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Twinsburg likes chances, but warns offense needs to deliver
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Study says 2,200 uninsured veterans died in 2008 due to lack of health insurance.
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Muffle Your Muffler
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Clock Tender- Extending the Life of Collector Car Clocks
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Rumors: Akron Starbucks Closing
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Kimberly requests information on living in Columbus, Ohio.
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Aeromsith looking for new singer as Steven Tyler contemplates solo career
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Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
Video: 'Modern Warfare 2' hits the streets
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter
POSTED: 12:57 p.m. EDT, Apr 18, 2008
Control the tempo — The Wizards want to play fast and increase the number of possessions in the game. They only won nine games this season when they scored less than 100 points and only three when they scored less than 80. The Cavs are not a great offensive team; they want to push the ball off misses, and they want to keep it a defensive battle. The Cavs only won nine games this season when they gave up 100 points (in regulation).
Defensive rebounds — Both the Wizards and the Cavs are in the top five in the NBA in offensive rebounding. For the Cavs, getting putbacks is a significant percentage of their offense, and they rely on fastbreaks off defensive rebounds to get easy points. So whichever team is able to limit the other's offensive rebounds, that is what is better on the defensive end, will have an edge.
The LeBron Rules — The Wizards will likely attempt to double-team James on the outside to force him to give up the ball in crunch time. They have to make sure to do it with aggression and not allow him to split. James must be able to distribute the ball to beat the attack, and most important, his teammates must make open shots
Talking and listening — It is clear that the Wizards are a trash talking team, and they use it to build themselves up and throw off their opponent. It often works for them. The Cavs, on the other hand, have had their focus disrupted when they start talking during games this season, to both the opponents and the officials.
Protecting home — There has been much made of the Cavs' record after their big trade but here is something often overlooked: they were 12-4 at home after the deal. In the past two years, they are also 4-1 at the Verizon Center in Washington in the playoffs, and they have eight road playoff wins in the past two years. Taking care of business at home will be vital to both teams, the Cavs wanting to continue the trend, and the Wizards wanting to break it.
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/
Control the tempo — The Wizards want to play fast and increase the number of possessions in the game. They only won nine games this season when they scored less than 100 points and only three when they scored less than 80. The Cavs are not a great offensive team; they want to push the ball off misses, and they want to keep it a defensive battle. The Cavs only won nine games this season when they gave up 100 points (in regulation).
Defensive rebounds — Both the Wizards and the Cavs are in the top five in the NBA in offensive rebounding. For the Cavs, getting putbacks is a significant percentage of their offense, and they rely on fastbreaks off defensive rebounds to get easy points. So whichever team is able to limit the other's offensive rebounds, that is what is better on the defensive end, will have an edge.
The LeBron Rules — The Wizards will likely attempt to double-team James on the outside to force him to give up the ball in crunch time. They have to make sure to do it with aggression and not allow him to split. James must be able to distribute the ball to beat the attack, and most important, his teammates must make open shots
Talking and listening — It is clear that the Wizards are a trash talking team, and they use it to build themselves up and throw off their opponent. It often works for them. The Cavs, on the other hand, have had their focus disrupted when they start talking during games this season, to both the opponents and the officials.
Protecting home — There has been much made of the Cavs' record after their big trade but here is something often overlooked: they were 12-4 at home after the deal. In the past two years, they are also 4-1 at the Verizon Center in Washington in the playoffs, and they have eight road playoff wins in the past two years. Taking care of business at home will be vital to both teams, the Cavs wanting to continue the trend, and the Wizards wanting to break it.
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/
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