Our beloved Cavaliers will carry their five game win streak back into the Q to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. Minnesota sports an embarrassing 9-37 record (but that’s okay, they’re still better than New Jersey) and can’t provide the same star studded matchups that Cleveland fans have been used to over the last week or so.
But here’s how the two teams match up:
Daniel Gibson v. Jonny Flynn
In the absence of Mo Williams and Delonte West, Daniel Gibson has given Cleveland two very solid performances from the point guard position. Jonny Flynn, Minnesota’s rookie out of Syracuse University, has played great thus far this season. His 14.4 points per game is third on the team while his 4.2 assist average ranks first on the Timberwolves. Flynn has only connected on 41 of his 121 long distance attempts this season so the majority of his points come from his ability to penetrate. Gibson will certainly have his hands full with the rookie point guard on Wednesday night.
Advantage: Jonny Flynn
Anthony Parker v. Damien Wilkins
Anthony Parker has been matched up with some of the game’s best scorers over the last three games in Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Dwyane Wade. He’ll have a bit of a rest on Wednesday night when he faces off against Minnesota’s Damien Wilkins. Wilkins is only averaging a smidge over 6 points a night for the T’Wolves. Parker comes in averaging a hair over 7 points but I expect him to come up with a greater contribution on the offensive end on Wednesday.
Advantage: Anthony Parker
LeBron James v. Corey Brewer
Again, this match up advantage goes without saying. LeBron James has been incredible this season and is posting unbelievable numbers during the Cavs’ five game winning streak. Corey Brewer accounts for almost 13 points a game and is the anchor for Minnesota’s defense. He’ll have a rough assignment on Wednesday night as he takes on the best in the game.
Advantage: LeBron James
JJ Hickson v. Kevin Love
JJ Hickson disappeared again on Monday night against the Miami Heat and surrendered most of the power forward minutes to Anderson Varejao. Kevin Love has been much more consistent this season and has provided a steady 15 points and 12 boards a night for the struggling Wolves.
Advantage: Kevin Love
Shaquille O’Neal v. Al Jefferson
As great as Al Jefferson is, he just cannot match up with the legendary Shaquille O’Neal. Especially when the Big Fella is playing the kind of basketball that he has over the last three games. O’Neal has muscled through defenders on the offensive end and has been a force to reckon with on the defensive end. He can change the outcome of games simply by his presence on the floor. Jefferson is averaging about 18 points and 10 rebounds a game but he just does not have the size or strength to contend with Shaq.
Advantage: Shaquille O’Neal
Cleveland Bench v. Minnesota Bench
Even without Delonte West coming off the bench, Cleveland is still one of the most dynamic teams in all of basketball. Anderson Varejao provides the spark off the pine and Zydrunas Ilgauskas forces matchup problems for opposing backup center across the league. Jamario Moon is slowly being worked back into the lineup after missing several weeks with an abdominal strain and his length on the defensive end causes problems for opposing teams. Cleveland’s athleticism and talent off the bench is arguably the best in the league while Minnesota has very little production after their starting five.
Advantage: Cleveland
Prediction:
20,000+ fans will pack the Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday night for another night of Cavaliers’ basketball. About 99.99% of that 20,000+ will be Cavalier fans and many people well say, “Well duh Cody. It is in Cleveland.” But there will probably be very few Minnesota fans watching the game from their living room too. And do you know why? Because all the attention will be on Brett Favre (just like he likes it) as the world tries to figure out whether or not he’s going to retire for real this time. Hmmm…. Who cares?!
Anyways, Cleveland always comes out strong against the fiercest opponents but seem to experience their mental lapses when taking on the league’s cellar dwellers. That’s good news for the T’Wolves because they are the second worst team in the NBA this season.
As the story goes, Cleveland is outhustled, outplayed, outrebounded, outsmarted and outscored through the first three quarters as LeBron James seems to be the only Cavalier that even wants to play. LeBron leads all scorers with 32 heading into the final period but his team trails by nine.
‘Bron starts out on the bench (like normal) and Minnesota pushes out to a 15 point advantage with just over eight minutes to play. Mike Brown summons his young King to the floor and the Akron Hammer puts on quite the show. James goes on a 12-0 run on his own over the next three minutes and closes the gap to 3 with four minutes to go.
Anthony Parker’s three ball from the right corner knots the game at 89 apiece and the two teams battle back-and-forth as the clock winds down. With the score tied at 95 and 21 seconds left in the game, the Timberwolves bring the ball across court. Jonny Flynn tosses the ball in to Kevin Love who, doing his best Brett Favre impression, tosses the ball to the opposing team and Cleveland takes over with 8 seconds left. LeBron dribbles right and finds a wide open Anthony Parker in the corner to splash home the game winning tre.
Cleveland wins by a field goal, 98-95.
The only good news for Kevin Love is that his game-losing turnover will not be the last of his career.
CAVS WIN +3
Tune in to the Wine & Gold Podcast tonight with Brendan Bowers and Glenn Moore an hour before tip-off.