Celtics-Cavs Second Round Series

[jwinslow]

[FONT=arial,helvetica] Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) dunks on Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett in the final two minutes of Game 4 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 12, 2008, in Cleveland. The Cavaliers beat Boston 88-77 to even the series at 2-2. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)[/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica] LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks over Kevin Garnett #5 of the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the 2008 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 12, 2008 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Cavaliers won 88-77.

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[FONT=arial,helvetica] LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts after he had a big dunk in the final minutes of the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the 2008 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 12, 2008 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

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[FONT=arial,helvetica] Joe Smith #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates a play against the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the 2008 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 12, 2008 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica] Wally Szczerbiak (2nd R) #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers cheers his teams play along with other players on the bench against the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the 2008 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 12, 2008 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

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[FONT=arial,helvetica] Wally Szczerbiak #10 and LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrate their 88-77 win against the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the 2008 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 12, 2008 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

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[FONT=arial,helvetica] Anderson Vareajo #17 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts as he runs back on defense against the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the 2008 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 12, 2008 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Cavaliers won 88-77.

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[FONT=arial,helvetica] Daniel Gibson #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers pumps up the fans in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the 2008 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 12, 2008 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Cavaliers won 88-77.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica] LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on as he waits to be announced during player introductions against the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the 2008 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 12, 2008 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

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[FONT=arial,helvetica] Delonte West #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives for a shot attempt against Kendrick Perkins #43 of the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the 2008 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 12, 2008 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

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[FONT=arial,helvetica] Delonte West #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks to drive against Rajon Rondo #9 of the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the 2008 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 12, 2008 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

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[FONT=arial,helvetica] Joe Smith #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives for a shot attempt against Glen Davis #11 of the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the 2008 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 12, 2008 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica] Cleveland Cavaliers' Daniel Gibson (1) shoots over Boston Celtics' P.J. Brown during the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 12, 2008, in Cleveland. Gibson scored 14 points off the bench to help the Cavaliers beat Boston 88-77. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

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[FONT=arial,helvetica] Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown yells to his team in the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics Monday, May 12, 2008, in Cleveland. The Cavaliers beat Boston 88-77 to even the series at 2-2. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica] Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) celebrates with Joe Smith in the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics Monday, May 12, 2008, in Cleveland. The Cavaliers beat Boston 88-77 to even the series at 2-2. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan) [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica] Cleveland Cavaliers' Wally Szczerbiak (blue towel) leads the cheers with Zydrunas Ilgauskas, back, and Dwayne Jones, right, late in the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics on Monday, May 12, 2008, in Cleveland. The Cavaliers beat Boston 88-77 to even the series at 2-2. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica] Ray Allen #34 of the Boston Celtics attempts a shot against Zydrunas Ilgauskas #11 and Ben Wallace #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Four of the 2008 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 12, 2008 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.


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[exhawg]

[FONT=arial,helvetica] Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) dunks on Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett in the final two minutes of Game 4 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 12, 2008, in Cleveland. The Cavaliers beat Boston 88-77 to even the series at 2-2. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)[/FONT]

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Stupid question, but where was the and 1? KG shoved him rather than jumping and getting crushed.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Stupid question, but where was the and 1? KG shoved him rather than jumping and getting crushed.

There was quite a few missed calls in this game IMO...both ways...but the second quarter was about as one-sided as you can get...

 

[Napoleonbuck]

I'll say this, I was totally right on Szczerbiak. I said this when the trade happened, Szczerbiak's size and strength would come in handy come playoff time. He's been amazingly good on defense guarding Allen. Granted, Allen isn't as quick as he once was, but Szczerbiak has been able to stay with him through all the screens, and he's been there contesting pretty much all of Allen's shots. Not only that, but he's been surprisingly consistent on offense too. He's had a great series.

Ben Wallace is statistically the Cavs best rebounder(and the best rebounder in the series). Him and Varejao have done a great job making Garnett work for all his points of late.

The Cavs have been limiting the Celtics' offensive rebounds, which is important since the Celtics are pretty much a jump shooting team.

Lebron has been really good since he figured out some of the driving lanes. Having a bevy of shooters on his team with Smith, Z, Boobie, and Szczerbiak hasn't hurt also.

Anyways, I think a lot of our success in this series has to go to Mike Brown. Our offense hasn't been good, but our defense has more than made up for any shortcomings offensively. 8/10 games in the playoffs the Cavs have held the other team to below 90 points. If we can continue to do that, we should be able to steal a game, especially if Lebron is able to hit just a few outside jumpers to keep Pierce honest.

If we can keep this team together next year, with no major injuries, we're an elite team in the league. We're not the prettiest to watch team, but we do a lot of things right. We have a ton of great passers, good shooters, terrific defenders and rebounders, and one of the best players in the league.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I'll say this, I was totally right on Szczerbiak. I said this when the trade happened, Szczerbiak's size and strength would come in handy come playoff time. He's been amazingly good on defense guarding Allen. Granted, Allen isn't as quick as he once was, but Szczerbiak has been able to stay with him through all the screens, and he's been there contesting pretty much all of Allen's shots. Not only that, but he's been surprisingly consistent on offense too. He's had a great series.

Ben Wallace is statistically the Cavs best rebounder(and the best rebounder in the series). Him and Varejao have done a great job making Garnett work for all his points of late.

The Cavs have been limiting the Celtics' offensive rebounds, which is important since the Celtics are pretty much a jump shooting team.

Lebron has been really good since he figured out some of the driving lanes. Having a bevy of shooters on his team with Smith, Z, Boobie, and Szczerbiak hasn't hurt also.

