Tough Loss in Game 3

The Cavs lost by 2 on Thursday night in Chicago. The score of the game makes it sound a lot more competitive throughout than it actually was.

The Cavs were down by 20 for a majority of the 2nd half, but they went on a huge run to cut the lead down to 2 with just seconds left in the game. Anthony Parker had a chance to win the game at the buzzer, but it was a half court heave so I don't blame him for missing, even though it was REALLY close to banking in.

I guess we got a little bit of our own medicine in Chicago as well as chants of "Cleveland Sucks" erupted throughout the game in response to our "Noah Sucks" chants from Monday's game 2 in Cleveland. My blood boiled every time I heard that chant Thursday night. And then when the fans started chanting "MVP" for Derrick Rose at the free throw line? I mean come on, Chicago fans know better than anyone what an MVP looks like and Derrick Rose is not one of them. LeBron James on the other hand...

Anyway, the Cavs will have a chance to bounce back in Chicago tomorrow afternoon as they look to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. Shaq has been ditching the media the past few days, possibly out of embarrasement for his awful game 2 and 3 performances, or possibly out of anger for not getting playing time in 4th quarters. Regardless, he needs to step it up and be a factor because the past 2 games he's been a liability offensively AND defensively. That cannot be the case. LeBron actually called for JJ Hickson to get more time in game 4 and for Shaq to pick up his play. It's a concern.

Now if I were coach of the Cavs (we probably wouldn't make the playoffs), but I might bring Hickson back into the starting lineup with Antawn Jamison because that group has speed and athleticism, as well as chemistry. I would bring Shaq off the bench late in the 1st quarter and run him through the middle of the 2nd quarter, rotating big men around him (JJ, Twan, Varejao), then bring Z in at center to finish the half. Start JJ and Twan in the 3rd quarter, rotate Varejao and Shaq in sporadically and not necessarily together. Then by that point, decide who has the hot hand in the 4th and go with that big while playing Varejao most of the 4th quarter as well. Just my thoughts...