The Raptors have always played Cleveland tough and despite being on a temporary high after knocking off the Nuggets, the Cavaliers cannot come into this game unfocused. While reports say Carter is playing in pain, it does little to ease the fact he can torch this Cavaliers squad at a moment’s notice (even in games where he starts out slow). Rose is another player to have an eye on; if Carter explodes and Rose is playing well alongside him, things will go downhill fast. The Bosh-Gooden match up should prove interesting. Drew better be careful because Bosh is very long and left-handed. There are interesting match ups all the way down the rosters for both teams.
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Raptors
Bosh has the potential to wreck havoc with an all-around game of points, rebounds. If Gooden comes out flat and is a non-factor, Traylor will wind up covering Bosh. But Anderson had a good showing in brief time against the Nuggets and is deserving of more minutes.
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Cavaliers
Teams have been doubling LeBron fast and hard, forcing him to give up the ball. Nobody wants James to get into his rhythm and see single coverage while coming in with full steam. James has a lot of trust in Z and Z should get a lot of looks early (Silas probably believes the Raptors can be attacked low).
Interesting game. I have a feeling the Raptors are going to come out with a lot of fire after what happened against Boston. Either that or it's going to be a Denver like blowout.
Carter always seems to play well against us. Hopefully Lebron will notch up the D a bit as both Carter and Rose can go off. You then add Bosh to the mix and a chance of an upset by the Raptors goes up
VS Toronto Raptors (7-10) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (10-6)
Saturday, December 4, 2004
7:30 pm, Gund Arena
TV: FSOhio, NBALP
COACHES
Sam Mitchell / Paul Silas PROBABLE STARTERS
Rafer Alston / Jeff McInnis
Vince Carter / Ira Newble
Jalen Rose / LeBron James
Chris Bosh / Drew Gooden
Loren Woods / Zydrunas Ilgauskas
6th MEN
Donyell Marshall / Eric Snow
Players To Watch
Vince Carter / LeBron James
Injury List
Cleveland: Scott Williams, Dajuan Wagner
Toronto: Roger Mason, Pape Sow, Alvin Williams
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Wine and Gold Return Home
The Cavaliers took the last game of their three-game West Coast trip, knocking off the Nuggets on Thursday night in Denver. Cleveland now comes home for a pair beginning on Saturday night when they take on Vince Carter and the Raptors. Toronto is in the middle of a six-game road trip. The Cavaliers stand at 10-6, one-half game behind Indiana in the Central Division. The Optimist has a good feeling about the Cavaliers for Saturday's battle, siting the Canadian exhange rate. Game time is 7:30 p.m. ET.
The Optimist
Cavaliers fans! It’s just me, the Optimist, checking in from overcast Cleveland, Ohio.
Sorry I wasn’t able to file a report before Thursday’s wonderful blowout in Denver, sports fans. My big office move, along with the Cavaliers playing on the West Coast, has really kicked my butt. The sad thing is, I really had a great feeling about the Nuggets’ game. All afternoon, my mind was aglow with whirling, transient nodes of thought, careening through a cosmic vapor of invention. And yet, time ran out on me. I apologize. And I feel shame.
But I am, after all, the Optimist. So, it’s back on the horse for me.
Normally, I don’t do weekend games. Frankly, I feel that working weekends is for chumps. But first, I feel shame for missing the Nuggets win. And second, I have that same good feeling about Saturday’s game against Toronto. Just this morning, my mind was a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought, cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives. But first, let’s recap Thursday’s butt-whipping, shall we?
Before rolling into Denver, the Cavaliers got in the way of the high-octane buzzsaw that is the Suns and it wasn’t pretty. Cleveland didn’t necessarily play a bad game, but Phoenix shot 88% from the floor – two percentage points below their season average – and our road-weary Cavaliers were doomed.
But here’s the silver lining comes in …
Going against the Suns and Nuggets back-to-back is like going against the Globetrotters and Generals back-to-back. After facing the Suns, the Nuggets must have looked like a bunch of old men shuffling around the WalMart to our beloved Cavaliers.
