Spurs At Cavs Previews

[duncan228]

San Antonio (49-26) at Cleveland (61-15) Preview (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2009040505&prov=ap)
Game info: 1:00 pm EDT Sun Apr 5, 2009
TV: ABC
By Matt Becker

At this point of the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs should be hitting their stride in preparation for a title run. Neither has been playing like a championship-caliber team lately, though.

The Cavaliers look to break out of their funk and avoid losing three straight for the first time in a year Sunday when they host a Spurs team trying to get back on track after a lackluster defensive performance.

With the postseason less than two weeks away, Cleveland (61-15) is hoping to secure home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. The Cavs have a 3 1/2-game lead over second-place Boston in the Eastern Conference and a one-game advantage over the West-leading Los Angeles Lakers.

After having a franchise-record 13-game winning streak come to an end with Thursday’s 109-101 loss to Washington - the East’s worst team - Cleveland suffered a humiliating 116-87 defeat to Orlando on Friday. The Cavs shot 36.9 percent from the field and trailed by as many as 41 as the Magic handed them their most lopsided loss of the season.

“It’s embarrassing,” said LeBron James, who never found his rhythm, finishing with 26 points on 7-of-20 shooting.

The Cavs have lost back-to-back games for just the second time in 2008-09. They have not dropped three in a row since March 22-29 of last season.

Cleveland has the league’s best scoring defense (91.3), but it’s been completely out of sync over the last two games.

After allowing an average of 91.3 points on 42.2 percent shooting during their win streak, the Cavs have given up an average of 112.5 points on 52.1 percent shooting in their two April games.

“It’s not about how many games you lose, it’s about how you lose them,” James said. “The last two games weren’t how we play the game of basketball.”

Returning to Cleveland should help the Cavs get back on track.

Cleveland plays four of its final six games at Quicken Loans Arena, where it’s 36-1 on the season.

The Spurs (49-26) arrive in Cleveland also trying to shake off a couple of poor performances - uncharacteristic for a team vying for the second seed in the competitive West.

San Antonio thrives on playing suffocating defense, but it looked flat in Friday’s 126-121 win over Indiana. The Pacers shot 51.6 percent in the game and scored 40 in the fourth quarter en route to the most points allowed by the Spurs in a non-overtime game this season.

Although it wasn’t pretty, San Antonio was able to get back in the win column after losing its previous two.

“We’re trying to get some momentum going,” said center Tim Duncan, who had 22 points and 11 rebounds. “We haven’t played well for the last 20 games. We’re in a heck of a race in the West. We’re just trying to hold onto our position and gain some confidence going into the playoffs.”

The Southwest Division-leading Spurs have seven games remaining and Tony Parker said the team isn’t quite where it needs to be.

“I still think we can be better, and I think (coach Gregg Popovich) is still choosing his rotation and who he’s going to play for the playoffs,” said Parker, who had 31 points and 10 assists Friday.

San Antonio lost to the Cavs at home 97-86 on Feb. 27, but the Spurs were without Manu Ginobili and Duncan due to injuries. James led Cleveland with 30 points and 14 rebounds, while Parker finished with 11 points on 3-of-16 shooting.

Notes

Spurs:

The Spurs snapped a two-game losing streak despite allowing Indiana to score 40 points in the fourth quarter Friday. "I think I can count it on one hand the past five years how many teams have scored 40 on us in a quarter," Tim Duncan said. The Pacers finished with their most points against San Antonio since 1991. ... The Spurs picked up their 49th victory of the season, moving a win within their 10th consecutive 50-win campaign.

Cavs:

F LeBron James was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for March on Friday. It is the third time this season and 10 career that James has won the monthly honor. ... The Cavaliers dropped their second straight game after setting a franchise record with 13 consecutive wins. ... Cleveland dropped to 0-5 on the road against Orlando, Boston and the Los Angeles Lakers this season.

Team Stat Leaders

Points

Tony Parker SA 21.8
LeBron James Cle 28.3

Rebounds

Tim Duncan SA 10.6
LeBron James Cle 7.8

Assists

Tony Parker SA 6.9
LeBron James Cle 7.3

Team Comparison
Team Record Standings PF PA Road/Home Streak L10

San Antonio 49-26 1st Southwest / 3rd West 97.2 93.4 Road 23-14 Won 1 5-5

Cleveland 61-15 1st Central / 1st East 99.8 91.3 Home 36-1 Lost 2 8-2

[duncan228]

Oh boy.

