How to Score Cleveland Cavaliers 2010 Playoff Tickets

Those who lived in Cleveland during the 2007 playoffs know the excitement that having the NBA finals at Quicken Loans Arena brought to the city. Still, the title eluded the Cavaliers that year.

The Cavs have the talent, but do they have the luck needed to win the NBA Championship this time? If you're eager to cheer on the team, but lack season tickets, here are a few ways to score those coveted playoff tickets.

Buy next year's season tickets. The Cleveland Cavaliers are offering a special opportunity to those who lock in 2010-2011 season ticket packages with a deposit: the chance to purchase tickets in the same seat location for every home game of the 2010 playoffs. Visit the Cleveland Cavaliers Web site (http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/earlybird) for more information.

Enter the Cavaliers ticket lottery. In previous seasons, the Cavaliers have made extra tickets available by lottery to individual fans. You register ahead of the games and are able to purchase up to four tickets to a single playoff game if your name is picked. Winners are notified via e-mail. This actually works, especially for the early series games. Look for details soon on the Cleveland Cavaliers Web site (http://www.nba.com/cavaliers).

Use the Cavs Flashseat Marketplace. The Cavaliers operate a secure marketplace that brings season ticket holders with extra seats together with buyers. Buyers either accept the asking price or make a lower bid and pay with a credit or debit card. The tickets are then transferred into your name, and your ID is your admission pass. See the Flashseat Marketplace Web page (http://cavs.flashseats.com) for more information.

Attend a Cavaliers Fan Fest. The Cavaliers traditionally host pep rallies prior to all home games, usually in the plaza outside of Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs mascot, Moondog, and the Cavalier Girls are usually in attendance and there are plenty of giveaways, including free tickets.

Try the sports bars. Bars where Cavs season ticket holders hang out, such as Johnny's Little Bar on Frankfort Avenue in downtown Cleveland, are a good place to score unsold tickets moments before game time. Tell the bartender that you are interested in tickets; you just might be surprised.

Places not to try include ticket brokers (seats go for multiples of the face value) and eBay (unscrupulous sellers have been known to auction bogus tickets here).