Game 3: Cleveland Cavaliers @ Chicago Bulls

• se-alum

  

  Tipoff @ 7pm. I hope we see more of a lineup w/ Mo, Delonte, LeBron, Parker/Moon, and AV!
• THE4RINGZ

  

  Would love to see some team play tonight. Not having to rely solely on LBJ. A blow out would be great tonight
• se-alum

  

  The Cavs have to step it up on the defensive end, which is why I prefer a lineup w/o Z or Shaq.
• krazie45

  

  This is the most dangerous game in the series being in Chicago and coming off of a well played game by the Bulls. The Cavs need to put the pedal to the metal early and take the crowd out of it, then lock down on defense and work the offense from the inside out (LeBron driving, Shaq in the post, Jamison in the post with his trick shots).
• SportsAndLady

  

  Cavs lose this one.
• KR1245

  

  We keep hearing how focused this Cavs team is......nows the time to prove it. Do not give the Bulls a reason to believe.
• CCRolly

  

  Hoping to see a little more of JJ somehow...
• devil1197

  Once again, Cleveland did not have to rely on LeBron. He simply had one of his off the charts games. Do you really think anyone is going to tell LeBron to stop shooting when he is hitting at 70% on mostly mid range jumpers? Not too mention that he had 8 assists also.
  
  Cleveland's bench has score more points in 2 games than they did in the entire Orlando series. Everyone outside of LeBron is shooting a combined 48% from the field. We've had production from numerous guys hitting big shots within the series.
  
  This really isn't a series for Shaq and Z, but Shaq can get the Bulls bigs in foul trouble early.
  
  JJ knew he was going to get his minutes reduced to practically nothing, this was the plan the entire year.
• devil1197

  By Nick Friedell
  DEERFIELD, Ill. -- The Chicago Bulls are scheduled to play the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night, but if you listened closely to their comments after Wednesday's practice you would have thought they were preparing for the first five-on-one game in the history of basketball.
  
  LeBron James has that kind of effect on people.
  
  The Cavs' star was at the forefront of everyone's mind on Wednesday afternoon at the Berto Center and Bulls head coach Vinny Del Negro spent a considerable amount of time fielding questions about the reigning MVP. After a while, he wasn't sure what else to say so he finally invoked an image that all Bulls fans could relate with.
  
  "The people in Chicago know," Del Negro said. "You guys had a guy here that was pretty good for a long time that wore 23. You know how that is. You can have all the great defenses you want, but some guys just can make plays over the top of you whether you bring one, two, three guys. We're just really going to have to get into him, make it as hard as possible. Just be effective in the areas we need to."
  
  But, as Del Negro pointed out, if James continues to play like he did on Monday night there isn't much else the Bulls can do to stop him. There isn't anything any team in the league can do when he gets that hot.
  
  "He's difficult just because of his size," Del Negro said. "He can see over the top of the defense. If you come on the double, which we did, weakside guys shoot the three well. They were 10-for-20 from three. You have to pick your spots. When you come with the double they spread you out ... you just have to be very efficient with your rotations. Try to make him take contested jump shots, try to limit their paint scores and second chance points. Their record is what their record is because they have depth. Obviously, when the game's close you go to your star player."
  
  Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich didn't guard James much on Monday night, but when he did the matchup certainly left an impression.
  
  "He's one of the fastest guys in the league," Hinrich said. "He's 275, 280. It's an unbelievable matchup. Especially when he gets in the open court. If you get in front of him, you foul him, he's probably going to [get] an and 1. It's a cover like no other in the league for sure."
  
  What else can the Bulls do to, at the very least, get in his way? How can they make sure that he doesn't go off for 40 points again and 15 in the fourth quarter once again?
  
  "We have to pick our spots and make it difficult for him to score," Del Negro said. "Keep him off the free throw line, keep him out of the open court without turning the ball over and it really comes down to we have to be a little bit more efficient offensively, in terms of making difficult shots and knocking some things down to put a little bit more pressure on them to keep them out of their transition."
  
  But even then, Hinrich knows that it may not matter.
  
  "The goal is to make him take tough jump shots," he said. "He did that and he made them in Game 2. [Our gameplan] doesn't really change. We just hope that he misses some more."
  
  That's it?
  
  "I don't know if you can guard him much better than we did," he continued. "Fading away, taking challenged jump shots. That's what you have to live with."
  
  That sounds a lot like what people used to say about the Bulls guard who made No. 23 so famous to begin with.

  Couple notes on LeBron, people were talking about his weight in another thread. Hinrich thinks he is 280 lol.
• hoops23

  

  How are people complaining about the Cavs? I doubt these guys are even going with full fledged playoff intensity right now. I'm guessing these guys are still conserving a bit for the next 2 and hopefully 3 rounds of the playoffs.
  
  Could we lose Game 3? Sure.. Chicago isn't a terrible team. They played very well this year and were straddled with injuries for much of the second half.. They got healthy and obviously went on a great run to grab the 8th seed.
  
  With that said, Expect big games from a few Cavaliers to crush the hearts of Chicago.
• devil1197

  LeBron has even noted that the team has lacked some intensity and he knows this game is very important.
• sleeper

  

  That article that you posted basically sums up why Lebron is the GOAT. There isn't a player in NBA history with his size and speed, and would absolutely SHIT on anyone of the all time greats, including Jordan.
• Hb31187

  

  I wonder what he actually weighs, ive heard like 20 different things
• devil1197

  Hb31187 wrote: I wonder what he actually weighs, ive heard like 20 different things

  I'd guess at around 270-275.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  LeBron said he's 6'9 260, or was it 270 last year?
  
  Whatever he says, that's what I'll assume it is. No better source. But like I said on the other thread, if he's 250 then I'm 190...and I'm not 190 lol.
  
  Anyways, I feel a comfortable win coming tonight. They know they'll have to turn it up on the road, I expect the defensive intensity to jump big time. The Bulls can't hang, but we'll see.
• wes_mantooth

  

  Bulls by 27.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  wes_mantooth wrote: Bulls by 27.

  That's modest for you.
• wes_mantooth

  

  I know...I am feeling good today....Cavs should play well and keep it close.
• mallymal614

  Refs picking on Shaq already?
• mallymal614

  Wow I was watching the Draft, turned back to this game and the Cavs are getting crushed! Down 16.
• Midstate01

  

  No d at all tonight. Glad the draft is on!!!
• Hb31187

  

  Mo Williams is getting abused by Rose
• mallymal614

  Mo gets abused by just about any relevant point guard. Defense definitely not his suit.
• mallymal614

  Shaq is officially old now. Missed a easy dunk?
• Footwedge

  Shaq is a disgrace...period. Anybody that thinks Shaq can stop Howard is nuts. Every game he turns the ball over. Put Hickson in. Tired of watching this blowout.