PREVIEW: Struggling, LeBron-Less Cleveland Cavaliers (19-17) Visit Warriors (28-5)

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Cleveland Cavaliers (19-17) at Golden State Warriors (28-5)

Tip-off: Friday, January 9th, 2015 – 7:30PM PST

Location: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA

TV: CSN Bay Area | Radio: KNBR 680 AM

Livetweet: @BeeRyRy and @GSWdelivery on @LetsGoWarriors #LetsGoWarriorsLive

Projected Starting Lineups:

Warriors

PG: Stephen Curry (22.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 8.0 APG)

SG: Klay Thompson (21.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.1 APG)

SF: Harrison Barnes (10.7 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.4 APG)

PF: Draymond Green (11.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 3.7 APG)

C: Marreese Speights (12.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 0.9 APG)

Head Coach: Steve Kerr (28-5, .848)

Cavaliers

PG: Kyrie Irving (21.0 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 5.1 APG)

SG: Matthew Dellavedova (4.6 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 3.4 APG)

SF: Mike Miller (3.1 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1.3 APG)

PF: Kevin Love (17.7 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 2.4 APG)

C: Tristan Thompson (9.7 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 0.6 APG)

Head Coach: David Blatt (19-17, .528)

Last Time Out

PREVIOUS WARRIORS GAME: On Wednesday, 1/7/2015, Golden State defeated Indiana, <a href="117-102.

PREVIOUS CAVALIERS GAME: On Wednesday, 1/7/2015, Houston defeated Cleveland, 105-92, in Houston, TX.

PREVIOUS WARRIORS-CAVS MATCH-UP: On 3/4/2014, Thompson hit a game-winner to defeat the Pacers, 98-96.

Game Notes

  • Mark Jackson returns to #Roaracle:

    “Jackson is part of the broadcast team for ESPN’s national telecast of Golden State’s game against the Cavs, sitting right across the court from co-owner Joe Lacob, the man who fired him. It promises to be awkward for team management, coach Steve Kerr and perhaps Jackson himself. But not for many Warriors players, who are excited and anticipate an emotional return.

    Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson during their game against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first quarter of Game 3 of their Western Conference

    ‘I can’t wait to give him a big hug,’ guard Klay Thompson said. ‘It’ll be strange not hearing him speak, because I love hearing him commentate. But it’ll be cool to see him. He’s a great friend and a great mentor to me. We absolutely would not be where we are now without him.'” — Carl Steward, Bay Area News Group

  • Cleveland’s injuries:

    LeBron James (Left Knee/Low Back Strain) –OUT
    Shawn Marion (Left Hip Strain) – DOUBTFUL
    Iman Shumpert (Dislocated Left Shoulder) –OUT
    Anderson Varejao (Achilles Tendon Rupture) –OUT” — Cavaliers PR

  • Cavs and Warriors will always be linked:

    “The discussion, according to several sources, came down to this: We like Kevin Love, but do we like him enough to part with Klay Thompson?

    (Warriors owner Joe) Lacob was intrigued by the idea of adding a second All-Star alongside Stephen Curry. (General manager Bob) Myers was open-minded. Kerr lobbied against it. (Adviser Jerry) West summarily rejected it.

    After weighing the pros and cons – and closely analyzing video of Love – the Warriors decided, unanimously, to stand pat. There would be no trade for the power forward as long as the Timberwolves requested Thompson. Period.” — Monte Poole, CSN Bay Area

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