Playoff Live Thread, ECF Game 6: Cavs vs. Celtics
2018-05-25
The Cavs face their second elimination game of the year as they host the Celtics for Game 6. This Celtics team has been a damn site worse on the road, so the Cavs have the odds to extend the series. In addition, given the war of attrition out west, LeBron has to see that he has an opportunity to win a championship this year, which should re-energize him from his game 5 doldrums. As far as the matchups go, it will be interesting to see what the Cavs do with Aaron Baynes in the starting lineup and the post double teams. I’m hoping the counter Baynes with Larry Nance’s energy, but I doubt that will happen, at least in the starting lineup.
If the Cavs are really smart, they’ll heed Ben Werth’s advice, and bench Jeff Green and Jordan Clarkson and replace them with Cedi Osman. Heck, maybe they should just let Ben coach via twitter. I’m betting the odds of that are lower than the odds of Ante Zizic in the starting lineup. Still, the home cooking and the Cavs’ energy should be enough to overcome coach Lue tonight. The Cavs always respond when their backs are against the wall, and I’m expecting it to happen again.
There’s plenty we could say about how to win this game, but I’ll roll with, “stick with who’s playing well.” If Larry Nance has got it going, get him more minutes. If Jose Calderon gets hot, ride him. If Tristan Thompson is nailing three pointers, keep setting him up. (OK, maybe not on that last one). As always, Go Cavs.
LONG LIVE THE KING —–THANK YOU LEBRON —–“IF ” THAT WAS HIS LAST HOME GAME IN CAVS UNIFORM—-WOW—WHAT A SEND OFF !!——-YES AGREE WITH KLOVE—–HOW CAN ANYBODY CALL HIM SOFT —-EVERYTHING HE HAS GONE THRU HERE —–BOTH ON / OFF THE CT —-TRADE RUMORS / CONSTANTLY BEING STABBED IN THE BACK—BUT HAS ALWAYS TAKEN THE HIGH ROAD —–BEING A TRUE PROFESSIONAL—I GOT YOUR BACK KLOVE — ( AS MANY OTHER BLOGGERS HERE AT CTB DO )—GET WELL—HOPE YOU ARE CLEARED TO PLAY ON SUNDAY—-SHOW THEM HOW “SOFT ‘ YOU ARE !!!!
What Nomad said. Amazing to see LeBron be transcendent yet again. Thank you
One good word to describe LeBron: Casual. He casually did it to them last night, thanked his teammates in an interview with Doris, changed his shirt, and chatted about marriage and wine in the post-game. Also, I can’t believe “Love is soft” is still a thing around here. Especially after an injury like that, where you can watch on HD as another guy blindsides him in the temple. I guess I just forget how tough internet posters are. Green had a great game, but if he played like that consistently, well, he wouldn’t be Jeff Green. Same with Nance, really,… Read more »
That was definitely a transcendent Jeff Green game that I don’t expect to see again, but I think what Nance did is replicable. For as good as the Celtics defense is, they aren’t a good rebounding team in general, and anytime Lebron is getting to the hole, there are going to be seams for Nance to take advantage of.
Glad to see Korner played 26 minutes. That’s 25 more than I thought Lue was gonna play him (Ojeleye only logged 1 minute).
JEFF GREEN, ALWAYS BELIEVED IN YOU!!!
Love has had a hell of alot of concussions these past 3 or 4 years. It seems like 2 a season. Could this develop into CTE like the NFL players battle with? It’s been a rough year for him
Concerning for sure. You can’t question his toughness. He is always battling down low, just been very unlucky the last few years.
I think this would be his 3rd total with the Cavs, but that one right after he came back was pretty minor, and I think this one would be too. I don’t think he has to worry too much about CTE because you don’t have as much repeated head trauma in basketball as you do in football.
Concussions do play a role in cte, but as football and boxing has shown its the constant non conconcussion hits to the head in those two sports that aggregate into cte. Concussions are a factor in all contact and semi contact sports.
He probably can get into coaching if he wants to. From everything I’ve heard, he’s great at getting along with people (I have heard this from regular fans as well as from players), and he’s smart.
Awesome performance from Lebron. He is so blessed with amazing talent and intelligence. I absolutely LOVED how hungry the bench was tonight fighting for a win. Passion was missing in Game 5 from the starters. It’s there in Nance, Clarkson, Korver and Green. Nance had his team back when they missed a shot and he cleaned it up either with tap in basket or offensive rebound. I Love the fight in him not to take any garbage from Celtic players
Epic performance by LBJ. One of his great all time playoff performances. So glad he was ultra aggressive and locked in defensively. Dunno how much he will have for game 7.
Great interview by LeBron.
