Preview: Celtics at Cavaliers, May 3rd
2010-05-03Alright, game two. Game one was fun, but if the Celtics leave Cleveland with a split they’re going to be more than satisfied. This is a very, very important game. Here are some keys:
-Rondo Rondo Rondo Rondo. I’m not sure what the adjustments will be, but I’m sure we’re going to see them. Give him more room on the perimeter and challenge him in the paint. Give him a wall of bodies. Do something. Rondo cannot be allowed to control the pace of the game.
-If LeBron came out looking to be aggressive and took it to the paint early because his elbow was bothering him, I hope it still feels that way. Can’t settle for jump shots against this defense.
-Cavs defense needs to swarm like they did in the second half of game one. The Celtics will turn the ball over if enough pressure is placed on them.
-Frontcourt needs to play better. Shaq needs to know when the post-up opportunities are there and when to toss the ball back out. Jamison needs to work off the ball and look for easy layups and jumpers before he starts trying to twist in those floaters. I’d say he should try posting up, but KG can hold his own on an island against Antawn.
-Please, please, please let there be plenty of Rasheed/Big Baby minutes and Pierce ISOs. I love those.
-Alright, gotta go. Get excited, folks.
Play Hickson more… the cavs need some big guy that can move… shaq can not keep up with garnet and perkens..
Point well taken regarding the draft, Rich. The Cavs haven’t had a chance to acquire elite talent that way. They also don’t have the competitive edge when trying to sign the Artests or Arizas for the mid-level exception that Houston, LA, or Miami would, because they are considered more desirable locales. But look at the salaries that Channing Frye and Matt Barnes signed for. The Cavs could’ve doubled those guys’ salaries if they had not signed Parker, and still had room for Moon, using only the mid-level exception. I think both guys would’ve passed up warm weather for $3.5M instead… Read more »
Love the huge post Tom, good stuff. In a single post you have me convinced Shaq should be coming off the bench in this series. I’m not easily convinced over the internet either. Also gj on pointing out something I forgot to last night. To cite teams like the Bulls and Nets as teams who are building correctly through the draft and contrasting that with the Cavs who supposedly are not is more than misleading. It’s MUCH easier to build through the draft WHEN YOU ARE IN THE LOTTERY MULTIPLE YEARS IN A ROW. The only reason the Nets (btw,… Read more »
Listening to the 1st quarters of the 1st two games was awful. I lost count of how many times I heard ‘(Shaq, LeBron, Jamison) put it up on the rim – NO!’ followed up by Rondo ‘put’s it on the floor, down the lane, to the rim-GOOD!’ I just hope that the butt whoopin’ and the embarrassment wakes them up because their coach can’t. Doc Rivers called out Sheed publicly and got what the team needed out of him. Let’s hope Brown does the same with Shaq and Mo and it works. If not we’re done in 6.
Facts: LOL Paul Pierce is the third best player in this series?
If your credibility wasn’t completely shot when you named yourself “Facts” and started off with your opinions, then it was when your opinions proved to be completely insane. Go back to the Celtics board and try again.
i would argue that yes, you can make a case that THIS Cavalier team would have cruised to the finals in 2008. Remember, Delonte West, Sasha Pavlovic, Ben Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak, and Co actually OUTSCORED the Celtics for the series before losing in game 7 on some bounces (go back and watch Rondo air ball two floaters after some great half-court D only to have an out of position PJ Brown suddenly FIND himself in perfect position to catch an airball. Of course, that is all conjecture and not really worth arguging. The What-if game. But the fact remains that… Read more »
@ Facts – The fact that the Cavs might have to go THROUGH Boston, Orlando, and LA to win a title this year is enough proof that the NBA is stacked right now. You can get riled up about semantics, but no team has had to go through that much talent to win a title in recent years. And it’s not an excuse for losing – I’m merely pointing out that to say the FRANCHISE IS FINISHED if they don’t win a title this year is an extreme position. Fortunes can turn quickly in the NBA, just ask Kobe Bryant,… Read more »
@Tom Pestak “Honestly, in any other year, I think the Cavs would roll to a championship. This year, there are some STACKED teams.” WOW, this is the weakest argument I have ever heard. ANY OTHER YEAR? Hmmm, let’s see. Last year the Lakers had the SAME stacked team as this year and were playing better (ie had a better record); the year before, the Celtics had the SAME stacked team as this year and were overall BETTER because the Big 3 were younger and they also had Posey, Powe, and House; this year Orlando is loaded, but they were pretty… Read more »
There’s plenty to criticize about the Cavs strategy right now (see my last comment) but Danny Ferry has continually improved the talent level around LeBron. Honestly, in any other year, I think the Cavs would roll to a championship. This year, there are some STACKED teams. Howard, Nelson, and Lewis are all all-star caliber players RIGHT NOW, and that doesn’t even include Vince Carter, and a slew of 3 point assassins. The Lakers have one of the best SGs in the game, the best offensive post player in the game, one of the best defensive wing stoppers in the game,… Read more »
@Facts – Hickson might turn out to be a steal in the draft where they got him. His ceiling is high, he’s very young, and he already has a great chemistry with LeBron. In 2 years, he could be Paul Milsap with Shawn Kemp-like hops. Also, I don’t believe Ferry has had a high draft pick in his tenure. You make the case that guys like Mo Williams and Jamison are garbage, but you believe that a 2nd round energy PF (which the Cavs already have) is the stud that would make the Cavs unbeatable. You bring that shit to… Read more »
I have a lot of thoughts about “big picture” stuff that tonight’s game revealed to me. I might post a conversation I am having with a friend on the recap. But for now, let me know what you guys think of this. I think the Cavs game plan holds them back. These ‘phrases’ describe how the Cavs play much of the 1st and 3rd quarters. “Get everyone involved.” “Get Shaq going.” “Take what the defense gives.” “Don’t panic.” “Limit transition baskets.” John wrote a piece a while back saying he hopes when the playoff start every possession either begins or… Read more »
Pierce has definitely not been the 3rd best player in this series. Hell, he’s been worse than Rondo, KG, and Ray Allen.
