Recap: Celtics 120, Cavs 88
2010-05-11
Overview: The Boston Celtics outscored the Cavaliers 70-44 in the second half of a 120-88 rout. The Celtics now lead the series 3-2. LeBron James had one of the worst games of his career, going 3-14 from the floor. Ray Allen led all scorers with 25 points. It was the worst home playoff loss in Cavalier history.
Game Summary:
Everything started out nicely enough. The Cavs looked to go inside early, establishing Jamison and Shaq down low and using some outside jumpers to keep the floor spaced for them. With 9:52 to go, the Cavs took an eight-point lead and Doc Rivers called timeout. The Cavs were outscored by 40 points after that time-out. I don’t know what Doc said in that huddle, but it must’ve been good.
After the time-out, the Cavs did not score a point for the next six minutes of play. Shaq turned it over. Delonte turned it over. LeBron missed an open three. Meanwhile, Boston’s big three began to get into a groove on offense. By the time Cleveland finally scored a point thanks to LeBron throwing himself into some defenders and getting a foul, Boston had taken an eight-point lead.
Then Ray Allen took the game over. Cleveland finally started to get some baskets (this was LeBron’s one good stretch of the game), but Ray Allen answered by draining a jumper every time Boston had the ball. He’s one of the best shooters of all time. He does stuff like that.
Here are a couple of key plays from the stretch that was the beginning of the end for the Cavs in this game:
-After the Cavs force Pierce into missing an 18-footer, Big Baby comes up with the offensive rebound and finds Allen for a three. The lead goes from five to eight.
-After Mo (IDIOTICALLY) heat-checks after one made three, Rondo finds Allen for a three in semi-transition. The lead goes from four to seven.
-After halftime, the Celtics open the half by going to KG in the post. He misses a fadeaway, Allen comes up with the offensive rebound, gets it back, and drains a three. The lead goes from six to nine.
-On the next Celtics possession, Paul Pierce misses a mid-range shot. Rondo tips the rebound to Pierce, who finds Allen for a three. The lead goes from nine to 12. The Celtics lead by double-digits for the rest of the game.
After that, it was all misery. The Cavs couldn’t get a stop. The Celtics couldn’t miss a shot. The team waited for a LeBron takeover that never came. Game over. Complete and utter embarrassment.
Cavs-Related Bullets:
-I’ll start with this. I’ve had some tough moments as a Cavs fan. I remember how close the Cavs came to beating the Pistons in game six back in 2006. I remember how LeBron was completely overmatched by that Spurs team right after the best moments of his career. I remember how the Cavs just couldn’t get over that hump in Boston in 2008. I remember the Cavs blowing that lead, wasting a career performance by LBJ, and watching that Lewis three go down in game one last year. I remember how close they came to taking game four in that same series. The Cavs have disappointed me. They have made me profoundly miserable.
All that said, this is my lowest moment as a serious Cavalier fan. Why? Because I have never been ashamed to be a fan of this team or LeBron James until tonight. I am now. There’s no excuse for that type of effort. I’ve defended LeBron a lot in the past. I can’t, in good conscience, do so tonight. He couldn’t hit a jump shot. He wasn’t aggressive enough. He couldn’t do anything against Boston when they collapsed on him in the paint.
I don’t know why it happened. Maybe he was just off. Maybe he started doubting himself. Maybe he doesn’t care that much. Maybe he’s already thinking about where he’ll be next season. Maybe it was the goddamned elbow. Maybe he still hasn’t evolved his game enough. Maybe he couldn’t deal with the pressure. Whatever it was, he had maybe the worst game of his career in a huge playoff game. You don’t see that on the resumes of many legends. I still support the guy. I still want him to come back to Cleveland. At the end of the day, I do still believe he’s the best active basketball player. But good lord, this was terrible and inexcusable. He can turn it around in game six at Boston, or he can have this game follow him to his grave. It’s his career. I just write about it.
-Well, Mike Brown pulling Mo for Boobie right as Mo was actually getting in the paint and dropping dimes to Shaq for dunks reeked of desperation, didn’t it?
-This may have been one of Shaq’s better offensive games as a Cavalier. Good for him. Although I’m not sure how he only managed four rebounds in 27 minutes.