Denver could have pulled out Dan Issell, David Thompson, Fat Lever, John Denver, John Elway, Lyle Alzado and Mork from Ork last night, and it wouldn’t have done them any good. Besides, you didn’t think TheBron was going to have two bad nights in a row, did you?
But that’s in the past. On Saturday night the Cavaliers return home to face Vince Carter and the Raptors. Toronto has only won two road games this year and by the time they roll into Cleveland tomorrow, they’ll be in the middle of a six-game road trip. Overall, the Raptors are 7-10 and they face Boston on Friday night.
Toronto’s futility on the road is easily explained. We went over this last year, but for those of you who didn’t pay attention or are just tuning in, it’s very simple. Two words: exchange rate.
Nobody, and I mean nobody, could have saved Denver on Thursday night.
When the Raptors travel south of the Canadian border, their point totals just don’t transfer. Three-pointers to us are only worth 2.4 points for the Raptors. Field goals that count as two points for the Cavaliers only translate to 1.6 points for them. Made free throws net a mere nine-tenths of a point.
It really kind of sucks for Sam Mitchell’s squad down here in the States. But, by the same token, nobody told Toronto to get a basketball team. They already have the Maple Leafs, but I guess that wasn’t good enough for those hosers.
If I seem a little callous, it’s because I remember vividly the painful loss that Toronto dealt the Cavaliers late last season when All-Optimist All-Nemesis First Teamer, Jalen Rose hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to stick a dagger in Cleveland’s playoff hopes.
So, I can’t worry about hurt feelings. I have to call for a big, bad blowout on Saturday night. Put it on your bulletin board, Raptors! It won’t matter. The Cavaliers are going to skunk Toronto good at the Gund this weekend. TheBron loves a Saturday night home game; look for him to finally get his first triple-double. Big Z will bounce back from Thursday’s game. J-Mac will stay strong and the Thunder & Lightning combination of Drew Gooden and Tractor Traylor will dominate in the low post.
Let’s go with an offensive show since the Cavaliers are still trying to adjust to Eastern Conference speed: Cavaliers 111, Raptors 101.
You heard it here first, people. Feel free to use those digits for your Pick Six lottery tickets as well. Because I like you, it's on the house.
Hope everyone has a great weekend and please, always remember …
* Continue the 2 man game with Mac and Z. A good number of points come off the double teams on Zydrunas and then the kick out to JMac for three. It works everytime.
* Contain Rose and Carter. Both players can score several different ways. If we can contain at least one of them, then the game should be in control.
FINAL THOUGHT :
Back at the Gund, I smell a big night for Cleveland. After the raping the Cavaliers gave to Denver, they will surely be up, ready and pumped for their return for the Gund.
Loren Woods and Rafer Alston are probably not starting, but I am pretty sure they will still play. (Loren Woods at least)
I think Cleveland should win this game, but Carter plays good against Cleveland, because of all the attention that the Cavs attract, so we'll see what happens.
Apparently Alston vented his anger the other night, and basically said Vince or me has gotta go.... hopefully their club doesn't patch this up right away, because Alston could really burn us with his energy and the 3 pt shot. Rose also plays us tough, and VC might want to "out-do" LBJ. Clev needs to get out to a fast start and plant doubt, and I think the Raps will crumble quickly then. Maybe Silas should put Snow on Alston as soon as he gets in the game......
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When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading.
I dont think Alson will play at all after his statements last night and his coaches statement.
If Jeff M doesnt take Milt Paliacio for about 25 then something is wrong. Also the raptors front court is week if Zydrunas cant beat up on Woods-Bosh then something is wrong. And tractor tossing his weight around we should be just fine.
I just hope Anderson V can see some more time i think this kid can really develope into a great player.
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With Mr. Glass and Marshall gone who now can I hate too see playing on the Cavaliers.
Well guys a bit of good news, Vince is doubtful for the game cause of a flu (??) ... they say food poisoning, so hes "doubtful"... but who knows. Plus the raps bench is unreal this year, and often play better without VC. It will be an interesting game.
Beautiful ball movement and good finds. When the Raptors went into the zone, the Cavaliers kept executing their offense and were not discouraged any. Gooden is off to a great start with his hooks.
Toronto at Cleveland (12/4/04)
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