[Chron.com] Artest+Battier preparing to face Lebron

I say you do it old school...

give LBJ a hard foul... every other foul... that means 6 between Artest and Bat

it will throw off LBJs shooting... by the 4th quarter...

 

Hayes on James? Please.

Why play Hayes on James when we have BOTH Ron Artest and Shane Battier to do the job? I think between the two of them, one or the other will be on the court every minute LBJ is on the court.

The only ways Hayes gets on James is if we switch for PnR defense, which I despise (except for Artest/Battier)

 

You mean Derrick Coleman style?

 

Thats what we have to do but we cant let him get his assists or rebounds and we have to shut down all their other shooters. Its a damn tough task but I think we can do it.

 

I am freaking pumped about this game.


















...finally won't have to listen to local commentators.

 

lebron is just a load.. kobe is easier to deal with because he isn't that strong. lebron is just a monster. i just can't imagine someone carrying so much weight and still fly higher than everyone else.

 

You don't like Bill and Clyde and Bull? Haha

 

Lebron has had the occasional bad game or two where he shoots a low percentage and ends up with low 20s pts. Let's hope that happens tonight. A big key will be closing out on their 3-point shooters - they have a lot of guys who can light it up from out there.

 

It happened his last game, he only scored 15 against Memphis.

 

Lebron is a monster. If you have two defenders that can match up with Kobe (like Celts did last year with Pierce/Posey), he can be contained. We'll see what happens tonight. Should be a great game.

 

Cleveland is a well oiled machine right now. LeBron is playing great...I'm still so surprised at how they've progressed as a team over the years. I really hope the Rockets can get a healthy combo of forced misses and lucky misses from the Cavs tonight.

 

LeBron only took 10 shots that game...they were ahead by double digits the whole game, it was no contest, so it was cruise control mode. They really didnt hold him to 15...he just chose not to score more.

 

I think we have a really good chance--the one thing I worry about is the reffing, as usual. I'm sure Lebron will get every call.

 

good point

 

Ron and Shane are Tango and Cash. I do love having this tandem out at our disposal. I love defense and with Chuck in the mix as well, this is one of my favorite lineups we've had to watch.

Here's hoping LBJ shoots in the low thirties and the Cavs as a whole as well.

 

lowry
artest
battier
hayes
deke

the most powerful defensive lineup any team can assemble. play them 48 minutes and we'd win every game, by a score like 50-40.

 

More like 30-7. You know Ron would give you about 23. Shane another 6. Lowry could chip in 2 and Chuck -1.

 

i once joked with my wife when she asked me what i thought would be a perfect game in jvg's mind.

"1-0, just like soccer." i said.

 

I think there is something to this. Lebron seemed to get emotional when Ron played him physical in the last game. It seemed Lebron wanted to let Artest know he would not be bullied. While it's great for Cavs fans that Lebron is no punk I think any time you get an offensive player trying to ratchet up the emotion and physical play it is going eventually get to him.

I've said it a few times and I think some others have mentioned it; Ron just plays the way Ron plays instinctively. All the bumping, grabbing and physical play is just how he is. It's bad news for other players who get out of their game trying to match what Ron does to them.

And yes, I would like to see Lebron receive some hard, clean, playoff style fouls when he gets into the paint.

 

To give ron and shane a heads up, there job may be a little easier than they think because Lebron was at Treasures in VIP last night until about 1 with a couple of teammates. They were two tables down from us and walked out a little before us. I know the no pics/no proof flaming but it was virtually impossible to get a clear pic of him in the dark, not to mention against club rules....Just thought it was worth mentioning, I actually bumped into him coming out of the bathroom.