Celtics-Cavs Second Round Series

[OH10]

There's no real complicated fix. If Lebron is hitting open jumpers, then the Cavs win Game 1, and probably make Game 2 interesting. Since he's not, you get a 2-0 deficit. He's gotta hit jumpers. That's not Mike Brown's fault. As much as we count on him, the Cavs cannot afford to have Lebron go ice-cold on his jump shots.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

There's no real complicated fix. If Lebron is hitting open jumpers, then the Cavs win Game 1, and probably make Game 2 interesting. Since he's not, you get a 2-0 deficit. He's gotta hit jumpers. That's not Mike Brown's fault. As much as we count on him, the Cavs cannot afford to have Lebron go ice-cold on his jump shots.

The fact that he is not making open jumpers is not Mike Browns fault, but the fact that he has an offense that depend solely on one guy making jumpers is his fault...

The bench squad looks lost without LBJ in there...It is like they they don't even know where the shots are going to come from, they look lost out there...Don't know if it is playing on the road, the offense, the Celtics defense or what, but they just look lost...

As for that video of LBJ going off on the Pistons the reason that the lane was open, was not because they weren't playing the same type of defense that the Celtics are, but it was because in game 3 and 4 the other guys had started to shoot the ball, so they were not able to help as much, and also LBJ was making jumpers, and they were not able to sag off like the Celtics are...

 

[billmac91]

The fact that he is not making open jumpers is not Mike Browns fault, but the fact that he has an offense that depend solely on one guy making jumpers is his fault...

The bench squad looks lost without LBJ in there...It is like they they don't even know where the shots are going to come from, they look lost out there...Don't know if it is playing on the road, the offense, the Celtics defense or what, but they just look lost...

As for that video of LBJ going off on the Pistons the reason that the lane was open, was not because they weren't playing the same type of defense that the Celtics are, but it was because in game 3 and 4 the other guys had started to shoot the ball, so they were not able to help as much, and also LBJ was making jumpers, and they were not able to sag off like the Celtics are...

I don't think making shots (bench players, Wally, Boobie) will change anything on LeBron. The Celtics are selling out and have decided he will not beat them.

Wally started hot but then remebered he was Wally. Z started hot, but then needed 6 minutes of rest. Boobie gets no minutes. Sasha gets no minutes. The Celtics will be content letting others take shots. And the lane being wide open wasn't so much others making shots....LeBron scored 25 straight points, it was because Flip Saunders was being stubburn. He didn't want to play help defense, and he got ripped for it. The Celtics are doubling all over the place, running 2nd defenders at him everywhere on the court, and content with letting LeBron pull up from 20 feet. Even with that, LeBron is good enough to get the ball to the rim, if that's what he wants to do. He hasn't focused on doing it enough. Far be it for me to tell LeBron how to play ball, but hanging out on the perimeter forcing terrible passes to players not open, and taking bad jumo shots doesn't seem to be working. Then again, he doesn't have much to work with. It's just a shitty situation and we're being completely outclassed in every phase of the game.

Unless they completely change strategy, I just don't see a lot changing.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I don't think making shots (bench players, Wally, Boobie) will change anything on LeBron. The Celtics are selling out and have decided he will not beat them.

Wally started hot but then remebered he was Wally. Z started hot, but then needed 6 minutes of rest. Boobie gets no minutes. Sasha gets no minutes. The Celtics will be content letting others take shots. And the lane being wide open wasn't so much others making shots....LeBron scored 25 straight points, it was because Flip Saunders was being stubburn. He didn't want to play help defense, and he got ripped for it. The Celtics are doubling all over the place, running 2nd defenders at him everywhere on the court, and content with letting LeBron pull up from 20 feet. Even with that, LeBron is good enough to get the ball to the rim, if that's what he wants to do. He hasn't focused on doing it enough. Far be it for me to tell LeBron how to play ball, but hanging out on the perimeter forcing terrible passes to players not open, and taking bad jumo shots doesn't seem to be working. Then again, he doesn't have much to work with. It's just a shitty situation and we're being completely outclassed in every phase of the game.

Unless they completely change strategy, I just don't see a lot changing.

So you think that if Boobie knocks down 3 straight 3 pointers, they aren't going to start inching toward him...or if West starts hitting some jumpers they aren't going to start getting out on him, then he can create off the bounce...Also if LBJ starts making jumpers they aren't going to sag so far...It is easy to say I am going to let a guy shoot when he is 8-100 or whatever he is and his 19% shooting and only 1 of them coming outside the paint...

