Celtics-Cavs Second Round Series

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Off night for LeBron makes all the difference LeBron does so much, it's hard to be critical
Published on Wednesday, May 07, 2008


BOSTON: The Eastern Conference semifinals started Tuesday night.
Unfortunately LeBron James didn't.
Of the many unexpected things that happened in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals between the Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, James having a downright dismal offensive night had to be the most unexpected.
On a night when Ben Wallace was making a fadeaway jumper and Sasha Pavlovic was brought off the shelf, James struggled.
No other way to put it.
''I missed a lot of shots that I can usually make,'' James said.
And even with that, the Cavs almost won, almost stole the first game. They led by two with 1:30 to go, had the score tied with 37 seconds left. They had chances.
Problem is they didn't, and now they trail 1-0.
This was a game the Cavs easily could have won.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

AN EMPTY-BASKET CASE LeBron unable to deliver in the end
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter

BOSTON: The game couldn't have been uglier, but it also maybe couldn't have been more winnable for the Cavaliers.
In part one of what could be a slugfest series, the Cavs scrapped with the favored Boston Celtics, keeping themselves in contention to steal a road victory until the end. But for as much as they did right to put themselves there, they couldn't finish.
In the end, LeBron James ended a subpar night by faltering while the Celtics' veterans made some huge plays to take a 1-0 series lead with a 76-72 victory.
James scored just 12 points. He was just 2-of-18 from the floor, his worst shooting night of his career. Even worse for the Cavs, he was unable to finish or draw a foul on three drives late in the game as he attempted to carry them as he's done so many times before.
Meanwhile, Kevin Garnett, the man that finished one slot ahead of James in the Most Valuable Player voting, made two huge hoops in the stretch run that put the Celtics over the top. Garnett, who finished with 28 points and eight rebounds, made a jumper to tie the score with 1:17 left and then a spinning layup with 21.4 seconds left that put the Celtics ahead for good.
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[osugrad21]

CPD

Cleveland Cavaliers, James ice-cold in Boston

James, Cavs ice-cold in Boston
Wednesday, May 07, 2008Branson Wright
Plain Dealer Reporter
Boston -- LeBron James sat before a cluster of reporters with the stat sheet in his hands, baffled with the numbers.
James shot 2-of-18 from the field Tuesday, the worst shooting night of his career, and tied his playoff high in turnovers (10). Despite it all, the Cavaliers still had a chance at the end, but his third missed layup ended the Cavs' hopes.
"That [late play] symbolized the night I had, those layups I've made my whole life, I put it right over the rim," said James, about his miss in the final seconds. "That play right there was the type of night I was having. . . . We still had a chance to win, they made one more play than we did."

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Offense missing for Cleveland Cavaliers, Terry Pluto comments


Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Boston
- From Boston, the word is out.
The Cavs can't play All-LeBron, All The Time.

Yes, LeBron James owns huge shoulders and a tremendous will to win. But he's going to need help, lots of help, if the Cavs are going to pull off an upset in these Eastern Conference semifinals.
That's the message from Tuesday's 76-72 loss.
It's much deeper than James having perhaps his worst game as a pro. Maybe his worst ever, anywhere, any time. What else can you say about James scoring 12 of the ugliest points of his life? There were 10 turnovers. There was 2-of-18 shooting. There was James roaring to the rim with 8.5 seconds left . . .
And Boston leading, 74-72.

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[osugrad21]

CPD

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James says Kobe Bryant deserves MVP award


Wednesday, May 07, 2008Branson Wright
Plain Dealer Reporter
Boston- LeBron James received one first-place vote and finished fourth in the NBA's 2007-08 MVP voting. Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant won the award, his first, with 82 first-place votes.
James, who finished second in MVP voting in 2006, was not surprised Bryant won.
"I've always stated, since two or three years ago, that Kobe Bryant's the best player in this league," James said. "And he's been the best player in this league for five or six years. It's good he won it. His team played well and he's part of the reason why they finished No. 1 in the West."