-The Cavs’ four best young players combined to go 5-14. Splendid.
Bullets of Randomness:
-I’m really starting to think Ray Allen isn’t going to sign with the Cavs this off-season. I’m also starting to think he’s somehow one of the most underrated players of his generation.
-Glen Davis had as many points as LeBron did.
Alright, that’s all I can give tonight. This was the low point for me. Game six could make everything all better. It’s not over yet, even if it feels like it. Until Thursday, try not to think about basketball. I’ll see you then.
Look, it’s hard for Cavs fans (both with and without the quotes) to be rational right now. There are hardly enough anti-superlatives to describe the performance given by the Cavs on Tuesday. So yes, there is probably a bit of overreaction to an awful, fetid performance. But that doesn’t change the fact that it was an absolute bomb of a game for the Cavs. The point Rich and everyone else is trying to make is that this is not the LeBron we’ve seen over the course of his career. And it’s not like he had one bad game: he’s had… Read more »
I believe Lebron’s play was a reflection of his subconscience telling him to lose and use that as an excuse to leave town!
And I feel like there’s already a massive rewrite of history taking place, barely a day after the event. Completely passive? Only shot jumpers? (I just read that in Adande’s column SUPPORTING LeBron.) He was passive for stretches. But the man still shot 10 FT’s in the first half. Come on. And Rich, I wasn’t meaning to personally call you out. I’m not judging whether or not you’re bailing on LeBron. But what I find outrageous is that everything is so “obvious” to you, in a situation that is completely bizarre and unprecedented. Maybe history will prove that LeBron did… Read more »
I love how you have to put the word “fans” in quotations. Robin, please, read his post game comments and explain to me what he meant by them. explain how his nonchalant attitude and his unwillingness to accept the blame. Seriously, you are being blinded by your love for LeBron that you can’t admit what was obvious: LeBron James was not trying in game 5. Just because I can admit that, doesn’t make me any less of a fan than you are.
Honestly, f— Wojnarowski. F— Kelly Dwyer. F— all the Cleveland “fans” who are suddenly bailing on LeBron.
F— rushing to judgement after a single instance of (still unexplained) out-of-character behavior. The lynch mob mentality is absolutely disgusting.
Mo and Coach Brown are the same type of guys. Good character guys, good regular season performers, but look like deer in headlights come the playoffs.
Mike L-
You’re looking for the ESPN boards. These comments are generally for people to have coherent, rational discussions about the Cavaliers, not tired shilling for the “rings” argument.
Also, “sale” is a noun, and “sell” is a verb. You were looking for the latter part of speech.
Best,
Sam
Dude, he was given the name King James in highschool. The NBA and fans of Cleveland didn’t invent it. I had a nickname on my basketball team in highschool, should I not have had it because I didn’t make it to the NBA? No. that is just silly.
First off, we need to stop calling him the King. He has not earned the title, he has a very bad attitude and sitting out during the end of regular season does not make any sense. It takes more than just skill to be a great player, it takes attitude as well. He is not the best player in the NBA. Kobe Bryant is the best player and he has the titles to defend this argument. Kobe Bryant is still battling to stay on top, he has passion for the game and for people to call a person who has… Read more »
Misery loves company!!!Amazingly I’m starting to regain confidence…as if this is the year that Cleveland seems down and out yet again, but this is finally the year that they turn it around when all hope seems lost. I dunno. the Boston Red Sox seem like a good comparison that someone else here made and I’m starting to buy into it.
Rich-are you and I both staking out this board in an attempt to deal with the pain? I’m with you.
bob-I agree that there are things that cannot be overcome. But LeBron’s elbow is not broken. And again, it’s not the bad game that people are upset about. Roy illustrates our point (instead of yours): he competed. It was clear that he was way less than 100%., you can’t fault him for that. And no one is faulting LeBron for having a(n historically) bad game. It’s the being passive, and not competing. That’s not attributable to the elbow. He’s a grown man: he needs to be about to figure out to deal with something like this. And yes, you very… Read more »
Bob, I see where you’re coming from, but the elbow doesn’t explain the lack of effort. It explains 3-14, but not anything more. It also doesn’t explain his post game comments where he deflects all blame from himself and makes it seem like us, the little people, should have no right to question his performance. That post game conference is what really let me know his mindset let night. Maybe I’m wrong, who knows. But I truly feel his effort was more than lacking last night, and he revealed as much by the things he said in his post-game.
