W Hornets 87 Cavaliers 109

[PIP]

*I've never done one of these, but a poster PM'D me and asked me why I haven't got around to it yet :chuckles: (Didn't know I was supposed too, I wasn't supposed to do game threads...Don't really know how, so bare with me).. I will do one on the fly the best I can, as I am a team player for RCF.....*

GAME #1​

VS

New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets@Cleveland Cavaliers​

Regular Season : Game #1
Wednesday, November 2, 2005
7:00pm ET
TV: FSN OHIO, NBALP
Radio : WTAM 1100

Head Coaches

Mike Brown / Byron Scott

Probable Starters

Eric Snow / Chris Paul

Larry Hughes / J.R Smith

LeBron James / Rasual Butler

Drew Gooden / P.J Brown

Zydrunas Ilgauskas / Chris Andersen

Cleveland Cavaliers Bench

Damon Jones/Donyell Marshall/Luke Jackson/Sasha Palovic/Alan Henderson/Mike Wilks/Zendon Hamilton

New Orleans Hornets Bench

Desmond Mason/Kirk Snyder/Maciej Lampe/Speedy Claxton/Brandon Bass/David West/Bostjan Nachbar​

Cavalier's Notes
* Mike Brown debuts as the Cleveland Cavalier's Head coach.

* Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall, Damon Jones (The big 3 signings) First game as Cavaliers.

* Something new for "THE KING".. What is it ? Be interesting to look for.

* Watch out for the Team and individual defense. Rotations and Man to Man... Can Drew Gooden finally get it ? Will LeBron's "D" improve... How will Larry affect this teams defense ?

* Watch for the refreshing penetrate and dish as we now have outside shooters..

* Will Luke Jackson and/or Sasha Pavalovic play key roles and set the tone for the season.

Hornet's notes
* They are playing their home games in Oklahoma city due to Hurricane Katrina

*They lose their All Star center in Jamaal Magloire in a trade and welcome in a former Oklahoma State stand out in Desmond Mason. Something to get the hometown fans into.. But just having pro basketball there might be enough anyways.

* The improvement of high school phenom J.R Smith, who had a very solid rookie season.. Has a Ricky Davis type game, but perhaps with Kobe Bryant like talent.

*Bringing along a young/exciting PG in Chris Paul.. Will this duo become one of the best in the NBA ? We shall see... Hopefully not on this night.
________________________________________________________

LePIP'S tips for a victory
REBOUND-- REBOUND--REBOUND (on both ends)..Get out on the break, this is a poor defensive team, and they have no bigs.. You out rebound them, and you should win.

Without Magloire (traded to Milwaukee) BIG "Z" should have a field day.. Get the ball to the big man early and often...There is simply no one on that roster that can stop him..

With a young backcourt, that should = turnovers, the first game of Paul's career could = butterflies which the CAVS should take advantage of..

Smith's shot selection can be shakey..

No interior presence +bad shots taken + plus turnovers should = a easy CAVALIERS VICTORY to start the season out at 1-0 and set the tone for the 05-06 season

 

[joma]

Re: Hornets @ Cavaliers Game #1

nice preview lepip. it would really be nice if we can start the season 1-0 instead of last year when we went 0-3

 

[cdt]

Re: Hornets @ Cavaliers Game #1

There is no reason in hell we should lose this game, they are the worst team in the NBA. Their only threat against us in Magloire has been dealt. Chris Paul is not going to come out like gangbusters and rain on LeBron Larry and Z's coming out party. Our bench could probably be their starters. I'm not worried about this I don't see LeBron or Larry playing more then 32 minutes in this one as it should be over before the 4th even starts. Rest em up 81 to go boys. I want to see Mike Wilks light up the Q!

PS Just a guess on my part wouldn't NO be starting Mason over Butler? I have no idea but If I were Byron I'd have him over Butler...otherwise awesome preview.

 

[MHSpecialist]

Re: Hornets @ Cavaliers Game #1

I'm just calling the Hornets NOOC (New Orleans/Oklahoma City). My vibe on this game is that some sloppy offense will keep the Hornets in the game the first half, before Lebron lays the smack down in the 2nd half. The X factor here is the birdman- if we give him 6-10 free dunk attempts, he might just make one like in the dunk contest. Seriously, we cannot afford to let the birdman fly all over us. Anyways, this will be my 2nd straight home opener, hope it goes better than the last one. Nice post Lepip, coming through in the clutch.