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[osugrad21]

CPD

Ugly looks good to Celtics against Cleveland Cavaliers



Wednesday, May 07, 2008 Mary Schmitt Boyer

Plain Dealer Reporter
Boston- Paul Pierce was able to laugh about it afterward.
Pierce made just 2 of 14 shots and had six turnovers in the Celtics' 76-72 victory over the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals on Tuesday night in TD Banknorth Garden.
Ray Allen went 0-for-4, going scoreless in an NBA game for the first time since Feb. 26, 1997.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Celtics hold off LeBron and beat Cavaliers 76-72
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
BY JIMMY GOLEN
AP SPORTS WRITER

BOSTON LeBron James drove to the basket, the lane surprisingly clear. He reached out toward the rim, rolled the ball off his fingertips ...

And missed.

Again and again (and one more time, when it was too late anyway), James' shots went awry in the final minute, completing one of the worst nights of his career and giving the Boston Celtics a 76-72 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Game 2 is Thursday night in Boston.

"This was two heavyweights, just body-punching," said Kevin Garnett, who scored 28 points to make up for an off night for the rest of Boston's Big Three. "There was no finesse, no jabs, just an all-out, beat-down, defensive fight."

Boston held James to 12 points on 2-for-18 shooting; only once in his career has he made fewer baskets. He missed three drives and a 3-pointer in the final minute, including the potential game-tying finger roll with 8.5 seconds left.
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[osugrad21]

Canton

Playoff primer
Wednesday, May 7, 2008


THE GAME TURNED HERE

KG wins it

With Cavaliers defensive stopper Ben Wallace on the bench, Kevin Garnett went to work against former teammate Joe Smith in the low block to score the game-winner. Garnett set up on the left block, backed Smith down into the paint and turned over his left shoulder to flip in a right-handed shot with 21.4 seconds left. That put the Celtics ahead, 74-72, finishing off Garnett's 28-point night on 13-of-22 shooting.

LEBRON'S GAME

The King struggles

LeBron James nearly had a quadruple-double, but not the kind he would like. The All-Star forward had 10 turnovers to go with one of his toughest nights ever shooting the ball, making just 2-of-18 shots from the floor. He joins David Robinson (1994) and Bob Pettit (1956) as the only NBA scoring champs to make two or fewer field goals in a playoff game during the same season they won a scoring title. James finished with 12 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, as he did make 8-of-10 free throws.

LEBRON'S SIDEKICKOF THE GAME

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[BuckeyeMafia]

Guys just look at last years Detroit series...

The first game was 79-76 lose where LBJ only had 10 pts...Game two was the same way with a 79-76 lose where LBJ only had 19 pts...

LBJ came back home went for 32,9,9 the rest of the team stepped up in game 4, and then went back to Detroit and had the game of his young career so far...

LBJ is going to figure this out...It just sucks that we have a coach that can't make adjustments on the fly...he tried with the one little adjustment, but we needed him to step up and take over in game two, because while we were able to win after going down 2-0 last year against Detroit, I will feel much better if we can win one in Boston...

Good call man, I don't feel as bad now.

Especially cause I know we can take them.

Only problem lies in what Pierce and Allen do come Thursday.

 

[LitlBuck]

Only problem lies in what Pierce and Allen do come Thursday.

If they go off like they are capable, the Cavs will get blown out unless Lebron goes for 35+ which is unlikely the way Brown is coaching is offense. Being outcoached by Doc Rivers is embarrassing.

Memo to Brown: please keep Wallace on KG.

 

[OH10]

The next Jordan?

Actually, he's the first Lebron - when his career is over (as a Brooklyn Net), he'll have plenty of titles and MVPs to hang his hat on.

 

[billmac91]

Actually, he's the first Lebron - when his career is over (as a Brooklyn Net), he'll have plenty of titles and MVPs to hang his hat on.

I sure as hell hope it isn't in Brooklyn, but it's difficult to sell LeBron on staying if we can't surrond him with anything. It's been bad luck to date, but you know Brooklyn is going to have clean books at the end of next year, and be mor ethan willing to eat a substantial amount of luxury tax to surround LeBron.