An early game, on national TV. Against an 'embarrassed' LeBron, who's only lost at home once this season.

This one promises to be fun. :)

[duncan228]

I'm assuming the Duncan/Russell interview will air at halftime.

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121678

[Thomas82]

Oh boy.

An early game, on national TV. Against an 'embarrassed' LeBron, who's only lost at home once this season.

This one promises to be fun. :)

Yeah, at first glance, it looks like the Spurs are set up for a loss. If we came come out of Cleveland with a W. we would be making a statement.

[VI_Massive]

Yeah, at first glance, it looks like the Spurs are set up for a loss. If we came come out of Cleveland with a W. we would be making a statement.

Agreed. Cleveland will come out with a point to prove and we seem to suck in the afternoons.

How long has it been since we could say there was a game the Spurs were expected to lose?

[Muser]

Agreed. Cleveland will come out with a point to prove and we seem to suck in the afternoons.

How long has it been since we could say there was a game the Spurs were expected to lose?

March 12th.

[Don Quixote]

Oh boy.

An early game, on national TV. Against an 'embarrassed' LeBron, who's only lost at home once this season.

This one promises to be fun. :)

No kidding. This one has double-digit Cleveland victory written all over it.

This could be as bad as the second Laker game this year. When the Silver & Black kept it close for awhile, only to realize that L.A. was toying with them the whole time.

[duncan228]

Sunday on ABC: Spurs, Cavs look to get on track (http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/art_garcia/04/04/spurs.cavs/)
By Art Garcia, NBA.com

Finals preview? Perhaps. Just don't think the Spurs or Cavaliers, the two franchises that played for the 2007 NBA championship, are satisfied with their play of late going into Sunday's clash (1 p.m. ET, ABC) in Cleveland.

Despite continuing to lead the Southwest Division, San Antonio isn't hitting on all cylinders with the playoffs two weeks away. The Spurs (49-26) have a 5-5 record in their last 10 games, and needed a fourth-quarter rally to win Friday at lowly Indiana.

LeBron James and the Eastern Conference pacesetters are coming off a 29-point beating Friday at Orlando, their second consecutive loss. Cleveland (61-15) did have a 13-game winning streak before the recent skid, but the Cavs have struggled against some of the league's better teams.

Consider the following when the LeBrons welcome Timmy and Co. to town:

A Look at the Numbers

Cleveland Cavaliers: 61-15 (36-1 at home), First in East
Pace: 88.9 possessions/game (25th)
Offense: 111.9 points scored per 100 possessions (4th)
Defense: 102.3 points allowed per 100 possessions (3rd)

San Antonio Spurs: 49-26 (23-14 on the road), Third in West
Pace: 88.5 possessions/game (26th)
Offense: 108.6 points scored per 100 possessions (13th)
Defense: 104.3 points allowed per 100 possessions (5th)

Previous Meetings

Feb. 27 -- AT&T Center -- Cleveland 97, San Antonio 86

Five Questions

1. Are the Cavaliers coasting or slumping?

The blowout in Orlando -- Cleveland trailed by 41 at one point -- was easily the worst of the season, and two-game losing streak is only the second of the year. The Cavs have yet to lose three straight and are 12-2 coming off a loss.

"We've only been in this situation one time this year where we've lost two straight and we were able to bounce back," LeBron James said. "It's not about the games you lose; it's about how you lose. And the last two games weren't how we play the game of basketball."

Still safely in control of the East's top seed, the Cavs don't want to go into the tailspin with the postseason right around the corner. Sweeping one of the West's best should provide a nice boost going into their final five games.

2. Is this is time to defrost Bruce Bowen?

The Spurs lockdown specialist has been in deep freeze most of this season, as his playing time and effectiveness has waned. But Bowen's annoying ways could come in handy against James, who lit up the Spurs five weeks ago with 30 points and 14 rebounds in three quarters of work.

Other than Bowen, the Spurs other wings are at a physical disadvantage against LeBron. Manu Ginobili, Michael Finley and George Mason, Jr. just don't match up. Spurs reserve and former James teammate Drew Gooden may be an defensive option for Gregg Popovich.

