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After a tough start in the opening minutes, the Cavs are throttling the Wizards. They're up 18 with just under 8 mins. left. LBJ has scored 34.

CBS Sportsline has them at #5 in their power rankings - maybe a bit generous right now, but it's good to see them being recognized as a good team.
 
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LBJ definatly came to play tonite. After they came out of the gates a little sluggish they put it together. LBJ can score on anyone in the league, He is just starting to put everything together.

Tonight was a great test for the Cavs and they passed it with flying colors.

I am thinking we might go 41-0 at home this season.:biggrin:
 
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It was nice to see the team close out strong with James on the bench most of the fourth quarter. They gave up a few scoring runs, but always stretched it back out. It was also nice from a personal standpoint to see Hughes finally do something. Whenever I've been able to watch, he's always sucked. The same was true for the first three quarters tonight, but he sure did light it up in the fourth.
 
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It was nice to see the team close out strong with James on the bench most of the fourth quarter. They gave up a few scoring runs, but always stretched it back out. It was also nice from a personal standpoint to see Hughes finally do something. Whenever I've been able to watch, he's always sucked. The same was true for the first three quarters tonight, but he sure did light it up in the fourth.

Yeah, but even know he struggled shooting the ball he was all over the court. I think he was just what the doctor ordered for LBJ
 
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I agree. They just need to get used to playing together. I like what I've seen so far from Damon Jones. Hopefully Luke Jackson can grow into a credible 10-12 ppg. guy this season. I can't wait til they get Wild Thing back!

I think winning the division over Detriot might be a tall order, but with the way they're playing right now, I don't see why we shouldn't expect them to win the four-seed for the playoffs and homecourt for the first round.
 
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The fact that they're 6-2 and undefeated at home without Anderson (who is really more important than people give him credit for) is immensely encouraging to me. I think it's realistic that they finish in the top three in the East, though I think there will be some scary matchups (Chicago, Milwaukee) for those 3 and 4 seeds.
 
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1. Honestly, the best the Cavs can probably hope for is a 4 seed. They play in the toughest division in basketball (17 games over .500), and the Pistons are still the class of the Eastern Conference. With the way the NBA has the playoff seedings set up, second and third place in that division will be the 4 and 5 seed. It's a shame too, because the teams in that division are already going to have their records hurt because they play each other so many times. Then second place gets jobbed because someone has to win Philly and NJ's division. Just stupid.

2. Team played well, but you have to expect that at home in the Q. It's on the road that this team really needs to improve.
 
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The fact that they're 6-2 and undefeated at home without Anderson (who is really more important than people give him credit for) is immensely encouraging to me. I think it's realistic that they finish in the top three in the East, though I think there will be some scary matchups (Chicago, Milwaukee) for those 3 and 4 seeds.

I don't think Chicago will be in a 5-6 seed, they will be lucky to be in at an 8. I think either Boston or Philly(which ever one doesnt win the east) will take the 5th seed and we will play them as I feel we will get the four.
 
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Well, I think the important thing is that it looks very much like the Cavs are actually going to be in the playoffs... I tend to think that it might be a bit early to worry about seeds with less than 10% of the season gone... :wink2:

Plus, the key to them doing well is to continue to grow as a team and for the younger guys to continue to develop... so if they get a 5 or 6 seed instead of the 4, who cares.
 
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The rest of this month should go a long way in showing what the Cavs are capable of doing. None of the remaining games are easy wins. They need to play better on the road. The Sixers will be a good road test, but the game at Indy will he a huge test. I think the Cavs are good enough in the Q that they can play with anyone.
I question what Mike Brown's rotation is going to be once Wild Thing comes back. Right now I like who he's playing. Henderson is getting 12 minutes a game so those would go to AV. Z, Gooden, and Marshall are all around 28. At least Brown should be able to keep all of the big men fresh the whole season. Now if he could just find a way to get Eric Snow fewer minutes. My only problem with the starting 5 is that none of them are pure shooters.
 
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Z, Gooden, and Marshall are all around 28

Well.. don't give Z more minutes than you need to... and you can then almost give the other guys nights off once in a while... not that they need it, but Marshall expends so much energy that you might want to to that once in a while... and you have the abiltiy to rest those nagging injuries...

Ditto on the starting 5, but I'd think of this team more like the early 90's cavs, everybody knew there were 2 guys on the bench better than Mike Sanders, but that wasn't the point... think of Eric snow as the new Mike Sanders... it speaks to putting defense first.
 
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My only problem with the starting 5 is that none of them are pure shooters.

1. I think the issue with Marshall and Jones coming off the bench is one you see often in basketball. These guys are natural sparks off the bench, which obviously leads to the conclusion that they are more effective off the bench. I see no reason why that should change.

2. Drew Gooden has been a solid first quarter player since coming to Cleveland, so I feel comfortable with him starting. It's the rest of the game that he sometimes disappears. But in the first, he can do damage on the offensive end.

3. Except for last night, this team does not usually come out flat early on. They try to get Z involved early, and use the fresh energy of Lebron and Larry to create early fast breaks off turnovers.

4. Teams that ignore Eric Snow will get burned. It happened last night, when the Wizards put too much focus on shutting down Lebron early on, and leaving E-Snow open. He knocked down 3 jumpers in a row, and the Wizards had to change their strategy. He also adds calm to the court, and frustrates opposing players on defense. When he was on Arenas last night, Arenas couldn't make his own shot, because Snow is such a good on-ball defender.

5. The Rotation right now is working really well. Allan Henderson was great to bring in for insurance, and he will likely lose most of his minutes when Andy gets back. But, I like how Mike Brown is getting Luke Jackson minutes, and how he is rotating the big men. This team FINALLY has a bench that other teams have to be worried about. And we've gotten rid of the Silas rotation, which predominantly consisted of A-Team, B-Team, and that never worked.
 
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I'm also happy that Jackson is getting some PT as Lebron and Larry's backup. There were probably other picks that would have helped out more last season, but now that Jackson is healthy he is showing the ability to make plays, play good D, and shoot well. It's a shame that Pavlovic isn't getting to play more, but I'm actually glad that Jackson is playing better than him. They could always trade Pavlovic if they develop a need during the season.
I wonder what Newble is going to do if he ever gets healthy? He started last season, but I wouldn't take minutes away from anyone to play him.
 
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the two weakest defenders of the starting 5 are definately Z and Gooden.

Z, as much as i love him, always looks like he has cinder blocks on his feet. haywood made him look bad quite a few times. Hughes and Snow are very frustrating to a team's backcourt. However, once the cavs match up with a team that has some good big men, they are going to have a hard time, especially if they can't get any run-outs.
 
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Post Defense was a major issue against the Spurs, and will be one against the Pacers, Pistons, and Heat as well. Who is going to guard Jermaine O'Neal, Rasheed Wallace, Tim Duncan, or Shaquille O'Neal on this team?
 
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