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Grizzlies-Cavaliers Preview
As if trying to stop LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love wasn't enough, Mike Miller has proven he still has something left in the tank for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Having to prepare for another potential scoring threat is unlikely to deter the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies try to bounce back from their first loss in two weeks when one of the Western Conference's best teams faces a power from the East on Sunday in Cleveland.
"We have to be physical with them, like we are every night," Grizzlies points guard Mike Conley said of the Cavaliers. "We can't let them lead the dance, we can't let them be comfortable and make the plays they're accustomed to making. We just have to make everything tougher and tougher on them as the game goes on. They have a great team, and they play very well at home."
The Cavaliers (15-10) won for the seventh time in eight home games Friday, beating Brooklyn 95-91 thanks to surprising performance from Miller in his return to action after missing seven games with a concussion.
Making his first start of the season, Miller, who averaged 1.5 points in his first 13 games, finished with 21 points while shooting 7 of 8 from 3-point range.
"He's a professional guy. You know you can always count on him, even when he's doesn't make shots. We needed him. He kept us afloat," James said of Miller, who spent last season in Memphis. "His ability to shoot the ball gives us so much more of a dynamic out there."
Miller's performance proved especially key as Cleveland's other four starters shot 15 of 50. James and Irving combined for 38 points while Love finished with six -- his lowest total in two years -- on 1 of 10 from the floor.
However, the Cavaliers, who won Friday for only the third time in 11 games when failing to score 100, could again have trouble finding their shot against defensive-minded Memphis.
The Southwest Division-leading Grizzlies (21-5) were allowing a league-low 94.0 points per game before a slew overtimes caused that number to rise a bit. Two nights after a 117-116 triple-OT victory at San Antonio, Memphis lost to Chicago 103-97 on Friday for its first defeat in seven games. Conley scored 21 but Marc Gasol was held to 13 on 5-of-15 shooting for the Grizzlies, who shot a season worst-tying 2 of 13 from beyond the arc.
"We didn't have enough effort due in large part to very tired legs," coach Dave Joerger said of his team, which had played a combined six overtimes in its previous four games. "The minutes have added up on us. ... That's going to happen. I'm not down about the loss, I just think we had a tough night."
Defensive specialist Tony Allen missed his second consecutive game with a corneal abrasion, leaving his status for Sunday unclear. Zach Randolph is also uncertain to be available due to swelling in his right knee.
The Grizzlies have won five of six against the Cavs with their loss coming in their last visit to Cleveland, 91-83 in overtime Feb. 9.
Irving had 28 points to lead all scorers and is averaging 26.3 in four meetings for his second-highest mark against any team. James scored 37 in his last game versus Memphis.
Gasol, averaging a career-high 19.6 points, has scored 22 in two of the last three games against Cleveland.
The Cavs are 7-0 at home when James scores more than 22 points compared to 2-5 when he doesn't.
As if trying to stop LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love wasn't enough, Mike Miller has proven he still has something left in the tank for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Having to prepare for another potential scoring threat is unlikely to deter the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies try to bounce back from their first loss in two weeks when one of the Western Conference's best teams faces a power from the East on Sunday in Cleveland.
"We have to be physical with them, like we are every night," Grizzlies points guard Mike Conley said of the Cavaliers. "We can't let them lead the dance, we can't let them be comfortable and make the plays they're accustomed to making. We just have to make everything tougher and tougher on them as the game goes on. They have a great team, and they play very well at home."
The Cavaliers (15-10) won for the seventh time in eight home games Friday, beating Brooklyn 95-91 thanks to surprising performance from Miller in his return to action after missing seven games with a concussion.
Making his first start of the season, Miller, who averaged 1.5 points in his first 13 games, finished with 21 points while shooting 7 of 8 from 3-point range.
"He's a professional guy. You know you can always count on him, even when he's doesn't make shots. We needed him. He kept us afloat," James said of Miller, who spent last season in Memphis. "His ability to shoot the ball gives us so much more of a dynamic out there."
Miller's performance proved especially key as Cleveland's other four starters shot 15 of 50. James and Irving combined for 38 points while Love finished with six -- his lowest total in two years -- on 1 of 10 from the floor.
However, the Cavaliers, who won Friday for only the third time in 11 games when failing to score 100, could again have trouble finding their shot against defensive-minded Memphis.
The Southwest Division-leading Grizzlies (21-5) were allowing a league-low 94.0 points per game before a slew overtimes caused that number to rise a bit. Two nights after a 117-116 triple-OT victory at San Antonio, Memphis lost to Chicago 103-97 on Friday for its first defeat in seven games. Conley scored 21 but Marc Gasol was held to 13 on 5-of-15 shooting for the Grizzlies, who shot a season worst-tying 2 of 13 from beyond the arc.
