Kings vs. Cavaliers Preview: SERMONS

I must admit that I didn’t know much about Cleveland before I started to write this preview other than Omri Casspi plays there and they also have this guy Kyle Irving. Cleveland has the 10th best record in the Eastern Conference at 11-17; three games better than Detroit. They are 6-8 at home and 4-4 against the West.

They are only 4-6 in the last 10 but that was one rough schedule for 10 games. They split a pair with Boston, lost to Miami twice and once to Orlando , lost to Milwaukee and Philadelphia; beat Dallas, the Clippers and Indiana. They accomplished this feat with the 9th worst Offense (the Kings are 5th worst) and the 11th worst Defense (the Kings are the 4th worst).

They have the 3rd best Off Reb Rate (Kings have 2nd best) and they have the 7th best Def Reb Rate (Kings have the 3rd worst). With two excellent PG’s (Irving and Ramon Sessions) running the offense, Cleveland has a surprisingly below average Assist Rate and above average Turnover Rate. But when they are on, expect some absolutely astounding numbers; low turnovers and high offensive rebounds leads to more FGA’s and more easy assisted baskets at the rim. Think Phoenix, NY and Chicago all over again.

Omri is still finding his way. In 28 games he’s only scored in double figures 9 times with his highest point total being 14. He’s started all 28 games and is averaging 7.8pts 3.2rebs on 41% field 31% from three and only 59% from the FT line. His front-court mates are Anderson Varejao at Center and Antawn Jamison at PF. Jamison is 2nd to Irving in scoring with 16.6pts and 6.1reb on 42% field and 35% from three. Varejao is the leading rebounder averaging a double double with 10.8pts and 11.5 rebs per game. Irving leads all scorers with 18.2pts and 5 asts on 49% field and 41% from three.

Ninth year player 6-6 210lb guard Anthony Parker, started the season at SG, and averaged 6pts 2rebs 2asts. Parker hasn’t played since the Jan 29th win over Boston out with a lower back strain. Guard Mychel Thompson started the next 3 games but then was waived. Six foot six 210lb forward Alonzo Gee took over the SG duties for one game until 6-2 Daniel Gibson got the job for the next 4 games until he suffered a sprained left ankle and so for the last game Gee got the job back. So as of this writing, Parker and Gibson are inactive, Thompson is waived (Mychel not Tristen), and Forward Alonzo Gee is the starting SG

Center Anderson Varejao suffered a sprained right wrist injury in a collision with Mike Dunleavy Jr. 3 games ago. A MRI later revealed a fracture that will keep Varejao out indefinitely. So, the new starting center is 7-0 240lb 2nd year pro from Turkey Semih Erden. As a starter Erden is averaging 8pt 5rebs in 20mpg, and is only shooting 44% from the FT Line. Ryan Hollins is playing the backup minutes at center, with rookie Tristan Thompson and Luke Harangody getting the Forward minutes. Along with Sessions, 2nd year guard 6-3 Ben Uzoh is taking the back-court bench minutes.

Since Varejao went out the Cav’s are 1-2 with their one win coming against Indiana. Indiana dominated the boards but wasted their 12 extra possessions by shooting 38%, with Cleveland shot 47% and 10 of 27 from three for 37% to take the 11pt victory. Irving and Sessions are shooting better than 41% from 3, and Jamison & Gee are shooting 35%. And, while Omri is only shooting 31%, it didn’t stop him from going 3 for 7 from beyond the arc in the Indiana game. With the Kings more than likely dominating the paint, I could see the Cav’s taking bombs away from 3 as their strategy to stay in the game. That’s only if Irving and Sessions don’t pull off a Linsanity on us. Both those guards are capable of setting up their bigs for easy baskets at the rim. So, the Kings better get ready to defense the pick and roll, and the paint or else Erden may be the next unknown to look like an All-Star against the Kings.

proving to the rest of the NBA the Kings had the best off season free agent acquisition of any team. Yes, 1 game will prove all this. Put your seat belts on King’s fans Chuck-sanity is about to change your world!

http://www.wimp.com/basementbasketball/

he looked better with it longer