Game 57| Cavs @ Spurs | Friday 2/27/2009 9:30pm EST

[blank964]

I'm really pessimistic about our chances right now. Damn the schedule maker hates us, just got to go out there and play hard

 

[Splitz]

I feel a lot better about this one then last night. I wouldn't be as worried to rely on JJ tonight as I was with sticking him in there with Yao and Scola, especially if Duncan doesn't play.

 

[chiefwahoo]

Last night might have been good for us on a few levels. First, it makes focusing on tonight's game much more imperative. We know we can't afford to pick up another loss with two more tough road games looming after this one. Second, we were embarrassed on national TV and tonight will again be on national TV. Third, LBJ was completely taken out of his game. If history is any indication, he will not let that happen again. There are a lot of signs pointing to a big bounce back performance tonight. And we need it.

 

[Adam]

I think the cavs have been very average away from the Q recently. They need to lose when they play sloppy to keep them focussed on running the offense and being efficient.

Losses now should help them learn lessons come playoff time.

If i had to guess i would say cavs win 96-87

 

[Cavatt]

People are shaken by our experience in Houston. That game was unbelievable. They would win the finals with a defensive showing like that. It was some of the best defense i have seen ever, even if it was very physical. Refs swallowed their whistles and let the tougher team win. We can still win tonight and we are going to adjust better. Not having Ben is bad, but we have cover for missing players all year.

 

[flamez]

Well another elite team, means more sagging defense.

Our guys are going to have to make shots and our coach has to start doing his job by actually taking Lebron off the ball and put him in situations where the defense can't catch up with him

When you give him the ball and let him dribble 30 feet away from the basket it gives other defenses the chance to set up it will be very hard.

Our coaching staff hasn't figured that out for the last couple of years so I don't expect them to fix that now.

Wouldn't be surprised if we lost this one also.

 

[Zog]

Duncan is a "game time decision" according to ESPN. I expect that means he's playing.

Here's preview from the Spurs' nba.com page:

http://www.nba.com/spurs/gameday/090227.html

Interesting little fact here:

James is averaging 31.4 points and shooting 51.2 percent in five career wins over the Spurs. He's been held to 23.1 points and 40.9 percent shooting in nine losses, including the playoffs.

 

[Powerslave]

They will feel thine wrath tonight. Oh yes, there will be blood.

 

[Zog]

Something I forgot to add earlier:

LeBron had one of the worst games of his career last night. Poor shooting percentage, no assists (first time ever), 1 rebound, foul trouble. He usually plays pretty well after having a poor game. He will bounce back big time tonight, I think.

 

[Obawan12]

I'm so pumped, I am going to this game tonight. I hope Duncan is playing cause I want to see a good game. Hopefully the bad game last night means I get to see a great performance from LeBron.

 

[wuck]

Here are some more details from local San Antonio paper about Duncan tonight:

Duncan a (surprise!) game-time decision
By Jeff McDonald on Feb 27, 2009 11:21 AM

To the shock and awe of nobody, the Spurs medical staff is saying Tim Duncan's status for tonight's game against Cleveland will be a game-time decision.

Duncan has missed the past two games with pain in his right knee, which doctors have diagnosed as tendonosis. The docs -- not to mention coach Gregg Popovich -- will want to see how he responds to pregame warmups before making any definite decisions.

There are some signs, however, that Duncan could be good to go. He went through a full shootaround with the team this morning, and stayed late to take some extra shots. He was the last Spurs player to leave the court.

In fact, Duncan was still on the floor, headphones on and firing up jumpers, when the media left the building. To the untrained eye, he certainly looked like a man who could play against the Ben Wallace-less Cavaliers.

However, forward Kurt Thomas, who has filled Duncan's place in the starting lineup more than admirably the past two games, hinted that the Spurs' All-Star forward might be due one more night off.

"He definitely looked good, but I don't think Pop wants to rush anything," Thomas said after shootaround. "If we give him one more game, and he's able to come back and finish out the rest of the season strong, I think that would be the correct decision."

http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/2009/02/duncan-a-surpri.html

 

[KU_216]

Don't see us winning this one. We haven't been an elite road team since LBJ was drafted, and going up against a very solid Spurs team on the second night of a back to back isn't going to help.

 

[The Oi]

Would be quite a break to find that Duncan is out tonight. That said...if both Duncan and Manu are out tonight, then you must find a way to win this game.

No excuses if two of their big three are gone.

 

[TheBigLeBronski]

Boobie not listed in your thread. Was that 'H' shaved into his head an announcement that he was retiring and staying in houston?

 

[CHIMOCHIS]

Can't wait to watch this game tonight. BRON BRON will not let the CAVS lose this one.