ducks
11-05-2005, 09:33 AM
Cleveland (1-1) at Memphis (1-1)
Cleveland (1-1) at Memphis (1-1)
Preview - Box Score - Recap
Game Info: 8:00 pm EST Sat Nov 5, 2005
TV: WUAB, FxMS Add to Calendar
Buy Tickets
LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers still have plenty of room for improvement despite an offseason overhaul designed to propel them into contention.
After a sobering setback at the hands of the defending NBA champions, James and the Cavaliers look to get their offense back on track when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies.
James was held to 10 points over the final three quarters Friday as Cleveland suffered a humbling 102-76 loss to San Antonio. The budding superstar finished with 20 points on 7-for-16 shooting and went 0-for-3 from 3-point range under pressure from one of the strongest defenses in the league.
``I was able to attack at times, draw the defense in and kick it out -- sometimes we made the shots, sometimes we didn't,'' said the 20-year-old James, who scored 31 points and hit six three-pointers in the Cavaliers' season-opening 109-87 rout of New Orleans on Wednesday.
``We try to do the exact same things they try to do, only they do it about five times better right now.''
ADVERTISEMENT
Cleveland spent $150 million to woo veterans like Larry Hughes, Damon Jones and Donyell Marshall while re-signing center Zydrunas Ilgauskas in the hopes of ensuring James's first trip to the postseason.
However, the retooled Cavaliers struggled with James under pressure, especially in the third quarter when they were limited to four baskets while falling behind by as many as 21 points.
Drew Gooden scored 14 points and Hughes added 11 while Marshall had 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who scored only 31 points in the second half on 10-for-43 shooting.
James will try to bounce back against the Grizzlies. He averaged 29 points, seven rebounds and 11.5 assists to help the Cavs sweep the two-game season series from Memphis last season.
Memphis showed some encouraging signs on offense in a 94-85 win over Orlando on Friday.
After shooting 34 percent in a 97-78 loss to Miami in Wednesday's season opener, the Grizzlies hit 47 percent from the field and connected for 10 3-pointers. Eddie Jones hit five 3-pointers and scored 25 points while Pau Gasol added 22.
``We just executed a lot better,'' said Memphis coach Mike Fratello, who coached Cleveland from 1993-99 before he was fired. ``Eddie was hot for a while and Pau answered some big hoops when we had to have them in the fourth quarter.''
Shane Battier appeared to be fine after sustaining a large cut on his head during the game. Battier, who needed eight stitches, returned for the final minutes and finished with 13 points and four rebounds.
STANDINGS (through Nov. 4): Cavaliers - 5th place, 1 GB, Central Division. Grizzlies - 3rd place (tied), 1 GB, Southwest Division.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Cavaliers - F James, F Gooden, C Ilgauskas, G Eric Snow, G Hughes. Grizzlies - F Battier, F Gasol, C Lorenzen Wright, G Jones, G Damon Stoudamire.
TEAM LEADERS: Cavaliers - James, 25.5 ppg; Marshall, 9.5 rpg; Hughes, 5.0 apg. Grizzlies - Gasol, 24.0 ppg and 10.0 rpg; Stoudamire, 5.0 apg.
2004-05 SEASON SERIES: Cavaliers, 2-0.
LAST MEETING: Jan. 26; Cavaliers, 114-111. At Cleveland, James scored 27 points with a career-high 15 assists and nine rebounds despite being slowed by a sprained left ankle suffered in the fourth quarter.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Cavaliers - 0-1 on the road; Grizzlies - 0-1 at home.
Cleveland (1-1) at Memphis (1-1)
Preview - Box Score - Recap
Game Info: 8:00 pm EST Sat Nov 5, 2005
TV: WUAB, FxMS Add to Calendar
Buy Tickets
LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers still have plenty of room for improvement despite an offseason overhaul designed to propel them into contention.
After a sobering setback at the hands of the defending NBA champions, James and the Cavaliers look to get their offense back on track when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies.
James was held to 10 points over the final three quarters Friday as Cleveland suffered a humbling 102-76 loss to San Antonio. The budding superstar finished with 20 points on 7-for-16 shooting and went 0-for-3 from 3-point range under pressure from one of the strongest defenses in the league.
``I was able to attack at times, draw the defense in and kick it out -- sometimes we made the shots, sometimes we didn't,'' said the 20-year-old James, who scored 31 points and hit six three-pointers in the Cavaliers' season-opening 109-87 rout of New Orleans on Wednesday.
``We try to do the exact same things they try to do, only they do it about five times better right now.''
ADVERTISEMENT
Cleveland spent $150 million to woo veterans like Larry Hughes, Damon Jones and Donyell Marshall while re-signing center Zydrunas Ilgauskas in the hopes of ensuring James's first trip to the postseason.
However, the retooled Cavaliers struggled with James under pressure, especially in the third quarter when they were limited to four baskets while falling behind by as many as 21 points.
Drew Gooden scored 14 points and Hughes added 11 while Marshall had 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who scored only 31 points in the second half on 10-for-43 shooting.
James will try to bounce back against the Grizzlies. He averaged 29 points, seven rebounds and 11.5 assists to help the Cavs sweep the two-game season series from Memphis last season.
Memphis showed some encouraging signs on offense in a 94-85 win over Orlando on Friday.
After shooting 34 percent in a 97-78 loss to Miami in Wednesday's season opener, the Grizzlies hit 47 percent from the field and connected for 10 3-pointers. Eddie Jones hit five 3-pointers and scored 25 points while Pau Gasol added 22.
``We just executed a lot better,'' said Memphis coach Mike Fratello, who coached Cleveland from 1993-99 before he was fired. ``Eddie was hot for a while and Pau answered some big hoops when we had to have them in the fourth quarter.''
Shane Battier appeared to be fine after sustaining a large cut on his head during the game. Battier, who needed eight stitches, returned for the final minutes and finished with 13 points and four rebounds.
STANDINGS (through Nov. 4): Cavaliers - 5th place, 1 GB, Central Division. Grizzlies - 3rd place (tied), 1 GB, Southwest Division.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Cavaliers - F James, F Gooden, C Ilgauskas, G Eric Snow, G Hughes. Grizzlies - F Battier, F Gasol, C Lorenzen Wright, G Jones, G Damon Stoudamire.
TEAM LEADERS: Cavaliers - James, 25.5 ppg; Marshall, 9.5 rpg; Hughes, 5.0 apg. Grizzlies - Gasol, 24.0 ppg and 10.0 rpg; Stoudamire, 5.0 apg.
2004-05 SEASON SERIES: Cavaliers, 2-0.
LAST MEETING: Jan. 26; Cavaliers, 114-111. At Cleveland, James scored 27 points with a career-high 15 assists and nine rebounds despite being slowed by a sprained left ankle suffered in the fourth quarter.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Cavaliers - 0-1 on the road; Grizzlies - 0-1 at home.