Playoff Live Thread: Celtics @ Cavs Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals
2018-05-21
The Cavs took care of business in Game 3. In a game where LeBron James and Kevin Love didn’t have to score 60+ points and still win handedly, did the Cavaliers find a new formula for sustained success the rest of the NBA Playoffs? Will the role players continue to show up? Does Ty Lue trust the lineups that don’t combine Jeff Green and Tristan Thompson for another game?
While many are expecting the Cavs to have found the switch, the Cavs are gonna Cavs so we really don’t know what to expect. Expect Brad Stevens to make some adjustments and the Celtics to perhaps not let Jaylen Brown get into early foul trouble.
LeBron and Co. will play in a much more competitive game tonight but the good guys will take it, tying up the series 2-2 and heading back to Boston.
115-108 Cavs.
Twozus!
Marcus I and Marcus II mvps so far for Cleveland.
…
Lue is matching TT with Horford.
Two on Love after a fumble. Chance to go up 15 wasted.
Korver shoulda learned from Delly — gotta get down on the floor.
LOL had the same exact thought…. almost got rolled in the same exact way too.
Bad foul, Love. Just let that one go.
This lineup isn’t too far from the ‘Pestak 5’…not the full Pestak, though…
Green also.
Morris stays in. TT for Love.
TT, Nance, Korver, Green, Hill.
Kyle with a block. Hill for 3.
Hill! For Three! Big shot.
Aggressive mindset…. recognition he’s a primary option w/o LBJ on the floor.
It’s amazing how much better your team looks with sane lineups.
Smart not smart again
A couple more angles of the TD…
https://twitter.com/cavs/status/998730644191563776
Three on Morris. Bad gamble from coach genius.
Nance & Korver in.
3 on the Lebron Stopper!
Good sign Bron hitting his freebies…
Van Gundy with more essays on fouls.
JVG just cannot shup on on his foul opinions
Great play by bron to snuff out the Tatum Layup.
Bron with 9 on perfect shooting. JR with 6 on 2/4 triples. TT & Love with 4/4 each. Hill with no shots but 2 dimes & a board.
KLOVE and TT absolutely dominating the boards…. complete opposite of the Indiana series.
Having both in at the same time helps.
Into double coverage…
https://twitter.com/RealGM/status/998729957173063680
Dang. Thought Swish had that.
No subs yet. I’d expect some here. 3 min left in first.
That was a pretty amazing catch by Lebron…great finish, too. I’d generally prefer they don’t try those kind of plays unless they are open, though…
The two principals involved make it a high% play even though it was high degree of difficulty IMO.
https://twitter.com/cavs/status/998728926062043136
LeBron is loving the fade away already. Beauty catch and layup though.
Marcus Smart killing their offense so far. LOVED that catch and finish by Bron.
“Max Contract” Marcus Smart usually only plays like an All Star at home. Hope his crap play keeps up.
Rozier flopped ridiculous call!!!
Touchdown!
TOUCHDOWN, LOVE!
KLOVE with the KISS!!!
OMG Bernie Kosar to Webster Slaughter!
Garbage call. Awful
Rozier flop. Terrible call. Not set at all.
Freaking flop…screw that
Bron drifting gave up a 3. Love drains one.
Bron with a bad gamble leads to an ojele three.
James has hit two early fadeaways
Smart not living up to his name there.
We should be in the bonus for the rest of the quarter.
JR lets it fly
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/998728514756018176
Five point swing.
Bron, JR, & TT carrying us so far.
That was Tatum’s ego trying to dunk that…he deserved that clanger….hubris…
Aside from a couple layups, like the D a lot.
Terry rozier is being abused
Tatum missed the slam. Bron with a chance for an and 1. Big swing there.
There’s “Lebron Stopper” Marcus Morris getting pwned yet again…
Two fouls on Morris, yes?
He just missed that dunk. Great contest, Tristan.
That James guy is a good finisher
Love when JR just shoots!!!
BIG four point swing.
Swish again!
Deep Pipe3! 2 for 4 so far.
Loving our physicality to start. We are stronger and bigger than them with baynes out
SWISH!
Like that we continue to go to Love down low.
That TT move is one of his best post moves all year…probably his best…
I am awesome in the post against fifth graders. Similar strategy.
TT with a mouse in the house!
TT bullies a mouse in the house!
Let’s get hill going.
really important
Pipe3! That is a good sign.
Rozier heating up is not.
Love & JR cool early. Love with a 3second call.
*sigh* Tristan. Just pass the damned ball.
That was a pretty dodgy call. Already seen two bad closeouts or no closeout at all.
Cheap call…so tired of those…
TT going all Moses Malone on that sequence.
Lol. Thompson. Two points the hard way. Followed by a way too easy layup by morris.
Horford just in the lane for like 9 seconds.
Don’t let Rozier go off. He has mostly sucked on the road, and the Celtics have followed his lead. I’m not in the camp that thinks Rozier is good, btw. He has made himself serviceable by improving his three point shooting. He was just trash until he did that. I have little doubt that he’s one of those guys that Ainge will trade for something worthwhile, and then he’ll be a huge disappointment to his new team.
Rozier is a solid player. More than solid. He went 2 entire series without a 4th quarter TO & shot over 50% in the 4th. He is more consistent than any of our guards. His worst game this series is better than Hill’s best.
He is for them. Put him on, say, the Kings and see how good he is. That is my entire point.
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23560653/zach-lowe-cleveland-cavaliers-vs-boston-celtics-nba-playoffs
Great stuff by Lowe
Lowe is pretty much the only smart hoops analysis at the four letter.
Just brilliant analysis. Windy has said no one watches more film than Lowe and Pelton
I hope someone sent that to Lue
Meanwhile, out West, Iggy to have X-Rays on knee contusion that swelling worsened on overnight. Listed as doubtful for game 4.
If Iggy misses extended time, that could hurt.
Warriors 4th best player is Klay Thompson. They just beat a 65 win team by 40, and have lost 3 playoff games since Durant joined
If Draymond gets hurt and Steph re-tweaks his knee, then they could be in trouble
Sorry to be a dbag, Im just sick of analysis suggesting the Warriors are ever vulnerable. This is the best team ever assembled, and they should easily win, even if Igoudala is out for the playoffs