookie from Marquette stormed off complaining he was fouled.
"I thought I had the layup, and then something happened," Wade said. "Somebody pushed me. I was just mad."
Rookie LeBron James added 27 points -- 11 in the fourth quarter -- and Dajuan Wagner scored a huge basket with 7.9 seconds left for the Cavs, who won despite not having forward Carlos Boozer.
Boozer, averaging 23 points and 16 rebounds in his last five games, left the team to attend a family funeral.
Ilgauskas finished 14-of-16 from the field for the Cavs, who went 4-1 on a homestand.
"I kind of knew it was going to be my night. The first shot I threw up bounced five times and went in," Ilgauskas said.
With 37 games left, Cleveland, which hasn't made the postseason since 1998, is just two games out of the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
"That feels great," James said. "That's why they drafted me, to get this thing turned around. It's all coming together."
Eddie Jones had 16 points, and Wade and Lamar Odom had 15 apiece for Miami, which took a 93-92 lead on Malik Allen's running hook shot in the lane with 35 seconds left.
Wagner missed a 3-pointer with 15 seconds remaining, but Kevin Ollie got the long rebound and gave it back to his teammate. Wagner had to avoid two players on the floor in the lane as he dropped in a high-arching layup with 7.9 seconds to go.
"I had to make that one," Wagner said. "I thought the 3 was going in. I got another chance and had to do it."
On Miami's final possession, the Heat nearly threw the ball away before it was recovered near midcourt by Jones. He drove the lane, but instead of trying a shot, delivered a pass through traffic to Wade.
Newble was in position and blocked it from behind.
"I dropped back and read the play," he said. "This win was all about defense."
Ilgauskas made all seven of his attempts in the first half before missing a jumper on his first try after halftime. He also had 11 rebounds.
"Z is the key to this team," said James. "He led us the whole game."
James got Allen to bite on a ball fake and drove the lane for a monster, two-handed dunk while being fouled by Odom. His free throw gave the Cavs, who trailed by 11 points early in the period, a 92-88 lead with 3:00 left.
Jones responded with a 3-pointer for the Heat, who scored just 14 points in the fourth.
Boozer had planned to fly back from the funeral and arrive right before tipoff. However, after traveling to Washington D.C. for the funeral, he decided to remain with his grieving mother.
It was Cleveland's first win in seven games this season without Boozer, who missed six games with an ankle sprain.
The Heat were without center Brian Grant, who didn't make the trip because of a bruised left knee and tendinitis in his right knee. Miami coach Stan Van Gundy said he doesn't know how long his second-leading rebounder will be out.
Allen started in Grant's place and matched a season-high with 14 points.
With Ilgauskas making all six of his shots, the Cavaliers built a 14-point lead in the first quarter.
Game notes
The Cavs went 17-65 a year ago. ... All-Star reserves will be named next week, and Cavs coach Paul Silas said James ought to be one of them. "He should (make it)," Silas said. "He's putting up the numbers and we're winning. In my mind, he certainly deserves it." ... Jones scored his 11,000th career point in the third quarter. ... Silas was surprised by Boston coach Jim O'Brien's resignation. "It was a big shock," said Silas, who wouldn't speculate that O'Brien's quitting had anything to do with the six-player trade the Celtics made with the Cavs earlier this season. "I'm sure he had his reasons," Silas said. ... TV journalist Geraldo Rivera attended the game.
Guess which team is currently #6 in the playoff race?
That's right! The CLEVELAND CAVALIERS!!
After last night's 106-92 thrashing of the Raptors, the Cavs are riding a 5-game win streak for the first time in 4 years. Carlos Boozer is having a phenomenal season, Zydrunas Ilgauskas continues to play well, LeBron James is living up to the hype and newly aquired Jeff McInnis is providing the spark necessary for the Cavs to make the playoffs.
Should I buy Cavs paraphanalia with my $70? Or a new moustache? Hmmm...
That's right! The CLEVELAND CAVALIERS!!
After last night's 106-92 thrashing of the Raptors, the Cavs are riding a 5-game win streak for the first time in 4 years. Carlos Boozer is having a phenomenal season, Zydrunas Ilgauskas continues to play well, LeBron James is living up to the hype and newly aquired Jeff McInnis is providing the spark necessary for the Cavs to make the playoffs.
Should I buy Cavs paraphanalia with my $70? Or a new moustache? Hmmm...
