Celtics-Cavs Second Round Series

[osugrad21]

CPD

Cavaliers' Varejao mops up Garnett

Wild Thing brings infusion of energy

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Jodie Valade

Plain Dealer Reporter
The Cavaliers can call off the search party. Anderson Varejao has been found.
The old moppy-haired Wild Thing the Cavaliers love so much for his passionate play, the one who plays physical defense with a balance of reckless control appeared for the first time in these playoffs in Monday's 88-77 Game 4 victory over the Celtics.
Combined with another solid effort from power forward Joe Smith, the Cavaliers forwards off the bench formed a one-two punch that knocked Boston's Kevin Garnett off his game in the second half, and supplied a steady dose of active offense .

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Relax! Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James now has mom as an enforcer


Tuesday, May 13, 2008Jodie Valade
Plain Dealer Reporter
Why was anyone ever worried about the hard fouls issued to LeBron James? Cleveland fans don't have to worry about James as long as his mom is in the house.
When Celtics forward Paul Pierce wrapped up James in a bear-hug foul near the end of the second quarter during Monday's Game 4 at The Q, the two tumbled into the first row of fans . . . and into James' mother, Gloria.
As players ran over to prevent any tempers boiling over, the petite Gloria jawed and pointed at 6-11 Celtics forward Kevin Garnett. Her famous son and Pierce eventually untangled, but not before her efforts were noticed.Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Cavs, Celtics are fit to be tied
[FONT=Verdana,Times New Roman,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]LeBron James gets crowd, team going[/FONT]
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
BY Chris Beaven
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

CLEVELAND LeBron James turned the volume up to 11 at Quicken Loans Arena as only he can do it Monday night.

His dunk for the ages over Kevin Garnett helped redefine loud in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. And as 20,562 subjects roared in adoration for King James, the Cavaliers All-Star let out his own roar before sprinting away knowing his team was on its way to evening the series at 2-2 with the Celtics with an 88-77 win.

"That was the play we needed as a team," James said. "We hadn't had one of those all series ... and our team deserved that kind of play. And I'm just glad I was able to give it to them."

James gave them plenty, especially late when he took over as a shooter, passer and dunker.

The Cavs outscored the Celtics, 12-4, over the final 3:17, with James accounting for 10 of the points by either scoring them or having an assist. He also blocked a shot in the final minutes.

"As the game went along, our guy had the impact that he has," Cavs Head Coach Mike Brown said of James. "He impacted it defensively first, on the boards second, hitting key shots next, and then finding guys for wide-open looks last. He plays every facet of the game, and that's why we had the win tonight."
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[osugrad21]

Canton

Sports spotlight: LeBron's poster dunk gets the Cavs back to even
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
BY Todd Porter
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

CLEVELAND Never mind the best record in the NBA. Never mind the best talent in the NBA. Never mind the Boston Celtics legend and lore. Never mind Kevin Garnett's intimidation. Monday night during Game 4, the Cavaliers stood face-to-face with the NBA's postseason royal order to the crown and predetermined conference champs ? and didn't back down.

And that was just LeBron James' mom.

Her son hammered home a right-handed slam over Garnett late in the fourth quarter that they'll be talking about years after LeBron's done playing.

If James thunderdunk didn't register on the Richter Scale in Northeast Ohio, the crowd's reaction did. That's the kind of dunk that makes legends.

"The stuff he does, it shouldn't amaze you," Cavs Head Coach Mike Brown said. "Because he is who he is, and it's natural for him. Sometimes I do get giddy inside and I'm glad I'm with him.

"That's one, you know, after he did it, inside I was so pumped up I tried to flex. I didn't have any muscles, so I flexed my jaw and gave him a five. That was unbelievable. That was amazing."

Quicken Loans Arena shook as LeBron's legions screamed and waved "Witness" signs. He had a witness Monday night. Garnett had a great view.

The dunk came on the heels of a 3-pointer the King drained from 25 feet. That was the beginning of the end to Game 4, an 88-77 Cleveland win that knotted this series at two games apiece.
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[osugrad21]

Canton

Cavaliers notebook
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
BY Chris Beaven
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

NOT YET LeBron James will have to wait another year to make his debut on the NBA All-Defensive Team. The Cavs All-Star forward received votes from three coaches, including a first-team vote. But that was not enough to get him a spot on the first or second team. Cavs Head Coach Mike Brown expects that to change. "I do see him on that first team all-defensive team soon, and I see him there for a long time," Brown said. The voting for the team is done by the league's 30 head coaches. A coach is not allowed to vote for players on his own team. The forwards on the first team are Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan, while Bruce Bowen is on as a guard-forward. The second-team forwards are Shane Battier and Tayshaun Prince. James said it would be "really rewarding" to make the team some day. "I take a lot of pride in my defense, and I'm going to continue to do that."

KEYS TO GOOD D Brown loves how much James has committed himself to being a strong defender, especially away from the ball. "The things that he does out on the floor, nobody else can do, and he's only going to get better on that end of the floor," Brown said. The coach also thinks playing on Team USA further helped James' development on defense.