Larry Nance was huge today – his impact was much bigger than his stat line.
Was really nice to see him playing like that…it’s uncanny how he manages to get 2-3 steals a game when he plays…wish he had more authority when finishing around the rim, but otherwise he’s a fine player.
Nance impressed me so much, 5/5, 10 points, 4 offensive rebounds, And two steals
that ty press conference was embarrassing.
This has to be the worst team Lebron’s been on since his very early years in the league. One more win, and he’s got them in the finals. Unbelievable.
Rachael Nichols very casually just drew a straight line from MJ to LeBron without a mention of Kobe
lol and then explained how she mentors young players in the league
Kobe is a top twenty player, maybe top fifteen, but that’s it. I know the Kobe stans who think he’s better than Jordan will be disappointed to learn that.
Agreed. Kobe won 5 rings, but three of them he was Robin, not Batman. And Gasol won the other one in Game 7 (with Perk hurt) when Kobe went 8-24. Havlicek won two after Russell retired, but 7 overall & had MVP level performances in ’68 (no Finals MVP yet), ’69 (West won it) and ’74. Kobe also never led the league in any advanced stat: Win shares, WS/48, Off WS, Def WS, PER, BPM, O BPM, D BPM, VORP. Every other all-timer has (MJ, Russell, Kareem, Wilt, Magic, Bird, Duncan, Bron, Oscar, Mikan, Shaq, Doc). Also missed the POs… Read more »
Lue needs to call out the referees even to the point of incurring a fine from the league. The Cavs are getting punked and Lue is not standing up for his players. The freaking Callahan was right in front of the Love-Tatum collision and just swallowed his whistle. Celtics have milked every foul that hurts people. Lebron and Love have both been concussed by Tatum with meek response from the Cavs and no appropriate penalty.
Play Cedi in game 7
If Lue can play Shumpert and Mo Williams together in game 7 of the Finals, he can play Cedi on Sunday
I don’t believe in the whole “Lebron doesn’t want to face the Warriors again” narrative, but I will say that if Houston wins tomorrow night…Lebron James is going to score 60 f*uck*ng points on Sunday.
I agree 110%
This
To me both KLove and Tatum bump into each other at the same speed so both took the same kind of hit and Tatum stayed in the game.
It’s an elimination game, LeBron took a hit, Jr was limping really bad and they just kept fighting.
Kevin is a good guy but I just don’t understand what happened with him today.
Way more factors then that. They were not the same speed, they were at different angles, different parts of the head collided, genetic makeup of scull thickness at specific portion of scalp, KLove is older- has history of concussions. It’s a rather complex matter.
I hope you are right but I personally don’t buy it. Let’s hope he can play on Sunday.
Are you an expert in brain trauma? Cmon man you can’t just shoot from the hip on medical opinions.
Internet doctors are worst than internet quarterbacks.
Hey man, he’s just presenting a set of alternative facts not based at all in reality.
Agreed. It’s complicated.
Love had his head turned, took the hit from the side, his head moved more violently than Tatum’s, so greater chance of a concussion.
As the angle that starts around :20 shows:
https://twitter.com/DefPenHoops/status/1000178419857084416
Love is soft and kind of a wuss….even Nance hurt his hand late in game and nothing happened. With the series being physical not sure if he’ll even play or contribute as much
Love has been injured a lot, but I don’t think you can call him soft. Shoulder ripped out of socket, broken wrist was it, tooth knocked out, and concussions. That’s not soft.
Dude they hit heads at full speed. It’s not a question of toughness. Go try it and see how you feel.
Impossible to say, they both could easily have been affected completely differently. If it’s a concussion, you don’t play with that…toughness doesn’t factor in…
If Hill sets the tone with aggression right away, Cavs should be in good shape, but if he’s passive right way, be in trouble, if Im Lue I do another ‘you are not playing good enough’ to Hill and Green after this game, just to see if we can duplicate performances
Yes, Hill in particular being aggressive really helps.
My prediction for Game 7 is that Lue will FINALLY break out our secret weapon: Lebron.
Only 6 turnovers as a team tonight.
Curious about the lineup Lue would go to down the stretch if Love can’t go. I thought Hill, JR, Korver, Nance, and LeBron just was giving up too much defensively but tough to say if it’s just cause they were gassed for being in the game for so long. Highly doubt Lue gives any minutes to Zizic even though we would need another big – he probably gives extra minutes to Green and Clarkson.
Doubt we get another Jeff Green game like that game 7…
Game 7 is where we need TT and JR to step up big time, they have been there before in the Finals….hope Hill can get double figures and Korver gets hot….Cavs defense has to be all out…unsure of Love status but if he plays he can’t pussy out, hope Green can take advantage of extra playing time…same with Nance. I also wouldn’t play Clarkson at all, if necessary, play Calderon if you need another ball handler.
