Post-mortem: Cavs 101, Bulls 87
The good: The Cavs bench players delivered significant points once again as they put up 40 against the Bulls. Daniel ”Boobie” Gibson led the way for the reserves with 15 points. Considering how woeful bench play was a couple of weeks ago, this can only be viewed as a welcome development by Mike Brown and his staff. An educated guess says this is what they had in mind when they went out and made their offseason moves. It’s the third consecutive game the bench has produced 40 points or more. In those three games, they are averaging 43 points per game.
The better: A rarity for Mike Brown – he offered effusive praise for second-year player J.J. Hickson and it was difficult not to and that’s not based on his nine points on the night. It was based on the way that he played defense in the third quarter – diving for balls and contesting shots. In that period, he was dynamite.
The best: They played a flawless third quarter as they began to take over the game. The Cavs went into the locker room with 11 turnovers and didn’t turn the ball over once in the second half. In the third quarter, they held the Bulls to just 25 percent shooting while shooting 54 percent themselves and building a 19-point lead and putting the game out of reach.
Game: Cavs (13-5) vs. Chicago Bulls (7-9)
Broadcast:
TV: ESPN
Radio: WAKR (1590 AM); WTAM (1100 AM), WHBC (1480 AM)
Starters: Cavs: LeBron James (F); J.J. Hickson (F); Shaquille O’Neal (C); Anthony Parker (G); Mo Williams (G). Luol Deng (F); Taj Gibson (F); Joakim Noah (C); John Salmons (G); Derrick Rose (G)
Injured:
Cavs: Leon Powe (knee) – OUT
Bulls: Kirk Hinrich (left thumb sprain); Jerome James (right Achilles); Tyrus Thomas (left radius fracture) – OUT. Aaron Gray (left fibula stress fracture) – PROBABLE.
Officials: Mauer, Wright, Zielinski
- Luol Deng and John Salmons arrive at Quicken Loans Arena Friday having played impressively in the past five games. Deng has averaged 21.8 points and 7.4 rebounds and Rose 19.8 points, 4.6 assists and 3.8 rebounds during that span. Those two inflicted much of the damage against the Cavaliers during the teams’ first meeting of the season which the Bulls won 86-85.
- Joakim Noah has developed into a force on the boards this season, currently ranking second in the NBA with 12.2 boards a game. He’s posted nine double-doubles through the season.
- Mike Brown is facing a tough situation now that Delonte West is producing on the court. He has to balance the minutes of those who’ve been performing. In this case that includes Jamario Moon and decide which way to go. It’s a blessing and a curse. Here’s guessing that when teams go to smaller lineups you’ll see more of West. With more traditional lineups, possibly more Moon. What is becoming increasingly evident, however, is that West is getting the opportunity to earn minutes back and the team is gradually showing a little more confidence in hsi ability to maintain his behavior.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
AS USUAL LEBRON STILL DANCING,NO RESPECT FOR THE OTHER TEAM,THSI WHAT HAPPEN LAST YEAR,ALL THE SHOW AND TAKING OF PICTURES DURING INTRODUCTION PLAYERS THAT IS GREAT I LOVE IT,AND LIKE LAST YEAR THEY WILL BE ELIMINATED IN PLAYOFFS BECAUSE HE DOES NOT GET IT ,IMMATURE AND THE MEDIA BUILD HIM UP SO THAY CAN KNOCK HIM DOWN.AS A CELTIC FAN FOR YEARS IF YOU TAKE AWAY ALL THOSE UNCONTESTED DRIVES TO BASKET HE WOULDNT SURVIVE.BACK WHEN LAKERS AND CELTICS PLAYED BIRD MAGIC ,THIS KID WOULDNT LAST ,THEY WOULD CREAM HIS ASS WHEN HE CAME DOWN MIDDLE.AND THIS FOOTBALL FANTASY ,YEAH RAY LEWIS WOULD BUST HIS ASS.BASKETBAL UNLIKE FOOTBALL THEY CAN HIT YOU AND LEBRON HAS SHOWED THAT IN PLAYOFF GAMES AGAINST GOOD DEFENSES THAT WILL CHALLENGE HIM HE WILL SHOO JUMPER,SO NFL WOULD LOVE TO BUST THAT ASS.HE IS ALL HYPE,NOT JORDAN ,BIRD OR MAGIC,THIS KID PLAYING AGAINST TEAMS THAT PLAYER ARE IN AWE AND JUST WANT A CHECK NOT TRY TO D UP.
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