Boobie is averaging 22 minutes or so and just doesn't look like he has it right now...Still think the ankle is bothering him...

yeah Flip got criticized, but if guys are making shots you pick your poison...The first 2 games they were all over LBJ he had 10 and 19...The game opened up, when guys made shots...You tel me you don't take LBJ taking 20 foot step backs over Tayshaun Prince, or off the dribble fadeaways fading 5 foot over two guys vs. a wide open 3 pointers...

Not going to say we are as good as the Spurs by any stretch, but people were saying the same thing about the Spurs after 2 games against NO...Saying they looked slow, old, outclassed, etc...

We all know LBJ is not a great jumpshooter, but he is not as bad as he has been shooting...They are giving him open looks...Looks to stare down that he just isn't hitting...If he hits them the game opens up for the whole team...In no way I think we are being outclassed like some have said...I really think the turning point in the game was the first basket off the second half when we had the ball, it bounced around and Ray Allen got the easy bucket...Got Ray going, and just seemed to be a back breaker...Also remember we lost a big part of our game plan early in the game...That is not always a great situation...

We have shown that we can play with the Celtics, we should of won game 1, we shoot the ball at a decent clip and we are right there in game 2...

Still think the legs of the Celts are going to catch up to them...We go back at it on Saturday...the Cavs will have their own beds, for a short turnover...The Celts will not...Game 3 is going to look totally different from the other games IMO...Maybe I am just too optimistic, but that is just how I see it...

 

[billmac91]

just came across this and though tit was prett funny...Jay Z's diss to Deshawn Stevenson "Blow the Whistle"

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWdluT_DOxw]YouTube - Jay-Z Diss DeShawn Stevenson LeBron James Blow The Whistle[/ame]

 

[billmac91]

So you think that if Boobie knocks down 3 straight 3 pointers, they aren't going to start inching toward him...or if West starts hitting some jumpers they aren't going to start getting out on him, then he can create off the bounce...Also if LBJ starts making jumpers they aren't going to sag so far...It is easy to say I am going to let a guy shoot when he is 8-100 or whatever he is and his 19% shooting and only 1 of them coming outside the paint...

Boobie is averaging 22 minutes or so and just doesn't look like he has it right now...Still think the ankle is bothering him...

yeah Flip got criticized, but if guys are making shots you pick your poison...The first 2 games they were all over LBJ he had 10 and 19...The game opened up, when guys made shots...You tel me you don't take LBJ taking 20 foot step backs over Tayshaun Prince, or off the dribble fadeaways fading 5 foot over two guys vs. a wide open 3 pointers...

Not going to say we are as good as the Spurs by any stretch, but people were saying the same thing about the Spurs after 2 games against NO...Saying they looked slow, old, outclassed, etc...

We all know LBJ is not a great jumpshooter, but he is not as bad as he has been shooting...They are giving him open looks...Looks to stare down that he just isn't hitting...If he hits them the game opens up for the whole team...In no way I think we are being outclassed like some have said...I really think the turning point in the game was the first basket off the second half when we had the ball, it bounced around and Ray Allen got the easy bucket...Got Ray going, and just seemed to be a back breaker...Also remember we lost a big part of our game plan early in the game...That is not always a great situation...

We have shown that we can play with the Celtics, we should of won game 1, we shoot the ball at a decent clip and we are right there in game 2...

Still think the legs of the Celts are going to catch up to them...We go back at it on Saturday...the Cavs will have their own beds, for a short turnover...The Celts will not...Game 3 is going to look totally different from the other games IMO...Maybe I am just too optimistic, but that is just how I see it...

The help was never really there, and the dude had made 23 straight points. Even the final bucket, they waited to help until he was under the free throw line.

The Celtics have been running defenders at LeBron consistently to make him give the ball up. I don't think that changes much even if Boobie or Wally gets hot because they've decided LeBron will not beat them. I don't think LeBron even comes close to a 50% fg percentage night unless Mike Brown really opens the game up and lets them push. The Celtics are telling the Cavs someone else has to beat us, and we don't think anyone else can. I don't think the Cavs have anyone who can either. Not over an entire game, and certainly not over an entire series. LeBron needs a legit #2 scorer who can create and make the offense honest.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

The help was never really there, and the dude had made 23 straight points. Even the final bucket, they waited to help until he was under the free throw line.

