Playoff Live Thread (Game 3): Cavs vs Celtics
2024-05-11Happy Saturday, Cavs fans. After an unexpected throttling of the Boston Celtics, Thursday, the Cavaliers return to the banks of Lake Erie to host the Boston Celtics in front of what promises to be a raucus crowd. After breakout games from Evan Mobley (21/10/5 and three stocks) and Caris LeVert (21/6/3) which centered around relentlessly attacking the rim, the Cavs have found a weakness in the Boston D. The wine and gold also got out on the Celtics shooters. As Tim Bontemps of ESPN noted. (Thanks for pulling the quote, Sweetchi.)
Boston was just 8-for-35 from 3-point range — though Second Spectrum tracking data showed that 77.1% of those triples were heavily contested shots, the highest percentage in any game the Celtics have played with Joe Mazzulla as coach over the past two seasons.
Expect a lot more screening to open up Boston shooters and to force mismatches on Cavalier switches.
As far as the injury watch goes, the word as of 7:30 is maybe Wade, but Allen less likely. TY Jerome and Craig Porter Junior are out.
Expect Dean Wade to get a huge ovation if he checks in, and given Mobley a success starting at the five, Wade getting some minutes as a quality four might be even more important for Cleveland. For Boston, only the Zinger remains out.
Cleveland has to keep doing what they’re doing, keep the turnovers now (just 10 in game 2!), set screens, and run the offense. Boston is going to try to do what Denver did last night: turn the tables on the home team in their own building. So just don’t get lazy and bored with success. Go Cavs.
PLAY MERRILL YOU COWARD
He doesn’t get how much Merrill gets the crowd going.
they have to try and justify the $150 million mistake.. garland playing like an unremarkable second team nobody..
If Wade’s physically up for it, hope JB leans on him and Strus at the expense of some Okoro & Caris minutes
I’m pretty sure he’s on a minutes restriction
Nice play to get Garland going. Good cut.
Really need to win these last five minute
The Cavs ran a play!
Was just thinking the same thing. JB ATO.
I don’t think that call was all that controversial.
I don’t have sound on. What was call?
On DG. I could see if going either way. But I get the case for Tatum having possession and DG running into him.
Same. I was whining. Then the reply showed that DG got him
OMG that should be a foul on Tatum.
Boston making it tough inside.
Holiday’s production is baaaad for Cavs.
Gad. LeVert stinks tonight
Mitchell needs help
Oof. Random Jrue holiday offensive game.
We need Garland to give us a much bigger lift from here forward. Mobley and Mitchell bringing it. LeVert ain’t gonna be it tonight.
I hate to say it, but against Boston’s bench, Niang might not be the worst play if they can’t play Wade.
Blasphemous!
Mitchell absolutely flowing.
🕷️ 🔥
I think Donovan already knows he might need to drop 50 tonight.
One on five = bad. Two or three on five = good. Someone else needs to contribute.
Yes, Mobley’s been mostly good, just need one other guard or wing besides Donovan to get in rhythm.
DM cooks Horford again
.
Mitchell bails us out.
Put Dean on Holiday
Not a call to be had.
Good idea.
Get someone in for LeVert
Need to get Jrue off the o-boards.
Bad stretch
Fantastic catch and finish, Mobley.
Looked like Strus rtipped that in.
He had a really nice wind up and release. Expected a swish not a one foot miss.
Need to see the crew step up and join DM in the fight for this game. Lots of him, too little of others in Q1
Garland leaving his feet to pass is his most annoying habit. 🤦🏻♂️
Garland’s TO was another “over-passing” moment in my view. He was almost right at the rim and no one was going to block that, take the layup
Or just Nash the baseline and keep your dribble.
Yes. Just don’t jump without a plan.
Pretty good quarter. Need more from DG, and need better defense against the Celts 3 point shooters, particularly Tatum.
Cavs would be up if not for a spate of bad turnovers. That last one by Garland was the worst
Man. Celtics slow rode Caris out of bounds no call.
LeVert with a rough start
Garland…..sometimes you drive me insane.
Just keep your dribble!
Holiday unafraid to go under the hoop.
Boston 5-10 so far from 3.. same for Cavs.. we need defend the 3… cant let Boston get or stay hot.
Good D on Tatum by Wade.
🕷️ 🕷️ 🕷️
Cook that old scrub, Spida!
STRUSSS!
Max!
Strus with the quick trigger
One of the nice things about moblye at the rim is it really helps the floor balance and transition d. Can’t let Tatum beat three guys for a dunk though.
We got to keep our heads when we don’t get a call. Giving up some easy buckets as we complain, react, and waste energy on missed calls. Stay locked in! Let JB do the yelling
Welcome back Deaner
JAMES DEAN WADE
LFG
Welcome back Wade!
“DITTO “
WELCOME BACK DEAN!!!!
Dean is in!
D3an!!!!!
Mobley playing so strong is really nice.
Okoro was aggressive that time!
Nice aggressive drive to the hoop for Okoro. He’s really gotten good at that this year.
That’s better Ice!!
4 turnovers in 5-6 min.. need to decrease that.
Cavs’ pace. Be up if not for Okoro playing like a rookie.
It’s like Okoro makes that same turnover out of bounds at the corner each game.
Okoro with a couple of turnovers
Come on, Okoro
We always seem to be good for one or two out of bounds infractions.
Often Okoro’s foot…
Not exclusively, but often.
He needs to just shoot that open 3 and not over-pass or unnecessarily bail out into a drive. You missed one, so what? Stay focused.
They roasting Horford.
Nice dish to Evan. But u gotta close to Tatum’s body
COUNTING ON YOU PATRICK TO BE LOOUUDDD !!!!!
No doubt. Might be using sign language tomorrow and Monday due to hoarseness
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Arena gonna be lit!!!! Do we have some CtB peeps in there tonight?
Yes! Big cheers in arena when they showed Wade w teammates about to run out onto court. Go Cavs!!
Let’s go Cavs!!!
LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOO DEAN WADE HIVE RISE UP!!!!!!
LFG! James Dean is back!