Portland @ Cleveland

[LyXo]

Game # 66​

Portland Trailblazers (20-44) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (36-29)​

Quicken Loans Arena
Friday, March 17, 2006
7:00pm ET
TV: FSN Ohio
Radio : WTAM 1100

Head Coaches

Nate McMillan / Mike Brown

Probable Starters

Steve Blake / Eric Snow

Martell Webster / Ronald Murray

Viktor Khryapa / LeBron James

Zach Randolph / Drew Gooden

Theo Ratliff / Zydrunas Ilguaskas

Cleveland Cavaliers Bench

Damon Jones / Donyell Marshall / Sasha Pavlovic / Alan Henderson / Stephen Graham

Denver Nuggets Bench

Darius Miles / Jarrett Jack / Joel Przybilla / Sebastian Telfair / Travis Outlaw​

* lyXo's Keys to the Game *

* We must use our superior talent to overcome them... no question about it. There is nobody on the team that can guard LeBron James, so he can go to work fairly easily.

* Take Theo Ratliff out of the game early. Giving it to Z will facilitate this. Getting that interior defense out of the game opens up the lanes for Flip and LeBron to attack the basket with ease.

* Pressure the ball. New Jersey forced them into 20 turnovers last night... they are a young team and are prone to do this. Anderson should see a lot of PT this game.

* Use the crowd. Being St. Patrick's Day, at least half the crowd will be loud and beligerent. We have to be able to keep them in the game, both scaring the young Blazers team, and energizing us out of our slump.

Final Note:
There is absolutely no reason for us to lose this game. At home, on a weekend, everything should work out in our favor. We must stay focused and make sure we take this game without hesitation. This game is one of many confidence boosters... let's make it happen.

 

[Kypus]

* Use the crowd. Being St. Patrick's Day, at least half the crowd will be loud and beligerent.

Ding! Green beer $3 off the regular price :cheers:

I'd try to sic Varejao and Gooden on Zach Randolph midway thru the 1st quarter, after we've established Z in the paint. Randolph is a ball hog, and Khyrapa and Martell Webster aren't scorers. Using AV early would also keep Z out of foul trouble, Randolph knows how to draw 'em. Make Steve Blake beat us (he's not shooting the 3 well lately).

 

[Flippin #2]

If we dont win, they should just hang it up.

 

[Karma]

Portland are playing for next season and are blooding some young guys who are not really ready. However this team has some talent that if it gets a sniff of the lead could be hard to beat. Portland has played some decent defense of late and have dragged teams down to their level. We need to be active early as a lead like we have taken against Dallas and Miami is more likely to break their spirit. No Patterson this time who actually outplayed LeBron last meeting. LeBron should stamp his name all over this game.

 

[highplainsdrifter]

The next winning streak starts tonite!!!!!!!

 

[PIP]

No doubt, we play scrubs.

 

[cavincali]

Man did we ever need a gimmie, this just puts us 8 over and just sets us one game closer to the playoffs.

 

[PIP]

Why on God's green earth would anyone consider this an automatic win ?

Did we not lose to the Hawks and Knicks at home ?

 

[cdt]

Yeah Steve Blake carved us up last time, I know Randolph will have 20+ Webster can hit treys and is pretty athletic and Theo Ratliff should present a tough match for Z with his defense.

 

[cavincali]

Why on God's green earth would anyone consider this an automatic win ?

Did we not lose to the Hawks and Knicks at home ?

Because I say so, thats why.

 

[Karma]

Thankfully they have little defensive presense at the 2/3 spot to throw at James. LeBron should really have his way tonight. Look for the Blazers though to throw bodies at James very early to force the ball out of his hands. Z, Drew and Murray must take advantage.

 

[PIP]

Randolph shoots the ball everytime he touches it..

 

[PIP]

6 minutes in and Randolph has 39 attempts.

 

[cdt]

Like I said Steve Blake carves us up..we look awesome..guaranteed win..

 

[PIP]

Gooden is terrible..