Cleveland Cavaliers: One Game at a Time Hitting Strides

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We all heard the gossip when the season started with the Cavs losing 2 games back to back they arent an elite team no more.

Little did they know it was just a bump in the road and not a legitimate problem. Shaq was thought to be the problem but as we all can see the move for Shaq is starting to pay off.

Since those two losses the Cavs are 7-1 with an impressive road trip where they beat Orlando and Miami on back to back road games.

The offseason moves are really starting to pay off Parker is second in the league in  three point percentage 59% and is playing decent defense and Moon is being his usual  athletic self. Shaq is being Shaq intimidating post player scoring 11 a game and 7 rebounds.

The BIG suprise for me has been Hickson since he has been inserted in the starting line up the Cavs are undefeated. Mike Brown says its because he likes Andy better off the bench but i also think Lebron had a little to do with it. Lebron mentored him in the offseason and continues to do so and wants Hickson out there with the game on the line. Andy is not getting respected by opposing defenses which allows the Power Forward which is an important position to play off him and double up on Lebron or Shaq.

Hickson still isnt  getting respect but if he keeps this scoring up he will. 18 points against Miami and 20 against the Jazz.

Mo has been more aggressive lately getting 18.4 points a game and becoming a better playmaker taking pressure of Lebron and shooting 51% from three ninth in the league.

Boobie Gibson is getting 7.2 off the bench and he is back on target from three shooting 45% and relieving Mo and picking up slack from Delonte being gone.

Andy's production has decreased since Hickson has been getting more of his minutes along with being in the starting line up.

Zydrunas offensive production has also dipped a little but has done good spelling Shaq.

Lebron is putting up magnificent numbers again 27.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game to go along with a steal per game.

The team offense has been on fire as of late also although only getting 98 points per game 18th in the league they are shooting 46% from the field and 46% from the three point line. Another interesting stat is the Cavs are 6-0 when they score 100 points. The ball movement has been pretty good lately also 20 assists per game. Free throw percentage has dipped also which is expected when Shaq goes to the line about 6-10 times a game, the team only shoots 69% from the free throw line.

The team defense is in the top 10 also as you would expect. They are 8th in the league allowing 92.9 points a game outscoring there opponents by 6 points. The opposition is shooting 44% from the field which could be better but i expect it to improve. Teams are attempting 16 threes a game but are only making five of them shooting a low 31% from the three.

In team differential they are +1.2 in FGM, + 1.92 in field goal percentage, + 3.5 in FGM, +.15 in three point percentage.

As the season progresses i expect all this areas of stats to go up but the team is still meshing and i expect a lot out of this Cavaliers team.

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