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**Benedict_Boozer** · 04-04-2007, 10:25 PM

Game 76

Cleveland Cavaliers (45-30) VS Miami Heat (40-34)

Thursday, April 5th, 2007
Time: 4:00pm PT, 7:00pm ET
TV: FSOhio HD, TNT
Radio: WTAM 1100
Location: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=270405005

Quote:

Neither Dwayne Wade nor LeBron James is at 100 percent. While the Cleveland Cavaliers are fortunate to have James back in the lineup, the Miami Heat are just happy to know Wade might return before the postseason starts.

Knowing Wade is on his way back, the Heat can wrap up a playoff spot on Thursday as their regular-season series with James and the Cavaliers comes to an end.

This is the second straight meeting which has been missing Wade, sidelined since Feb. 21 due to a dislocated shoulder. That injury kept Wade out of practice until Monday, when he worked out on-court for 90 minutes and absorbed contact for the first time since the injury.

Coming through that session pain-free left the Heat believing Wade could come back even before the playoffs begin, though there remains no definite timetable for his return.

"The fact that he's back practicing is huge," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "You go back to Feb. 23, it didn't look like there was going to be any of that stuff. So this is great."

Miami has done better than just stay afloat while Wade has been out, going 14-7 to get into the thick of the Southeast Division title race.

About a month removed from having their playoff hopes in serious doubt, particularly with the injury to Wade, the Heat will wrap up their spot in the postseason with a victory in this contest. They are looking for a fourth playoff berth in as many seasons since Wade came into the league.

Just as Miami has, Cleveland has done well without its fourth-year superstar in the lineup this season. The team had gone 3-0 when James was out, but that was before an achy right knee kept him sidelined Sunday as the Cavaliers lost to the worst team in the East, 98-96 to Boston.

Despite not being back at full strength, James returned Tuesday to score 31 points and grab 12 rebounds in a 101-88 victory over Minnesota.

"It's still not 100 percent," James said. "I'd say it's about 80-85 percent now. I still felt it a couple times. ... Just have to keep doing treatment and keep getting healthy, but I felt pretty good."

Even with Wade sitting out, James could not lead Cleveland to victory in the last matchup of these teams as his 29 points weren't enough in an 86-81 defeat at Miami on Feb. 25. That victory gave the Heat a 2-1 lead in the season series, but they've lost their last three games at Cleveland.

Miami did get healthier on Tuesday with the return of Jason Kapono in a 92-89 victory over Toronto. The 3-point champion at All-Star weekend, Kapono had seven points and made one 3-pointer after missing four weeks with a sprained ankle.

"We just needed to win tonight," Kapono said, "and the (playoff) seeding will take care of itself."

While the Heat have alternated wins and losses in their last six games, the Cavaliers have done so in their last eight.

NOTES:

- Ok plain and simple, this is a must win game.

1) Miami is chasing Toronto for the 3 seed, we don't want that to happen. If we can hold onto #2, and keep Miami at #4, we avoid Miami/Det until the CF. Therefore this game essentially counts double.

2) Chicago just won't lose a game and are all over us in the standings. We drop this game and that could be all she wrote for the #2 seed.

**DQ for 3** · 04-05-2007, 09:00 AM

<---I'm gonna be there!

Argubly, this is the biggest game of the season for both teams.

Miami wins, and we're only a game back of Toronto. Miami loses, we make it extremely hard to get the #3, and avoid Chicago/Detroit.

Cleveland wins, they can help themselves by keeping the #2 and push Miami to the #4 and avoid Miami/Chicago/Detroit til the ECF.

Should be a good one!

Larry Hughes for Retirement · 04-05-2007, 09:40 AM

<--- I will also be there (thanks is Shaq_Diesel)

Anywho, with Gilbert and Butler more than likely out for the season getting that #2 and maybe getting them in the first round adds even more to the equation.

The Bulls just look amazing, and if I am correct don't the Bulls and Pistons both own the tie breaker against us?

Go Cavs!

**Flash is the Future** · 04-05-2007, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wesley for Retirement

<--- I will also be there (thanks is Shaq_Diesel)

Anywho, with Gilbert and Butler more than likely out for the season getting that #2 and maybe getting them in the first round adds even more to the equation.

The Bulls just look amazing, and if I am correct don't the Bulls and Pistons both own the tie breaker against us?

Go Cavs!

Yeah, but they don't seem likely to drop to the 7 seed, but it's possible. I don't think they'd lose out even without Gil and Caron. This game is HUGE for both teams. So, I expect a HUGE effort from the Cavs, and the Heat will flip a coin before pregame to see whether or not they're playing hard tonight.

UrFavTeamSux · 04-05-2007, 01:23 PM

Hell yes, Gibson is in the starting lineup. More outside pressure on Brown perhaps? Regardless, just happy to see a starting line (hughes, gibson, lebron, gooden, Z) that I really like. Plus, it gives the chance for Sasha to act more as a key 6-man (a la Ben Gordon) where I think he does better than as a starter.

**Brandname** · 04-05-2007, 04:11 PM

I would respect Barkley's opinion even if I disagreed with him if he showed the slightest bit of knowledge about our team.

But he doesn't. He doesn't even know some of our players' names. He's just a massive spigot of ignorance. Eh, I guess that's why they hire him, though. The more they talk to DA on that show, the better.

**Benedict_Boozer** · 04-05-2007, 04:21 PM

Cavs look terrible early

**Benedict_Boozer** · 04-05-2007, 04:26 PM

How can we come out so flat in such a big game? Lebron needs to be aggressive and stop trying to wait for his teammates to get going

**Brandname** · 04-05-2007, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benedict_Boozer

How can we come out so flat in such a big game? Lebron needs to be aggressive and stop trying to wait for his teammates to get going

I'm starting to get really sick of that. When will we realize that doesn't work for our team?

**Brandname** · 04-05-2007, 04:30 PM

Excellent pass by Z.

**Benedict_Boozer** · 04-05-2007, 04:32 PM

Snow still 1st off the bench. Bah

**Benedict_Boozer** · 04-05-2007, 04:33 PM

Pavs looking good out there so far

Nice put back by LBJ

**Brandname** · 04-05-2007, 04:34 PM

Shaq getting anything he wants from us.

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