Game 15: Cavs at Pistons - Wed, Nov 25, 8:00pm

[Rise Against]

[10-4] [5-9]




| November 25th, 2009 | 7:30 PM - ET | The Palace Of Auburn Hills | Detroit, Michigan |




_____ _____

...................................... PF: C: SF: ..........
...................................................................................................................................................... Hickson #21 .................. O'Neal #33 ............................... James #23

.............................................................................................................................................................. PG: SG:
........................................................................................................................................................................................................ Williams #2 ......................... Parker #18



............................................................................



................................................................................................................................................................... PG: SG:
........................................................................................................................................................................................................ Stuckey #3 ............................... Gordon #7

......... PF: C: SF:
................................................................................................................................................... Villanueva #31 .................... Wallace #6 ......................... Jerebko #33

_____ _____





____________ Diesel Returns! ___________



- The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Shaquille O'Neal with the playoffs in mind, and the big man is set to make his return after resting his injured shoulder for five games. Cleveland's big offseason acquisition averaged 11.3 points in his first nine games with his fifth NBA team before straining his shoulder. Not wanting to risk the 37-year-old center's health too early, the Cavaliers refused to give O'Neal a cortisone injection to treat the injury, instead opting to let him rest.




_____________ Injury Report ____________

Hamilton (ankle) took part in a light practice on Friday, the Detroit Free Press reports. (Nov 20) - OUT

Prince (back) is still at least a week away from returning to the court, the Detroit News reports. (Nov 24) - OUT

_____________ Game Notes ____________


• The Cavaliers last left The Palace of Auburn Hills with a first-round sweep in April, and they'll likely get O'Neal back Wednesday night as they seek an eighth straight victory over the reeling Pistons.

• The Cavaliers have won seven of eight, going 4-1 without O'Neal. LeBron James has been the catalyst as usual, averaging 34.3 points and 9.3 assists in his last four games while shooting 58.3 percent. Though James had a game-high 32 points and nine assists Saturday as Cleveland rallied past Philadelphia 97-91, much of the postgame talk focused on the defense, which allowed 10 fourth-quarter points as Cleveland overcame a six-point deficit.

• James averaged 32.0 points, 11.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists as Cleveland held Detroit to 78.0 points per game in a four-game sweep to open last season's playoffs. Including that series, the Cavs have won seven straight over the Pistons by an average of 14.1 points. Cleveland had assistant John Kuester guiding its offense during those victories, but now Kuester, largely credited with the Cavs' improved ball movement and spacing during their 66-win season in 2008-09, is the head coach in Detroit.

• Detroit haven't had much success lately. Gordon went 1 of 16 from the field and scored a season-low five points in a loss to Dallas on Nov. 15, then the Pistons were swept during a four-game western road trip that concluded with a 117-91 loss at Phoenix on Sunday. The Pistons' biggest problem has been finding offense inside with former Cavalier Ben Wallace and Jonas Jerebko starting up front. Detroit is among the league's bottom five teams in points in the paint (36.1 per game), and Cleveland (34.1) allows the fewest. The Pistons last lost six in a row during an eight-game skid from Feb. 8-25.




__________ Relive The Moment! _________

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__________ Happy Thanksgiving! _________

[TheOUTLAW]

The is just Ohio vs Michigan week. So far it's 1-1 with this game being the tiebreaker.

[B Mac]

That Detroit lineup is so completely different nowadays. The funny part is, the only old familiar face in the lineup has been on 2 teams since he was last a Piston. I guess Im just so used to seeing Rip, Prince, Billups, and the Wallace's that having everyone completely different is still strange.

This will be a game we can really use Delonte's D for guarding Gordon. Hopefully he will be playing.

[gflem]

Det is a team in transition, and we should win this one going away. Add in the long layoff and this is an easy win. I for one enjoy every Det loss and this game will be enjoyable.

[tundraknight]

Hickson vs Villanueva!

[Rise Against]

Agree with B Mac.. It's just really weird not seeing Detroit with Sheed, Prince, and Hamilton in their lineup. Nonetheless, these new players they acquired can't be much better, judging by their record and losing streak.. Expect for The King to rule the palace, as he always does.

[Niko23]

JJ goes for 17 and 9.

Anybody gotta Delonte update? We need this guy to get back in his groove

[Gordon Bombay]

who in the blue hell is jerebko?

[Niko23]

Shaq is out. Mike Brown resting him another day due to precaution.

[Triumph36]

Shaq is out. Mike Brown resting him another day due to precaution.

This is kinda disappointing, but considering it's just the Pistons and they're already missing 2 key players it's obvious why he's doing this. Guess Shaq's anticipated return will be delayed until Friday

[Rise Against]

A little disappointing to see Shaq sit out again.. Was really looking forward to his return.

[Benedict_Boozer]

Shaq situation is starting to mildly concern me. The Cavs are pretty secretive about injuries so who knows what is really wrong with him.

I don't think we need Shaq to beat most teams in the regular season actually but still.

[paham]

A little disappointing to see Shaq sit out again.. Was really looking forward to his return.

I actually don't mind him sitting out, would rather play him for the stretch run and in the playoffs. I actually would suggest playing at most 2 games per week!! Until the end of the season.

[eyejayem]

Agree with the JJ- Villanueva matchup. Its that point where Delonte has to get back on track. I think Brown is allowing this game to be a rhythm game to get the guys back on the same page. Shaq is a vet who I think they already know where he fits. If he can take the extra rest, give it. Z, AV (after the injury) and Delonte have to get in a groove so we can be pumping on all cylinders. When Shaq is back and we are chomping through wins, we should have that confidence, intimidation, and swagger that we had most of last season back. Right now teams think we are at the bottom of that top tier. We need to show why we had the best record last year and why we are a team to be reckoned with.

[TheOUTLAW]

The Cavs are shooting like crap

[TheOUTLAW]

I am marvelling at how many calls that have gone against the Cavs that appear to be obviously wrong.

[TheOUTLAW]

Gilbert said it best "anyone that thinks that LeBron gets "superstar" calls ought to be strung up. Cavs players not getting the majority of the calls they deserve and even funnier is that when they have gotten calls somehow they are being call before the shot.

[bstein14]

Lebron traveled twice and both no calls.

He absolutely gets more calls and favorable no calls than just about any other player in the NBA.

[TheOUTLAW]

That is such BS. The travel that you are whining about he didn't have control of the ball. The Calls in this game have been blatantly towards Detroit though. It's absolutely unbelievable.

There is no doubt that the Cavs win this, but man it's alot closer than it should be

[L&H_05]

Lebron traveled twice and both no calls.

He absolutely gets more calls and favorable no calls than just about any other player in the NBA.

Calm down, guy....