With the Cleveland Cavaliers playing a back-to-back on Tuesday and Wednesday, the constricted timeframe means I will be providing a shortened review of Tuesday night’s matchup with the Detroit Pistons and a similarly shortened preview of Wednesday night’s contest against the New Orleans Hornets.
Pistons 100, Cavaliers 101
Points leader: Antawn Jamison (32)
Rebounds leader: Greg Monroe/ Alonzo Gee (11)
Assists leader: Kyrie Irving (8)
When the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons faced off on Tuesday night in Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena the game was a display of youthful exuberance as well as promising talent from the point guard position. First round draft picks Kyrie Irving and Brandon Knight went toe to toe during the 48-minute contest in a game that did not disappoint.
Irving ultimately got the better of Knight, both on the stat sheet and the scoreboard as he and Antawn Jamison led the Cavaliers to a 101-100 victory. Irving was outstanding on the night, scoring 25 points as well as dishing a game high of 8 assists to go with 5 rebounds. Jamison caused serious problems for the Pistons defense, especially in the first three quarters as he was excellent en route to a 32 point night, good enough to be the game high. Jamison scored a double-double by also pulling down 10 rebounds in his effort.
Despite the strong play from Irving and Jamison, at one point the Cavaliers looked like they didn’t stand a chance on Tuesday night. The Pistons grew a lead as big as 17 points, and held it as late at around the 4 minute mark of the 3rd Quarter. To that point, the Pistons were simply out-hustling and out-executing the Cavaliers. Detroit used every fastbreak opportunity they could get and were beating the Cavaliers down the floor. They were playing like the hot team that they were, having won three straight.
Knight was almost as good as Irving was on the night. He scored 19 points and was a deadly 4 of 5 from the three point line. He had 5 rebounds and 3 assists as well. Also essential to the Pistons strong play was center Greg Monroe. Monroe had a near triple-double on the night. He had 19 points and 11 rebounds, but also drew so much attention in the post that he ended up with 7 assists. Led by Knight and Monroe, the Pistons looked destined to take a victory out of Cleveland.
Starting at the 4 minute mark of the 3rd though, the Cavaliers turned it around. Sparked by Irving and some inspired play by Alonzo Gee coming off the bench, the Cavaliers picked up the pace and eventually were able to completely spin the momentum on the Pistons. The Cavaliers employed a lot of the drive & kick strategy in the 4th Quarter, that led to open outside shots for Irving, Gee, and Jamison.
The Cavaliers took the lead first at 86-85 at the 5:53 mark of the 4th Quarter. From there, the game was a back & forth battle. Irving was shooting the basketball very well in the 4th Quarter and ended up 8 of 15 from the floor as well as 3 of 4 from three. He helped the Cavaliers build a small lead that was quickly shortened by the Pistons getting a few defensive stops and then getting out on the fastbreak.
When Knight drained a three from the left wing with 1:02 left, the game was tied at 95-95. That would be the closest the Pistons would get though as a second effort on a offensive rebound by Gee, who had 16 points and 11 rebounds on the night, followed by Pistons guard Ben Gordon missing a layup led to the Cavaliers gaining the lead again. It would be a lead that they would hold, and grow before Gordon made an immaterial three pointer at the buzzer. The Cavaliers took away the 101-100 victory.
New Orleans Hornets (7-25) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (13-17)
The Cavs will play the New Orleans Hornets Wednesday night starting at 7 PM EST in Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland’s victory against Detroit on Tuesday was their second in a row. They come into the game with a 13-17 record, just on the outside of the Eastern Conference Playoff picture. New Orleans has lost two straight after losing to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night. They hold the worst record in the West, sitting at 7-25.
The Cavaliers will once again be without starting center Anderson Varejao who is out long-term with a fractured right wrist. He will most likely be replaced in the lineup by Semih Erden. The Cavaliers will also likely be without shooting guard Anthony Parker who has a lower back strain. Daniel Gibson started Tuesday night for the Cavs at shooting guard and should do so again on Wednesday.
The Hornets will likely not have centers Emeka Okafor and Jason Smith, as well as power forward Carl Landry and shooting guard Eric Gordon as the team has been bit heavily by the injury bug. Starting center Chris Kaman should see a lot of minutes for the Hornets, as should small forward Trevor Ariza. These two are the most established players on the Hornets roster right now. Power forward Gustavo Ayon and shooting guard Marco Bellinelli have been the benefactors in terms of minutes due to the mass amount of Hornets injuries.
For the Hornets, Ariza is really the player to watch for though. He’s strong on both ends of the floor as an athletic small forward that can do it all, including play defense. Ariza averages 12.3 points and 5.7 rebounds, and he is a good matchup for Cavs small forward Alonzo Gee coming off the bench. The two play very similar styles of basketball and to see who will to come out on top if they are matched up together will be a very interesting sight.
For the Cavaliers, the player to watch for should be power forward Antawn Jamison. Not only was Jamison the game’s leading scorer on Tuesday night with 32 points, but he should be expected to take advantage of the depleted forward position of the Hornets on the offensive end. Even at an older age, Jamison is still a very crafty and capable scorer and I don’t expect Ayon to put up much of an effort worth being concerned about against him. Jamison’s rebound numbers have also picked up without Varejao on the floor. Jamison is averaging 7.6 rebounds per game in his last five games.
Wednesday night is the only time all season that the Cavaliers and Hornets play. The Hornets won both games between the two teams last season.
Wednesday night’s game is the last one for the Cavaliers before the All-Star Weekend.
Prediction
Hornets 92
Cavaliers 98
Points leader: Antawn Jamison (22)
Rebounds leader: Chris Kaman (12)
Assists leader: Ramon Sessions (8)
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(this post was written by Dan Lembke Jr. (@DanLembkeCAVS on twitter) for FanFeedr Hot Takes)
