Cavaliers @ Pistons

[chiefwahoo]

Game Number 78

vs

Cleveland Cavaliers (46-31)
vs
Detroit Pistons (48-27)

Sunday, April 8th, 2007
1:00pm ET
Radio : FM 100.7 WMMS (Tribe is on WTAM 1100)
Television: ABCHD
The Palace of Auburn Hills

Head Coaches

Mike Brown / Flip Saunders

Probable Starters

Larry Hughes / Chauncey Billups

Sasha Pavlovic / Rip Hamilton

LeBron James / Tayshaun Prince

Drew Gooden / A-Hole

Zydrunas Ilgauskas / Chris Webber

Cavs Bench

Andy / Boobie / Marshall / Snow / Newble

Pistons Bench

Flip / Lindsey Hunter / McDyess / Delfino / Jason Maxiell

Injury Report
Cavs: LeBron James SF - Apr 6: Day-To-Day
Pistons: Antonio McDyess PF - Apr 5: Day-To-Day, Rasheed Wallace PF - Apr 5: Day-To-Day

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Game Notes

· Detroit has won two of three over Cleveland this season, but lost the last meeting 101-97 in overtime at The Palace on March 7. Cavs star LeBron James had a season-high 41 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in that game. (let's hope for more of the same)

· Detroit's Richard Hamilton had 29 points on 10-of-19 shooting in the March loss to Cleveland. He managed just 21 points on 7-of-18 shooting in the first two meetings of the season. Hamilton, who averages a team-high 20.0 points, had a frustrating game against Chicago on Wednesday. He finished with more fouls (five) and turnovers (four) than points (three), and was hit with his 15th technical foul of the season. One more and he will earn a one-game suspension.

· James and the Cavs have not won two in a row since a season-high eight-game winning streak from March 3-17, and haven't beaten the Pistons two straight times since Dec. 11, 2003 and Feb. 3, 2004 of his rookie season. (not including the playoffs of course :chuckles: )

· The Pistons are just 5-4 since March 22 and looked listless in a 106-88 home defeat to Chicago on Wednesday. They led 53-52 at halftime, but fell apart in the third quarter when they shot 27.8 percent (5-of-18) and were outscored 32-16. Detroit was outrebounded 48-32 overall by a Bulls team that was playing without center Ben Wallace.

· Detroit hasn't played since Wednesday night (of course, while this will be our third game in that same span ).

Donyell preparing for the big Easter Sunday game:

Chief's Keys to the Game:
· Take the ball to the basket... i.e. stop settling for jumpers. The Cavs are supremely beatable when they get lazy and settle for outside shots. Detroit is well-rested right now and we are probably road weary. So I'm already afraid of the beatable Cavaliers showing up again for the Easter Sunday national TV audience.

· Play with a sense of urgency. The playoffs are two weeks away. The 2nd seed is still within our reach if we play the way we are capable of playing. But we have to want it because the way the Bulls are playing right now they won't be doing us any favors.

· If the game is tight late, stop staring at LeBron and MOVE. We've been stuck in "LeBron will save us at the end" too many times lately and it has killed us. LeBron: stop waiting for the double-team. Other guys: move to open space and he will find you if you're open. Mike Brown: you're the head coach... it's OK to draw up a real play instead of the patented "run the clock all the way down and LeBron you fire up an impossible three at the buzzer" play.

Game prediction: Pistons 92 Cavaliers 84

Sorry, but I just don't see us with much energy for this one. The Pistons are rested and will be in playoff mode. We've just been too inconsistent lately to expect much to change. Of course I hope I'm wrong...

 

[SOA]

this is a breakfast time game for us west coasters

I see the Cavs being up for this game .for me this game and the Bulls/Raptors game will determine who is the #2 seed., if that isn't motivation I don't know what is.

Drew plays well against the Pistons , lets hope Z shows up and more importantly Brown plays him. Chris webber having a big game will doom us.

 

[MarkPrice25]

We're going to get smeared. We'll struggle to score 85 points.

Wish I felt differently.......

 

[SOA]

don't know about that MP25

Rashweed is out and the Pistons have a thin bench.

I see a close gme

 

[highplainsdrifter]

Pistons will be knocked the **** OUT!!! :boxer:

 

[SOA]

I'd say early it might be prudent to have Hughes play Hamilton rather than Sasha

 

[bob2the2nd]

refs realize they made a mistake on the lebron call so they call a make up on rasheed wallace on the other end.

 

[bob2the2nd]

thats a close one. he was still on the rim though when the light went off... no basket (or at least shouldnt be)

 

[sikaliusBD]

What cavs are thinking with so many TO's in the 1st?

 

[bob2the2nd]

cavs get screwed again, hanging on the rim is considered not to have released the shot yet. shouldnt have counted..

refs are apperantly only playing ticky tacky on the fouls

 

[Clevelandfan15]

what are we doing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[PIP]

Cavs and LeBron are looking exactly how they usually look in a big game..

 

[Clevelandfan15]

lebron about to take over

 

[bob2the2nd]

lebron about to take over

lol from the bench? :chuckles:

 

[SOA]

when Snow and Marshall came in Cavs were down 19-15, then the Pistons go on a 12-2 run

Z back in and Cavs clawing back 29-34