The Celtics have been running defenders at LeBron consistently to make him give the ball up. I don't think that changes much even if Boobie or Wally gets hot because they've decided LeBron will not beat them. I don't think LeBron even comes close to a 50% fg percentage night unless Mike Brown really opens the game up and lets them push. The Celtics are telling the Cavs someone else has to beat us, and we don't think anyone else can. I don't think the Cavs have anyone who can either. Not over an entire game, and certainly not over an entire series. LeBron needs a legit #2 scorer who can create and make the offense honest.

I really don't see a whole lot of difference from the pistons defense and the Celtics defense...The Celts have a better defender in the back line with Garnett back there...The thing is LBJ just isn't on top of his game...It isn't just his shooting...It is his turnovers as well...Making horrible passes...The pass that he made to Z on the play when Big Ben went out was just a horrid pass...He isn't taking care of the ball when in traffic, he is getting it stripped more than usual, he is forcing passes, not being strong with it...

Then to his shooting, I would bet that he has missed 10 layups in this series that are shots that he makes on a regular basis...The layup he missed in game 1...There was one just like it in game 2, the time he went to the rim and let Leon Powe affect his shot, , a couple little floaters...And when have we ever seen LBJ shoot the jumper as bad as he is...He usually gets at least 1 three pointer a game...He hasn't got 1 yet...

LBJ was 2-18 in game 1...yeah some of his shots were tough shots, but he isn't just throwing up crap shots, yeah some were forced, some were contested, but he is not a guy that shoots that bad...He was 6-24 in game 2...Once again he isn't a guy that shoots that bad...

A guy doesn't get 42 shots in 2 games if he isn't getting quite a few good looks...There comes a point in time where you chalk it up to him shooting bad...he will hopefully find his stroke when we go back home...Just think if he goes maybe 7-18 in game one...We are looking at say 10 more points or 11 or 12 if 1 or 2 of them are 3 pointers...We win the game...

In game two if he goes say 11-24 with one or two of them 3 pointers, we get another 11-12 points...Which puts us right in the game...

With that said they are playing great defense, don't get me wrong, but LBJ is helping them out by not hitting his shots, by throwing bad passes...He took a third of our shots tonight so if he makes some of those shots the whole team improves...He had 7 Turnovers which is half of our teams turnovers...If he cleans his game up, hits 45% of his shots, which is something he usually does night in night out, and cuts down on his turnovers we will be where we need to be...Remember Boston has been just as bad on the road in the playoffs as we have been in the 2 games at Boston...We get these two games and we are right where we need to be...If we don't we are staring the offseason right in the face...The series isn't over until we win 4 in a row...lose game 7 or we lose a game at home...

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

CELTICS IN CONTROL Defense limits LeBron; Cavs down 2-0
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Friday, May 09, 2008
BOSTON: It is a simple basketball premise that even at the highest level is acutely true: You cannot win if you cannot score.
Both the Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics believe in the matching inverse, which is to win by not letting the other guy score. Right now, the Celtics are doing it better and they are halfway to the next round of the playoffs because of it.
Behind a masterful defensive performance and complementary offensive contributions from numerous players, the Celtics defeated the Cavs 89-73 in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals series Thursday.
The Celtics now have a 2-0 series lead. As if their No. 1 seed and star power didn't already make it so, history says the Celtics are big-time favorites to advance. Only 19 teams in NBA history have come back from losing the first two games to win a series. The Cavs did it last year against the Detroit
Pistons, but the way things are going, that is merely a footnote.
Cont..

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Cavs doomed without LeBron's offense Cavs start off great, then stand around
Published on Friday, May 09, 2008



BOSTON: Safe to say that every NBA team starts its defensive game plan against the Cavaliers by saying it will try to stop LeBron James.
Few do.
Boston has.
And the Cavs simply are not good enough to overcome a team as good as the Celtics when James is not his usual productive self.
As Paul Pierce said, ''When we control him, we pretty much control their team.''
Control him? The tea in colonial days fared better than James these past two games.
And that's the reason the Cavs trail 2-0 in this series, and the reason they are on a dangerous ledge. They need to find an offense for the team, and for James, or it'll be a long offseason talking about what needs
to be done.
The Cavs started Game 2 Thursday night like they knew what to do. They scored 24 points in the first quarter and moved the ball well. But in the next three quarters, they scored 12, 15 and 22 for a grand total of 49. During that offensive outburst, they pretty much looked overmatched.
For some reason, they started standing around ? and standing around and trying to run pick-and-roll after pick-and-roll doesn't work against a team as good as the Celtics.
As for James, remember all those promises he would not have two bad games in a row?
Time to do a YouTube search of Roseanne Roseannadanna and listen to her saying ''nevermind.''
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

