Cavs @ Lakers - Game Notes

It's Martin Luther King Jr. Day; a great line-up of basketball, but far more importantly a day to remember the Dream of one of the greatest human beings ever. In honor of Dr. King, the league's trotted out (arguably) its two best teams in a prime-time heavyweight bout for the league's best record. The Cavs will have to travel outside the kevlar-coated Quicken Loans Arena to put away a Lakers squad who've lost two in a row and will be eager to get back on track. After their recent dismantling of the Celts though (trying to ignore the disaster in Chicago), Lebron 'n Friends might be playing the best ball in the league right now. It's Lebron vs. Kobe; Cleveland vs. LA, let's get into it:

- Prior to tipoff there's a salute to Barack Obama, who tomorrow will become the first US President of African descent; voted in by a nation who relatively recently enslaved his ancestors, the same one that today has ignored the color of his skin; valuing his leadership and character. It's comforting to know that even though there's enough racial prejudice in the World, Dr King's dream is coming to life.

- On to basketball; I'm watching the game with no audio tonight (my buddies have Pulp Fiction on the other TV, it's good enough to maybe steal my attention for a bit), and was sincerely hoping Reggie Miller would be Marv's wingman for TNT tonight so I'd have a reason to feel good about it. No such luck.

- Lakers win the tip, brick a questionable three and are bailed out by a thunderous putback slam from Pau. Cleveland answers with a Ben Wallace-led offensive set and much more subtle Varejao baseline jumper.

- Two minutes in, Kobe leaves the play grimacing and holding his stomach. Turns out it's actually his right pinkie that plagued him all last year... nothing for Lakers fans to be excited about.

- The Cavs ride some good ball movement and torrid jumpshooting out to an early 18-11 lead; Ben Wallace is playing with energy unseen since his Pistons days and Cleveland hardly looks like they know they're playing in LA. Bynum and Gasol are absolutely abusing them inside, look for LA to exploit Big Z's absence.

- Lebron bricks an Anthony Parker Trey (dribbling towards the baseline into a double-team then launching an off-balance jumper...AP's remarkably good at it). Bryant counters with a nasty turnaround jumper from the elbow. Pinkie looks alright so far.

- Craig Sager's chosen one of his less disgusting getups for tonight; a deep blue blazer over pale grey pinstripes and a tie that looks like someone threw up on it. He can't honestly keep a straight face when he dresses himself can he? His willingness to parade himself in front of many thousands who don't know his wardrobe is a total gimmick is outstanding. I might just be Craig Sager for Halloween next year.

- Sasha Vujacic enters the game to close the first and wastes no time going to work. In the last minute, The Machine buries two cold-hearted treys that propel the Lakers to a 25-24 lead after one, both coming after a Lebron swat that would've sent any human off the court in tears.

- The second frame picks up where the first leaves off, Cleveland hitting jumpers, the Lakers working them inside; Bynum & Gasol are 8-12. With 7 left, the Lakers go up a bit, prompting Mike Brown to throw James back in. The Cavs immediately go on a 7-0 run and tie the game.

- Got the sound back midway through the second. Kobe's back on the floor (and on Lebron) but James is shaking the aggressive double-team setting up a Pavlovic three and a shanked layup by Varejao. Right as LBJ wets another 20-footer, we get breaking news from Craig Sager, something about Trevor Ariza's uncle telling reporters his nephew was better than Lebron in high school. He follows it up after the break with a spellbinding courtside interview with Tom Kavanagh (he starred in Ed if you're one of the 28 people who watched that show), while the game plays on. Always a pleasure Craig.

- Two would-be tomahawks are avoided late in the half when the Lakers defend Lebron very well in transition on successive plays. Kobe closes the quarter by grilling James with a smooth jumper, only his second field goal so far. 50-49 Cavs at the half, your leading scorers are...Bynum and Pavlovic? Kobe's working with a quiet, controlled 5/3/6, Lebron's got an erratic 10/3/2 on 4-11... he's pretty accurate in calling his play "careless" when Craig hunts him down for some camera time.

- Back in the TNT studio at the half, things are noticeably more glum without Sir Charles around. Chris Webber tries admirably to fit in with EJ and Kenny, but it's just not the same. He's more insightful than on NBA TV, but he still brings less excitement than the Thunder, and there's no off-color remarks, no ridiculous declarations or insulting Kenny. Get well soon, Chuck.

- Lebron comes out shooting 4 of Cleveland's first 5 shots, missing all but one. Not encouraging. Meanwhile, the Lakers are playing stifling D, forcing breaks in the Cavs' offense that result in Wallace and Varejao handling the ball on the perimeter and hitting everything. Gasol and Bynum are still beasting, Kobe's coming alive and they're on a 13-3 run.

- Three left in the third, Lakers up six. Kobe's in transition and absolutely ignores Sasha all by himself in the corner, finding Gasol through two defenders for his ninth dime. Pau's 9-10; time for Sideshow Varejao to body up...and he bricks another layup.

- Lebron's requisite highlight reel cram, is quelled by a huge fadeaway 3 from Vujacic. 'Bron then finds Varejao on a sneaky baseline cut and he finally gives him that dime he earned a long time ago. This encouraging development aside, Cleveland still trails 75-66 going into the fourth.

- The two stars of the show are noticeably more aggressive to start the final 12 minutes, but Kobe gets denied by JJ Hickson and bricks a technical, only to bury a baseline jumper over 'Bron to beat the shot clock, then draw an and-1 on the King while falling out of bounds, then bricks the free throw again. James decides to get in on the action, drives baseline and is clotheslined by Bynum, and apparently can't hit foul shots either. His team's down 11 so he needs to wake up.

- During the break in play, Gasol snitches on Lebron from the bench, informing the refs of a small cut on LBJ's arm after a foul that might very well get Bynum suspended. This forces the Cavs to either sub him out, or call a timeout to bandage it up. Classy move there, Pau.

- The Lakers, up 13, continue to work the mismatches down low. Bynum's tossing Varejao around like a rag doll and the Cavs look defenseless.

- Trevor Ariza picks 'Bron's pocket on the breka then finishes an alley-oop that puts the Cavs down 16 with 7:20 to go. This one's looking about over, folks. Ariza does it again a few seconds later, simultaneously tagging James in the face and the stones, and getting no call. This hasn't been Lebron's night with the refs. Or in general, really.

- A few stops and nice shots later, the Cavs claw back to within 7. Lebron's getting back into the paint and finally not giving into the Lakers' physical D by launching jumpers. Credit LA though, they've pestered him all game and never allowed him to find a flow.

- After the Lakers grab their 17th offensive rebound, Ariza hits the dagger from three. Before he even makes it back down court, the Lakers force a bad pass that leaves him on a wide open break, only to catch a flagrant from a clearly frustrated Pavlovic. Off the ensuing inbound, Ariza hits another three. Lakers up 18 with 1:25 left. Now it's really over.

Final score: 105-88, the Cavs take their worst loss of the season. The Lakers shot the ball well, dominated the glass and kept Cleveland stuck in a half-court game they've never liked to play. They played frustrating D all night and played the advantage down low well enough to give the Cavs the kind of night they're used to being on the other end of. Game Ball goes to Pau Gasol: 9-10 for 20 and 12.