Based on the way that the Cavs play against sub .500 teams, last night’s result was no surprise. They went up against the 8-12 Grizzlies who are actually doing good as of late. They started 1-8 and went 7-4 up to last night. Five of the six teams that the Cavs have lost to this year have sub .500 records. The fans knew that the Cavs would face a tough opponent in the Grizzlies, but apparently the team didn’t.
As mentioned above the Grizzlies have turned their season around by going 7-4 after a terrible start. They have the youngest team in the league and it showed by how they started the season. However, once they learned to play together they were successful. Under second year guard O.J. Mayo they are climbing out of the NBA cellar and into playoff contention. The Nets forcefully shoved them out of the cellar. They also get great numbers from Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph. The three combined for 81 of the Grizzlies 111 points last night.
As usual the Cavs came out firing and had a great first quarter scoring 31 points. Lebron had three dunks in the first few minutes of the game. They continued in the second quarter and at halftime had an 11 point lead. This game turned out to be a story of two halves (and overtime).
The Cavs had one of their signature third quarters. The one where they don’t show up in the first half and let the other team get right back into the game. At the end of the quarter they were only up by two and this is not a good thing against a young team like the Grizzlies who play off of momentum. Also because they had their biggest crowd of the year show up last night.
In the fourth the teams traded baskets for most of the time. Then with 18 seconds left and the Cavs up by two they had a lapse of concentration on defense. They let Rudy Gay drive right to the hoop and make an easy lay-up. This is ok because we have Lebron to save the day. Not this time. Lebron had the ball in his hands for the last 18 seconds and could not even get a shot off. He drove with less than 3 seconds left and lost control of the ball. Time quickly expired. In overtime the Cavs found themselves down by 4 with less than 2 minutes left. Lebron changed that by hitting a 3 and making it a one point game. With 14 seconds left the Cavs once again found themselves down, this time by 2. Mr. Clutch Lebron made two free throws. Unfortunately, the Cavs let another easy basket to be made by the Grizzlies. This time it was and OSU alumni, if one year at the school counts, Mike Conley who drove right to the hoop. Lebron came down for the game winner but came up way short. The Cavs fell to 15-6 on the year which is not too bad, but for us as fans we are not accustomed to seeing them lost that often. When the Cavs get Jamario back and Leon Powe on the team things will change. If they can do this good without them imagine the team with these two. For any one who cares, Lebron did have 43 points last night.
