Game #55 | Bulls @ Cavs - 7PM ET - TNT

[Smooth]

Game #55

Cleveland Cavaliers [33-22] VS. Chicago Bulls [30-25]

Thursday, February 22nd, 2007
7:00 PM ET
Radio = WTAM 1100
Television =

"The Q"; Quicken Loans Arena [Cleveland, Ohio]

Cavs Uniforms:

Bulls Uniforms:

​

​

Head Coaches

Mike Brown | Scott Skiles


Starting Backcourt​

Point Guards​

Daniel Gibson | Kirk Hinrich​

ESPN's Daniel Gibson Scouting Report​

The Cavs' second-round pick played point guard in college, but his inability to set up shots for teammates doesn't bode well for his ability to do the same as a pro. Gibson has good size for a point at 6-3 and he's a decent shooter who also can attack the basket. However, he seems too small to play shooting guard and he's not a great athlete. He might have trouble defensively even at the point, and almost certainly will be overmatched at off guard. He could be one of those guys who needs to go to Europe for a couple of years and figure things out before he can contribute as a pro.

Last 5 Games 5.3 PPG | 2 APG | 0.8 RPG | 0.8 SPG | 57.1 FG% | 44.4 3PT% | 50 FT%

ESPN's Kirk Hinrich Scouting Report​

​

Hinrich has a reputation as a defender, but last season was the second in a row in which the Bulls defended better with him off the court. That said, visually his defense does appear to be outstanding, and it's tough to reconcile with the numbers. He did a better job on Dwyane Wade than anybody in the postseason, and he's quick, long-armed, takes tons of charges and has outstanding fundamentals. His one weakness is that he fouls a bit much.

Offensively, Hinrich is an inconsistent performer who has a nice outside shot and handles the ball well but takes too many tough, mid-range jumpers. He runs the pick-and-roll well and gets a lot of open jumpers going to his right off this play, but he's better scoring than passing when he does this. Hinrich also has a runner going to his right that he likes to put off his glass, and can make this shot on the dead run.

Last 5 Games 19.2 PPG | 6 APG | 4 RPG | 1.4 SPG | 0.4 BPG | 53.5 FG% | 52.3 3PT% | 90 FT%



Advantage =

Shooting Guards​

Larry Hughes | Ben Gordon​

ESPN's Larry Hughes Scouting Report​

Hughes has tremendous quickness for his size and is always a threat to score off the dribble or in transition. He's a strong finisher with a knack for drawing fouls, with the free-throw line often being his primary scoring vehicle. Hughes is a weak outside shooter who shoots 28.1 percent for his career on 3-pointers, and has a big problem with shot selection. When he's going badly he'll tend to force mid-range jumpers off the dribble, a shot he doesn't shoot particularly well. He's a good dribbler who can play point guard in a pinch, but all his drives tend to produce a high turnover rate.

Hughes' high steals total from two years ago looks like a massive fluke -- it's nearly twice what he's done in any other recent season -- but he's quick in the passing lanes and has good anticipation. He likes to gamble though, and his lack of strength makes him vulnerable to bigger shooting guards who can take him in the blocks. Hughes' focus tends to be on steals rather than stops, so his help defense isn't always up to snuff either. However, his quickness makes him a hardy defender against dribble penetration.

Hughes' injuries have become an increasing worry. He's missed 88 games in the past three seasons and hasn't played a full schedule since 1999-2000. At this point, it seems prudent to assume he'll only be around for 60 games or so.

Last 5 Games 16.4 PPG | 2.6 APG | 2.8 RPG | 0.8 SPG | 40 FG% | 26.3 3PT% | 65.3 FT%

ESPN's Ben Gordon Scouting Report​

Though only 6-foot-3, Gordon is a pure shooting guard who has looked uncomfortable in his few opportunities at the point. He is a prolific scorer because he combines a deadly, high-arcing 3-point shot with superb quickness going to his right, forcing defenders to choose their poison.

