Live Thread: Cavs @ Celtics
2017-03-01
When Kevin Love joined J.R. Smith among the ranks of the injured, much was made about the possibility of the Cleveland Cavaliers losing their grip on the top seed in the Eastern Conference. After all, they were missing two starters, had a thin bench, and will face a March schedule that is heavy on both road games and back-to-backs.
One team that many thought would push the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference standings was the Boston Celtics. Unfortunately for Brad Stevens and his team, that has yet to happen. There are several reasons that the Cavaliers have actually extended their lead over the second-place Celtics to four games since Love went under the knife. First, the Cavaliers played extremely well in February, finishing the month 9-2 after going just 7-8 in January. Second, the Celtics decided to stand pat at the trade deadline, despite talking to the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers about Jimmy Butler and Paul George, respectively. Finally, the Celtics have struggled since the break, going just 1-2, and barely defeating the struggling Detroit Pistons in their lone victory.
None of this is to knock the Celtics. They play hard, are well-coached, and Isaiah Thomas has emerged as one of the best closers in the entire league. That being said, they simply haven’t shown they are on the same level as the other elite teams in the league this year, as evidenced by their 3-11 record against the Cavaliers, Warriors, Spurs, Rockets, Wizards, and Raptors this season. It also doesn’t help that Al Horford, one of the best big men in the league, has struggled tremendously against the Cavs the last few seasons. Now, the Cavaliers have replaced Mo Williams, Chris Andersen, Mike Dunleavy, and Jordan McRae with Deron Williams, Andrew Bogut, Kyle Korver, and Derrick Williams, forming arguably the deepest team LeBron James has ever played on.
Still, a win tonight at home against the Cavs would move the Celtics one game closer to the top of the Eastern Conference, and give at least some evidence that they can compete with the big boys. Be sure to tune in tonight at 8:00 on ESPN, and be sure to share your thoughts here at Cavs: The Blog!
LBJ from his SPOT
Ike knew that call was b.s. s’why he missed both FTs…
Ball don’t lie!
That is one weak-a** foul in a physical game.
And ball don’t lie!
Are you effing kidding me? Where’s the foul?
BALL DOES NOT LIE!
Would love to see Bogut rough these turds up
Yep Bogut popping Thomas with a clean hard one would be nice about now
Has Kelly fouled out yet?
Enchilada’s dreads make him seem even faster…
Sure, that wasn’t a foul at all on Derrick…
Hee Hee. My buddy Eric always calls Stephens “Jet Travolta.”
This is where they miss Love… or can use a bit of Bogut…
https://twitter.com/JasonLloydNBA/status/837134478682296320
Uh oh, guys….it’s IT TIME!!!!!
Wow 4-21 for Korver, Shump, Deron, Frye and RJ. Deron has to hit those mid rangers
That fourth foul on Kyrie took Cavs out of their rhythm… DWill is only going to get better as he gets acclimated…
I don’t love these lineups they’re putting Dwill in. Not enough shooting. Let’s hope they run the wildcat to start the third.
Olynyk and TT end up on the floor. Everyone emerges with limbs intact.
Olynyk is so awkward…
Bad decisions by the C’s there…
Yeah, Rozier, you threw the elbow, and somehow you got fouled…scrub…
Man… Enchilada got up for that board!
What does it matter if he had possession it went out of bounds dummy
Oh my bad. Talking shot clock.
Shot clock…
I’m just ready to talk crap on commentators at the drop of a hat.
Lol… and these aren’t even the awful ones…
Celtics seem to be doing a good job on Korver…
They can defend the perimeter, no doubt…
Can’t wait till Brady retires and everyone sees what a bum Belichick is…he’ll probably retire the same day Brady does, though…
OMG there was no debate about Olynyk’s assault on Love. WTF people?
(Except of course Tirico missed it in the moment.)
I feel as much dread watching Shump now as I did Jordan McRae. Maybe he needs a sports psychologist at this point. Playing himself down to 10-12 mins a night
Nice flop Marcus…
God I hate these chumps.
Come back soon JR…
Lol
Marcus smart looked.ike he might kill that ref.
Right call tho… he just bulled into TT…
Shump is a complete liability out there on both ends now…
WOW! Throw it DOWN King!
https://twitter.com/cavs/status/837131946035642368
LEBRON
Such a prayer by Chowdah…
I jinxed Shump. He’s getting lit up.
You can’t jinx a player who’s not good. Maybe double jinx him in to being good.
IT is the most predictable 30-point scorer I’ve ever see
Man Cavs don’t get any calls in Bahstan…
Seemed like an offensive foul on Ike….
Kyrie Irving, Ph.D. in English
Man, that was a pretty move by Kyrie…
Kyrie Irving is not an undersized PG
Don’t know why I’m arguing with commentators
MVP chants for Thomas are hilarious…
Olynyk even almost took out McMenamin…
https://twitter.com/mcten/status/837129380283498496
Horford is just a chucker…
Shump is just not good tonight.
Having one of his Shimp games…
He hasn’t been playing good lately. With JR returning soon maybe he feels his spot on the Cavs rotation will drop drastically.
Replace “tonight” with “this year”
We just need more production from the starting shooting guard position. Hurry back JR
Irving passed up,wide,open three to pass to Frye
So sweet from the Layup King. No doubt despite the pressure from Horford.
My buddy Eric just rated the RJ dunk as NSFW
LOL…
How do the celtics not just kill each other in practice. I imagine their practices being a blood bath with how awkward and uncoordinated and physical they are.
Whoa. Wiz drilling the raps right now.
In Toronto, too!
Wow… The Whole Enchilada this game!
And this team is getting the number 1 pick in the draft this year….. another guard
Maybe getting the first pick, maybe not…hope whoever they get is the biggest bust of all time…
Well, that wasn’t the halftime score I expected to see…
Kyrie needs to come alive
Celtics are so scrappy and awkward and annoying
Very much like their mascot, Bill Simmons…
I don’t understand why the Cavs don’t look to take the charging foul against IT.
Did Olynyk just almost take out another one?
Nothing intentional, but yes….
Long haired doofus strikes again…
Holy crap is that a flagrant?!
Yes scotch. Yes it is
Freaking Horford
Would love to Bogut lay olynyk out.
http://www.anyWilliamsinsteadofShump
Can’t say this any more emphatically – F the Celtics!
Freakin olynyk nearly took Lebron out.
I hate playing this team. Always afraid of injuries. Freaking olynyk
Didn’t need to see THAT three times.
Cyborg is OK
The Cavs have to cut more get more off the ball movement they are trying to break the Celtics defense trying to go one on one and it’s not working.
Need to do better on the glass. They’re getting too many second-chance opportunities.
Way to go TT! Animalistic.
K Love really missed on the defensive glass this game
Ooooo dang TT. That’s how you do it.
http://www.pleasestopshootingShump.com