Hi, Most of you should be ashamed, the effort and play in the past has been above and beyond, even with a supporting cast that is pitiful. You can see that the elbow is an issue, effecting not only the shooting but passing, even in his usual dribbling motion. There are things in life that cannot be overcome, playing with a broken finger is commonplace, you see it in HS, NCAA, and the NBA. According to many here, I guess MJ should have not sat out any games with a broken ankle, or some other nonsense…or are we denying that… Read more »
Lebron has officially checked out. Game 6 will be another Celtic blowout. Shlt, I’d be suprised if Lebron even physically goes to game 6. I’d be in the NYC house shopping BABY!!!
100% agree with every single thing Sam said. We defended him last year when he gave his all and didn’t have enough help.We will not defend him this year when he is not giving the effort and does have the help. Great post Sam.
I think Rich has it right. A few points: 1. The example of Wade is a good one. Other than their championship, what help has Wade had? Miami’s role players make the Cavs role players look like All-Stars. But Wade never gives up. He fights for everything, and it’s why, on a team that has been decidedly average at best over the past few years, that he’s still in the MVP discussion each season. He doesn’t quit. Bringing us to 2. For everyone who can’t understand the reaction of Cleveland fans, let me try this: we aren’t the most loyal… Read more »
I agree that Lebron should be criticized like crazy for what’s happened this series, and Woj is pretty accurate. I just can’t stand when people make claims that are demonstrably wrong. There’s been more revisionist history in the past day than I’ve ever seen.
I agree Todd. Saying he vanishes in the playoffs is wrong. Most of his playoff career he as been great. He has vanished in this series though. Anyway, the Woj article pretty much sums up my feelings. LeBron has driven on the FA talk. LeBron absolutely has a sense of entitlement. The city has bowed down to him for 7 years and has almost never criticized him, as if he is above all criticism. So now, here we are, finally coming out of or shells and no longer afraid, and people are seriously going to tell us to just be… Read more »
“consistently disappear in the playoffs”
This kind of talk is RIDICULOUS. Everyone and their mother is creating a complete revisionist history of everything Kobe and Lebron have ever done, based on this one abysmal effort. This is nauseating.
Jimmy: and you can tell that how? Sorry, but that’s total B.S. You have no idea what’s going on in LeBron James’ head.
If I had to interpret his expressions in game 5 and afterward, I would guess that he was upset/sad/scared and struggling to maintain at least a neutral facade. But none of us has any real insight into what his thoughts and intentions were.
Just to be clear on my stance. I am not saying LeBron has been bad throughout the years. LeBron played his ass of against Orlando last year and got no help. He was completely outmatched with 0 offensive talent around him against the Spurs in the finals. I HAVE ALWAYS TOOK UP FOR LEBRON AGAINST THE HATERS. Understand I am pointing out this series in particular. Our team’s leader QUIT on his team last night. How, as a true Cleveland cavalier fan and not a LeBron fan (I do like LeBron, but I support the team first), should I sit… Read more »
I don’t really agree with squiggles, but someone needs to quickly understand the mindset of a Cleveland SPORTS fan. Simply being really good and winning a lot of games, after 40+ years of 0 titles of any kind, IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Understand that people. Doing this and that for US??? DId you hear his postgame…He feels sorry for HIMSELF? ANd you say he does all of this for us………what? LeBron has been great. LeBron has been great in the playoffs. LeBron was great last year and had no help. But let me make this clear so everyone can follow… Read more »
This isn’t nonsense–this is Cleveland.
Nobody was saying any of this in Detroit. Or last year. Or the year before. I can understand being pissed off, but you guys are essentially going back and re-writing history about “consistently disappearing” and all this other nonsense. If anyone’s a fraud, it’s you people — I’ve never lived in Cleveland & I don’t particularly care about the Cavs but this is nonsense.