Well I can easily disagree with you on Jamison.Jamison should be 5th if not 4th. Look at tonights game, the guy gets 16 on 11 shots compared to Garnett getting 18 on 21 shots. Garnett isn’t better, he is just being better utilized. Doesn’t in anyway mean Garnett is a better player right now than Jamison is.
After that I’d probably agree though. But, then when you go to the bench, the cavs have the best 2 if not 3 players coming off the bench. Talent or lack thereof is not an excuse this year.
Here are the 7 best players (from the combined rosters) in this series, in order: 1) LeBron 2) Rondo 3) Pierce 4) Ray Allen 5) Garnett 6) Jamison 7) Perkins These are facts Cavs fans (and believe me, I HATE the Celtics); you can try to argue otherwise but look at the numbers. Want to argue Mo Williams deserves to be in the top 7? What a joke; the guy has shot 38% from the field over this postseason and last, has been DESTROYED by Rose and Rondo. Jamison better than Garnett or Pierce? Did you watch the last two… Read more »
Looks like the Cavs partied and celebrated Lebron’s MVP too hard. That’s about the worst i’ve ever seen a #1 seed play in a playoff game in a long long time.
The most important thing a basketball coach does is select the five guys who belong on the court. Mike Brown can’t afford to screw that up again this year. He really, really needs to play the right guys in each series. He can’t worry about hurt feelings or big names or any of that crap from this point forward.
I have yet to see this team play hard for 48 minutes other than Game 4 against the Bulls…every other game they have come out sluggish…slow….and unmotivated or unsure…theyve even admitted they treated a playoff game like the regular season…if they really wanted to win a title wouldnt they go balls out for 48 minutes and put it all on the line to win it all? I mean really! This team gave up tonite and decided they werent going to be aggressive…they lost their will tonite…and hopefully…maybe…a blowout at home will wake this team up and make them realize they… Read more »
Seriously though, if they don’t care, why should we?
Hey, I’m fine with the whole don’t panic thing, it’s only one game. I’m just saying I remember saying those exact words last year. One game means a ton, and when the entire team plays like it doesn’t matter at all, there is more than enough reason to be upset.
+1 for what David said.
I agree with Jacob Jackson on the Shaq thing. If we played the celtics small we would run them out of the gym. Celtics are too old to play that way. Seriously, Barkeley is right. The cavs are playing so slow it’s the only thing keeping the Celtics in the series. Everyone else needs to chill out a little bit. This crap about “this proves we can’t win a championship” is really over the top, and I think people are starting to come back to earth. I was as pissed as anyone else about this, but comparing Cavaliers fans to… Read more »
Jacob, I agree with most of what you said, but the problem is this. Why can’t the Cavs expose the Celtics on the offensive end with their mis-matches. Jamison should not be able to be stopped by Garnett, yet they don’t run ANY offense through him. For one little stretch in the first quarter they did, and worked wonders. Didn’t do it the rest of the game. Mo Williams HAS to take advantage of rondo on the offensive end. Yes, he can’t guard Rondo, but Rondo shouldn’t be able to guard him. And sorry, but LeBron can’t be the second… Read more »
On one hand, you don’t want to shake up the rotation, because that’s kind of an admission of, “You got us. Even though we’re the top seed, we’re adjusting to you, because you’ve dictated the terms.” On the other hand, I kind of think they have to. I’ve been watching pretty closely, and I don’t think Shaq is providing anything uniquely positive right now. Since he doesn’t require a double-team, he doesn’t create offense when the ball is dumped in to him. He’s also a terrible help defender, which is a huge issue because the Cavs apparently don’t have anyone… Read more »
Rofl, love it Kevin. I hope someone was in the locker room for the speech or something. To see Mike Brown actually rip into a team would be astonishing.