CELTICS 89

CAVS 73
Cleveland Cavaliers dig themselves into 2-0 hole against Boston Celtics in NBA playoffs


Friday, May 09, 2008Branson Wright
Plain Dealer Reporter
Boston- LeBron James fell to a new offensive low on Thursday night in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at the TD Banknorth Garden.
James often redeems himself after a poor shooting night like the one he had in Game 1 on Tuesday, but that was not the case this time.
Poor offensive execution and another subpar offensive night from James led to an 89-73 loss to the Boston Celtics. The Cavs are down, 2-0, in this best-of-seven series, with Game 3 Saturday at The Q in Cleveland

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Allergies force Cleveland Cavaliers forward Ben Wallace to miss most of game against Boston Celtics


Friday, May 09, 2008
Boston- Cavaliers forward-center Ben Wallace left the court with about eight minutes left in the first quarter of Game 2 on Thurs day night because of pain and dizzi ness.
Wallace's pain was so severe that he had to lay down across several chairs on the bench for relief. It appeared he was hit in the face during the game, but Wallace said his problems were from allergies.
"My sinuses have been bothering me and Boston is a place tough for sinuses anyway," Wallace said. "It all just built up."

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Cleveland Cavaliers dig themselves into 2-0 hole against Boston Celtics in NBA playoffs


Friday, May 09, 2008Branson Wright
Plain Dealer Reporter
Boston -- The Cavaliers' often anemic offense set a new standard on Thursday night in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
They continued their habit of poor shooting, and for the second straight game LeBron James, the league's top scorer, was horrible from the field. It all led to an 89-73 loss to the Boston Celtics at the TD Banknorth Garden in this best-of-seven playoff series.
The Cavs are down, 0-2. Game 3 is Saturday at The Q in Cleveland.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Cleveland Cavaliers getting beat in almost every aspect by the Boston Celtics, says The Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto



Friday, May 09, 2008

Boston- The ter rible shooting from the Cavs in the first two games at Boston masks an even more disturbing sign: They are getting beat up on the boards. They came into the playoffs as the best rebounding team in the NBA, and they entered this game as the highest-ranking rebounding team in the playoffs. In the Boston games, the Cavs have been outrebounded, 88-80. That's a bit deceiving, because the Cavs were getting beat, 37-25, on the boards after three quarters of Game 2, when both teams used their reserves. Furthermore, they are being outhustled for loose balls, outworked on defense and outplayed in every facet of the game that requires effort.
Only one Cavalier is shooting,
and that is center Zydrunas Ilgauskas (17-of-30, 57 percent). The rest of the team is at 26 percent. Yes, LeBron James is 8-of-42, but other than guard Wally Szczerbiak (9-of-25, 36 percent), no one else even seems to be looking for their shots. Guard Delonte West is 3-of-15, with seven points in 69 minutes. Guard Daniel Gibson is 2-of-8 with nine points in 43 minutes. These guys don't even seem to be in their favorite spots to shoot. A former Celtic, West has been overwhelmed in these games, being very passive. Same with Gibson. Szczerbiak has not been very accurate, but at least he's taking some shots.

Cont....

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Disco guy in Boston is far out


Friday, May 09, 2008Mary Schmitt Boyer
Plain Dealer Reporter
Boston- Forget the Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. There's really only one guy capable of sending the fans at TD Banknorth Garden into a frenzy.
Gino.
When a Celtics victory is assured, an old clip from "American Bandstand" plays on the video boards, featuring the Bee Gees disco hit, "You Should Be Dancing." Although there are a couple of dozen dancers - and I use that term loosely - the guy who has captured the fans' fancy has a mop of dark hair, a beard and mustache. He's wearing tight, dark bell-bottoms with a skin-tight, flesh-colored T-shirt that reads "Gino." It's from the mid-1970s Gemini tour of pop singer Gino Vanelli.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

James trying to do too much


Friday, May 09, 2008
Boston
-- Mike Brown and LeBron James need to spend some time together alone today -- in the film room.
The Cavaliers coach and his star need to get away from everyone else, and watch what Boston is doing to completely frustrate and neutralize James.

Cont...