What exactly has he done for us but consistently disappear in the playoffs, not develop a post prescence, and toy with the head and hearts of the fans who love him the most? Stop deifying this overpaid, overvalued; stop treating him as some sort of basketball iconoclast. He’s a fraud–a businessman with an athlete’s body. A marketer.
You people make me sick — all he’s done for you and you’re killing him over one game. Everybody gets it — it sucked & he sucked. But really? After what he’s done over the years now you bail on him? You people don’t deserve somebody like James. You should have Ron Artest.
You should have seen the Laker boards after game 4 of the Thunder series. It was over, goodbye cruel world.
Zeus pretty much hit everything on the head. So his eblow might be hurting…so? The greats push through and perform when it matters. Period. And i haven’t read the Abbot article but I will. People need to see the BIG picture here. This isn’t about winning a lot of games and making the Cavs revelant like LeBron has. It’s about winning a title for a city that is title starved. Fans of Cleveland sports could care less about winning 61 games, things they had never done before. We (and I say we even though I don’t livei n Cleveland) JUST… Read more »
I can’t understand how you guys came to the conclusion that your stars are allowed to take games off in the playoffs and teams should still win. Go look up Jordan’s playoff statistics, especially in the championship seasons. How many nights was Jordan taking off? LeBron is supposed to play at a high level people. That is his job. he is the MVP for a reason. I aboslutely SHOULD expect him to perform at the same level he did in the regular season AND THEN SOME. That is how it works. The offensive system isn’t changing over night. There will… Read more »
Robin, there’s a difference between playing like crap and making it appear like you’ve 100% absolutely quit. And while he’s had bad games in the past, I’ll include game 2 and game 4 of this series….in game 5, he was mentally checked out and didn’t give a flying bleep if the team won or lost.
Maybe LeBron’s elbow is really badly hurt. Maybe something is wrong with his family. Maybe he has decided to leave Cleveland and the locker room knows it. Whatever the reason is for LeBron’s less than stellar performance for all but one quarter during this series, I’m listening. As a fan of the Cavs, and LeBron, I’d be willing to accept an apology from LeBron. If he came out and stated what the issue has been during this series, I’d give him a pardon. Sure, critics of LeBron would say that it shouldn’t have affected him as much as it has,… Read more »
The whole basketball world seems to be in an uproar over Game 5. I’m not sure why. Granted, James had a bad game, but even the best have bad games. I loathe James because he’s an egomaniac, arrogant attention whore, but the Cavs’ problems are far more fundamental than James not playing well. Who on the Cavs, other than James, is better than half of the NBA players at his respective position? Mo Williams? A streaky point guard who plays poor D and turns in bad games by the bushel, even though he gets a huge number of easy looks?… Read more »
you think clevelands cool? i never heard anyone say im going on vacation to cleveland
Wow, the piling on to LeBron is totally ridiculous. Not just in the comments here and everywhere else, but by people in the media who are supposed to know what they’re talking about. First of all, the most likely explanation is that LeBron is physically unable to play to his ability. He has exploded in his usual way after three days of rest, and his play deteriorated in the next two games coming after short breaks. We KNOW his elbow is injured. But it’s almost like, because LeBron isn’t talking about it to avoid the perception of making excuses, we’re… Read more »
First time posting here. There are multiple ways to look at this situation. Is it possible to agree both with Woj’s article, and with those citing elbow issues, lack of support? First off, I think I should say, all year, I supported the notion that Lebron would be re-signing over the summer after the Cavs won the championship. That idea is shot – two in the chest one in the head, execution style. The Cavs can’t win the championship playing like this, and the statistics are stacked so heavily against them that I really doubt I’ll even watch the last… Read more »
Cleveland is done for unfortunately.
Rich….”This team was built so that the LeBron James of last years Orlando Magic series, who literally dominated the series but had no help, could still dominate a series but get enough extra help that they would win. This team needed that LeBron. If it got that LeBron, it could have won a title.” Rich, my boy, the quoted part of what you just said totally blows up your point. Now, I’m not excusing Lebron for last nights game. He mailed that performance in and stopped caring. But to make the claim you have made based on one game is… Read more »