NBA 2008-09 Season
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Cavaliers vs. Nuggets Preview
Denver Nuggets (4-3) vs
Cleveland Cavaliers (6-2)
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
Thursday, November 13, 2008
8:00 PM EST
TNT/WTAM AM/1100
Denver is 3-0 since acquiring former Piston Chanucey Billups. This Nuggets team looks completely different than it did at this point last year, but then again so does this Cavaliers squad. Regardless of what’s happened to this point, the world will be watching tonight as Charles Barkley and crew welcome the Cavs and Nuggets to the stage.
Projected Starting Lineups
Denver Nuggets
G: Chauncey Billups (14.4 ppg, 6.6 apg, 2.2 spg, 18.00 PER)
G: J.R. Smith (10.6 ppg, 2.1 apg, 4.1 rpg, 18.28 PER)
F: Carmelo Anthony (23.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 4.4 apg, 16.52 PER)
F: Kenyon Martin (13.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.2 bpg, 14.77 PER)
C: Nené (15.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.0 bpg, 20.28 PER)
Cleveland Cavaliers
G: Mo Williams (14.4 ppg, 4.9 apg, 1.1 spg, 12.38 PER)
G: Delonte West (10.3 ppg, 2.4 apg, 3.5 rpg, 13.75 PER)
F: LeBron James (28.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 7.0 apg, 34.01 PER)
F: Ben Wallace (1.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 12.00 PER)
C: Zydrunas Ilgauskas (15.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.6 bpg, 23.50 PER)
Game Notes
I know that Denver is only a game over .500, and are going through a transition period and all; but one has to believe that this is one of the better teams that the Cavaliers have faced since beating Dallas a little over a week ago. Of course, J.R. Smith is suffering from Allen Iverson withdrawal and Kenyon Martin is coming off of a wrist injury, so you never know what Nuggets team we’ll see.
What is crazy is how much luster the whole LeBron/Melo deal has lost over the years. It’s obvious who the better player is here, much to the chagrin of media types. But as much as I would love to see LeBron drop another 41 on national television, we need to see this team win collectively. Anderson Varejao and Z may have their hands full tonight as Martin and Nene are considerably stronger down low than, say… Troy Murphy and Jeff Foster from a few nights back. But what I do like is that the defense (or lack of) from the Denver back court should allow for some serious running from West and Williams.
I know that Denver has won eight of the last 10 matchups since the LeBron/Melo draft. But if any game is going to start to turn that tide, it is going to have to be this one.
And if there is one thing that we need to prove, it’s that our Brazilian is waybetter than their Brazilian. As long as ours doesn’t feel like he needs to be paid Nené-type money…
Go Cavs.
Denver Nuggets (4-3) vs
Cleveland Cavaliers (6-2)
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
Thursday, November 13, 2008
8:00 PM EST
TNT/WTAM AM/1100
Denver is 3-0 since acquiring former Piston Chanucey Billups. This Nuggets team looks completely different than it did at this point last year, but then again so does this Cavaliers squad. Regardless of what’s happened to this point, the world will be watching tonight as Charles Barkley and crew welcome the Cavs and Nuggets to the stage.
Projected Starting Lineups
Denver Nuggets
G: Chauncey Billups (14.4 ppg, 6.6 apg, 2.2 spg, 18.00 PER)
G: J.R. Smith (10.6 ppg, 2.1 apg, 4.1 rpg, 18.28 PER)
F: Carmelo Anthony (23.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 4.4 apg, 16.52 PER)
F: Kenyon Martin (13.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.2 bpg, 14.77 PER)
C: Nené (15.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.0 bpg, 20.28 PER)
Cleveland Cavaliers
G: Mo Williams (14.4 ppg, 4.9 apg, 1.1 spg, 12.38 PER)
G: Delonte West (10.3 ppg, 2.4 apg, 3.5 rpg, 13.75 PER)
F: LeBron James (28.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 7.0 apg, 34.01 PER)
F: Ben Wallace (1.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 12.00 PER)
C: Zydrunas Ilgauskas (15.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.6 bpg, 23.50 PER)
Game Notes
I know that Denver is only a game over .500, and are going through a transition period and all; but one has to believe that this is one of the better teams that the Cavaliers have faced since beating Dallas a little over a week ago. Of course, J.R. Smith is suffering from Allen Iverson withdrawal and Kenyon Martin is coming off of a wrist injury, so you never know what Nuggets team we’ll see.
What is crazy is how much luster the whole LeBron/Melo deal has lost over the years. It’s obvious who the better player is here, much to the chagrin of media types. But as much as I would love to see LeBron drop another 41 on national television, we need to see this team win collectively. Anderson Varejao and Z may have their hands full tonight as Martin and Nene are considerably stronger down low than, say… Troy Murphy and Jeff Foster from a few nights back. But what I do like is that the defense (or lack of) from the Denver back court should allow for some serious running from West and Williams.
