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Cavs 08-09 Season - Central Div Champs (official thread)

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ABJ
Cavaliers offense runs like machine Team off to good start after filling up tank and tuning up motor
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Monday, Nov 17, 2008
INDEPENDENCE: With its plodding pace and reliance on LeBron James in the half-court game, the Cavaliers used to drive like a Yugo, one of those boxy import cars guaranteed to draw snickers from onlookers.
No one is laughing now.
The Cavs' offensive attack is running like a sleek, efficient and cool Mercedes-Benz.
The numbers speak for themselves as Cleveland has blown up the scoreboard. The Cavs scored more than 100 points in six of the past seven games, averaging 105.4 points on 48.5 percent shooting. They rank fifth in the league in overall offense. The 8-2 Cavs have won seven in a row and lead the NBA's Central Division.
Not a bad start.
Coach Mike Brown finds himself smiling these days. ''Offensively, we're further along now than ever before since I've been here,'' he said.
Brown has taken criticism for the team's lackluster offense over the past several seasons. He relied on the team's defense and James' skills, and figured the offense would come later.
''That started a little bit last
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CPD
LeBron's in the futures market

by Brian Windhorst Sunday November 16, 2008, 10:09 PM


Unlike many NBA stars, LeBron James grants media interviews roughly an hour before each game.
This access can be both a blessing and a curse. Last week, for example, James showed reporters his iPod and the three Barry Manilow songs in it, kicking off a charming and popular story about his diverse musical tastes that surely had some of his fans scanning iTunes the next day.
But it's also an opportunity to talk about anything but the game. When it comes to James, this often includes the most popular off-court topic in the NBA these days: His future when his contract expires in 2010. It figures to be a common inquiry this week when the Cavaliers make a trip to New Jersey and Detroit.
Research and projections done by The Plain Dealer reveal that currently there are 18 teams in position to offer James, or just about anyone else for that matter, a maximum contract in July 2010. It is a fluid list that could change dramatically and will likely shrink because teams will be drafting and signing players to new contracts between now and then.
The Nets and Pistons are two teams that have made moves to clear salary-cap space for 2010, which is shaping up to be the most prolific free-agent season in NBA history. James, as it is well-known, is the centerpiece of that market.

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ABJ

Travel presents challenge for Cavs Team hoping to extend seven-game win streak
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Tuesday, Nov 18, 2008
INDEPENDENCE: It is called sweet home cookin', but now the Cavaliers will try to see whether they can take their recipe for success on the road for a two-game trip to New Jersey and Detroit.
The Cavs, who are riding a seven-game winning streak, play the Nets tonight at the Izod Center in East Rutherford.
Five of the seven wins have come at Quicken Loans Arena. In four of those games, the Cavaliers have scored more than 100 points.
So the plan is to not change anything except the uniform to the road variety.
''That's one thing I told the guys. We played well; we've got a good winning streak going; we have to continue the success we have. . . . We've been home for a little bit,'' LeBron James said. ''We've got to take that same energy we've had for the past three or four games at home and try to bring that to an environment that sometimes can be very difficult.''
The key: Being their own fans, James said.
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Mike Brown moves up a notch...

Link

Winners of seven straight, Cavs are on a roll

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 7:00 AM EST
By BOB FINNAN
[email protected]
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* It must be Michigan week. Brown was wearing Ohio State colors at practice, complete with a nifty red sweater vest. "I wanted to show my support for Jim Tressel and The Ohio State University," he said. "Go Buckeyes."
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This week is going to be a big test for the Cavs. First they need to come out tonight and beat a team that they should beat on the road. No thinking ahead, no taking a game off, they need to come out and win this game from the tip. Then they have to fly to Detroit and play one of the best teams in the East the next night. You know the Pistons are going to want to show the Cavs they they are still the best team in the Central so it is going to take a good game from everyone to win. After that they get to come home and play the up and coming Hawks. If they make it through this week with the streak still going everyone in the NBA better watch out. I know they are eventually going to have to lose, but I just can't look at the schedule and say "there's one they're going to drop". This is a fun season so far.
 
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Not a good first quarter for the guards. Boobie with 3, Mo and West with 2 each. Even when all 3 were taken out Kinsey got a foul. I get the feeling we are going to need a lot out of Pavs and Wally tonight. Let's see how they play with Lebron on the bench. Mo is going to have to stay out of foul trouble here in the second.
 
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