3. Why is Manu Ginobili back in the starting lineup?

The reigning Sixth Man of the year is supposed to the catalyst off the bench, but the Spurs weren't getting much offensive punch lately from three-fifths of the starting lineup. Tim Duncan and Tony Parker needed some help, so here comes Ginobili to the rescue.

"Manu coming off the bench has run its course," Popovich told the San Antonio Express-News. "It's time for the three of them to play together. They're our best three players. They're going to make each other better on the court."

The Argentine has started the last two games, and played at least 28 minutes in the last three. The team's recent struggles can't be placed at Ginobili's feet ... or his bum ankle. Despite working his way back into basketball shape, he's averaging 16.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists in those three games.

4. Has Mo Williams hit a dry patch?

LeBron's main offensive complement is averaging only 13.3 points over the past three games, 4.5 points less than his season average. Over that stretch, he's only 6 of 18 (33.3 percent) from beyond the 3-point line.

Williams is a 43-percent 3-point shooter this season, with his accuracy increasing each month. In fact, the All-Star is up 4.5 percent from last season, marking one of the biggest improvements in the league.

The Cavs need Williams' scoring, energy and overall peskiness against Parker in a matchup of two of the league's best point guards.

5. Why can't the Spurs buy a 3?

San Antonio is one the league's better 3-point shooting teams with four players -- Matt Bonner, Mason, Finley and Bowen -- connecting on better than 40 percent. Lately, though, those open looks haven't been going down quite as easily. In the two most recent losses, the Spurs were just 15 of 54 (27.7 percent) from distance.

Maybe it's a product of heavy legs this deep into the season or opposing defenses closing just a bit faster. But if the Spurs aren't hitting from downtown, life in the lane is just a little rougher on those who make their living down there, namely Duncan, Parker and Ginobili.

"It makes it tough if we're not hitting those shots and a couple of people aren't playing well," Popovich said. "Knocking down shots is really important in the NBA and we're not doing it."

[duncan228]

Rocked, can Cavaliers roll again? Spurs pose another stiff test for shaken defense (http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2009/04/rocked_can_cavaliers_roll_agai.html#more)
by Brian Windhorst/Plain Dealer Reporter

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Cavaliers may still roll out their pregame "family portrait" poses for another national television audience Sunday when the San Antonio Spurs visit, but they probably won't be as many smiles as there were last week.

In a 48-hour span on Thursday and Friday, the mojo from the Cavs' 13-game winning streak where they seemingly could do no wrong -- or at least nothing wrong enough to lose -- vanished in a pair of ugly losses. It staggered the team, which has not seen much adversity since the All-Star break.

Losing to the Wizards was disappointing, losing to the Magic by 29 points was disheartening.

"You can get too high on yourself at times and sometimes a losing streak can get you back to what you were doing to get on a winning streak," LeBron James said. "We're a veteran ball club and we can get through this but it is about going out there and executing."

This is just the second losing streak of the season. They have been resilient after losses and strong in back-to-backs, which is why getting down by as much as 41 points to the Magic with the Cavs' starters on the court seemed to come out of the blue.

Not to coach Mike Brown, though. He has been concerned that the team was leaking some oil starting about two weeks back. In two games against the Nets, they periodically lost defensive focus. Last Sunday they whipped the Dallas Mavericks, but only after their defense recovered from a shoddy start that saw them fall behind by 13 points.

Tuesday's win over the Pistons, which was quite ugly, only got done when the Cavs pieced together a strong defensive stretch in the fourth quarter.

So the dam finally broke against the Wizards, who scored at will inside, putting up 58 points in the paint. Then the Magic, far more offensively diverse, easily scored inside and out in reducing the team's once mighty defensive front to rubble. Then there was the transition defense, which was also horrendous.

On the two-game trip, the Cavs gave up a combined 40 fast-break points, 96 points in the paint and allowed 52 percent (85-of-163) shooting.

"I am concerned where we are defensively," Brown said. "Teams are scoring easy against us and that is something we have to correct as a team, starting with me."

Right now, the biggest issue is opponents being able to drive the ball inside off the dribble. When that happens the Cavs' help-and-recover system breaks down. The guards share blame there with Mo Williams, Delonte West and James all losing their edge recently.

