Cavs 09-10 Season (official thread)

[OH10]

I'm not sure that anyone is discounting that the Celtics are a pretty solid, balanced team. I think everyone here is thinking that the Cavs (who, if you recall, had the best record in the NBA this season) have at least as much talent and way more depth than the Celtics, and therefore shouldn't be blown out to the tune of 20 points at home.

This Celtics team is not a #4 seed. They are certainly far better than that. Injuries caused them to slip that far down. As far as depth goes, maybe the Cavs have more on the bench. But the Celtics have more depth and balance in their starting lineup right now, and they spread the ball around a lot better than Cleveland. A lot better.

 

[buckeyesin07]

This Celtics team is not a #4 seed. They are certainly far better than that. Injuries caused them to slip that far down. As far as depth goes, maybe the Cavs have more on the bench. But the Celtics have more depth and balance in their starting lineup right now, and they spread the ball around a lot better than Cleveland. A lot better.

Conclusory as your statements may be, none of this provides support for your claim that people around here are "discounting the possibility that the Celtics are a pretty solid, balanced team."

 

[BigJim]

I'm not worried after last nights game i was just more [censored]ed off then anything

Pretty much sums up my feelings.

 

[exhawg]

Pretty much sums up my feelings.

Really the only thing that has worried me is reading that Mike Brown was the only one pissed off after that game. Lebron needs to be breathing fire right now, but I guess that's hard to do since he was one of the prime examples of what was wrong last night. Maybe Lebron needs some speech advice from Tebow.

 

[Bucks21]

This link pretty much sums up my feelings. I'm not very worried yet, unless they come out on Friday and aren't playing with intensity and aggressiveness.

Cleveland Frowns: Cavs/Celtics Game 2: The Hangover

 

[y0yoyoin]

Really the only thing that has worried me is reading that Mike Brown was the only one pissed off after that game. Lebron needs to be breathing fire right now, but I guess that's hard to do since he was one of the prime examples of what was wrong last night. Maybe Lebron needs some speech advice from Tebow.

i would rather him act like he did...we lost a game...the series is not over...there are 5 games left and we have to win 3...the way lebron played i dont think he needs any extra motivation from potato head yelling at him or him yelling at other teamates

 

[Meyer]

Really the only thing that has worried me is reading that Mike Brown was the only one [censored]ed off after that game. Lebron needs to be breathing fire right now, but I guess that's hard to do since he was one of the prime examples of what was wrong last night. Maybe Lebron needs some speech advice from Tebow.

LeBron does not need to be breathing fire to the media; he needs to do the exact opposite. He MAY need to be breathing fire into his teammates (and himself) if no one is getting the message after last game. I think he's a pretty good leader though and has it under wraps.

 

[OH10]

Conclusory as your statements may be, none of this provides support for your claim that people around here are "discounting the possibility that the Celtics are a pretty solid, balanced team."

Do you want to argue against any of those statements?

I think the Celtics are just as good as the Cavs, and are certainly playing better right now. Rajon Rondo is too quick for Mo Williams. His decision making/passing has been terrific. They are getting outside shooting from Pierce, Allen and Wallace. And Kevin Garnett is eating Jamison alive on the block. They may just be better. That's all I'm saying.

And the prevalent notion that the Cavs are losing because Lebron isn't being aggressive enough or that Mike Brown is a terrible coach sells what the Celtics are doing short.

Essentially, there's a lot of whining going on and I haven't seen any credit given to Boston.

 

[buckeyesin07]

Do you want to argue against any of those statements?

Let me help you out. You said that A is true (A being that everyone on BP is discounting that the Celtics are a pretty solid, balanced team). I said that A isn't true (i.e., that I don't think anyone around here is saying that the Celtics are not a pretty solid, balanced team). You responded by bringing up arguments B, C, and D, all of which supported an argument that the Celtics are a good team. But, you see, that doesn't refute my argument that people on BP think the Celtics are a solid, balanced team. If anything, it supports it. You're confused.

I think the Celtics are just as good as the Cavs,

I disagree. You're getting too excited over one game in which the Celtics played brilliantly and the Cavs came out with neither energy nor a game plan.

and are certainly playing better right now.

