Live Thread: Cavs @ Hornets

Well, the Cavs coaching staff looks like they consulted a Ouija board for tonight’s starting lineup and came up with LeBron James, Tristan Thompson, Jeff Green, George Hill, and Rodney Hood. I seriously have no idea how they’re coming up with these lineups, so consulting the spirits of the dead seems plausible. I mean I get starting Tristan Thompson against Dwight Howard. I’m not sure Larry Nance and his still balky hamstring have the bulk to keep Dwight off the boards. But right now, there’s not really anything that Jeff Green does that Larry Nance doesn’t do better aside from stay out of foul trouble. (You don’t pick up fouls if you never actually go for a rebound).

Kevin Love won’t be playing. Kevin is out with a concussion after being popped in the teeth last night. The Cavs will also be without Tyron Lue and Kyle Korver. Hopefully the Cavs are recovered from their South Beach malaise and can sustain an offense and a defense.

For Charlotte, while Michael Kidd-Gilchrist missed the shootaround with food poisoning, he is available to play tonight, and Nic Batum remains on a minutes cap. The keys: stopping Dwight Howard who recently posted a 32 point, 30 rebound game, and Kemba Walker and his 23 points and six assists a game. Charlotte still has an outside shot at the playoffs, so expect them to bring it tonight while the season still means something.

Let’s hope we see some of Ante Zizic tonight, who barely played the last two games after posting a PER just under 24 in 180 minutes this year and who’s shooting 72 freaking percent from the field.  For comparison’s sake, Tristan Thompson is posting a PER of 13 and shooting 44%. I know. Math is hard. Anyway. My brain hurts to much to make a prediction. Go Cavs.