Yes, I think we can all agree that Tuesday night’s game was not a championship caliber effort from the Wine and Gold. But fear not my fellow Cavalier Crazies, the King and his men will be back at it again on Wednesday night.

The city of Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States and the largest in the state of Texas. Among other things, Houston, Texas is home to the world’s biggest cake. Back in 1991, an oatmeal cake about half as tall Mo Williams was baked in the same city that our Cleveland hoopsters will visit tonight.

And you can bet they’ll come out hungry for their sixteenth win of the season. Possibly even hungry enough to chow down on some Rocket bottom and still have room for that 33-layer cake them Texans done threw t’gether. But before desert, the Cavs will have their hands full.

And here’s how it breaks down:

The Yao-less Houston Rockets are off to an unexpectedly impressive 11-9 start fueled by Trevor Ariza and Aaron Brooks. Averaging over 2.2 steals and 17.6 points per game, Trevor Ariza has embraced his role and team leader this season. He is the team’s lock-down defender (and will likely be matched up with LeBron on Wednesday night) but also provides steady offense for the Rockets. Brooks, an early leader for most improved player, is averaging 16.5 points to compliment his 5.5 assists per contest. Undersized big men Luis Scola and Chuck Hayes will team up to try and slow down the Cavalier towers in the paint.

What to Look For:

Luis Scola (6′ 9″) and Chuck Hayes (6′ 6″) will have their work cut out for them on Wednesday night. Look for the Cavs to feed seven foot-one inch Shaquille O’Neal and seven foot-three inch Zydrunas Ilgauskas for easy buckets in the paint. Don’t be surprised if Shaq goes off for 20+ and turns in his most impressive performance in wine and gold.

Houston has topped the 100 point plateau in three of its last four contests while Cleveland has done so in five straight. Look for the Cavs streak to continue against an undersized Rocket team.

LeBron has posted five consecutive double-doubles and the Cavs are 4-1 in those games. Look for the King to return to his pass-first attitude on Wednesday night and lend the throne to the Big Fella for one night.

Prediction:

The first word spoken from the moon on July 20, 1969 was “Houston” and, on Wednesday night, Houston will have a problem.

That problem bares the name Shaquille O’Neal, Big Witness Protection, or the Shaqalier. Whatever you wish. But regardless of your preferred nombre, the Rockets get a heavy dose of the Cavalier big man and O’Neal goes off for 8 points in the first period and leads all scorers with 17 at the half. With the Wine and Gold leading 54-51 at intermission, Houston comes out of the break ready to (square) dance. They catch the Cavs off guard and lead by six midway through the third but Cleveland returns to their reliable post game and charge into the fourth quarter on a 12 – 1 run, leading 76 – 71.

Boobie Gibson shows off his newly-discovered mid-range “J” and connects on three straight jump shots to open the final period. After two straight buckets by the Lone Star squad, LeBron James enters the game and leads his troops into the Alamo. Eight points and three assists later, Cleveland leads by a comfortable 12 points with 45 seconds left. Coach Brown clears the bench for the final ticks and his team comes away with numero sixteen 104 – 96.

Yee-Haw!