It will definately be interesting and I think it will take massive concessions to keep LeBron in Cleveland outside of his contract. What's to stop LeBron from asking for part ownership or something along those lines knowing Cleveland cannot lose him? He becomes a billionaire and highest paid athlete in sports the minute he inks with Brooklyn.

It's definately a scary thought.

 

[exhawg]

I sure as hell hope it isn't in Brooklyn, but it's difficult to sell LeBron on staying if we can't surrond him with anything. It's been bad luck to date, but you know Brooklyn is going to have clean books at the end of next year, and be mor ethan willing to eat a substantial amount of luxury tax to surround LeBron.

It will definately be interesting and I think it will take massive concessions to keep LeBron in Cleveland outside of his contract. What's to stop LeBron from asking for part ownership or something along those lines knowing Cleveland cannot lose him? He becomes a billionaire and highest paid athlete in sports the minute he inks with Brooklyn.

It's definately a scary thought.

You people need to give this up already. You think Gilbert won't spend as much as it takes to keep Lebron happy? His franchise is worthless if he lets Lebron walk. Ferry was able to pull of a big trade this year without any pieces to trade. He got the Cavs a better deeper team without screwing their payroll for the future. Just wait until the trading deadline next year unless he can pull off something this summer. Mark it down by this time next year Lebron will have a legit #2 and they'll still have the salary cap space to sign pretty much any single player they want in the next 2 years.

 

[billmac91]

You people need to give this up already. You think Gilbert won't spend as much as it takes to keep Lebron happy? His franchise is worthless if he lets Lebron walk. Ferry was able to pull of a big trade this year without any pieces to trade. He got the Cavs a better deeper team without screwing their payroll for the future. Just wait until the trading deadline next year unless he can pull off something this summer. Mark it down by this time next year Lebron will have a legit #2 and they'll still have the salary cap space to sign pretty much any single player they want in the next 2 years.

Again, the actual contract is pretty meaningless. He will make infintely more money off the court. He makes the most in Brooklyn unless Dan Gilbert gets really creative. Thats why I asked the question about part ownership, or what else can they do to sweeten the pot b/c the max contract doesn't mean jack. Don't forget LeBron has said he'd like to be the first Billionaire athlete. It's accomplished way easier when Nike doubles or triples his yearly salary to move him to Brooklyn.

And Dan Gilbert obviosuly wants to re-sign LeBron, but moving the franchise to Vegas probably sounds pretty intriguing too. Bottom line is people will be sweating this out.....LeBron has a RIDICULOUS amount of leverage.

 

[exhawg]

Again, the actual contract is pretty meaningless. He will make infintely more money off the court. He makes the most in Brooklyn unless Dan Gilbert gets really creative. Thats why I asked the question about part ownership, or what else can they do to sweeten the pot b/c the max contract doesn't mean jack. Don't forget LeBron has said he'd like to be the first Billionaire athlete. It's accomplished way easier when Nike doubles or triples his yearly salary to move him to Brooklyn.

And Dan Gilbert obviosuly wants to re-sign LeBron, but moving the franchise to Vegas probably sounds pretty intriguing too. Bottom line is people will be sweating this out.....LeBron has a RIDICULOUS amount of leverage.

I wasn't talking about money for Lebron. Gilbert will pay what it takes to put pieces around Lebron to win. I don't think a player can be a part owner while he plays. Jordan was a part owner in Washington, but had to give it up when he decided to play. They might be able to come to a handshake agreement that if Lebron finishes his career in Cleveland Gilbert will give him a % of the team, but there won't be anything in writing. There is no point being pessimistic now. Lebron is going to make ungodly money outside of ball regardless of where he plays, but this is his home. Everyone in Northeast Ohio loves him now, but if he were to leave he would be more hated than Manny and Thome combined. What's the point of building that massive house if you are only planning on living in it for a year?