Playoff Live Thread, ECF Game 2: Cavs @ Celtics
2018-05-15
Game two isn’t a must win; it’s a “man they really ought to win” if they want to come out ahead in this series. So the Cavs look to bounce back from possibly their worst game of the season (especially given the stakes). Fortunately, the Cavs aren’t playing on Sunday afternoon, where they tend to snooze like they’re watching the third straight hour golf tournament.
The Cavs plan to start Tristan Thompson at the five, and move Korver to the Bench. We’ll see if the Celtics counter with Baynes, but the Cavs should match Horford with Thompson all night. Hopefully, we’ll see some rotation minutes for Cedi instead of the painfully obtuse Jordan Clarkson.
Hopefully the Cavs hit the boards tonight, after getting outrebounded 48-40. Also key, getting to the shooters. Cleveland just left too many guys wide open in Game 1 (I’m looking at you, LeBron).
Also on deck, the draft lottery, where Nick Gilbert (bowtie made out of the Cavs’ championship floor pictured above) tries to play Leprauchan again, and get the Cavs into the top three. Prediction? Second pick, and a 109-105 Cavalier victory.
I would say less JR, but he also could come out and score 18 in the 2nd half…
Cedi should get some run in second half and maybe play Nance more, thought he was solid, outside of that missed dunk haha…Lebrons FT misses are not good. Love really needs to step up 2nd half, just not sure Korver will still get the open looks….JR looks useless as usual, constantly losing guys by like 5-10 feet…get Tatum in more foul trouble and lockdown Brown…Horford has been quiet most of this game…Cavs gotta extend lead and quiet crowd….most important 3rd quarter in awhile for this team
LBJ with reverse splits: 3-8 from FT, 9-15 from field, 4-7 from three.
better +7 than -20 at any rate
JR so useless any other coach would put in Cedi. Smith hasn’t scored and blocked an easy two by George Hill.
To me they are keeping him in the game just for spacing. The minute Cedi enters the game I bet the Celtics will leave him wide open at the corner three and Cedi will brick them.
LeBron trying to lean in too much now on his free throws. Not sure why he cant shoot it straight up without leaning back or forward (a la Steph)
Just in his own head. Never been a natural shooter or had great form, (that right elbow sticking out), but I think it has always been a mental/confidence thing with him. He could be consistently in the 75% range every season but he just gets in his own head for stretches I think.
Which is especially strange when he’s hitting his mid range and 3 point jump shots…
Alone at the line with time to think. All eyes watching and waiting and a history of struggles from the line. I think it may be a bit of a different scenario for him than more reactionary shots in the flow of the game like your typical jumper.
I agree with John. It’s all in his head.
Good half from the Cavs but LeBron needs to hit his FT’s.
Good half. Glad to see Nance with so much energy. Need more of him on the second.
Jeff Green needs to just…like…stop.
Please don’t let his three point make go to his head…
I’m OK with open ones in the corner.
Good half but gave away 4 pts to close the quarter
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/996564207024959488
WTF LBJ???????? ANOTHER TERRIBLE DECISION!
That four point possession was brutal, but still a six point lead and LeBron still in the game.
Well…those posessions could have gone better…
GREEN THREE!!!!!!!!! NO HESITATION!
Well this final 30 seconds was ugly.
Stupid end to the half.
Can’t believe Boston scored on that sloppy possession with the ball on the floor and flying in the air.
Green open because of Love’s motion. Great hit.
Argh. Jeff green has GOT to jump on Monroe for that Jump ball. He just stared at it. 4 point possession.
TOs gonna kill the Cavs
Nice shot fake…. easy peasy.
Someone gotta step up when Bron gets beat… Great shot green!
LBJ WHAT A PASS!!!
OMG that pass.
Bring in Cedi to check Brown…seriously…
KLOVE BEASTING THE BOARDS!
Sick bounce pass, james.
JR lucky Brown missed that wide open 3.
Report on LeBron is a “neck strain.” He’s back in.
Seems fishy. Surprised they didn’t at least put him through the protocol.
Probably said no and the cavs likely wilted.
THERES Big boy love!
Kev! Aggressive!
I was afraid LeBron was going to crumple to the ground on the way to the locker room.
Got to try to keep this lead at 7-8 points at least. Get some stops.
Good thing is that a lot of non-LeBron Cavs are showing up. They might have to win it without LBJ. Which they can.
LeBron just has to be dazed badly to leave this game. Time for that red panic button if he is out
jesus just swap jr for cedi why is this so hard for lue
“When this place does what it was built for…”…oh you mean perv on attractive co-eds? Get bent facebook…
Green with a big block!!!! Maybe that gets him going!
JR what are you doing?
JR just ran right into George hill. Have to love the jr experience
JR playing absolutely horrid
Yup, needs to get his head into the game.
JR has been playing? I haven’t noticed. I don’t think he notices it either.
Jeff Green blocks Hill from getting to the hoop. Redeems himself with a big-air block on Monroe.
I think that was J.R. that got in his way
Yep, I missed that.
Where is big boy Love? He’s had 1 big rebound but that’s it
7 points, 4 rebounds. Doing ok.
They’ve shut him down mostly.
Just scored on a nice o-board.
Boston fans really are some of the worst
I hate them as much as GS.
They are worse than GS fans. They are the worst fans in sports.
That’s not good. Could easily be concussed.
Bonehead JR blocks his own man. Wake up
That was terrible…. could’ve been an easy layup.
Nice block, Jeff!
This sucks
Way to boo someone as he is going to get checked for a concussion.
Stay Classy Boston.
feel like LeBron just wants a breather
Concussion for James a real possibility
Don’t understand the concussion protocol, hope that would block Lebron from coming back even if he is okay.
oh crap, Lebron looks shaken up.
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/996562761491668997
Hill Can’t get anymore fouls, especially with James possibly hurt.
We need to finish this up 10+.
3 fouls on Tatum is big…. he started to get hot there.
Freakin Classy, Boston fans. Booing him and clapping for the injury.
Tommy Heinsohn didn’t agree with that Tatum foul…along with about 22,000 idiots in the Garden…
We will be lucky, which sometimes it takes a bit of luck, but winning the championship with JR Smith as our starting shooting guard is unlikely! Come on Cleveland let’s not think about fan favorites but overall talent, but what one brings to the team!
I REALLY want them to blow the doors off the Celtics on their home court. Really really really.
Are these the same Cavs that played Game 1?
A shoulder to LeBron’s jaw, and the crowd is booing.
LeBron looking like he might be a little foggy.
And going in to get checked for a concussion, and some yahoos keep booing.
Those fans are all class…same as it ever was.
lucky foul there on lebron although tatums’s airms were actually out
Three on Tatum!
THAT WAS A GOOD PASS…… KLOVE AND ONE!111
3 on Tatum…
Sloppy with a chance to push it to 10.
LBJ & KK leading us. Love coming on.
Nance gets to play with TT starting. No Clarkson so far. Bigger. Stronger. Smarter.
Hill also a lot better.
TT not quick enough on the re-screen read.
Thompson has been really good this game defensively.
Agreed.