Game 80 | Cavs vs Pacers | Apr 9th 2010 | 7:30pm EST

[Rise Against]

«61-18 30-48»

Cleveland (61-18) has nothing to play for these final three games, having already clinched the NBA's best overall record and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Accordingly, Brown has decided to use this stretch of games to give some of his starters a rest to get them fresh ahead of the postseason.

James was given Thursday off as the Cavaliers lost 109-108 to Chicago, but the greater concern was midseason acquisition Antawn Jamison -- still trying to find a comfort zone since being traded by Washington -- suffering a bruised right foot while scoring 23 points. Cleveland is already without injured center Shaquille O'Neal, and there's a chance Brown may go without both James and Jamison for this game.

Williams proved capable of picking up the offensive slack by scoring a season-high 35 points and rallying the Cavaliers from a 12-point second-half deficit, but Anderson Varaejo's hesitation in taking a potential game-winning jumper in the final seconds shows just how much Cleveland needs James on the court in crunch time.

Granger missed the last meeting between the teams, a 99-94 road defeat March 17 due to a cheek injury. That loss was Indiana's 10th straight at Cleveland since a 109-104 double-overtime victory Nov. 3, 2004. The Cavaliers have won 16 of 19 between the teams and are trying to sweep the season series for the second time in three seasons.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=300409005


2 more games. . . . . .

[tundraknight]

Lebron, Mo, and Jamison all need to stay off the court for this game.

Give heavy minutes to Telfair, Moon, Jawad, Powe, and Green.

[Recently]

Any word if its going to be a rest-rotation or is just gonna be everyone? Not sure if "the Colts" strategy is the best way to enter the playoffs.

[TheOUTLAW]

I guarantee that Jamison won't be playing but I wouldn't be surprised to see LeBron playing.

[INKtastic]

any word yet on who's playing?

[Triumph36]

any word yet on who's playing?

According to BW LeBron, Jamison, Mo, and Gibson are all inactive. Delonte is active and expected to start.

[TheOUTLAW]

I'm staying by my phone waiting for the Cavs to call. I suspect that I'll be able to play in one of these last few games.

[mhfan3]

Warned for posting chain letter spam

[throwd]

west, telfair, and jj all are having solid games!!

so much for jj only looking good cause he plays alongside lebron!

[tundraknight]

The Pacers dont even have a game thread.

[TheOUTLAW]

How many T's have we gotten today. The game isn't on here so I'm looking at the gamecast and that's at least 2

[green589]

Telfair is playing pretty well. He's quick and his court vision seems pretty good. If only he could shoot like boobie (who I've decided is having an affair with Mike Brown's wife given his steady play and subsequent lack of playing time)

[TheOUTLAW]

Yeah, I don't get why Gibson has been relegated to the convalescents home.

[TheOUTLAW]

My new goal for this team is to avoid 20 losses

[L&H_05]

I think Windy said Boobie has a heel problem, Outty... He would have definitely seen some burn in these games if healthy...

[INKtastic]

I'll be glad when the playoffs start. We've been competitive the last two games, but just don't know how to close a game without LeBron.

[kenneth9265]

I really think it was the right thing to do to sit out the players that Mike Brown sat out. (Jamison and Mo Williams should of sat out the chicago game too). But if I was Coach Brown, I would Play everyone, including Shaq, for the Orlando game considering that Orlando is our biggest challenge to reach the NBA Finals.