Gameday Pr0phile - Cavaliers

Cleveland Cavaliers (20-12, 2nd Central)

Los Angeles Lakers (18-17, 3rd Pacific)

Lakers Team Stats
Offense 97.1 ppg, 20.1 apg, 42.1 rpg
Defense 94.9 ppg, 19.7 apg, 40.9 rpg

Cavaliers Team Stats
Offense 99.8 ppg, 18.8 apg, 42.4 rpg
Defense 95.7 ppg, 20.7 apg, 39.0 rpg

Season Series
The teams have not met this season.
Last Meeting:

LeBron’s near triple double propelled the Cavs to victory 103-89, Feb. 13th, 2005

image courtesy Getty Images / Jonathan Ferrey

Top 6 Lakers

PG Smush Parker 11.3 points, 3.0 assists, 3.1 rebounds
SG Kobe Bryant 34.3 points, 4.4 assists, 5.7 rebounds
SF Lamar Odom 14.7 points, 5.4 assists, 9.4 rebounds
PF Kwame Brown 5.8 points, 0.9 assists, 5.8 rebounds
C Chris Mihm 10.1 points, 0.9 assists, 6.6 rebounds
6th Brian Cook 7.4 points, 0.9 assists, 3.1 rebounds

Top 6 Cavaliers
PG Damon Jones 7.5 points, 1.8 assist, 1.6 rebounds
SG Eric Snow 4.6 points, 4.1 assists, 2.3 rebounds
SF LeBron James 30.8 points, 5.8 assists, 6.5 rebounds
PF Drew Gooden 11.3 points, 0.8 assists, 8.8 rebounds
C Big Z 15.1 points, 0.9 assists, 7.6 rebounds
6th Donyell Marshall 10.5 points, 0.9 assists, 7.3 rebounds

Key Matchup: Odom vs. James

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Phil go with Devean George a lot on LBJ because Odom’s D has been simply atrocious. I wouldn’t be surprised either to see LeBron light it up, take control of this game, and thrash the Lakers. LA may need it. They’re treading water right now, unable to beat, or even look good against, a bad Portland team. Luckily, without Hughes, Cleveland can’t play D either, so maybe Odom can deliver a big game. But don’t count on it.

Featured Peformers
Kobe Bryant 36 points, 4 assists, 6 rebounds
LeBron James 32 points, 8 assists, 8 rebounds

Outlook

This LA teams is nothing if not difficult to read. After getting smoked by Portland, playing at home would seem a blessing to most teams. LA, however, has struggled all season at home. Add in their 2-5 record in the second of back-to-backs this season and a quality Eastern conference opponent, and it seems like a recipe for disaster.

Cleveland has some real scoring punch, with James, Marshall, and Big Z all capable of putting up big numbers on any given night. Damon Jones is struggling and Snow isn’t much of an offensive weapon, but he plays well against Kobe. On the other side of the ball, Kobe and Mihm are the only consistent players. Kwame took another step backwards last game, with a poor showing. And it’s becoming increasingly difficult for anyone to cover up Lamar and Smush’s lack of defense. Still, I never count out a team that has Kobe on the court. He’ll be fired up for this contest, no doubt.

Lakers 98
Cavaliers 97