But the team's big men are equal partners. Zydrunas Ilgauskas is lagging defensively now and getting scored over regularly. Anderson Varejao hasn't taken a charge in several games and Joe Smith has repeatedly allowed himself to get in poor position under the basket.

"We have not been able to contain the dribble drive and it has hurt our overall defense," Brown said. "You're going to lose some games, you are going to lose two or three or four in a row. there's a way that you lose games, and we should be embarrassed with the way that we played."

Yet with Tony Parker, one of the quickest men in the NBA, and Tim Duncan, one of the best low post scorers, arriving Sunday, it isn't getting any easier. The Cavs were unable to have practice Saturday because they needed to rest after the back-to-back and there is no time for a shootaround to go over issues on Sunday.

"We're a good team and we've only been in [a losing streak] once," James said. "We're going to see how we'll deal with it. It's too late in the season to be having this, but in hindsight it could be good for us."

[B]Dribbles: Darnell Jackson bruised his right wrist in a fall on Friday, but is OK and is expected to play against the Spurs. ... Tarence Kinsey certainly made a statement for more playing time against the Magic, he probably had the best game of any Cav with eight points and two rebounds in seven minutes. Sasha Pavlovic and Daniel Gibson, the two guys ahead of him in the depth chart, went a combined 6-of-19 with four rebounds in a combined 52 minutes on the road trip.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS VS. CAVALIERS

Notable: Manu Ginobili (ankle) is healthy again and starting for the Spurs. ... The Cavs are 2-2 in Sunday afternoon games this season, 1-1 at home. ... The Cavs won the previous meeting, 97-86 on Feb. 26 at San Antonio, but the Spurs played without Ginobili and Tim Duncan. ... This is the final game of the season for the Cavs against the Western Conference. They own a 25-4 record.

[NewJerSpur]

Cleveland "Traveliers" here we come.

[duncan228]

Sunday: Spurs (49-26) at Cavaliers (61-15) (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Sunday_Spurs_49-26_at_Cavaliers_61-15.html)
Express-News

Time: Noon
TV: ABC
Radio: WOAI-AM 1200, KCOR-AM 1350

STARTING LINEUPS
POS - SPURS - CAVALIERS

PG - 9 Tony Parker (6-2, 8th yr) - 2 Mo Williams (6-1, 6th yr)
After another 30-point game for Parker, Pop wonders if he’s underrated.

SG - 20 Manu Ginobili (6-6, 7th yr) - 13 Delonte West (6-3, 5th yr)
Neither Ginobili nor Duncan played in Cavs’ February win at AT&T Center.

SF - 4 Michael Finley (6-7, 14th yr) - 23 LeBron James (6-8, 6th yr)
In unofficial straw poll, The King stands as a heavy favorite in MVP race.

PF - 21 Tim Duncan (6-11, 12th yr) - 17 A. Varejao (6-11, 5th yr)
Duncan showing signs of putting knee trouble behind him.

C - 15 Matt Bonner (6-10, 5th yr) - 11 Z. Ilgauskas (7-3, 11th yr)
Ilgauskas one of only three players to log 700 games with Cleveland.

SPURS RESERVES

12 Bruce Bowen, F, 6-7, 13th yr
90 Drew Gooden, F, 6-10, 8th yr
3 George Hill, G, 6-2, 1st yr
8 Roger Mason Jr., G, 6-5, 5th yr
40 Kurt Thomas, C/F, 6-9, 14th yr
5 Ime Udoka, G/F, 6-5, 5th yr
11 Jacque Vaughn, G, 6-1, 12th yr

CAVALIERS RESERVES

1 Daniel Gibson, G, 6-2, 3rd yr
21 J.J. Hickson, F, 6-9, 1st yr
00 Darnell Jackson, F, 6-9, 1st yr
8 Tarence Kinsey, G, 6-6, 3rd yr
10 W. Szczerbiak, G/F, 6-7, 10th yr
3 Sasha Pavlovic, G/F, 6-7, 6th yr
32 Joe Smith, F/C, 6-10, 14th yr

COACHES

Spurs: Gregg Popovich
Cavaliers: Mike Brown

INJURIES

Spurs: None

Cavaliers: Eric Snow (sore left knee) and Ben Wallace (right fibula fracture) are out.