ALL THE TOOLS Garnett and guard Kobe Bryant received the most votes, each getting 24 first-team and four second-team votes. Brown said Garnett's "tenacity along with his length and his athleticism" make him an imposing defender at 6-foot-11. But what takes Garnett to another level is his passion to defend. "He does not take a single second off," Brown said. "He's into it mentally the whole time."
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[osugrad21]

Dispatch

NBA playooffs
Michael Arace commentary: Cleveland showing the grit needed to win series

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:21 AM
By Michael Arace


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

MARK DUNCAN | ASSOCIATED PRESS
LeBron James of the Cavaliers is fouled by Paul Pierce of the Celtics in the second quarter as Kevin Garnett trails on the play.

CLEVELAND -- The Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers are the two best defensive teams in the league. They are evenly matched. In their Eastern Conference semifinal series, they are playing a game of chicken, charging at each other until one side blinks and a path to the basket opens. Last night, the Cavs beat the Celtics 88-77. More pointedly, the Cavs stared down the Celtics, broke their will and changed the complexion of the series. No, the Celtics will not be going home with a 3-1 lead. Instead, the Cavs are back from a 2-0 deficit, the series is level at two games apiece and momentum has been wrested.
LeBron James flexed his muscles as the Cavs put it away. The pose was metaphorically appropriate. As Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock so loves to say, you've got to go into the hard areas to score -- and that is especially true this time of year, no matter whether the game is played with a ball or a puck.


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[MD Buckeye]

James’ dunk was waltz down memory lane - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

James? dunk was waltz down memory lane

CLEVELAND ? All series the Boston Celtics? game plan on LeBron James was solemn and simple: You can?t give him the lane. If it took five men in green to block his way and prevent the easy dunks and foul-line trips, then so be it.

Make him shoot from the perimeter. Make him pass. Make someone else beat you.

This was another night where it seemed to work to perfection, James sitting at just 6-of-19 shooting in Game 4 of the Eastern semifinals. He was destined for another below-average scoring night, another brickfest from the perimeter that made Cleveland vulnerable.

But with just under two minutes remaining, James got a little separation on Paul Pierce off a pick, turned the corner and blew by James Posey.

Now he wasn?t going to be denied. There was nothing in the way but open space and a slow-footed Kevin Garnett. James had been bottled up so long, bumped and bruised, crowded and corralled and, here, at last, was what he had been waiting for.

Contd....

 

[OH10]

The crowd was great last night. KG really had a lot of dialogue with some fans. He should be above that.

Lebron was simply amazing last night (outside of the shooting). He did just about everything out there - including scolding his own mother for her overreaction.

Andy was all over the glass. He and Big Ben really frustrated KG throughout most of the game. And he hit some big shots too, along with the reliable Joe Smith.

Strange to see Delonte sit for so long in the first half. I couldn't tell what was going on at the game, so I assumed he must have been hurt. Anyone know what the deal was?

 

[jimotis4heisman]

I have an interesting question...If that wasn't James mom, would the fan member have been thrown out of the game, and asked not to come back???

not a doubt in my mind, unless lbj bought him tickets to the next game

wasnt it lebron who had one of kids who used to run out on the court and lay down and make a big scene and throw stuff on the floor?

Flooping???:tongue2:

yeah ive seen flopping before, ive seen dives, what we are seeing in this years playoffs is a new high/low.

 

[Piney]

Strange to see Delonte sit for so long in the first half. I couldn't tell what was going on at the game, so I assumed he must have been hurt. Anyone know what the deal was?

Delonte got poked in the eye and had to go back to the lockerroom during the first half.

 

[OH10]

Delonte got poked in the eye and had to go back to the lockerroom during the first half.

Thanks. Everyone in my section was confused. Glad to see it wasn't serious.

 

[BB73]

I've been saying this for 25 years, but the NBA has to change their rules to get rid of plays like Pierce's bear-hug foul on LeBron. That situation has to be 2 shots and the ball, so the defender doesn't benefit from mugging somebody. I know Pierce hung onto him in order to keep him from falling, but would the league rather see a dunk or a possible injury in that situation?

Most of the time a 'smart foul' just indicates a bad rule.

I know they're thinking of changing rules in the offseason to eliminate the Hack-a-Ben type thing off the ball. My suggestion:

Intentional foul away from the ball - 1 free throw plus the ball back
Intentional foul to stop a fast break - 2 free throws plus the ball back (then the coach would tell Pierce that the bear-hug was a bad play)

It would mprove the flow of the game, and make it better to watch for the fans.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

I've been saying this for 25 years, but the NBA has to change their rules to get rid of plays like Pierce's bear-hug foul on LeBron. That situation has to be 2 shots and the ball, so the defender doesn't benefit from mugging somebody. I know Pierce hung onto him in order to keep him from falling, but would the league rather see a dunk or a possible injury in that situation?

Most of the time a 'smart foul' just indicates a bad rule.

I know they're thinking of changing rules in the offseason to eliminate the Hack-a-Ben type thing off the ball. My suggestion:

Intentional foul away from the ball - 1 free throw plus the ball back
Intentional foul to stop a fast break - 2 free throws plus the ball back (then the coach would tell Pierce that the bear-hug was a bad play)
dive/flop-2 shots and the ball (offense or defense)

It would mprove the flow of the game, and make it better to watch for the fans.

see bold above

 

[jwinslow]

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the 2-inch vertical:

To be fair to big z, his 'floor' is just below the bottom of the pic... so he's sporting a slightly higher vertical.

I have an interesting question...If that wasn't James mom, would the fan member have been thrown out of the game, and asked not to come back???

and possibly excused for the remainder of the series...

 

[rocketman]

"Mom, JEEZ! I can handle it myself! Quit embarrassing me!"