"We didn't have enough effort due in large part to very tired legs," coach Dave Joerger said of his team, which had played a combined six overtimes in its previous four games. "The minutes have added up on us. ... That's going to happen. I'm not down about the loss, I just think we had a tough night."
Defensive specialist Tony Allen missed his second consecutive game with a corneal abrasion, leaving his status for Sunday unclear. Zach Randolph is also uncertain to be available due to swelling in his right knee.
The Grizzlies have won five of six against the Cavs with their loss coming in their last visit to Cleveland, 91-83 in overtime Feb. 9.
Irving had 28 points to lead all scorers and is averaging 26.3 in four meetings for his second-highest mark against any team. James scored 37 in his last game versus Memphis.
Gasol, averaging a career-high 19.6 points, has scored 22 in two of the last three games against Cleveland.
The Cavs are 7-0 at home when James scores more than 22 points compared to 2-5 when he doesn't.
The Cavs are home again tomorrow to take on the strong Memphis Grizzlies team who are second in the Western Conference with a 21-5 record. Zach Randolph is questionable if he will play tomorrow with a knee injury. The Cavs beat Brooklyn last night 95-91 from a big performance from Mike Miller. Gametime: 4:30 pm Sunday December 21st Let's go Cavs
Never know which Cavs team will show up. The Sybil of the NBA....
Pistons-Cavaliers Preview
STATS LLC
The sacrifices being made to again turn the Cleveland Cavaliers into an NBA power extend beyond LeBron James' decision to return home that spearheaded the movement.
His teammates are beginning to accept new roles and expectations, especially with injuries affecting the roster.
The Cavs hope to have Kyrie Irving back as they seek a fifth victory in six games Sunday against the visiting Detroit Pistons.
Cleveland (18-11) struggled to a 5-7 start as James, Kevin Love and the rest of the Cavaliers adjusted to first-year coach David Blatt's system with a retooled roster.
James said that shoot-first Dion Waiters has become more patient within the offense as the season has progressed, and he scored 17 points off the bench in Friday's 98-89 win at Orlando.
Love, who was the go-to guy in Minnesota, had no problems sitting out the entire fourth quarter as Blatt played better defensive matchups, and James turned it on down the stretch to finish with 29 points and eight assists.
"I think we took a step forward," James said. "Kevin Love sacrificed in the fourth quarter. He didn't play. He was helping, cheering, slapping hands every time we went to the sidelines.
"On this team there are so many different options and if you remain patient, the ball will find you. The ball will find energy. You don't have to seek it out."
Irving, who has accepted not always being the primary option in the offense, sat out with a knee injury suffered in Thursday's loss at Miami and is considered day to day.
The Cavs also played their second game without Anderson Varejao, who is out for the season after tearing his left Achilles tendon.
The last-place Pistons (6-23) are going through their own adjustment period after waiving veteran Josh Smith in order to increase roles for younger players.
Detroit responded in its first game without Smith, ending a four-game losing streak with a 119-109 win over Indiana on Friday. Greg Monroe started in Smith's spot and finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds.
Coach Stan Van Gundy was happy with the performance, but he refused to blame the Pistons' previous struggles on Smith's presence.
"C'mon, we've won one game now," Van Gundy said. "Now we're going to jump on 'Josh was the problem?' I'm not going there. What happened (Friday) is we had a lot of guys play really well. It had absolutely nothing to do with Josh not being here. It had to do with the guys who were here playing really well."
Detroit ranks near the bottom of the league in field-goal percentage at 41.8, but it shot a season-best 54.7 percent against the Pacers. Andre Drummond went 9 of 12 from the floor and finished with a game-high 20 points, while Brandon Jennings added 14 and 10 assists.
"It's definitely a sign of how we should play, but it's only one game," Jennings said.
D.J. Augustin played well when giving Jennings a breather, scoring 14 and adding a season-high eight assists off the bench.
"We need both of them to be aggressive," Monroe said. "When they're aggressive, that opens it up for everybody else. Both of them are very capable of making shots. They're very capable of penetrating. As long as they're aggressive and continue to make the right play, we'll be fine."
Cleveland has won nine of 10 at home after a three-game skid there.
STATS LLC
The sacrifices being made to again turn the Cleveland Cavaliers into an NBA power extend beyond LeBron James' decision to return home that spearheaded the movement.
His teammates are beginning to accept new roles and expectations, especially with injuries affecting the roster.
The Cavs hope to have Kyrie Irving back as they seek a fifth victory in six games Sunday against the visiting Detroit Pistons.
