Live Thread: Cavs @ Celtics, Game 4
2015-04-26
Game three between the Cavs and Celtics was an all out slug fest. There were tons of bizarre foul calls, lots of hands restricting players’ movements, and even some trash talk. If the Cavs win tonight, they will have a little extra rest before their next game. Their second round matchup is against whomever comes out of the Bucks, Bulls series. The Bucks beat the bulls with zero time left on the clock yesterday to force a game five.
The Celtics certainly are playing to win, but after watching their last game, I don’t think they will get the victory today. Brad Stevens had his team playing the most physical ball of any team in the playoffs on Thursday evening, and the Cavs still came out ahead, 103-95. Stevens even tried to “Touch-a-Thompson” in the first quarter of game three. Tristan Thompson made his free throws, and the tactic was abandoned.
The Cavs are winning these games, but they still have another level they can reach. LeBron James is still a little reserved on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor at times. He picks and chooses when he wants to explode into a passing lane or over power a guy in the post. Kyrie Irving has also seemed a little passive. In game three he scored just 13 points, but he seemed scared to head into the paint after the referees stopped calling fouls there. And, offensively, the Cavs are still relying a bit too much on Le-Iso possessions. In game three, the King scored or assisted on 12 of the final 19 points in the fourth quarter; however, he was dribbling the ball a lot and simply taking long twos instead of initiating offensive sets. He only turned the ball over twice though.
David Blatt would be smart to use this game as a practice for the next series. The Cavs need to move the ball and play lock defense to blow out the Celtics. The Cavs shouldn’t leave this one up to Le-Iso plays in the final minutes of action. A decisive TKO would be a great confidence boost heading into the second round.
I’m predicting the Cavs win tonight, 123-89. What are you thoughts?
Over the back?! What game are you watching Hubie?
I don’t even care about this game anymore. It’s almost sure Love will be out a few weeks at least. I hope I’m wrong.
So frustrated right know. The Cavaliers are playing great right now and Love confidence was growing.
Let’s hope the Cavs trainers and doctors can get him back soon enough.
Stop hoping. Love is going to be out for the playoffs. Time to slide LBJ to PF and start Shump at SF.
You have no evidence of that… you’re neither a doctor nor in the training room with him…
If its dislocated, which it pretty clearly was, he’s out at minimum probably 4 weeks. He might be able to come back sooner with a very strong brace which will keep him from really rebounding and shooting normally, but he could try it. I don’t think we need him for the bulls, and I wouldn’t use him at all in that series if there is any chance he can come back. Its very easy to re-dislocate once its already happened.
Good job Boston you’ve scored 30 points with a few minutes left before the half.
While I hope the Love injury isn’t as serious as it looked… I think there needs to be something done about Olynyk. That move not only could cost the Cavs a shot at the title, it’s the kind of move that can ruin careers…
Agree. When he realized he wasn’t going to get the ball, he just pinned Love’s arm and yanked.
That has to be a flagrant foul from now on, maybe even a flagrant 2.
AGREE ISN’T THIS ONE OF THE REASONS WE AQUIRED PERK —-TO BE THE ENFORCER
Shumpert is brutal on those celts backcourt guys. Just hounding their every move.
JR near steal then good contest on Bradley miss.
The “okey-doke” move…
Cavs are pissed. Gonna throttle them.
EVIL I AM WITH YOU —” PUT THE HAMMER DOWN ON THESE PUNKS ” RIGHT NOW—” TAKE NO PRISONERS “—-WITHOUT LOVE AGAINST THE BULLS WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TASK TO WIN THE SERIES—–JUST FOCUSING ON TODAYS GAME—MOZZY GETS A 20 / 20 AND A NEW BREW GARDEN COMMERCIAL
I’m really disappointed Blatt hasn’t put in Perkins to retaliate on Olynyk.
There’s still time. Blatt may want a full briefing on the incident at halftime before he orders Seal Team 6 into action.
Cavs have become defensive maniacs since the Love injury…
Smith is cruising.
JR SWISH!
@ChrisBHaynes: After reviewing the replay I’m of the mindset that was a dirty play by Kelly Olynyk. Could be a serious injury to Kevin Love’s shoulder.
I’m so pissed right now.
So are the Cavs… and they’re playing like it… Someone’s going to get a hard foul retaliation this game…
I’m pissed too. Refs are crap and we might lose Love for extended time. If I were Brad Stevens, I would show some class and bench that clown, Olynick. There’s nothing else to be done.
If our championship run stalls because of a scrub’s dirty move at the end of an un-winnable series, I might just freak out.
Ref overzealous on that call. Like Lebon made a your mom joke or something.
How much is Boston paying these refs today?
Blatt needs to get himself a rage Tech.
Too bad the ref missed Zeller hacking at LBJ’s head before he called the offensive foul…
Shump is doing a great impression of a TT Mini Me right now.
