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Cavs star has 19th triple-double after taking over in third quarter
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 11:46 p.m. EST, Jan 13, 2009
MEMPHIS, TENN.: Things must've gotten to LeBron James in the third quarter.
Having held the Memphis Grizzlies to 35 percent shooting in the first half Tuesday, the Cavaliers led by just three points at halftime.
The Grizzlies took 23 trips to the free-throw line as opposed to just 12 for the Cavs, including two on technical fouls, in that span.
James took control in the third quarter, reeling off nine consecutive points, four of which came on successive in-your-face driving dunks, and the outcome looked ordained from that point.
James finished with a triple-double, the 19th of his career and the Cavs beat the Grizzlies 102-87.
James knows what happens when he gets into his personal zone. Players attack him in twos and threes, freeing up his teammates for open shots.
''You don't want to let young teams hang around if they have an opportunity to win ballgames,'' he said. ''I wanted to turn it up, be the aggressor on offense, get to the free-throw line and get myself going.''
James got in more minutes than usual — a shade over 40 — but coach Mike Brown said that he couldn't bring himself to rest his star.
'''He kind of forced me to keep him on the floor at the end of the third because of his aggressiveness,'' Brown said. ''And it was aggressiveness in the right way on both sides of the floor.''
James' 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists keyed an onslaught that trapped the Grizzlies into a situation from which they couldn't escape.
Defense, hustle and precision shooting led the Cavs on a 19-6 run that gave them a 16-point edge at 72-56.
The run was fueled by three steals and four forced turnovers.
James had just nine points in the first half, but added 21 in the second half. His teammates played off the energy that he generated, and guards Mo Williams and Delonte West contributed on offense and defense.
Williams continued to show poise and court presence while scoring 16 points.
But West upstaged his partner in the backcourt with a 19-point performance and with his defense. Rookie guard O.J. Mayo came into the game against the Cavs averaging close to 20 points per game. He finished with a mere six points, courtesy of West's smothering defense.
''He had good team defense behind him, but he worked his tail off trying to contest every shot,'' Brown said of West.
As for the shooting, the Cavs made almost 63 percent of their shots in the third quarter to help them pull away from the Grizzlies.
For the Grizzlies, the biggest highlight of the night came when Darius Miles, the former Cavalier who is embroiled in a controversy with the Portland Trail Blazers, came into the game and scored 13 points.
Although the Grizzlies tried in vain to mount a comeback, it wasn't in the cards as the Cavs outscored them 26-21 in the fourth quarter.
Ultimately, the numbers say that this game could have been a lot closer. The Grizzlies took one more shot than the Cavs, went to the free-throw line 38 times to 28 for the Cavs and stayed close in rebounds, losing that battle 39-37.
The Cavs made more of their shots, connecting on 36-of-68 for close to 53 percent from the floor.
Their 3-point shooting proved devastating as they made 12-of-21 from behind the arc.
The Cavs turned 12 Grizzlies' turnovers into 20 points.
Point guard Kyle Lowry led the Grizzlies with 25 points.
Quick shot
James had as many assists as the entire Grizzlies team. . . . The Cavs are now 11-6 on the road. . . . The Cavs made a season-best 12 3-point shots. . . . The win was the Cavs' sixth in a row against the Grizzlies. . . . They are now 10-1 against Western Conference teams this season.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas.
MEMPHIS, TENN.: Things must've gotten to LeBron James in the third quarter.
Having held the Memphis Grizzlies to 35 percent shooting in the first half Tuesday, the Cavaliers led by just three points at halftime.
The Grizzlies took 23 trips to the free-throw line as opposed to just 12 for the Cavs, including two on technical fouls, in that span.
James took control in the third quarter, reeling off nine consecutive points, four of which came on successive in-your-face driving dunks, and the outcome looked ordained from that point.
James finished with a triple-double, the 19th of his career and the Cavs beat the Grizzlies 102-87.
James knows what happens when he gets into his personal zone. Players attack him in twos and threes, freeing up his teammates for open shots.
''You don't want to let young teams hang around if they have an opportunity to win ballgames,'' he said. ''I wanted to turn it up, be the aggressor on offense, get to the free-throw line and get myself going.''
James got in more minutes than usual — a shade over 40 — but coach Mike Brown said that he couldn't bring himself to rest his star.
'''He kind of forced me to keep him on the floor at the end of the third because of his aggressiveness,'' Brown said. ''And it was aggressiveness in the right way on both sides of the floor.''
James' 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists keyed an onslaught that trapped the Grizzlies into a situation from which they couldn't escape.
Defense, hustle and precision shooting led the Cavs on a 19-6 run that gave them a 16-point edge at 72-56.
The run was fueled by three steals and four forced turnovers.
James had just nine points in the first half, but added 21 in the second half. His teammates played off the energy that he generated, and guards Mo Williams and Delonte West contributed on offense and defense.
Williams continued to show poise and court presence while scoring 16 points.
But West upstaged his partner in the backcourt with a 19-point performance and with his defense. Rookie guard O.J. Mayo came into the game against the Cavs averaging close to 20 points per game. He finished with a mere six points, courtesy of West's smothering defense.
''He had good team defense behind him, but he worked his tail off trying to contest every shot,'' Brown said of West.
As for the shooting, the Cavs made almost 63 percent of their shots in the third quarter to help them pull away from the Grizzlies.
For the Grizzlies, the biggest highlight of the night came when Darius Miles, the former Cavalier who is embroiled in a controversy with the Portland Trail Blazers, came into the game and scored 13 points.
Although the Grizzlies tried in vain to mount a comeback, it wasn't in the cards as the Cavs outscored them 26-21 in the fourth quarter.
Ultimately, the numbers say that this game could have been a lot closer. The Grizzlies took one more shot than the Cavs, went to the free-throw line 38 times to 28 for the Cavs and stayed close in rebounds, losing that battle 39-37.
The Cavs made more of their shots, connecting on 36-of-68 for close to 53 percent from the floor.
Their 3-point shooting proved devastating as they made 12-of-21 from behind the arc.
The Cavs turned 12 Grizzlies' turnovers into 20 points.
Point guard Kyle Lowry led the Grizzlies with 25 points.
Quick shot
James had as many assists as the entire Grizzlies team. . . . The Cavs are now 11-6 on the road. . . . The Cavs made a season-best 12 3-point shots. . . . The win was the Cavs' sixth in a row against the Grizzlies. . . . They are now 10-1 against Western Conference teams this season.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas.
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