When he drives he rarely goes all the way to the rim, instead shooting one-handed runners or pull-up jumpers. Those shots look great when they go in but have an incredibly high degree of difficulty, helping account for his low shooting percentage. Gordon also needs a shot-fake move that will get him to the line more often so he can earn some easy points. It would also help to be on a team that wasn't so dependent on his scoring, as he could then focus more on his deadly 3-point weapon.

Most observers hold Gordon's defense in low esteem, but based on his stats from the past two seasons he's been adequate. He's quick and has good upper body strength, but at 6-3 he's fairly easy for players to shoot over. He tends to picks up fouls, especially when he has to defend big guards in the post, but usually Kirk Hinrich or Chris Duhon take on those matchups.

Last 5 Games 20.6 PPG | 3.6 APG | 4.2 RPG | 0.2 SPG | 0.2 BPG | 42.1 FG% | 45 3PT% | 82.7 FT%


Advantage =

Starting Frontcourt​

Small Forwards​

LeBron James | Luol Deng​

ESPN's LeBron James Scouting Report​

James is a breathtaking talent who has as much straight-line speed as any player in the game despite being built like a power forward. He understands the game phenomenally well for a player his age and can be a spectacular passer, which combined with his ballhandling skill makes him capable of playing point guard -- where he creates monstrous match-up problems because of the size differential.

The scary thing is that he's about the best player in the league, and yet you get the sense he could be a lot better. For instance, James is still developing as a jump shooter. He has a nice stroke with a high arc and can comfortably fire away even with a hand in his face, but his accuracy remains middling. He started developing more of a post game last season and he should continue working on it to take better advantage of his size.

Another quibble with his offensive game is how he runs the pick-and-roll, because he tends to bring the offense grinding to a halt. Detroit exploited this beautifully in the playoffs -- when a big man shows hard on the screen, LeBron's instinct is to retreat almost to half court and then just go one-on-one with whomever is left guarding him. That breaks down any other movement going on with the play and makes the Cavs easy to defend. James is good enough that he still can score occasionally when he does this, but he needs to either split the trap on this play or get rid of the ball sooner.

James also needs more work on the defensive end. He's a decent on-ball defender, though a bit overaggressive, and nobody even bothers trying to post him up because of his size. But he has to get better from the weak side. James will play passing lanes and go for steals, but the basic help-and-recover moves are still developing.

Last 5 Games 27.4 PPG | 4 APG | 6.6 RPG | 1.2 SPG | 1 BPG | 46.1 FG% | 9 3PT% | 71.4 FT%

ESPN's Luol Deng Scouting Report​

If Deng is this good now, imagine what he'll be like once he learns how to play offense. Deng has almost no moves or elusiveness yet; he just takes two dribbles and shoots a jumper over his defender. He took up the game at a late age and is only 21, so there's plenty left for him to figure out.

Assuming he can learn how to add some variety to his game and keep defenders off balance, he could be a vastly better score than he currently is. Even now he's not bad, averaging 17.1 points per 40 minutes in consecutive seasons, but the Bulls need more offense and he's one guy who potentially could provide plenty of it. He's a decent jump shooter from mid-range (although not from distance), he can handle the ball and he finishes very well in transition. He just has to become less predictable and improve his recognition of openings and mismatches.

Defensively, Deng is a potential stud because of his long arms, solid body and quality footwork. As with the offensive end, he's still feeling his way around, but he can rely more on his natural ability here. Plus, he should be able to play power forward as his body fills out, making him a quality defender at two positions and making it easier for the Bulls to keep him and Andres Nocioni on the court at the same time.

Last 5 Games 23.4 PPG | 2.4 APG | 8.2 RPG | 0.6 SPG | 0.8 BPG | 54.7 FG% | 76.4 FT%


Advantage =

Power Forwards​

Drew Gooden | P.J. Brown​

ESPN's Drew Gooden Scouting Report​

Gooden makes for a good role player because he can score without having plays run for him. He's a quick leaper who can finish around the basket, and he has a decent mid-range jump shot despite his somewhat awkward form. He's not as adept in the post because he lacks strength and can get bodied out of the lane, but he does have a nice jump-hook move.

