Playoff Live Thread: Cavs vs Celtics 2018-05-19 Off By Tom Pestak The mustiest of must win games is upon us. Will we notice any changes? Does Ty Lue continue to run with the players that had the best pre-season fantasy rankings? We’ll find out shortly. I’m gonna channel my inner Nate: 132-86 Cavs. From Distance: An Introduction Playoff Recap: Cleveland 116, Boston 86 (or, “We Could be Royals…”)
In stately Simmons mansion, Bill Simmons execeuted the most passive aggressive fist pump in history after that Rozier dunk…
Wow Terry can get up.
He’s scary.
Great work on the o boards.
Love looks aggressive this series. Definitely need him if going to make a series
It’s the Kevin Love Kwarter!
The Morris brother should both be playing in Serbia or China…
Love yelling at Bron for not getting that D board. Good stuff
I’d love to believe Cavs won’t let tham back in it in the third…I believe in Santy Claus, too…
Wow. Morris and Horford are both -22. Rozier and Brown are both -16. For Cavs, both Lebron and Smith are +19. Love, Thompson and Hill are all +20.
Starters are going to determine this game.
Best development of first half: Boston went under on the pick and roll and Hill buried the three off the dribble. Back might finally be healthy. Might be first time he’s been able to do that all playoffs.
The three-day layoff might have helped the old guys
LeBron should have plenty of energy to come out aggressive for the third quarter. He only drove two or three times in the first half, and Hill helped out a lot with ball handling and initiating the offense.
It’s pretty simple. If we try on D, we will win. If we don’t, we might lose.
Ty Lue can’t help himself…. Sprinkles in a little Jeff Green three play… CLANK.
The mute button presented by Paul Pierce is the greatest button ever.
almost halfway to Nate’s prediction for both teams…first five minutes of third quarter will be key….Cavs have to put this team away…extend rotation if necessary
I cannot believe espn pays Paul pierce to be analyst. I mean he is really bad at it. Is there no one better?
Great half, come on and finish them.
Still too many minutes for Clarkson/Green…things were getting iffy there in the early second quarter. I think Ty Lue should star in his own Hotel Tonight commercial, but as Captain Oblivious.
Need to keep up the D!!
It’s like we’re an actual functioning basketball team with uniforms and shoes and plays
Black Uniforms. That’s the ticket!
Cavs had great first half but have to get gas on pedal and choke these bastards out….be aggressive on both ends and make every shot contested…Celtics looked lost when Cavs were aggressive everywhere….this team isn’t unbeatable, we can see when Cavs give a crap they can lead by 20+
I cannot stand Marcus smart. I hope the Celts give him a bunch of money and then he gets fat
That is awesome! Me too.
Lol, or they let him go and Cavs pick him up.
This was worth a couple more angles…
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/998015428113952768
Don’t eff up in the third.
Great half. Man. Is this a pensive crowd. Third quarter will be key.
Flop.
It’s what he does. Max him, Danny…
Swish! Pipe!
Why are we not punishing Baynes more in pick and roll?? He is just a slow thug.
Cause they are basically playing a matchup zone and with baynes guarding Thompson you have to punish with a pop man, which Thompson can’t do
Nance is nice
Indeed. But TT had a good half too
Missed a lot of the first half, was driving…who has been the Cavs second best player this half?
George Hill. But all of the starters have contributed. LeBron hasn’t had to go all-out.
Thanks Phil! Hope the Pestak lineup hasn’t seen the floor…
jR????? Why
Al Hortford didn’t even try to defend Lebron on that dunk lol.
Sweet feed sweet finish.
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/998014815670013952
Right down Euclid?
That looked like Chester to me
More of that. Please.
Like their chances if they continue to shoot 60% from 3
I wonder if they will keep the pace. My guess from past experience is that they will let celtics back in game . Hope I am wrong
I was thinking the same.
I like how Lue is trying to keep the energy up by not overpaying anyone in the rotations.
Gilbert can only DREAM about not overpaying anyone ;)
Only took took 94 games…
TT-Rozier mismatch should be a gimme — if TT had any skills.
Agreed.
Smart scared to death to take that shot. Love just punished him in the past play before. Foul on Smart next play.
Clarkson is hustling at least. Would love it if he were taller and stronger and smarter…but how could we ever make that happen?
Put cedi in a Clarkson jersey
well done
LeBron’s got to hit those FT’s.
Bad call IMO, that was good defense from JC.
Some how JG looks decent when he gets some postin up opportunities.
http://media.salon.com/2013/11/eastbound-down-danny-mcbridepng-cb041b6ab2accf3c.png
James-Nance No. 2
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/998010433003978759
The James-Nance connection No. 1
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/998009480746020864
Lol. James got away with a foul. Cavs up 20 here if it’s cedi Instead of Clarkson
Green on closeouts…oh man.
Freaking Clarkson
Is there any other way the Cavs can use JG on offense? Maybe post him up. But the Celtics are leaving him wide open on those three pointers and he can’t even hit those. Cedi can brick three pointers too if that’s the intention. At least Cedi could be better defensively.
3 more please.
Nice qtr now cavs have to put them away….no mercy
Cavs up 15 without LeBron having to do it all. He drove I think just twice in the first quarter.
Horford/Monroe/Yabusele in for Boston. Would be nice to have Zz as a viable option instead of put on ice by Lue.
Some great screens set up by TT. I like that Jr is trying to drive some but at the same time he has to finish those layups attempts. He missed and easy floater and finger roll layup.
It was actually a foul, but we’ll take it
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/998005134704676864
JR out of control
He is got to try IMO. The Celtics are taking away the three ball from him.
JR misses badly on early long 2. One of the few bad decisions so far by the Cavs.
JR hits his first 3!
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/998002401679413248
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/998001224346685440
Does the rock just keep making the same movie over and over? Tall building, insert disaster, repeat.
TT drawn three fouls on Boston already with his activity.
Looking good so far. Baynes in time to run at them.
Good start for Hill eases the initiator burden on LeBron.
Hill and JR will be better tonight. Can’t get much worse.
I just hope the Cavs can win at least 2 games in this series. I just don’t believe that they will win 4 out of 5 against the Celtics the rest of this series. I hope I’m wrong.
https://twitter.com/oldseaminer/status/997998256922808321?s=19
i dont approve of posting your own tweets, but i do like this one :)
Ill take 131-86 cavs
Had our usual pre game cocktails at the Lobby Bar at tha cavsdan-owned Ritz Carlton next to the Q. We are getting off the elevator on the sixth floor, and the door opened to Marcus Smart and Oleyele waiting to head down to the team bus. My friend says to Smart, “Let’s see how brave your team is on the road.” I think Smart mumbled an F bomb under his breath. Go Cavs. Nate is really bold, but I say Cavs win 108-97 and finally get physical with Smart and the Celtics
Tom is being bold like Nate I meant
another podracky brush witb nba celebrity!