Cleveland (18-11) struggled to a 5-7 start as James, Kevin Love and the rest of the Cavaliers adjusted to first-year coach David Blatt's system with a retooled roster.
James said that shoot-first Dion Waiters has become more patient within the offense as the season has progressed, and he scored 17 points off the bench in Friday's 98-89 win at Orlando.
Love, who was the go-to guy in Minnesota, had no problems sitting out the entire fourth quarter as Blatt played better defensive matchups, and James turned it on down the stretch to finish with 29 points and eight assists.
"I think we took a step forward," James said. "Kevin Love sacrificed in the fourth quarter. He didn't play. He was helping, cheering, slapping hands every time we went to the sidelines.
"On this team there are so many different options and if you remain patient, the ball will find you. The ball will find energy. You don't have to seek it out."
Irving, who has accepted not always being the primary option in the offense, sat out with a knee injury suffered in Thursday's loss at Miami and is considered day to day.
The Cavs also played their second game without Anderson Varejao, who is out for the season after tearing his left Achilles tendon.
The last-place Pistons (6-23) are going through their own adjustment period after waiving veteran Josh Smith in order to increase roles for younger players.
Detroit responded in its first game without Smith, ending a four-game losing streak with a 119-109 win over Indiana on Friday. Greg Monroe started in Smith's spot and finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds.
Coach Stan Van Gundy was happy with the performance, but he refused to blame the Pistons' previous struggles on Smith's presence.
"C'mon, we've won one game now," Van Gundy said. "Now we're going to jump on 'Josh was the problem?' I'm not going there. What happened (Friday) is we had a lot of guys play really well. It had absolutely nothing to do with Josh not being here. It had to do with the guys who were here playing really well."
Detroit ranks near the bottom of the league in field-goal percentage at 41.8, but it shot a season-best 54.7 percent against the Pacers. Andre Drummond went 9 of 12 from the floor and finished with a game-high 20 points, while Brandon Jennings added 14 and 10 assists.
"It's definitely a sign of how we should play, but it's only one game," Jennings said.
D.J. Augustin played well when giving Jennings a breather, scoring 14 and adding a season-high eight assists off the bench.
"We need both of them to be aggressive," Monroe said. "When they're aggressive, that opens it up for everybody else. Both of them are very capable of making shots. They're very capable of penetrating. As long as they're aggressive and continue to make the right play, we'll be fine."
Cleveland has won nine of 10 at home after a three-game skid there.
This thread is crickets today.
Guess they lost....
Like I was saying, they might not make it to Chicago.
The nba will get 2 more Allstars on Cleveland before the trading deadline gets here.
Been big uppin them but Gotdamn their bench is ass... 
Been big uppin them but Gotdamn their bench is ass...
Now that Thompson has to start, one of the five worst benches in the league
Where giddy ass Gene at?
I ain't going nowhere....team will be ok.....
I'll be 
in June....
When things go bad, Blatt gets the blame. Lebron admitted that he didn't get permission for taking over playmaking duties that helped with the 8-game win streak(when Kyrie basically became a two guard).
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/1...d-cavaliers-players-coach-david-blatt-sources
It's bad that this falls on Blatt, because he isn't getting a chance. There are plenty of camera shots of both Lebron and Kyrie tuning him out.
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/1...d-cavaliers-players-coach-david-blatt-sources
It's bad that this falls on Blatt, because he isn't getting a chance. There are plenty of camera shots of both Lebron and Kyrie tuning him out.
I ain't going nowhere....team will be ok.....
So u ain't gonna talk about how the Pistons gave y'all that work?
No excuses this is what Bron wanted now he got to deal with him...
Well if they get Mark Jackson that changes things
But until then epic fail bout to happen wit the cavs
I still stand by what I said, that Blatt will not make it through this season. Tough break for him, but a new NBA coach and a veteran star isn't going to pan out right.
The respect level is totally different with Jackson and Blatt.
Mark would do very well with the Cavs.
I wonder will they like his continuous pushed on Christian ways as well?
Yeah, word is the assistant coach has more pull around here than Blatt does. If the win streak is Lebron adjusting the team, that makes Blatt even more expendable.
This is turning into Mike Brown part 2.......
Tyronn Lue is the assistant coach the Cavs seem to favor...
Lol what happened to lebron being the leader? I think even though he wasn't playing every night wade was the leader of the heat all 4 years the big 3 was together. We saw what happened when lebron tried to be a leader lol Chalmers was about to split his mouth.i never seen wade teammates come at him like that. Cleveland is gonna have to get a veteran that can come in and be a leader bc I don't see lebron, love, or Kyrie doing it.
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