Thread Tools

Display Modes

**remy23** · 04-24-2007, 03:20 PM

Game 2

Washington Wizards (0-1) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (1-0)

Wednesday, April 25th, 2007
Time: 5:00pm PT, 8:00pm ET
TV: FSN Ohio, NBATV
Radio: WTAM 1100
Location: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio

HEAD COACHES

PROBABLE STARTERS

WASHINGTON WIZARDS’ NOTES

• The Wizards need to make adjustments on Larry Hughes if he continues hitting big shots. Since the Wizards are keyed in on LeBron, they have no answer for the Cavs should another player step up with a 20 point performance.

• Don’t get rattled and all apart at the end. The Wizards need to more gas in their tanks to stay with the Cavaliers and not get worn down by the finish.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS’ NOTES

• Hope LeBron is back at full strength and let him come out fast, to show he is still strong and not hindered by his injury, plus as a sign that he will not tolerate being manhandled.

• Decide to step on Washington’s neck a little earlier in the game this time around. Cleveland can deliver the killing blow sooner this time around than in the opening game.

OVERVIEW

The Cavs need to defend the homecourt and keep the pressure on the Wizards to win a game. Cleveland must not give any games away in this series.

**remy23** · 04-25-2007, 05:31 AM

Washington at Cleveland

Quote:

CLEVELAND (AP) -- At the mall or at the movies, Cavaliers 7-foot-3 center Zydrunas Ilgauskas stands out in a crowd.

On the court, he's still tough to miss, the biggest of the big men in the middle. But for some strange reason, the Washington Wizards couldn't find him in Game 1 -- until it was too late.

With a huge size advantage down low, Ilgauskas scored 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter when Cleveland beat Washington 97-82 in the first-round playoff series opener.

It wasn't LeBron James or Larry Hughes who did the Wizards in. Instead it was the guy nicknamed 'Z' who put them to sleep.

If Washington has any notion of evening this best-of-seven series in Game 2 on Wednesday, the Wizards must do a better job of containing Ilgauskas, who's five inches taller than Etan Thomas, Washington's starting center.

But Ilgauskas said he thinks the Wizards' priorities will remain elsewhere.

"I think they should be worried about LeBron and Larry more," he said.

James didn't practice on his sprained left ankle Tuesday but will play in Game 2. He got hurt on a drive to the basket in Sunday's third quarter and has spent the past two days getting rest and treatment.

"I'll be ready," he said.

The undermanned Wizards had better be, too.

They've spent the past two days regrouping and practicing in Washington. On Monday, forward Caron Butler had the cast taken off his broken right hand. Although he thinks he can be back in time for Game 3, coach Eddie Jordan isn't planning to have Butler unless the Wizards can advance.

Even without leading scorer Gilbert Arenas and Butler, the Wizards were within striking distance in the fourth quarter when Jordan switched to a smaller lineup hoping for an offensive spark.

Instead, he left the Wizards vulnerable on defense, and the Cavaliers made them pay.

They pounded the ball into Ilgauskas, who scored nine points in a decisive 13-4 burst that put Cleveland up by 15.

At various times, Ilgauskas was guarded by Thomas, Antawn Jamison (6-foot-9), Darius Songaila (6-foot-9) and Michael Ruffin (6-foot-8). Not one could handle him.

"Obviously, he's a lot bigger and taller," Songaila said. "You have to stay between him and the basket. You can't let him back you down under the rim. With his height he can easily reach over and get the tip and some rebounds and stuff like that."

While Ilgauskas had his way with the Wizards, Jordan kept 7-footer Brendan Haywood on the bench. Haywood played just five minutes -- zero in the fourth.

Ilgauskas was surprised Haywood wasn't banging into him inside.

"He (Haywood) has had success guarding me before, and I think for sure I'm going to see him a lot more," he said.

But Haywood knows that decision is up to Jordan.

"I can't do anything to change the situation," Haywood said Tuesday. "If there's going to be a lot of changes, it'll be because he feels there should be. If not, he'll play the guys he thinks will help him win the game."

Haywood has been in Jordan's doghouse for weeks, but with the season on the brink, it might be time to turn him loose.

"We want him to play with a lot of energy, intelligently, and let's see what happens," Jordan said. "You make your own minutes. He's practiced well the last two days. He's upbeat, and let's see if it carries over to the game."

Jordan, too, would like to get more offensively from Thomas, who was 1-of-4 from the field, made three turnovers and didn't get to the line in 20 minutes.

The Cavaliers, meanwhile, want to hold serve at home against a shorthanded opponent.

James took exception to critics who felt Cleveland should have won the opener more decisively.

"We're not looking to blow this team out," he said. "We're looking to come in and win a ballgame. It don't matter if it's by 1 point or by 15."

**Brandname** · 04-25-2007, 05:15 PM

I would be surprised if Haywood doesn't get more minutes in this game. Although I hear he's in EJ's doghouse, so we'll hope it stays that way.

**Brandname** · 04-25-2007, 05:16 PM

If Larry can keep up half of what he was giving us in the last game, we're in excellent shape this year.

**Brandname** · 04-25-2007, 05:18 PM

The biggest thing that will hold us back this year from competing will be the fact that nothing comes easy to us offensively. We have a lot of talent, so we can still beat teams. But there isn't a system in place that will make it easier for them.

**Brandname** · 04-25-2007, 05:20 PM

Great play by Gooden there.

**Brandname** · 04-25-2007, 05:22 PM

Antonio Daniels' flopping drives me nuts.

**Brandname** · 04-25-2007, 05:23 PM

What a boring game so far.

**Brandname** · 04-25-2007, 05:27 PM

Hmm... I'm getting some early indications that these announcers would like to see Washington win. I think it would just be so much of a Cinderella story that everyone gets behind them.

**Brandname** · 04-25-2007, 05:32 PM

Larry has been our best player so far in both games.

**Brandname** · 04-25-2007, 05:40 PM

Evidently the Cavs don't really feel they need to play particularly hard.

We're going to have a tough transition into the next round.

**Brandname** · 04-25-2007, 05:46 PM

Wow, the announcers are excited about Lebron's offensive foul there.

Thread Tools Display Modes

Thread Tools

Display Modes