CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (6-9) 94, CAVS (11-5) 87
at Time Warner Cable Arena
Nov. 27, 2009

WHAT HAPPENED: Have the Cavs ever defended the pick-and-roll before? The Bobcats exploited them repeatedly in the high pick-and-roll.

Bobcats coach Larry Brown found a weakness in the Cavs' defense and took advantage of it. Charlotte swingman Stephen Jackson posted up Cavs guard Anthony Parker over and over.

It forced the Cavs to double team the 6-8 Jackson, which really left a gaping hole in their defense. He would swing the ball around the perimeter and one of the Bobcats would get a wide-open 3.

WELL, SHAQ'S BACK: Center Shaquille O'Neal had missed six games with a strained left rotator cuff. He hadn't played since Nov. 12 in Miami, and it looked like it.

The Cavs were so determined to get him going, their entire offense looked dysfunctional. Forward LeBron James had 25 points, but one hardly knew he was on the court at times. That should never happen.

NOTES: You think the luster has worn off the J.J. Hickson experiment. He had five points and one rebound on Friday.

-- I'm not a big fan of the plus-minus numbers. But guard Anthony Parker's plus/minus was -16. He missed all four of his field goals, three from behind the arc. He also was exploited on the defensive end.

-- Don't you wish GM Danny Ferry tried just a little harder to get Jackson from Golden State? My gosh he would have looked great at shooting guard on this team.