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

Projected Cavaliers Starters:

PG: Kevin Ollie
SG: LeBron James
SF: Eric Williams
PF: Carlos Boozer
C:  Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Cavaliers Injury Report: C Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje (sprained ankle) and SF Jason Kapono (tendinitis) are on the injured list.  PG Jeff McInnis (bruised shoulder) is doubtful.

Projected Suns Starters:

PG: Leandro Barbosa
SG: Joe Johnson
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Amare Stoudemire
C:  Antonio McDyess

Suns Injury Report: Jake Voskuhl (plantar fasciitis) is doubtful.  PF Keon Clark (bone spurs) is on the injured list.

Amare Stoudemire vs. Carlos Boozer - The reconstruction of the Phoenix Suns will take place around Stoudemire.  Since coming back from his injury Stoudemire has had a big jump in his overall production. He leads the Suns in scoring and blocks and is second in rebounding.  Stoudemire is a powerful and explosive 6'10 who for right now is getting by on his great physical skills.  A power player, he wants to get to the rim and finish strong and Stoudemire doesn't need a lot of room in order to attack the basket.  Aggressive and fearless, Stoudemire will usually try and face up bigger opponents and will use an extremely quick first step for a big man almost exclusively going right or to the middle but regardless is very difficult to stop.  His post game isn't refined but can be a load to handle when able to get deep.  He is also a good offensive rebounder and runs the floor extremely well.  Defensively, you want to make Stoudemire go over the top and not let him get deep where he can just use his athleticism and power.  Boozer has to use his own strength to beat Stoudemire to the spot and push him as far off the block as he can.  When Stoudemire turns and faces up Boozer should shade and funnel him toward the shotblocker Ilgauskas.  Stoudemire has the green light now and will get up 20-25 shots and get his.  They key will be not letting him control the game inside. 

Eric Williams vs. Shawn Marion - As the Suns rebuild almost forgotten in the mix is Marion who is one of the best SFs and explosive athletes in the NBA.  He leads the Suns in steals and rebounds and is second in scoring.  A wiry 6'7 Marion is an elite athlete who is a very explosive leaper which accounts for his rebounding prowess as a SF.  One of the best finishers in the league Marion will get out on the wing for highlight reel dunks or for lobs in the halfcourt.  Overshadowed by his athleticism is his shooting which has really improved since coming into the NBA.  It's ugly but effective.  Marion is pretty good coming off down screens for jumpers where his elevation makes it almost unblockable.  He is also pretty good spotting up in the corner for three pointers.  More than a finisher than a creator Marion isn't great off the dribble but is good enough to put the ball on the floor and use his athleticism to go by a defender in a straight line.  Defensively, the main thing Williams should look to do is to take away Marion's offensive rebounding opportunities since he leads the Suns in that category and is a dangerous rebounder.  Next, he has to fight through the screens the Suns will run Marion through and try and chase him off his shot and make him put the ball on the floor which really isn't his strength.  Also, Williams must get back in transition.  Marion and the Suns can turn the floor quickly and after a Williams missed shot Marion could easily beat him down the floor.  Offensively, Williams has to try and find his niche in the Cavaliers offense.  Although, Marion is probably the Suns best perimeter defender Williams does have a strength advantage and should look to post up the thinner Marion.  Defender coming to help on Williams opens things up for Boozer and Ilgauskas.

When Cleveland has the ball: The Cavaliers have fallen into a funk which is directly traced to the loss of PG Jeff McInnis.  The flow, ball movement, pace. efficiency and points have all pretty much fallen off the table the past two games without McInnis.  Cleveland simply does not function well without him.  Teams pressure and trap the Cavaliers more and do not respect the outside shooting of Ollie which renders their two man game ineffective and allows defenses to pack the inside doubling and triple teaming Ilgauskas with no perimeter outlet to stretch the floor and take away the penetration of James.  Phoenix is a team that defensively will do all the things the Cavaliers are now struggling against.  The Suns like to use their athleticism and quickness to pressure and trap full court and with their lack of size will double the low post and play zone.  With the Cavaliers missing any kind of outside shooting with McInnis out, Jason Kapono on the injured list and Kedrick Brown still not playing the best bet for the Cavaliers would to attack the Suns pressure and play an uptempo game.  DaJuan Wagner has been useless in his time at PG and with James going back to having some PG duties playing a faster pace and in the open floor could cut down on the decision making and thinking and let James and Ollie play more freely.

When Phoenix has the ball: The Suns have a ton of young and athletic players and iinterim coach Mike D'Antoni wants to play a wide open transition game.  The Suns press in part to accomplish that but with their lack of size it is the only way they can play in order to have a chance at winning.  In the halfcourt they will get a lot of touches for Stoudemire and like to post him up or isolate him on the wing.  Stoudemire is turnover prone and predictable with his moves so the Cavaliers should send help to dig down on him when he puts the ball on the floor.  SG Joe Johnson is the all around skills guy who can break down the defense and create and currently leads the Suns in assists despite not being the PG.  The rookie PG Barbosa is one of the faster PGs in the league and Ollie and Wagner have been killed defensively the past two games.  Barbosa can really push the ball and he isn't great at running a team he can score and put pressure on the defense.  Expect the Suns to run a lot of two man game situations to take advantage of the struggling Cavaliers guards and try to exploit the quickness advantage of their big men. 

Game outlook: The Cavaliers are a team that currently lacks confidence.  All the wind was taken out of them when McInnis went down.  His loss has also exposed the Cavaliers lack of depth.  Cleveland has been a team held up by the four pillars of McInnis, James, Boozer and Ilgauskas.  Lose one and the foundation crumbles.  The veterans on the Cavaliers; Williams, Battie. Ollie and Newble must step and be more than locker room glue guys.  They must produce on the floor and pick up some slack.  The Suns despite their record are a dangerous team.  They are more athletic and have a lot of offensive weapons including a low post threat.  Their defensive tactics are set to further exploit where the Cavaliers are weak without McInnis.  The bottom line is that it is gut check time for the Cavaliers.