Calderon is not playing in a game seven having been on the bench all this time. No way
I wonder if the Celtics defense is really that good or if the refs just let them get away with a lot of fouling on their gym?
its the latter….super physical team under stevens and they know they can get away with it….Cavs need to be ready for possible non sense with officiating in Game 7
Exactly they need to match their intensity.
Doris crushing the post game analysis
Yup…. she spot on.
She’s amazing. Needs to be a commentator on the broadcast.
Gotta spend the first four minutes getting Hill going in Boston.
Thankfully Sunday’s game is at 8:30 PM and not the afternoon slot
yeah that is good. Hate those matinee games.
JR played hard on D, but man, he’s gotta do more….. b/c we ain’t getting Hill to repeat…. Need Love but such a softie…
Green won’t have another reasonably decent game like this …. especially not on the road…
If I am Boston, I feel good… it’s at home next AND despite Bron’s epic performance, they were in the game until Bron’s 2 3’s at the end….
Yeah, uh, I’d feel good if I was them too. Playing Lebron in Game 7 with a trip to the Finals on the line. Yeah, nothing to worry about. I’m sure they got this. Horford always steps up in these moments, right?
I agree with Doris Burke’s post game comment: Never felt like Boston would get over the hump. No team can feel good playing James in a Game Seven
JR has to hit open shots if he’s going to play…he has to.
awesome performance by Lebron…horrific performance by officials who allowed Boston to be too physical and not the Cavs….game 7 will be interesting with officiating….I just wonder if something like that will be difference…sorta fearing it…also wonder if Rozier has another big game again…Tatum super quiet, Brown was decent, but no one else did much..Smart was hot then disappeared….just gotta think Cavs will handle a Game 7 pressure better…time for JR to put something together, I know he got shafted on some calls, but he barely did anything tonight…props to Hill and Green…not sure if it can be duplicated but we… Read more »
if we make the finals they should push it back a week. it’d be better for everyone to have a rested lebron playing
I really hope this wasn’t the last time we see LBJ play in a Cavs uni at home.
If it was, that is a hell of a goodbye.
he certainly didn’t walk outta the gym like it was his last.
Hard to imagine Lebron will let one game get between him and the finals…but he can’t do it alone.
Great game by LeBron. Incredible.
Refs were horrible.
Thank you, Lebron. For everything.
Bron was GARGANTUAN!
A word I so rarely get to use in a sentence.
Release the Kraken.
Game 7. One game to get to the finals.
Hope Lebron has one more Cyborg-like game in him…
Couldn’t get home from work in time to watch the game… listened to the second half on my hour long drive through LA traffic… INCREDIBLE! So glad I have this DVR’d to watch now!
Hill, Green, & Nance were huge.
Korver & Clarkson also positives.
They went nuts fron 3. But Horford quiet thanks to TT & Nance.
We’ll see how many healthy bodies there are for the Cavs game 7…why is it in these Celtics series it’s always the Cavs who get beat up?
to be fair the celtics are missing a couple of guys…
Of course, it just seems like in these playoff series it’s always the Cavs who get injuries…
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1000209074443743232
What a player
Can Perk get dressed really quick now and come in just to punch Horford in the balls??
Lue sticking with Nance is a good sign.
Nance played like a man…
OMG
just tuned in.. wtf is wrong with love?
Smashed heads with Tatum, possible concussion…
Insane. LeBron with an and1 for the nail.
Take it home!
Omg Lebron…46 points and 1…
The GOAT
I imagine watching a kid learn new things is the same feeling we get when we get to see Ty Lue finally realize Larry Nance should be on the court
Good one ;)
Show me a worse call than that. Show me.
And after watching it on film!
Seriously? How do the even rationalise this call?
Cavs are winning in 6 against rockets mark my words
WTF is wrong with these refs?????????
THESE REFS ARE TRAASH.
These guys aren’t going to give more than a passing mention to the Cavs second best player being out.
That would be yet another bad call. But this one can be corrected.
These refs has sucked beyond belief
They had better not F this review up…
When I think I have seen it all…what else? What else??? As a fan of basketball, and a fan of the Cleveland Cavaliers, I am so grateful to have gotten chance to witness this level of greatness. Lebron James, unbelievable.
Yeah.
LeBron is amazing
Bron with consecutive daggers.
WE ARE NOT WORTHY
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH
We’re not worthy!
jinx
Wow, LBJ. We are so lucky.
Bionic James with his glycogen reserves depleted hits two tough 3’s.
Rest him now.
LBJ!!! AGAIN