Game #10 Preview: LeBron Shows Up
By Jared Wade
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Indiana Pacers
Conseco Fieldhouse
Indianapolis, Indiana
7:00 PM EST
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Glossary: Offensive Rating | Defensive Rating | eFG% | Pace
The Cavs started off the season with back-to-back losses to the Celtics and the Raptors and it was immediately “EVERYBODY PANIC” time throughout the Mistake on the Lake. But they have gone 8-2 in the their next ten games and had a five-game winning streak before disappointed their fans with a loss to the poor-performing Wizards on Wednesday.
Gee, that sounds familiar.
The Pacers will look to shut down LeBron who has been rebounding a little less this season than normal but has otherwise doing all the stuff that makes him arguable a better SF than even the guy running the Pacers and is shooting an impressive 51.6% from the floor while doing so, which includes an impressive-for-him 36.4% shooting from three. Don’t fool yourself though — Pacers fans want LeBron shooting threes tonight. Early. And often.
They do not, however, want to let Mo Williams get good looks behind the arc. He is hitting an ungodly 48.2% from three this year so far, which includes nights of 5/8 4/5 and 5/7. But as anyone who watched Mo in the playoffs last year knows, he can also hurt his teams chances if he starts missing early — cause you know he won’t stop shooting treys. If ya need the evidence, look no further than his 1/7 and 1/5 three-point-shooting nights so far this year.
In other good news, Shaq aint playing. The big fella isn’t the same Diesel who destroyed the souls of Indy fans in the 2000 Finals, no, but given Roy Hibbert’s recent impressive performances, the Hoosier faithful should be happy to see that Doc Hibbert will only have to contend with Big Z and JJ Hickson on the block tonight rather than bang with the Big Bulldozerociously or whatever his Cleveland nickname is.
Other than that, not a ton to look for tonight. The Cavs don’t have a great roster; they’re just hard to beat. If that makes sense. Those who are wondering how Tyler’s career might turn out should watch Anderson Varejao closely. We haven’t seen all that much of Andy’s offense during his NBA tenure — partly because LeBron has always shouldered the load — but he has some interior moves and, like Bro Hands, relies on quickness, hustle, positioning and smarts in addition to some finesse to succeed.
As for the Pacers, a win tonight would be huge. Little could be better after losing to one of the worst teams in the league than beating one of the best teams in the league the next time out. I’m not going to hold my breath for a win nor get too upset if they lose, but more than anything it would be nice to see TJ Ford, Earl Watson and Bradon Rush make a few jumpshots.
I mean, I’m not asking for much here guys. Just give me, like, a 4/9 or something. And, please, oh please, do not put up another 2/10. I’ve seen waaay too much of that line lately.
Say cheese, Conseco. You’re on the King’s Candid Camera.