• Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
  • Consider registering! Fewer and higher quality ads, no emails you don't want, access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Even if you just want to lurk, there are a lot of good reasons to register!

Celtics-Cavs Second Round Series

In a weird way, to me, I'm almost happy LeBron played semi-poorly again. At some point you have to think he'll get it going. I know earlier I said that I would be surprised if he had a game that was close to 50% fg percentage wise. I don't think he'll continue to go 2-10 or whatever it was from inside the arc though either. His free throw shooting was atrocious tonight as well.

I'm just glad we didn't waste a 40 point outburst tonight. Hopefully he finds a way to get on track Monday night.

Big props to every role player tonight. The defense was great, and they all stayed within themselves on the offensive end. The turnover differential was staggering.

I'll eat my crow right now becuase I thought this series was over after Thursday night. I'm even more of a believer after we won tonight without LeBron going off.

Props to LeBron too, whom contunues to struggle offensively, but has been a beast defensively. He had several blocks in transition and continues to eat Pail Pierce's lunch by himself defensively.

It must be nice to get the assignment on LeBron and know you'll have help from all over the court. I still get the feeling Boston wins the series fairly easily but don't forget, especially when comparing stats, that LeBron played his man straight up. LeBron hasn't seen straight up defense within 18 feet the entire series. I say this because Paul Pierce is the type to talk shit at some point about being as good of a player. Not that anyone needs to be told LeBron is the superior player, just stating it before Paul and the talking heads start implying LeBron isn't as good as we thought he is.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
This is the same way we did to the Wizards in the first round...Close game 1, blow out in game 2 then they blew us out...

Lets hope that game 4 goes our way...The Celtics are playing horribly on the road...We need to come out swinging again and keep their confidence down from the get go...

BTW I notice that Tibor is no where to be found after our over the hill player with an inner ear infection had a dominating game last night...:!
 
Upvote 0
My props go to Ben Wallace. He played like a man possessed last night. Going after loose balls and rebounds he really helped control the glass during the first quarter when we took the big lead.

I think if Wally can hit his jump shot like he did last night we will give Boston all they can handle and send it to seven games. I don't think West can have another game like he did last night but one never knows. If Lebron starts to shoot like he is capable, West will not have put up big numbers.
 
Upvote 0
crazybuckfan40;1160627; said:
This is the same way we did to the Wizards in the first round...Close game 1, blow out in game 2 then they blew us out...

Problem is that I see the rest of the series playing out almost the same way as well, only I don't expect Boston to choke in Game 5.

Delonte West will not be able to play at that level every game and Lebron is still cold. They have to go to Z next game... all game.
 
Upvote 0
OH10;1160692; said:
Problem is that I see the rest of the series playing out almost the same way as well, only I don't expect Boston to choke in Game 5.

Delonte West will not be able to play at that level every game and Lebron is still cold. They have to go to Z next game... all game.

The thing is Boston still hasn't shown they can win on the road...

BTW anyone watch the Jazz game...Mike Brown needs to take notes for next year if he is lucky enough to keep his job, because I think the flex offense would be a perfect offense for Lebron in the Cavs...It is based on back cuts, pick n rolls, pick n pops, and would force LBJ to be in the post some more...
 
Upvote 0
Boston fans have given me the same crap. "You won't be able to continuously shoot at that percent.. on the road, anyway."

However, when LeBron gets hot, which has to be coming, right?!?! We won't need all that help.

I expect nothing less than fairly consistant though- the trade has promoted our role players to good role players.

West, Wally, and Joe Smith are all very capable.

Gibson needs to shoot more- and Pavs could hit some big ones as well.
 
Upvote 0
ABJ

Cavs defense keeps pressure on Celtics Scheme change helps buy time for offense to get back in groove
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Monday, May 12, 2008
INDEPENDENCE: As is common for most underdogs, the Cavaliers are feeling a little bit unappreciated.
After cutting the Boston Celtics' lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series to 2-1, the Cavs felt emboldened enough Sunday to point out a few things, especially on defense.
So much attention has been given to LeBron James' sagging offense and the Celtics' stout defense. Both are true. James is mired in the worst postseason slump of his career and much of it is because of the Celtics, who were the NBA's best defensive team in the regular season and their numbers are backing them up in the postseason.
But the Cavs, who pride themselves on being one of the league's better defensive teams, have been strong as well. Their rotations and schemes to slow some of the Celtics' offensive stars have been just as successful.
Cont...
 
Upvote 0
CPD

Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas in the driving seat for Cleveland Cavaliers against Boston Celtics


Monday, May 12, 2008Mary Schmitt Boyer
Plain Dealer Reporter
It was only one line in the box score, but there were some great lines about it during a lighthearted Cavaliers media session Sunday afternoon at the Cleveland Clinic Courts.
With five minutes left in the third quarter of the Cavs' decisive 108-84 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Saturday night, center Zydrunas Il gauskas put the ball on the floor with his left hand and drove in from the top of the key for a "1-foot driving finger-roll layup," as the official play-by-play described it.
"I think every time I put the ball on the floor, coach [Mike] Brown's heartbeat goes up by 10 beats a minute," Ilgauskas said.

Cont...
 
Upvote 0
CPD

Cleveland Cavaliers need LeBron James to be King of the Road to beat Boston Celtics


Monday, May 12, 2008Bud Shaw
Plain Dealer Columnist
Shrinking shamrocks are a variety of clover apparently not found in Massachusetts, but recently spotted wherever the Celtics play on the road.
It remains to be seen if this is a permanent infestation that could choke a 66-win season and promise the Cavaliers good luck at the same time. The Cavs did beat down Boston in Game 3 in their first series opportunity at home. But in the NBA, that's almost rote. San Antonio, Orlando and Utah all did it, too, after losing the opening two games.
What we'll find out starting tonight is if what suddenly seems possible really is the case: that a Cleveland team's greatest matchup edge could be playoff grit.

Cont...
 
Upvote 0
CPD

Cleveland Cavaliers are holding their own defensively against Boston Celtics



Monday, May 12, 2008 Mary Schmitt Boyer

Plain Dealer Reporter
Much has been made of the Boston Celtics defense in this series, especially after they held the Cavs to 72.5 points per game in taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Celtics, one of the best teams defensively in the regular season, have held postseason opponents to 40.6 percent shooting and 86.3 points per game. They've been better against Cleveland, holding the Cavs to 39.6 percent shooting and 84.3 points per game.
But the Cavs are no slouches defensively. Their playoff opponents are shooting 42 percent and scoring 89.1 points per game. The Celtics are shooting 41 percent and averaging 83 points per game against Cleveland.

Cont...
 
Upvote 0
Back
Top