Cavaliers vs. Celtics

                                                                                         

Cleveland -4 vs. Boston

The last time that Cleveland and Boston met, the Cavaliers was not yet the elite team they have become and the Celtics were beginning their steamrolling over everyone, including Cleveland. The Cavs were the Celtics first victim in their opening night matchup.

With Boston (29-8) unable to jumpstart themselves out of the doldrums, the Cleveland Cavaliers have taken over the best record in the Eastern Conference and will look for revenge for the October 28th 90-85 road loss to Boston when the teams met up for the first time this season in Cleveland on Friday night.

The Cavaliers (28-6) have climbed the ladder, but have not played their best ball lately, going 2-2 in their last four after winning 25 out of their previous 27 games. Even with both teams not playing their best, most feel this could be the preview of the Eastern Conference Final and would be a marvelous rematch of teams so familiar with each other after last seasons seven-game conference semi-final won by Boston.

Cleveland's 2-2 stretch has come with losses to some of the lesser teams in the NBA. On December 30th, they lost the back half of a home-and-home series with Miami and last Sunday they lost at Washington. They rebounded with a home victory against Charlotte 111-81.

The Celtics are in for a fight if they expect to break their three game losing streak in Cleveland. The Cavaliers remain the lone NBA undefeated team at home, with an 18-0 record. Boston's woes had largely been on the road, but now it has been infiltrating their home arena, TD Banknorth Garden. The Boston Celtics were defeated by Houston in Boston 89-85 in a game in which Boston was held to 11 points in the fourth quarter.

Missing this game will be Cleveland's Zyrdunas Ilgauskas. The center has missed the past three games with a chipped ankle bone and is expected out until February.

InSpin.com

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