 

[hughes1988]

Re: Hornets @ Cavaliers Game #1

looks like cavs will be 1-0 after the first game.

 

[cavincali]

Re: Hornets @ Cavaliers Game #1

i dont want this team to score over 85 points, they just dont have much of any offenseive threat. in addition they are playing tuesday night against the kings and then come to cleveland.

i look at the hornets and feel bad for them, becuase its like im looking at an old cavs roster. they lack talent big time. i dont think i would want any of their players over the current cavs bench.

110-82 cavs win big.

 

[highplainsdrifter]

Re: Hornets @ Cavaliers Game #1

Excellent preview LePip! I did my first one a while ago, once i got the hang of the computer jargon, it was fun.

The Hornets roster is wimpy compared to the Cavaliers. Guaranteed win! At least a 15 point victory. Theyre gonna get smashed!

 

[cdt]

Re: Hornets @ Cavaliers Game #1

I'd take JR Smith over Luke or Sasha and I'd take CP3 over Snow or Jones, I'd take PJ Brown over Alan Henderson and I'd take D-Mase over Luke or Sasha lol...they aren't untalented it's just they are really really really inexperienced, give em 2 or 3 years with the draft not to mention they have like 30 million dollars that they didn't spend last season. And 2 1sts next year btw..after the Magloire deal.

 

[Dungong]

Re: Hornets @ Cavaliers Game #1

Nice preview. I don't know Mason would start just because the guy hasn't been there for preseason or anything. Looking at the matchup on paper, it is simply stacked up in the Cavs' favor 1-5 and bench. Chris Paul will be better than Eric Snow, but he's a rook and its his first game, Snow will give him a hard time.

Basically, this is the Cavs' game to lose. Hopefully, we'll see some Zendon and Wilks for this one

 

[ChicagoCavFan]

Re: Hornets @ Cavaliers Game #1

Nice work LePip...

I will be missing most of the game - playing poker at a buddies place - I'll get to see the start (begins at 6 CST in Chicago), but will miss the majority. Maybe I'll TIVO it ans watch it after while counting my winnings and rolling around nak... oh nevermind.

 

[LyXo]

Re: Hornets @ Cavaliers Game #1

Section 214, Row 1 BABY! I'm there. And for $37.50 for the pair, the saved loot is definitely going to free beer~~~~ mmmm

On another note,
This game is going to be great. I'm hoping for a stomp so I don't go home disappointed. Very possible with the thinnest frontcourt in the NBA since the Atlanta Hawks lost Mutumbo.

Big game for Z, big game from LeBron, solid D from Hughes & Snow, rebounding night from Drew, and big shot after big shot from our 3 headed beast off the bench. Bring it~!

 

[fsqp13]

Re: Hornets @ Cavaliers Game #1

hope that the cavs won't take them lightly... but inevitably, i think they will, from laughing too much about how sucky nooc is that we even give them a chance

an 87-82 cavs escape for me with lbj garnering 22 pts 8 rbs and 3 assists

 

[CBBI]

Re: Hornets @ Cavaliers Game #1

Cavs should win this one easily. Home opener with an absolutely jazzed up crowd, new additions wanting to impress their new fans, against the worst team in the NBA that just traded their all-star center away.

Cavs 102 Hornets 84

 

[cavincali]

Re: Hornets @ Cavaliers Game #1

Looking at the matchup on paper, it is simply stacked up in the Cavs' favor 1-5 and bench. Chris Paul will be better than Eric Snow, but he's a rook and its his first game, Snow will give him a hard time.

where in the world do you get this??? chris paul better than eric snow, the guy hasnt palyed a second yet. if this paul guy was like lebron than i can see it, but i havent even heard of the dude's name before the splended job by pipp.

snow pretty much "shuts down" the opponents top scorer and you think he wont be able to do so against a rook. :thumbdown paul migh have more points, but thats only because he will shoot and play more.

 

[Edska]

Re: Hornets @ Cavaliers Game #1

LePIP, you forgot Macijauskas. He'll come off the bench for NOOH Kalashnikov can shoot the ball very well, but it's his first game as well as Paul's. Anyway, very nice preview. Waiting for a victorious season opener!