Live Thread: Cavs @ Celtics, Game 3
2015-04-23LeBron James returns to Boston for playoff ball tonight. It’s his first time there for such an occasion in three years. His last performance at the TD Garden was one for the ages. With the Miami Heat down to Boston 3-2 in 2012, LeBron had to perform on the road to keep the Heat’s championship run alive. He put up 45 points, ripped down 15 rebounds, and handed out five assists with just four turnovers in 45 minutes of action. The Heat won that series and eventually the title.
Will he be able to repeat that performance? The circumstances are certainly different tonight. The Cavs lead the series 2-0 and should come out on top when the series is over. The Cavs have beat the Celtics by 13 points and eight points in the first two games respectively, but they have yet to be totally dominant for 48 straight minutes.
Some things to watch this game:
-Can the Cavs take care of the ball? They had 18 turnovers last game. The King had five of his own.
-Will the team crush the Celtics’ hope? In games one and two, the Cavs took leads, but let the Celtics back into the game. That’s not winning ball. The Wine & Gold need to get used to grabbing a lead and adding onto it until the other team no longer wants to play.
-David Blatt is going to be adamant about ball movement. Kyrie Irving and LeBron James scored all of Cleveland’s points in the fourth quarter last game and notched just two assists doing so. The Cavs need to save the hero ball for a series that requires heroics. Watch for the extra pass.
I’m picking the Cavs to win this one, 113-92. The Cavs are going to come out firing on all cylinders, so they can avoid hearing any news stories about their play needing to improve heading into the next round. LeBron will be shooting to have a deja vu moment to the last time he was in Boston. Tearing up the Celtics on their home court could become a tradition.
Make sure you watch Iman Shumpert’s rap about the playoffs above. He mentions every single Cav on the team. Iman also cements himself as the best basketball player to release a rap this month. Ron Artest attempted to take that title today with his track “Florida.” He failed miserably.
What are your thoughts?
Golden State is going to lose this game. The Brow is the real deal…
Wow… Monty Williams is not a good coach… how do you blow a 20 point fourth quarter lead?
I hope Washington hard fouls the crap out of the Hawks.
CAVS vs Bulls will go 7. Last man limping will win.
Haha. No way. They will be lucky to get to 6. It’s most likely going 5. That team is garbage and needs to be rebuilt.
Wow, Bucks 15 of 24 from the line in a game that goes to two overtimes. Lesson for the kids out there. Practice your free throws.
Rose with 48 minutes tonight. He’s not going to last much longer.
Bucks are done. Let’s just move on to CHI v. CLE already.
Lets just move to Cavs warriors right now
Bulls pitching a shutout in 2nd OT. How were the Bucks even competitive in this game?
They weren’t as bad as they looked last year and Kidd is a good coach. They’ve got some pieces. If Sanders hadn’t lost his mind, they may have really been a tough out. They play good D and they’re just going to improve as they get experience. Their future is brighter than Chicago, even if the Bulls have the leg up right now.
Can’t believe how NO is taking it to Golden State right now.
They have a good gameplan, basically making Curry and Thompson beat them by themselves, just shutting the rest of the team down.
My prediction tonight: “Cavs by 9… Boston comes out prepared with nothing to lose, but by the end know that the series is over.”
Bucks and Bulls heading to double overtime. Bucks had chances to win at the end of regulation and the first overtime but didn’t get a good shot either time.
Its a win for us either way. Bulls getting tired and more tired.
Bucks ahead by 1 with 10 seconds to go
That could be Rose’s career.
His ankle’s already swollen to the size of a grapefruit.
Bill Simmons’ twitter…………………………………silent
That’s like winning a second time.
Well that was easy. Poor little Celtics try so hard.
Yeah, this is like a beginners class for the playoffs. Glad we’re not in the West, we’d have our hands more than full right now.
We will sweep on Sunday going away. Then beat the bulls in 4 or 5 and the Hawks in 5 or 6. I don’t think we’ll win the title though. But maybe.
looks like the bulls are going to come back ( after being down by 15 pts ) to win —-that says a lot about their character / toughness also—-rose is having a monster game
Careful. If you start implying that anyone other than the Cavs or Warriors is playing well, you might draw the wrath of COLS.
not sure if they have cast their votes for MVP —if not the sportswriters need to take a serious look at what LEBRON means to this team —–still believe he should be a prime candidate for the award
Loved that the Cavs cleaned up the turnovers (just 11) tonight… If not for Moz’s four, it would have been single digits…
COLS ( LEBRON’S ULTRA EGO ) HAS TO BE IN 7TH HEAVEN—-LOVE STICKS A “DAGGER ” IN SIMMMONS HEART —“LOVE IT “—-WISH WHEN WE GET UP DOUBLE DIGITS WE COULD JUST PUT ” THE HAMMER DOWN ” AND PUT THE OPPONENT AWAY——BUCKS WERE UP BY 15 OVER THE BULLS –THE BULLS HAVE COME BACK TO TAKE THE LEAD —-GO BUCKS !!!—–NEED TO GET THAT 4TH WIN SUNDAY AND GET SOME REST AND REVIEW FOR NEXT OPPONENT ( BULLS )
Olynyk with 2:41? What to think of that?