Defensively, Gooden's quickness makes him very good at picking up guards on switches, and he has long arms that earn him lots of deflections. He doesn't have the power to deal with some of the league's bigger power forwards, but he partly makes up for it by helping on the defensive glass. Despite his leaping ability and quickness, he's not a shot-blocker.

The biggest criticism of Gooden has been his lack of focus. Whether it's losing track of his man at the defensive end or not knowing a play on offense, Gooden has baffled coaches with his mental miscues, and that's one reason he hasn't played as many minutes as you might expect for a player with such a high PER.

Last 5 Games 9.6 PPG | 1.8 APG | 10.2 RPG | 1 SPG | 36.5 FG% | 0 3PT% | 71.4 FT%

ESPN's P.J. Brown Scouting Report​

Brown's length, smarts and still-passable lateral movement have helped him become one of the game's better frontcourt defenders. While he's nowhere near the All-Defense caliber player he was a few years ago, Brown should be able to play NBA defense for as long as his offense can keep him on the floor. Though he'll be 37, Brown has never been seriously injured and thus has aged unusually well.

Offensively, he depends on a jumper from the foul-line area, normally shot after a screen-and-roll play. Brown isn't an explosive athlete and doesn't get much done in the paint, although he can post up if he has a size mismatch. He doesn't get to the line much, but he's a good foul shooter, hitting 82 percent or better each of the past six seasons.

Last 5 Games 11 PPG | 0.8 APG | 6 RPG | 0.8 BPG | 40 FG% | 42.3 3PT% | 84.6 FT%


Advantage =

Centers​

Anderson Varejao | Ben Wallace​

ESPN's Anderson Varejao Scouting Report​

"Sideshow Bob" is a classic bench energizer, with hair flying everywhere as he crashes the boards, dives after loose balls and generally causes mayhem in the frontcourt. Varejao isn't a natural scorer but he's great at playing off LeBron James because he's one of the few Cavs who moves well without the ball. He seems to be the only guy on the team to realize that James always will find him if he just keeps moving. Varejao isn't a shooter and has to improve at the line, but he does have some skills in the open court.

Varejao also made a mark at the defensive end, where his energy and athleticism make up for his lack of muscle. He moves well and is comfortable defending the perimeter if he's caught in a switch, and is always looking to get involved from the weak side. He had an unusually high rate of steals for a big man --1.6 per 40 minutes -- and overall the Cavs' defense was 6.8 points per 100 possessions better with him on the court.

Last 5 Games 12 PPG | 0.6 APG | 10.8 RPG | 1 SPG | 1.4 BPG | 64.8 FG% | 0 3PT% | 63.1 FT%

ESPN's Ben Wallace Scouting Report​

​

All you need to know about Wallace's defense is that for three seasons he made it horrifically intimidating to play against a team that started two of the skinniest waifs you'll ever see. He's a freak of an athlete who has the quickness to defend guards on switches, the strength to battle on the blocks with the league's biggest centers, and the leaping ability to reject shots from all corners.

Wallace's ability to police the basket area from the weak side is especially amazing, although this sometimes leaves him vulnerable to second shots when he goes for a block and misses -- he was the only good rebounder in the Pistons' starting five. For the season, the Pistons were 10.1 points per 100 possessions better with Wallace on the court, a jaw-dropping figure that underscores his defensive value.

Wallace is almost as bad at offense as he is good at defense. He has no jump shot and his small hands make it difficult for him to keep control of the ball when he goes up around the basket. Wallace's baskets usually come on follow dunks, transition alley-oops or set plays in the halfcourt where he slips a screen and dunks off an alley-oop. His offensive rebounds are enough of a threat that opponents at least think twice before leaving him, so his offensive ineptitude doesn't inhibit his teammates as much as one might think.