I mean, he actually called out a player in the press conference. When does he EVER do that? Never. But he was so pissed he actually said Mo Williams has to play better. Love it. Although tonight would have been a good time to use the standard “Everyone needs to play better” routine, cause it would have actually been true for a change.
Rich,
That should be a new way of articulating how bad the Cavs play when they play really, REALLY bad.
“The Cavs were awful. So awful, in fact, that Mike Brown yelled at them–he may have even hurt a few feelings.”
Amazingly, after Brown’s conference I somehow seem a little more cheerful, as if I truly believe they will come out in game 3 and look like a real team or something. I know it isn’t in him, so it’s hard for hi mto do, but the way he looked tonight at the podium I would guess he absolutely lit them up i nthe locker room for maybe the first time in his career.
Well Mike Brown’s press conference was the most entertaining thing of the night. By far and away the most upset I’ve ever seen him and probably the most upset he has ever been as a coach for the Cavs. Loved it.
what I’m dying to know is how hurt lebron is…he’s clearly not himself right now, even if he was able to perform a mini-takeover towards the end
First of all, Cavs are not done but with this type of heartless play at both ends the championship is unreachable. I just want to say, it all starts with Mike Brown. Under his soft leadership the team looks like a crew right from a highschool.
Well, at least, let’s hope they learned a lesson today which is you cannot expect to make runs everytime you’re down 15+ points. If you really hate Boston, you have to make sure it looks that way.
Varejao had the only positive +/- (+2, Lebron was -16). Varejao, Lebron, JJ and Jamison were the only people who produced anything at all for the cavs, and you could really only say JJ and Varejao had good games, and neither of them were that good.
Lebrons shot is off because of that elbow. Time to take it to the hole. Hopefully it’s not so hurt that he can’t drive to the basket.
TR: Last year Orlando went 7 with Boston (each taking a game on the opposing court over the first 4 games), actually going down 3-2 at one point. They also lost a home game against Philly in the first round. The Lakers also lost at home to the Rockets (winning in 7). The Lakers also lost game 2 against Denver, at home. And of course, in 2008, Boston went 7 against Atlanta and the Cavs. People DEFINITELY left the Lakers for dead when they had to struggle to beats a completely decimated Houston Rockets team last year, that was far… Read more »
You wanted Sheed minutes, you got them.
I wonder if Krolik’s stomach looks like a curly straw after this game?
Shooting 40% from the field and 19% from 3. And I can’t even say it’s because the Celtis defense, the Cavs got into the paint a ton in the first half, and didn’t finish anything. It’s a lack of focus and belief. So hard to swallow that this team can play like that against Boston on our own homecourt.
Rich, just STFU and go right in your diary or something. Good lord. If the Cavs are so done why are you still posting?
actually would be interested to know how many teams dropped game 1 or 2 home games in competitive series and went on to win. too depressed to check myself.
I dunno even know where to go from this. I feel like Atlanta fans after losing at home tothe Bucks. You know you can still win the series, but you also know that your odds of winning a title are done. It’s a hopeless feeling, one which I’m not sure what to do with. I’ll continue to watch the games, but I dunno why. I guess cause I’m a fan and lvoe my team, but my goodness is this a bad feeling.
How about a little perspective? Whether they lose by one and play amazing, or lose by 30 and play terrible, it only counts as one loss. It was a terrible performance, but it’s not like the Celtics are clearly better or anything. Step back from the ledge people. Lebron gave a piss-poor effort. The team gave a piss-poor effort. They’ve been sleep-walking through the playoffs so far, and it’s starting to bite them in the ass. Do we really need to go through the list of teams that made it to the NBA finals in the past 5 years that… Read more »
I’m glad the fans emptied out before the end of the game. Those POS better look around that stadium real hard as this game ends.
Sounds like a theory I’m willing to accept Illuminati.
Does anyone remember right after the all-star break LeBron had that two week period where he seemed “out of sorts”? Windy reported on it; LeBron seemed like something was bothering him? This is what happened: Warren Buffet gave LeBron a call and said, “We need you to take a dive in the playoffs this year. Fake an injury.” LeBron was a little mad at first but now it seems like he’s accepting his role in the Western power scheme.
Well, Brown was gone unless he gets to the championship, and probably had to win it too. I’m saying he’s gone now not because they will lose this series, but because it seems obvious they won’t win a title. Imo, he was getting canned w/o a title.