SHUMP making a difference with his hustle
I want the Cavs to DESTROY these chumps right now
They will. The celtics psyche was defeated last game. They know its over. They’ll have a run or two, but in the second half at some point it will turn into a bloodbath and they’ll surrender. I first predicted a win by 18, but I dont’ know if it goes that hight without love. But they’ll win going away.
GREAT hustle by SHUMP!
My prediction: when team learns how serious it is, LBJ goes nova and completely destroys the Celtics in the second half.
The Celtics radio announcers described Olynyk’s maneuver on Love as an MMA arm-bar move, and said he’s done it before. The league might need to consider legislating specifically against it, like the NFL did with horse-collar tackles.
(I was stuck in the car for the first quarter…)
These refs are a travesty…
Well, I thought the cavs would win it all this year. Looks like it wasn’t in the cards. It’s real unfortunate that these nothing, no talent teams like the Sixers and Celtics are allowed to play recklessly and injure people because they’re yound and undisciplined. Sure, they get a lot of steals and extra possessions. But you also risk ruining other teams’ long term plans. Total bullshit.
Its also something that never comes up when talking about expanding/reseeding the playoffs. I mean, I get the positives for having 16 teams in, but seriously, does anyone truly believe that any 8-seed is really a contender? I suppose the Spurs at 7 are an exception, but I can’t see how anyone can make an argument that if the purpose of the playoffs is to crown the best team as champ, that the first round even matters at all.
I think we can beat the bulls without him, but probably not Atlanta.
How is Olynyk still on the floor? That wasn’t a basketball play. These refs are getting worse and worse every game. Absolutely ridiculous!
I bet he gets suspended by the league for a game or three a the start of next season.
I hope Love doesn’t miss too much time. We will need him to defeat the Bulls. Otherwise we are screwed.
I think they could still beat the Bulls without Kev, but that might be as far as they go if he’s out beyond that…
@mcten: All injuries are not created equal, but for reference sake, Iman Shumpert suffered a dislocated non-shooting shoulder and missed 6 weeks
Dislocating your shoulder is no joke, even though you can pop it back in, the ligament damage usually requires significant time to heal before you can put it under stress again. My guess is that he’s gone for the rest of the playoffs.
That was really unfortunate. Especially since it wasn’t even on a basketball play.
Kyrie got pushed by Sully on that cut…
What happened to Love? How bad?
Dislocated shoulder
Maybe enough to affect your bet with Ross G… He won’t return today. Sounds like they have ice and wrap on it.
He has a left shoulder Injury and will not return to the game. Kelly Olnyk grabbed his arm while fighting for a rebound
Sullinger looks like he ate Big Baby!
Hey they called a foul on Kelly b$&”&-face Olynyk.
Bron going to have to play some big minutes this game with KLove out and TT in foul trouble…
That call was crap.
Hubie brown is a mess of contradictions.
These refs stink!
Need to put Celtics away and hope that the Bucks can steal another game.
The refs are protecting NBAs golden boy Kelly Olynyk.
I thought that was Jae Crowder…
Hi ow brown is pissy at cavs today.
Too bad TT didn’t stick his elbow through Olynyk’s head on that foul…
My guess is love won’t be looking at celts this summer. Simmons can now exhale.
MFQ strikes again…
Love, is in the locker room, slamming his shoulder into the lockers, like Mel Gipson in Lethal Weapon.
I was just going to make that joke, but was gonna use “underwater in a straight jacket.”
As long as there’s not ligament damage, he should be okay… just sore…
Time to bring Perk in for an elbow.
that is not good. geez
That’s gonna hurt.
Someone needs to give Olynyk another shiner.
Or grab him by his stupid hair and drag him down the floor…
They need to review that one… that was ridiculous
I bet they won’t. I think they should but my guess is they will think it was in the play of the game and not intentional.
Freaking Olynyk just yanked Love’s arm out of the socket… Dirty freaking play!
Oh shit. Not good.
Not good! Freaking Olynyk with a cheap grab.
I hope Cory bet the over. This might be a bloodbath. This crowd is much more subdued.
Good recognition by the Cavs that Moz is open in the middle all day long…
This is a Mozilla game!
That was weird to see KLove try and shoot the jumper off the dribble… I don’t think I can remember seeing that this year…
Yeah I didn’t see the shot clock. Could it have been ready to expire?
Mozzy a leeetle out of position.
Cavs dominating the glass early…
JR SWISH!!
Great pass by Love.
Lousy defense early.
Brad Stevens wants to stop our offensive rebounding. Good luck with that!
Pachiao or Mayweather?
Cacs by 18………
Cavs isolating on the left wing to start. Celtics opting not to double.
Quick to!
Cavs by 15
More of the same. 98-95 Cavs.