Last 5 Games 5.2 PPG | 2.2 APG | 12.6 RPG | 0.6 SPG | 2 BPG | 32.1 FG% | 38 FT%

Advantage =

Benches

Key Cavalier Bench Players

F/C Scot Pollard | F Donyell Marshall
F/G Sasha Pavlovic | G Eric Snow

Rest Of The Bench

-G Shannon Brown
-G David Wesley
-F Ira Newble
-G Damon Jones
-F/C Dwyane Jones

Key Cavalier Injuries

-

C | Zydrunas Ilgauskas = Ilgauskas missed his third consecutive game due to a "family health matter," the Columbus Dispatch reports. (Feb 22)


Key Chicago Bench Players

F Andres Nocioni | G Chris Duhon
F Tyrus Thomas | F/G Thabo Sefolosha

Rest Of The Bench

-G Andre Barrett
-F/C Martynas Andriuskevicius
-G Adrian Griffin
-F Malik Allen
-F Viktor Khryapa
-F Michael Sweetney

Key Bull Injuries

NONE


​

Advantage =

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Smooth32's 3 Keys To Get The "V"​

1). Establish post game - If we want to have success versus the Bulls, we're are going to need to take advantage of the Bulls big men. Wallace and Brown may be good post defenders, but if we can get Z or Gooden to go one-on-one versus them, we should be able to win that matchup. We also should try to get them in foul trouble, with Brown and Wallace being the only serviceable big men they have.

2). Make free-throws - The Bulls and Cavs games are usually low-scoring, defensive battles. If the game goes that way this time, we're going to need to knock down free-throws. We need to connect on the easy opportunities to get points.

3). Play good perimeter defense - With the Bulls really lacking an inside presence, and Andres Nocioni and PJ Brown being the closest things, we need to stop their perimeter players. Gordon, Hinrich and Deng account for 55.7 points per game, out of their 99.5 points they average per night. We can't allow any of them to have big games, or we'll be in trouble.

Prediction​

​

Cavs - 94
Bulls - 89


GOCAVS !!


=====================================
Note - The scouting reports are from ESPN. So credit should be given there.

 

[cdt]

Our offense flowed all night in large part to our stellar Point Guards...

 

[chiefwahoo]

Shorthanded or not there's no excuse for the way we played tonight. Losing to a team that turns the ball over 20+ times at home is unacceptable.

 

[Gio]

mike brown needs too trade our coach is stuipid GET paul gasul or something because we need a center too win and a sg larry hughes got no shot lebron and gibson is whats keeping us alive

ps:mike brown ...... your an idiot

 

[chiefwahoo]

mike brown needs too trade our coach is stuipid GET paul gasul or something because we need a center too win and a sg larry hughes got no shot lebron and gibson is whats keeping us alive

ps:mike brown ...... your an idiot

Wow, what are you attempting to say here? Spelling errors, no punctuation, we're past the trade deadline, etc.

 

[Gio]

cavs suck

if you really wanna watch a game

COME WATCH THE MONGOOSE TAKE ON THE MOMBA

IM ALL OVER YOU KObe

 

[chiefwahoo]

cavs suck

if you really wanna watch a game

COME WATCH THE MONGOOSE TAKE ON THE MOMBA

IM ALL OVER YOU KObe

I hope the site upgrade today hasn't turned this into cavs.com.

 

[Gio]

who cares?
are you like a huge fan?

 

[Ourhouse]

It was hard without Sasha and Z. Not a deep bench.

 

[cavincali]

this game sucked. :thumbdown

 

[Kypus]

I feel sorry for Mike Snyder doing the postgame show. After a loss like this it's already bad enough w/o callers wanting to know "why Coach Brown isn't putting in Ira Newble for some stops. He's a good defensive player." Click, thanks for the call.

 

[Karma]

Cleveland really missed their European influence.

 

[Cleveland56]

Cleveland really missed their European influence.

and their free throws...