Cleveland Cavaliers [29-24] @ Indiana Pacers [21-32]
| Wednesday, February 19 2008 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Conseco Fieldhouse | 7:00 pm ET |
| TV: FSIN, FSOH | Radio: WIBC 1070
GAME NOTES
LeBron James followed up an All-Star game MVP performance with a triple-double, but the Cleveland Cavaliers couldn't come away with a win.
The Indiana Pacers, though, should remember the superstar's previous triple-double.
Making his first start against Indiana since recording a triple-double three months ago, James leads the Cavaliers against the Pacers on Wednesday night.
Cleveland's superstar forward finished with 27 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, nearly joining Michael Jordan in 1997 as the only player to have a triple-double in the All-Star game, as the Eastern Conference won 134-128 on Sunday in New Orleans.
James earned his second All-Star MVP award in three years.
In the Cavaliers' first game following the break on Tuesday, they wasted a triple-double from James in a 93-85 loss to Houston. James had 26 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists for his fifth triple-double this season and 15th of his career.
"We've got to continue to just get better," James said. "The best thing about this league is we have another game (Wednesday)."
James' previous triple-double came against Indiana (21-32) on Nov. 25. He finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists as Cleveland (29-24) posted a 111-106 victory.
The only game James has appeared in without starting this season was in the Cavaliers' second contest against the Pacers, a 118-105 win on Dec. 11. James had 17 points in 22 minutes after missing his previous five games with a finger injury, helping the Cavaliers extend their winning streak over the Pacers to five games.
Indiana hasn't beaten Cleveland since a 97-87 victory on Nov. 24, 2006. Two of the Cavaliers' wins during their run against the Pacers have been on the road, where they have won two straight and nine of 13 overall.
The Pacers, meanwhile, have lost six of their last seven at Conseco Fieldhouse, giving up 108.6 points per game. Indiana, which will be playing its first game since the All-Star break, has lost nine of 11 overall.
Rest of Preview - http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview;_yl ... 2008022011
INDY STAR PREVIEW
The Indiana Pacers are stuck, and it won't be easy to wriggle back into contention, according to one Hall of Fame player.
The Pacers (21-32) are 11th in the Eastern Conference but just two games out of a playoff spot going into tonight's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Conseco Fieldhouse.
"The Pacers find themselves stuck in the middle," ESPN analyst Bill Walton said earlier this week. "They are right there in the mix of things for a playoff spot, but they aren't that good of a team. They don't have a point guard, they don't have a player in the paint and they don't have a go-to player."
To the everyday fan, the Pacers' easiest solution would be to blow up the current roster -- beginning with making a deal before Thursday's 3 p.m. trade deadline -- and start from scratch.
As enticing and simple as hitting the refresh button sounds, it's not that easy -- for the Pacers, at least. Team president Larry Bird can't just pick up the phone and unload his highest-salaried players because they're either hurt, have had off-the-court issues or are underperforming. He can't swap them for younger, less expensive talent because the salaries being exchanged must nearly match.
Any trade conversation involving the Pacers begins with Jermaine O'Neal. The Pacers and O'Neal have been trying to end their eight-year relationship for some time, but O'Neal's health and contract -- two more years, $44 million due after this season -- remain stumbling blocks. O'Neal has been slowed by knee injuries, again, and hasn't played since Jan. 16. He recently started doing on-the-court work, but his return date is not known.
Full Indy Star Preview - http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a ... 8/SPORTS04
STARTERS
Larry Hughes (12.1ppg) - Newbie (4.4ppg) - Ilgauskas 13.6ppg, 9.4rpg) - Gooden (8.4rpg) - James (30.2ppg, 7.4apg)
Travis Diener (6ppg) - Danny Granger (17.8ppg) - Jeff Foster (8.5rpg) - Mike Dunleavy Jr (17.3ppg) - Troy Murphy (10.7ppg, 7rpg)
TOP RESERVES
Damon Jones (6ppg) - Sasha Pavlovic (7.3ppg) - Daniel Gibson (47% 3p%, 11.5ppg)
Marquis Daniels (8ppg) - Kareem Rush (8.7ppg) - Ike Diogu (6ppg, last game 14pt)
INJURIES
Cleveland-
Anderson Varejao - Sprained left ankle - OUT
Sasha Pavlovic - Sprained left foot - DTD
Indiana
Jermaine O'Neal - Bone bruise, left knee - OUT
Jamaal Tinsley - Sore left knee - OUT
Travis Diener - Foot injury - DTD
TEAM COMPARISON
Team - Record Standings PF PA Road/Home Streak L10
Cleveland 29-24 2nd Central / 5th East 97.0 - 98.4 Road 14-14 Lost 2 5-5
Indiana 21-32 4th Central / 11th East 102.5 - 105.1 Home 10-15 Lost 2 2-8
LAST MEETING
Indiana 105
Cleveland 118
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2007121105
TRADITION CONTINUES
[/url]