OK, but who cares? On Sunday after the Cavs' Game 1 win, I could have said that the Cavs "are certainly playing better right now." All that can change in one game.

Rajon Rondo is too quick for Mo Williams. His decision making/passing has been terrific. They are getting outside shooting from Pierce, Allen and Wallace. And Kevin Garnett is eating Jamison alive on the block.

You don't think that Cleveland has any matchups in its favor? I see that you've only focused on the Celtics' favorable matchups. Or has one game convinced you that the Cavs are doomed?

They may just be better. That's all I'm saying.

Again, I think you're getting way too excited about one game.

And the prevalent notion that the Cavs are losing because Lebron isn't being aggressive enough or that Mike Brown is a terrible coach sells what the Celtics are doing short.

Do you think that Lebron is being aggressive enough? I've seen many Cavs' games this year, and the Game 2 Lebron was nothing like the player I've watched all season. As for Mike Brown, did you see any adjustment at halftime? I didn't. I saw the same game plan that didn't work in the first half of Game 2 (the Cavs were very lucky to be down only by 4 at the half, IMO) get absolutely torn apart in the third quarter.

Essentially, there's a lot of whining going on and I haven't seen any credit given to Boston.

 

[jlb1705]

Essentially, there's a lot of whining going on and I haven't seen any credit given to Boston.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I've been as complimentary of the Celtics play in this series as I'd ever care to be. They're certainly good enough to plunger rape the Cavs when they mail it in, as we saw two nights ago.

Maybe the disconnect comes from the possibility that I think most people in this thread believe:

• The Celtics skill and execution for the most part are not dictating that the Cavs play at the level they've been playing
• More often than not, the Cavs at their highest level > The Celtics at their highest level.

 

[fanaticbuckeye]

• The Celtics skill and execution for the most part are not dictating that the Cavs play at the level they've been playing

Agreed. The Cavs have looked terrible for 6.5 of the first 8 quarters

 

[cjmik_75]

Game three will be the seventh played between these two teams (Including the 2-2 tie in the regular season) with four played in Cleveland and only the third at home for Boston. Even with the regular season series split both teams proved winning in the opponents court is anything but impossible. Point being that there are 5 possible games remaining and Cleveland only gets 2 more in the Q...but how much better do they play the C's at home? They've lost 3 of the last 4 now, just this season.

Maybe the change of venue will get these guys more focused and maybe, even more importantly, it'll get their overall intensity up. I don't remember any of the Cavs players or coaches getting real emotional during game 2. That shitty ass effort and emotion is not going to get it done. Against anyone. Period.

Time for them to start doing the little things like getting to some loose balls which is just more effort and wait for it...how about boxing out on the defensive end?!?!??

Simply put, if they don't get their heads out of their asses this could be over in 5.

 

[BigJim]

buckeyesin07 posted this in the Orlando/Atlanta thread and I started to reply there but then figured I might as well move it here...

While Orlando has looked very good so far, I think they've also been the beneficiary of good matchups in the first two rounds. Charlotte was probably the worst team that made the playoffs (in either conference) this year, and Atlanta has absolutely nobody that can match up with Howard.

This is an interesting topic, and probably the wrong place for the direction I'm taking it (not so much anymore), but I was just thinking the other day... How many players in the league are not mismatches against Howard? Is Shaq the only one that can contain him without needing a double team?

I was looking toward next year (or 2-3 years from now), when/if Shaq doesn't come back, is there ANYONE to even go after from a Howard matchup perspective -- even in a dream scenario? Honestly, the only one that even comes to mind is Oden, injuries aside...

I know there are options other than trying to contain him 1-on-1, I'd just prefer to avoid them if possible. I guess this exact same dilemma can be said about Lebron too..

But as for tonight... GO CAVS!!

 

[OHSportsFan]

Finaaalllyyy...

fuck, 3 full days off is way too much.

Bunch of babies.

Time to play.

 

[OHSportsFan]

Finaaalllyyy...

fuck, 3 full days off is way too much.

Bunch of babies.

Time to play.

Annndd the Cavs certainly did 'come to play'.

I don't want to speak too soon, but I think it really goes to show that, when the Cavs play to their potential, they are simply the better team.

In a 7 game series, things should work out fine.