Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Los Angeles Clippers

Place: Gund Arena in Cleveland, OH
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
TV/Radio: FSN Ohio/WTAM 1100 AM

Projected Cavaliers Starting Lineup:

PG: LeBron James
SG: Ricky Davis
SF: Darius Miles
PF: Carlos Boozer
C:  Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Cavaliers Injury Report: SG Dajuan Wagner (right knee surgery) and PF Michael Stewart (knee tendinitis) are on the injured list. C DeSagana Diop (plantar fasciitis) is doubtful and SG Ricky Davis (dental emergency) is day-to-day.

Projected Clippers Starting Lineup:

PG: Keyon Dooling
SG: Quentin Richardson
SF: Corey Maggette
PF: Chris Wilcox
C:  Predrag Drobnjak

Clippers Injury Report: PF Elton Brand (foot stress fracture), C Josh Moore (back) and C Olden Polynice (neck) are on the injured list.

Key Matchups:

Ricky Davis vs. Quentin Richardson - Ricky Davis had his best defensive game of the year against Allen Iverson.  He stayed in front of Iverson for the most part and challenged his jumpshots.  Richardson of the Clippers poses an entirely different challenge.  Quentin Richardson is a power SG.  At a strong compact 6'4 he combines that strength with good quickness and athleticism.  One of the best rebounding guards in the league Richardson leads the Clippers in rebounding in Elton Brand's absence.  He has also stepped up his scoring leading the Clippers at over 22ppg.  Richardson is simply blossoming under new coach Mike Dunleavy, Sr.  Richardson is at his best around the basket posting up, driving strong around the basket and getting putbacks on offensive rebounds with his knack of scoring around the basket against bigger players.  He also has three point range being able to hit the spot up three.  Without Brand Richardson has become the no. 1 option for the Clippers and he has been on absolute tear during the Clippers four game winning streak.  Davis must match Richardson physical play with his own athleticism and not let Richardson overpower him inside with his activity and aggression.  His best bet is to keep him outside and make him shoot off the dribble.  Davis must also box out Richardson because he will crash the offensive boards and not leak out on the wing or turn around and watch the shot go up.  He must stay in.  Offensively, Davis can attack Richardson.  Although he leads the Clippers in steals he isn't known for being a good defender and Davis was able to get almost whatever he wanted against Richardson last year.  Running Richardson through screens will be a good way to attack him and it will play into Davis' strengths of catching and shooting.

Darius Miles vs. Corey Maggette - There is no other way to say it but to say that Darius Miles has been by far the Cavaliers worst defender and he is facing one of the more explosive wing players in the league.  Corey Maggette has improved every year of his NBA career and this year has been no exception.  Maggette is up over 20ppg and is another player who is blossoming due to the injury to Elton Brand.  Maggette, is a strong, quick and explosive player whose skills are finally catching up to his athleticism.  Maggette, has improved his outside shot every year and increased his range to the point where he has become a good shooter with solid three point ability.  He runs the floor and finishes among the best in the league and goes to the basket aggressively getting to the line almost 8 times a game even though he isn't a great ballhandler.  Miles defensively has to use his length to make Maggette go over the top especially when challenging drives and jumpshots.  Miles must do a better job of moving his feet or else Maggette will turn the corner and go hard to the basket.  Getting back in transition will be important for Miles since both Maggette and the Clippers will turn the floor over very quickly.  Offensively, Miles will have some post up opportunities against the shorter Maggette who is the Clippers best perimeter defender who has been prone to mental lapses but they are getting fewer and fewer.  Miles has to take care of the ball and not let his turnovers start Clippers fastbreaks.

Chris Wilcox vs. Carlos Boozer - Wilcox is another Clippers getting more opportunities sans Elton Brand.  Wilcox is another strong, athletic and explosive Clipper whose ability to run the floor has help fuel the Clippers who are one of if not the highest scoring team in the NBA.  Making the most of his chance Wilcox is currently third on the Clippers in scoring and does so by getting out on the break, finishing around the basket and he also possesses a jump hook he will go to on the block.  Wilcox is the kind of explosive quick leaping PF that has given Boozer problems.  For all his rebounding prowess Boozer has been outquicked to rebounds in recent game by PFs who have just gone over the top of him to get the offensive board.  Boozer must do a better job of keeping body contact in the paint to offset Wilcox's quick leaping ability.  Boozer does have a strength and bulk advantage and can move Wilcox out of position and negate some of that athleticism.  Boozer just has to remain active on the offensive end by running the floor, cutting the basket and hitting the midrange jumper.  Wilcox is an inexperienced player who is just starting to get extended playing time and he can be taken advantage of defensively. 

When Cleveland has the ball: The last three games the Cavaliers have been able to establish Ilgauskas inside early and they will look to do so again against a smaller Clippers team.  The Clippers have more athleticism and length rather than size.  Neither Drobnjak nor Ely should be able to stop Ilgauskas from getting the inside position he wants.  When doubled Ilgauskas has to continue to be patient with double teams and his teammates must continue their hard sharp cuts to the basket.  Without Elton Brand the Clippers really don't have a shotblocking presence inside or anyone known for tough defense so Cleveland should able to attack the basket and get to line as the Clippers have a tendency to foul.  The Clippers are giving up almost 105ppg and Cleveland will have transition opportunities and should be able to get out and run if they are able to get stops.  The bench, especially Chris Mihm has to keep up his revived play without Diop and against a young Clipper bench.  The expected wide open game may get some wide open looks for JR Bremer who is really struggling to find his shot.  Ira Newble has to get untracked and into the flow as he is the best matchup defensively the Cavaliers have for Corey Maggette.

When Los Angeles has the ball: The Clippers are getting 44ppg out of Maggette and Richardson making them one of the top duos in the NBA.  They are the main options but much of their team success has to do with them being able to get out and run.  Right now they are one of the more explosive teams in the NBA and will look to make up for their defensive deficiencies by outscoring teams.  They will run off just about every missed shot and turnover.  Keyon Dooling starts at PG but Marko Jaric plays more minutes and is a better shooter and playmaker.  The Clippers without Brand will post up Richardson and at times Wilcox.  The center Drobnjak is mobile with a good outside shot.  As a Supersonic, Dobnjak really hurt the Cavaliers and Ilgauskas with his ability to run the pick and roll and pick and fade.  He isn't shooting well this season but they way the Clippers are playing he fits their current style of play.  Eddie House is the Clippers most dangerous player off the bench.  Although a streaky shooter House has the ability to get very hot and score points quickly.  An undersized SG, House is very quick and can get a shot just about whenever he wants even though it may not be a good one.  He can be a very active defender getting up on the ball and hounding the passing lanes.

Game outlook: The Clippers are hot and currently have a four game winning streak.  Mike DunleavySr., gotten them to play together, much harder and with improved consistency.  So far they have not been prone to the Clipper breakdown and blowups of the past.  They are as young as the Cavaliers and just as athletic.  The Cavaliers perimeter players must play well and Cleveland must continue to take advantage of their size inside.  The Clippers biggest strengths are the Cavaliers biggest weaknesses and in an expected wide open game it may come down to who is able to execute at critical times and get key defensive stops.