PROJECTED INACTIVE PLAYERS

Spurs: Malik Hairston, Fabricio Oberto

Cavaliers: Snow, Wallace, Lorenzen Wright

NOTABLE

Spurs enter game having broken a two-game losing streak. Now the Cavs hope to do the same. Cleveland boasts the top record in the NBA, but has lost two games in a row for just the second time this season. ... Cavs are 36-1 this season at Quicken Loans Arena, with the lone loss coming Feb. 8 against the Lakers. ... With a victory, Spurs can clinch 10th consecutive 50-win season.

- Jeff McDonald

[xtremesteven33]

I want me some Bowen!! Damnit

[Mugen]

really tough game.

anyways, FTL.

[duncan228]

Media views on Spurs vs. Cavs (http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/spursworld/2009/04/media-views-on-spurs-vs-cavs.html)
By Joe Alexander

Some media views on the Spurs' meeting with the Cavaliers on Sunday in Cleveland:

Art Garcia, NBA.com
Finals preview? Perhaps. Just don't think the Spurs or Cavaliers, the two franchises that played for the 2007 NBA championship, are satisfied with their play of late going into Sunday's clash in Cleveland.
http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/art_garcia/04/04/spurs.cavs/

Ken Berger, CBS Sports
They've won the past two NBA titles and four of the past six. Their locker rooms are populated by some of the biggest names in the game -- and also some of the biggest names on the list of the battered and bruised. The playoffs begin two weeks from Saturday. Are the Spurs and Celtics ready?
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/11587944

Brian Windhorst, Cleveland Plain Dealer
The Cavaliers may still roll out their pregame "family portrait" poses for another national television audience Sunday when the San Antonio Spurs visit, but they probably won't be as many smiles as there were last week.
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2009/04/rocked_can_cavaliers_roll_agai.html

This on David Robinson and the Hall of Fame:

David Steele, Baltimore Sun
There are a handful of mortal locks in the group of new inductees into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Only one's list of accomplishments was enhanced as much by where he did it as by what he did.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/basketball/mens/bal-steele0404,0,5446688.column

[Manufan909]

Why would Fin start on Bowen!?!? The Spurs are fucked if Bowen doesn't defend Lebron more than anyone else.

[Borosai]

So fitting. Lebron licking chops. Pop in love. Good times.
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/6312/finshutdownd.jpg

[ducks]

Why would Fin start on Bowen!?!? The Spurs are fucked if Bowen doesn't defend Lebron more than anyone else.

kt needs to hard foul him on drives


james boy does not like hard fouls

[timvp]

I can't imagine how the hell the Spurs would win this game. They aren't good in early games. They aren't good on national television during the regular season. They are facing an angry Cavs team that already gets up for the Spurs more than any other opponent. They are starting Finley out on LeBron James. Everything points to something like a 105-82 demolition.

The good news is that the Spurs are usually best when it seems like they have no chance.

[SA210]

They are starting Finley out on LeBron James.

:pctoss:bang

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71220

[Thomas82]

I can't imagine how the hell the Spurs would win this game. They aren't good in early games. They aren't good on national television during the regular season. They are facing an angry Cavs team that already gets up for the Spurs more than any other opponent. They are starting Finley out on LeBron James. Everything points to something like a 105-82 demolition.

The good news is that the Spurs are usually best when it seems like they have no chance.

I felt the same way when we went to Boston and played them on national TV in an early game.

[duncan228]

NBA Basketball Betting: San Antonio Spurs vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (http://insider.justbet.com/2009/04/nba/nba-basketball-betting-san-antonio-spurs-vs-cleveland-cavaliers-100-et/)
By Adam Markowitz

Sunday afternoon, JustBet Sportsbook presents another fantastic NBA betting affair when the San Antonio Spurs (49-26, 37-36-2 ATS) do battle with the Cleveland Cavaliers (61-15, 45-31 ATS) from the “Q” in Cleveland, OH. In spite of back-to-back SU defeats, the Cavs have been tabbed as 6.5-point favorites with the ‘total’ set at 181.

