...yeah, granted, it's the first one...! 
Anyway...I'm having a hard time understanding the line on the Cavs and Pacers tonight. The Cavs are coming in at full strength, and off an exhibition campaign that saw them go something like 6-2. If anyone followed the Cavs last year, it was OBVIOUS how much of a difference Jeff McInnis makes. Once they traded Miles for him, they went on a late season run that almost saw them sneak into the playoffs....well...until McInnis got hurt. Now--they brought in Eric Snow to spell Mcinnis and a shooter in Harris to play the perimeter...while Luke Jackson can provide shooting range as well. Drew Gooden has played extremely well in the pre-season, and will complement Big Z and LeBron nicely. Though I think he has a ways to go before contributing like Boozer did, it hust lessens the gaping hole that the Cavs had when Boozer left.
On top of all this, the "experts" see the Cavs being a mid-level playoff team--somewhere around the 4-6 seed range.
So.....tonight is the sold-out home opener with the Pacers coming to town. Indy comes in all banged up with Reggie Miller, Jermaine O'Neal, Jeff Foster, AND Anthony Johnson not in uniform. Plus, I just read that Jonathan Bender is not expected to play either. Who's going to score for them?? Artest? Croshere? Sure--they'll take up some of the slack, but not enough in my opinion.
I am trying to look at this game with an unbiased view. In my very humble opinion, I think I would lay the 2 1/2 with the Cavs even if the Pacers were at full strength!! Take Miller, O'Neal, and Bender out of the mix...and honestly, this game looks too good to pass up. Why only 2 1/2 points??!? I must be missing something....
Thoughts...pro or con...always appreciated!
G SE
Anyway...I'm having a hard time understanding the line on the Cavs and Pacers tonight. The Cavs are coming in at full strength, and off an exhibition campaign that saw them go something like 6-2. If anyone followed the Cavs last year, it was OBVIOUS how much of a difference Jeff McInnis makes. Once they traded Miles for him, they went on a late season run that almost saw them sneak into the playoffs....well...until McInnis got hurt. Now--they brought in Eric Snow to spell Mcinnis and a shooter in Harris to play the perimeter...while Luke Jackson can provide shooting range as well. Drew Gooden has played extremely well in the pre-season, and will complement Big Z and LeBron nicely. Though I think he has a ways to go before contributing like Boozer did, it hust lessens the gaping hole that the Cavs had when Boozer left.
On top of all this, the "experts" see the Cavs being a mid-level playoff team--somewhere around the 4-6 seed range.
So.....tonight is the sold-out home opener with the Pacers coming to town. Indy comes in all banged up with Reggie Miller, Jermaine O'Neal, Jeff Foster, AND Anthony Johnson not in uniform. Plus, I just read that Jonathan Bender is not expected to play either. Who's going to score for them?? Artest? Croshere? Sure--they'll take up some of the slack, but not enough in my opinion.
I am trying to look at this game with an unbiased view. In my very humble opinion, I think I would lay the 2 1/2 with the Cavs even if the Pacers were at full strength!! Take Miller, O'Neal, and Bender out of the mix...and honestly, this game looks too good to pass up. Why only 2 1/2 points??!? I must be missing something....
Thoughts...pro or con...always appreciated!
G
SE