Ya, I don’t understand it. He had an impact in games 1 and 2
Big 3 = 69 pts for 3 straight games = consistency ;)
Only 67 this game. Kyrie had 13, not 15.
Lebron: 27/8.7/6
Kyrie: 23/3/4.7
Kevin: 18.3/9/3
I’d say they’re all doing pretty good.
Argh! I think I mistook JR’s score for Kyrie’s
Bulls over the Bucks 74-69, 2:30 left in the third.
Good win, let’s close it out sunday at 1
Cavs the first to 3-0…
Ironically, we have the Celtics to thank (at least partially) for helping the Cavs clear space to get LBJ back…
Still miss TZ just a little.
cue Cols comments in 3 … 2 … 1 …
Nice game CtB men. Well posted.
Don’t forget –
Nice game Cavs. Well played.
A good outcome: Cavs win, no ejections, flagrants, injuries or punches thrown.
I assume you mean no ejections, flagrants, or punches thrown by the Cavs?
Yes…………………..
Is that Blatt’s siblings?
Love that swag by K Love after that big 3 ball..23 on night, gotta love it!
I bet it is killing Andy not to suit up
This has been fun to watch. Love’s a good ballplayer the end.
JR awesome defense
Shump, too. +14 for the game. Isaiah Thomas -15.
Shump was awesome stopping Ike… great point!
Hey Marv… do you think this is a breakout game for Kevin Love? Oh wait… did you already say that? Huh… I must have missed it the first 14 times you said it…
No, it’s Jae Crowder’s coming out party. Haven’t you been listening to CWebb?
Jae Crowder will be the cover of NBA 2K16 if CWebb has anything to say about it…
I just triggered your electric shock bracelet.
LOL…
I think our young guys are playoff ready. Tough game. Raucous crowd. Bad calls. Kept their poise.
Wouldn’t it be funny if the celtics played some beach boys music next.
They should play “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” just for Bill Simmons…
Are we only talking about Kevin Love and JR Smith?
DAGG3R. Series over
That’s a great sign! Kevin Love from LeBron for the clutch three!!!
LOVE!!!!!!!!!
Paging mrs Simmons. Mrs Simmons your husband needs a drink. This game is over.
Kevin Love Just stabbed Bill Simmons in the heart.
TT saves another possession…
Damn guys that was poetic
Love with the dagger!
Love is in the air!
That’s the Power of KLOV3!!!
All you need is Love!
Love hurts…the Celtics.
Cash register is ringing for Tt guys
TT replay from the last game. Last minute Off Rebound.
Great defensive play by Bron!! One more score and this game should be over.
Been too sick to have my laptop in front of me.
Hope you guys are having fun.
Intense game.
TT IS THE MAN. He’s gonna get PAID
Tom, get well. And then send Marv your Love post.
Lebron-Turner trash talk was awesome!!!!!!!!
It amazes me how Junior Smith always seems to show up at the same place that the ball does.
I can’t believe no one’s gotten a T in this game for arguing fouls. That’s how you know the refs know how bad they’re calling this game.
I bet it would have been mozgov if anyone would have pressed them. He could have cussed in Russian and they would have t’ed him up.
Lebron to Turner: “come back” I love it!
Big boys block there guys.
Dammit! My feed died… what happened?
James went straight up and blocked Turner at the rim. Crowder was fouled on the rebound. Did you miss more than that?
Got it back in time to see the LBJ block
Crowder ran over James the previous Boston possession and was called for a foul. Then JR missed a 3.
K love still needs more touches!! He has 6 Threes!
“Crowder, who has been very physical guarding James . . .” Understatement.
Haha Crowder
Oh, Marv, enough with the Love breakthrough game.
Calling Tom Pestak! You need to send Marv your Love post.
I thought the same.
That is the stretch 4 paying dividends.
That’s the Power of Lov3!
He finally took that wide open one-time 3.
Lebron’s shot selection has once again been very frustrating. Move the ball, and it’s not even a close game.
Come on! Cavs need to finish this game the right way. Get some stops and a couple more scores.
But please don’t play down to your competition.
Is CWebb really hyping Jae Crowder right now?
Yeah, Crowder’s a household name or something. Hard to follow cuz it made no sense.