Rich…I actually agree with your last statement…this team doesnt have any heart or will power in them…they didnt want to win tonight and it clearly showed…if they dont wake up from this game for Game 3…they wont win the series plain and simple…and if that happens…Brown is as good as gone…
Btw, I know the series isn’t technically over, but the Cavs hopes of winning a title is. It’s rough to admit that this early in the playoffs, but it’s true. This is the last year Mike Brown will be coaching in Cleveland.
As long as the Cavs send a help defender on every play, they will not win this series, and certainly not a series with Orlando. I shudder to think what that COULD be like…if they make it that far.
You can blame Mike Brown, and he certainly is going to get his fair share of it, but LeBron James is totally lost out there. It isn’t even a lack of heart, it’s a lack of everything. I’m still stunned the Cavs fans at the arena haven’t just booed the team one good time during a timeout.
They should be running that bunch of geriatrics out of the gym. Instead Brown plays their game and loses. Teams take on the personality of their coach. In this case they are soft and heartless, but they sure are ‘good character’ guys. If I hear that one more time I’ll puke.
I’m honestly just looking for answers… this is outright embarrassing
The Cavs are playing a 1/2 court game down by 21 with 3 minutes left in the 3rd quarter? Mike Brown is overrated as is his defense. If the Cavs continue to play like this Boston wins in 6. Brown is soft and he under utilizes his talent. Save the nonsense about 127 games the last two seasons. He’s been given the most talent in the NBA and can’t get it done. He’s the Cavs version of Mike Hargrove.
And I’m sorry if I hear any pundits tonight talk about how LeBron still has a lack of help, I’ll blow my mind. LeBron James isn’t helping his team at all on either end, and deserves to be totally criticized after this performance tonight. They might as well just sit him and the rest of the starters for 4th.
If the Cavs dominate the Celtics just as thoroughly in the 4th quarter, they still lose. Why am I still watching?
This team needs to do some soul searching. I’m really interested to hear what this post game commentary is going to be. “Well, for awhile there the refs were giving us a lot of help, keeping us in the game longer than we deserved. Then my elbow flared up and the rest of the team took a dump on the court.”
Doesn’t matter if you’re a Cleveland fan or a Laker fan, this team really can’t win a title playing like this.
I’d actually prefer Tony Allen right now. The Cavs look like total crap in every aspect of the game.
Maybe it’s the Cleveland fan in me, but I agree with Rich. I’m getting that feeling.
The Celtics D is making LeBron look like effing Tony Allen right now.
HOnstely, would’t mind hearing the fans just boo this mess.
Well, call me an alarmist or w/e, but idc what happens the rest of this game…this team cannot win a title. Down 20 at home. Nothing more you can say at this point. LeBron STILL not playing hard.
Guys, Rondo is not the best PG in the league. He is not Chris Paul or Deron Williams. He isn’t even Steve Nash. We are making him look 2-3x better than he really is. A guy who can’t shoot a jump shot should not be dominating like this two straight games.
Is LeBron giving less than no effort on D, or is that just me? Mo invisible, Shaq can’t hit a thing and needs to stop trying, LeBron just kind of on the court not really playing….this looks terrible yet again.
The only thing keeping my anger from boiling over with the Cavs’ lack of energy and their generally poor attitude is the belief I have that they purposefully stay relaxed until the game either gets out of reach or gets toward the end.
Should we just count on 3-5 wasted possessions trying to get Shaq in a rhythm every first quarter?
Not much you can do with Rondo… I thought the Cavs did a decent job keeping guys in front of him in the first half and you look up and see that he has double digit assists. They shelled him a ton and were generally more aware of him, he’s just so good at finding open guys.
only differences from game 1 is our D is a little better and Celtics are committing a ton of turnovers…if we starting so sluggish at home i cant imagine what we’ll do at Boston in Game 3..that could be ugly…
though i think like usual we’ll come back and start trying in the second half…just start racking up fouls and we’ll be good…when sheed is your leading scorer you cant be that good…
@Rich: Because his D on Ray Allen was great. He is the best on the team at getting around screens, and Allen just can’t get open. Same can’t be said about Parker and Mo.
Well apparently LeBron is taking the 1st half off. Hopefully Jamison carries this over to the 2nd half when I’m sure LeBron is going to turn it up a notch.
Not understanding why Delonte is getting so much run out there, but maybe it will pay off later.
I knew mocking sheed would bite me in the ass one day. 4-4, 2-2 from deep. FML.
Ah… crap. 9-0 to start the second quarter. CMON CAVS.
Lol at the Cavs missing a ton of easy shots again to start the game. Even bigger wtf at Delonte West going under the screen to close the quarter, with 1 second left on the shot clock. You chase over when the clock is that low, doesn’t matter who it is you’re guarding.
I don’t know much about basketball strategy, so what do you guys think we should do to stop Rondo? He’s not a good shooter, but giving him room on the outside gives him more passing lanes. Or is that okay if it denies his ability to penetrate and kick it out?