I know that Denver has won eight of the last 10 matchups since the LeBron/Melo draft. But if any game is going to start to turn that tide, it is going to have to be this one.
And if there is one thing that we need to prove, it’s that our Brazilian is waybetter than their Brazilian. As long as ours doesn’t feel like he needs to be paid Nené-type money…
Go Cavs.
Wow! An offensive explosion is going on in Cleveland! For anyone watching the NFL game, you're missing a high scoring NBA affair on TNT.
After 1 quarter, Denver leads, 36-33.
Chauncey Billups: 6 for 7 from the field. 4 for 4 from the 3 point range. 16 points. In 1 quarter!
Cleveland: 67% from the field. No turnovers, yet they trail by 3 at the end of the first.
After 1 quarter, Denver leads, 36-33.
Chauncey Billups: 6 for 7 from the field. 4 for 4 from the 3 point range. 16 points. In 1 quarter!
Cleveland: 67% from the field. No turnovers, yet they trail by 3 at the end of the first.
Halftime
Nuggets 61, Cavs 58
Billups already has a season high in points scored at 18.
The opposing PG is also putting on a show. Mo Williams has 16 points on 7 for 10 shooting.
And what's with K-Mart's new tatt?! Big red lips on his neck? Are you kidding me? WTF?
Nuggets 61, Cavs 58
Billups already has a season high in points scored at 18.
The opposing PG is also putting on a show. Mo Williams has 16 points on 7 for 10 shooting.
And what's with K-Mart's new tatt?! Big red lips on his neck? Are you kidding me? WTF?
End of 3rd
Cleveland 88
Nuggets 82
LeBron: 22 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds. (On the verge of a triple-double)
Chauncey has 22 points.
Melo continues to look lost on defense.
Cleveland 88
Nuggets 82
LeBron: 22 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds. (On the verge of a triple-double)
Chauncey has 22 points.
Melo continues to look lost on defense.
Mo Williams for 3!!!!!
With Mo Williams and a healthy Boobie Gibson, the Cavs finally have dependable outside shooting! This is real nice! Beware NBA. I know this is a long season, but so far, this Cavs team with the addition of Mo is looking great together!
With Mo Williams and a healthy Boobie Gibson, the Cavs finally have dependable outside shooting! This is real nice! Beware NBA. I know this is a long season, but so far, this Cavs team with the addition of Mo is looking great together!
Other than Detroit, Cleveland is the only decent team in that division. Chicago and Milwaukee has a long way to go, and Indiana's a mess.
IMO, Milwaukee, Chicago and Indiana are all improved this year.
The only pushovers in the Eastern Conference this year is Washington, Charlotte and New Jersey.
Can we officially declare the Cavs/Wiz rivlalry dead?
You say it is always hard-fought and intense; I look at the cold, hard facts- Cleveland won EVERY playoff series these teams were in and have dominated them since LeBron came aboard. It was the NBA's equivalent of Roadrunner vs. Coyote.
Final
Make that 6 in a row for the Cavaliers!
Cavs 110
Nuggets 99
LeBron finished short of the triple double but still had a respectable game: 22pts, 11ast, 8reb. At least he didn't pull a Ricky Davis and shoot at the opponents basket and miss on purpose just to get a cheap rebound to inflate his stats. (Yes that is a true story).
Mo Willy also had an awesome game with 24pts and 6ast.
Chauncey Billups was the Nuggets high scorer with 26. Next up is his trade partner, Allen Iverson.
Next up for the Cavs are the Utah Jazz on Saturday at the Q. Bring it Sabres!
Make that 6 in a row for the Cavaliers!
Cavs 110
Nuggets 99
LeBron finished short of the triple double but still had a respectable game: 22pts, 11ast, 8reb. At least he didn't pull a Ricky Davis and shoot at the opponents basket and miss on purpose just to get a cheap rebound to inflate his stats. (Yes that is a true story).
Mo Willy also had an awesome game with 24pts and 6ast.
Chauncey Billups was the Nuggets high scorer with 26. Next up is his trade partner, Allen Iverson.
Next up for the Cavs are the Utah Jazz on Saturday at the Q. Bring it Sabres!
It's amazing how Vegas can pinpoint an over/under like that! With the final score at 110-99, the total points scored were 109. Just below the under!
Boobie Gibson's Got Hops, Floater
Little guy has some levitation-like ups, eh? Great to see the shot back. Now if he can just drop about four or five of these on Boozer’s mug tomorrow, my week will be complete.
Little guy has some levitation-like ups, eh? Great to see the shot back. Now if he can just drop about four or five of these on Boozer’s mug tomorrow, my week will be complete.
