LBJ goes for 50+

As promised, here is a review of the 'other' game from last night thx to my good buddy TK (one of the proud Cavalier season ticket holders). 

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The King did it again to the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center, a place the Cavaliers had not won at since the Andre Miller days.  He went for over 50 again, but this time his line was more diverse and most importantly the Cavaliers won the game.  In 45+ minutes Lebron had 32 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, 5 steals and 1 block… 60!!  It was almost a “Wise Lebron” state championship line (“35 points, 15 rebounds, 12 assists and 12 blocks… that’s a quadruple double!”).

The Cavs got some bad news before the game, with Hughes being out for 6 – 8 weeks.  Lebron told his team before the game that they all needed to step up and the guys who weren’t getting a lot of minutes needed to “bring it”.  The game started out kind of slow with Snow and Jones both starting.  You could see the team was trying to adjust to life without Hughes.  After all, Snow has the tough assignment to guard Michael Redd.  Snow actually did a nice job and Newble did well to spell Snow.  The team really looked tough and was not going to be rattled.  

In the first half, the crowd at the Bradley Center was very much in the game.  Their team was winning and at that point held the King to a meager 12 points.  Lebron was just waiting for his time, just like Michael Jordan used to.  He was passing well and played the best defense he has played all year.  You could see he was going to take the game over in the end and the fourth quarter was his time.  He exploded for 17 and the rest of the team contributed 12 more with some great team/interior defense.  The defense the last two games (DET and MIL) the team has really done an excellent job.  Marshall and Jones played solid defense, Drew was a monster, Z was actually a force (for him that doesn’t take much).  I think Z got embarrassed the last time these teams met so he put out a great effort.  Perhaps the biggest and best surprise was the play of Mike Wilks.  Wilks has gotten lots of playing time against the Bucks and other quick teams.  You could see why.  He is fast, gets in his opponents face, goes had to the lane and he got over the top of EVERY pick ALL night long.  His 15 minutes were so valuable to this win.  

We also held the Bucks bench to zero points which was huge.  It was great to see Jiri Welch again and to see how his game has not changed.  In the final seconds of the game (Cavs win well in hand) Jiri took a rebound, dribbled over mid-court went to throw up a last second 3-ball… but he couldn’t because Wilks jumped at him and Jiri just held the ball in mid air, came down with it in hand, pounded it into the floor and ran off. The game was over.  He still sucks; he knows it and I love it.  

Overall, the big three of LBJ, Z and Drew led this team.  Donyell was also key to the win.  Our bench is going to so crucial in the next month and a half.  The word is “Wild Thing” will be back soon and now Sasha and Luke are going to get the minutes they want.  They are going to have to produce.  If this team can go .500 or better while Hughes recovers over the next two months, then we should be in good shape.  The upcoming west coast trip is going to be hard. If we can keep the defensive intensity at the level we’re playing at, then we will be just fine.  It was a great W last night.  Tonight we get T.Mac and Company at The Q (I’ll be there).  Another tough match-up and another win would really nice.  

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