The visiting Spurs kicked off a three-game road trip with a 126-121 road win and cover against the Indiana Pacers on Friday. San Antonio has been significantly better on the road this season for sports betting fans (21-15-1 ATS) than at home (16-21-1 ATS). Much of the road success has been thanks to PG Tony Parker, who leads the team in scoring and assists. He’s drastically picked it up since the start of March, as the French superstar has averaged 25.2 points and 7.7 assists per game. In that stretch though, San Antonio is just 10-8 SU and 8-10 ATS.

The Cavs have really cooled off of late. Their 13-game winning streak was snapped with an inexcusable loss against Washington on Thursday night, and was followed up with a thrashing at the hands of the Orlando Magic on Friday. Cleveland is just 3-9 ATS in its L/12 games. You can’t talk about the Cavaliers without mentioning LeBron James. “King James” has absolutely torched the Spurs over the past two seasons averaging 32.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game in three outings. Cleveland is 2-1 SU and against the basketball betting line in those games.

Earlier this season, the Cavs took out the Spurs 97-86 in San Antonio, but the silver and black played that game without the services of Tim Duncan. Expect to see payback on the minds of the Spurs. Cleveland has appeared to hit a bit of a lull, and giving a team as good as San Antonio three-plus possessions seems to be a tad much.

Selection: San Antonio Spurs +6.5

[duncan228]

San Antonio Spurs (49-26) at Cleveland Cavaliers (61-15) (http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=nba/scores/live/preview.aspx?id=11251)

(Sports Network) - The Cleveland Cavaliers are playing their worst basketball of the season and hope the cozy confines of Quicken Loans Arena can cure their ills as they attempt to hang on to the NBA's best record.

Cleveland, which is an astonishing 36-1 at the "Q," hosts Southwest Division- leading San Antonio this afternoon.

The Cavs are coming off an 0-2 road trip and one of their worst losses of the season Friday in Orlando. Rashard Lewis scored 16 of his 22 points in a decisive third quarter in that one as the Magic pounded Cleveland 116-87, at Amway Arena.

LeBron James scored 26 points but shot just 7-of-20 from the field overall for the Cavs, who have lost two straight since winning a franchise record 13 in a row. The team has not dropped three in a row since March 22-29 of last season.

James also had nine rebounds and five assists against the Magic, while Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Mo Williams each had 10 in the defeat, the largest of the season for Cleveland.

The Cavs now hold only a one game lead over the Lakers for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs and LA holds the tiebreaker after sweeping the season series from Cleveland, 2-0.

"At one point, (the game was embarrassing)," James said. "I think, the fourth quarter, those guys who came in off the bench really helped. It was embarrassing at times. I've got a lot of pride, but they were a much better team, executed their game plan, played really well."

The Cavs worst loss of the year prior to Friday was a 19-point setback to the Rockets on February 26.

The Spurs, meanwhile, are holding on to a slim lead in the Southwest Division. and opened a three-game road trip in winning fashion on Friday when Tony Parker poured in 31 points and dished out a game-high 10 assists, as San Antonio hung on to defeat Indiana, 126-121, at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Tim Duncan added 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs, who snapped a two- game skid. Michael Finley ended with 18 points. Manu Ginobili finished with 16 points, seven boards, and seven assists. Drew Gooden added 17 points off the bench for the victors.

San Antonio now sits atop the Southwest Division standings, 1 1/2 games ahead of Houston and two games in front of New Orleans. The Spurs are also one game behind Denver for the second spot in the Western Conference.

Cleveland has won five of its past six meetings with the Spurs, including a 97-86 win in San Antonio on February 27.

[weebo]

So fitting. Lebron licking chops. Pop in love. Good times.
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/6312/finshutdownd.jpg


By the way Lebron is holding the ball in this pic, it looks like he's ready to spring out his patented "crab-walk."

[shelshor]

Referee Assignments
Sun. Apr. 5
San Antonio @ Cleveland: M. Wunderlich, D. Jones, M. Smith

[timvp]

I can't imagine how the hell the Spurs would win this game. They aren't good in early games. They aren't good on national television during the regular season. They are facing an angry Cavs team that already gets up for the Spurs more than any other opponent. They are starting Finley out on LeBron James. Everything points to something like a 105-82 demolition. Props to the Spurs. They did better than I thought. :tu