Anyways, I think a lot of our success in this series has to go to Mike Brown. Our offense hasn't been good, but our defense has more than made up for any shortcomings offensively. 8/10 games in the playoffs the Cavs have held the other team to below 90 points. If we can continue to do that, we should be able to steal a game, especially if Lebron is able to hit just a few outside jumpers to keep Pierce honest.

If we can keep this team together next year, with no major injuries, we're an elite team in the league. We're not the prettiest to watch team, but we do a lot of things right. We have a ton of great passers, good shooters, terrific defenders and rebounders, and one of the best players in the league.

Not much i disagree with here, other than Mike Brown...If you are going to give him that much credit for his defensive coaching, you have to give him that much discredit for the offense, timeout management, substitutions...Coaching killed us in game 1, anyway you put it...I know LBJ is the go to guy, but at times you have to make the call to try and get someone else the looks, like Z...Remember Phil Jackson and the Pippen, situation where he got so mad at Phil that he decided to stay off the court...Kucok(sp?) hit the shot...

As for being elite, we need to find a way to get a little more athletic in the offseason...This will allow us to play an uptempo game and slow down game...

 

[Napoleonbuck]

The only thing I'll say in response is that even if Brown designs a play for someone like Z, the players still have to execute the play. How often do the Cavs have good ball movement until the ball gets to Lebron, where he holds it, and holds it, and holds it looking for a lan to develop. Even the best designed play can fail if it's not executed right, and I think they may have been the case in game one with Lebron. Not that Lebron was being selfish, I just think he was trying to work through his shooting difficulties by launching some and hoping they'd fall; get into a groove at the expense of team ball.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

The only thing I'll say in response is that even if Brown designs a play for someone like Z, the players still have to execute the play. How often do the Cavs have good ball movement until the ball gets to Lebron, where he holds it, and holds it, and holds it looking for a lan to develop. Even the best designed play can fail if it's not executed right, and I think they may have been the case in game one with Lebron. Not that Lebron was being selfish, I just think he was trying to work through his shooting difficulties by launching some and hoping they'd fall; get into a groove at the expense of team ball.

In game 1 there was no play...It was give the ball to LBJ and let him try and go one on four from the top of the key or run a pick n roll from up top...

 

[LitlBuck]

I take it from jwinslow's pictures above that Wally Wonder really liked Lebron's thunder dunk.

With regard to Mike Brown and his offense, I don't know if you guys once the pregame show on TNT with Kenny Smith and Magic Johnson saying how the Cavs offense should be run. They both think that Lebron spends too much time on the perimeter dribbling when he should pass the ball to one of the wings and then go post up the guy who would be guarding him. If someone would come to double him, Lebron, with his passing skills, could easily find an open man on either wing or possibly someone as close as the foul if not closer. I guess none of us know who was running the show there... Lebron or Mike Brown.

The problem with no fouls being called on Lebron is the fact that he is almost too strong for his own good. He takes fouls and plays through them where most guys would fall flat on their face.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

I take it from jwinslow's pictures above that Wally Wonder really liked Lebron's thunder dunk.

With regard to Mike Brown and his offense, I don't know if you guys once the pregame show on TNT with Kenny Smith and Magic Johnson saying how the Cavs offense should be run. They both think that Lebron spends too much time on the perimeter dribbling when he should pass the ball to one of the wings and then go post up the guy who would be guarding him. If someone would come to double him, Lebron, with his passing skills, could easily find an open man on either wing or possibly someone as close as the foul if not closer. I guess none of us know who was running the show there... Lebron or Mike Brown.

The problem with no fouls being called on Lebron is the fact that he is almost too strong for his own good. He takes fouls and plays through them where most guys would fall flat on their face.

1-i think you hit on a point. its not just mike brown. to some extent the front office also...
2-lebron iniates so much contact i liken him to shaq

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I take it from jwinslow's pictures above that Wally Wonder really liked Lebron's thunder dunk.

With regard to Mike Brown and his offense, I don't know if you guys once the pregame show on TNT with Kenny Smith and Magic Johnson saying how the Cavs offense should be run. They both think that Lebron spends too much time on the perimeter dribbling when he should pass the ball to one of the wings and then go post up the guy who would be guarding him. If someone would come to double him, Lebron, with his passing skills, could easily find an open man on either wing or possibly someone as close as the foul if not closer. I guess none of us know who was running the show there... Lebron or Mike Brown.

The problem with no fouls being called on Lebron is the fact that he is almost too strong for his own good. He takes fouls and plays through them where most guys would fall flat on their face.

Yeah I like what they did...It was great because Magic was the same type of player that LBJ is...Can see over the defense, great passer, and a scorer...

I like the pass and cut thing as it makes his defender work, instead of him just drifting farther and farther out to get the ball back...

 

[nicknc33]

wow what a game last night. sat 6 rows up behind the cavs bench, it's good to have hook-ups. i feel fairly confident we will win this in 6.

 

[tsteele316]

what the cavs need is a big man that can score. joe smith and AV both had nice games last night, but for the most part, both have been poor during the playoffs as a whole.

as for the offense in general, mike brown clearly needs help coaching that side of the ball. there needs to be more ball movement and more motion.

what i found hilarious occurred at the end of the first half. LBJ is on the bench with 3 fouls and Sasha is in the game. The Cavs had one of their trademark offensive possessions where the ball was held for 22 seconds and then a poor off balanced shot was taken.

The camera pans to James whose screaming "don't hold the ball, start moving."

 

[rocketman]

'cause, you know... it's cool and all:

[ame=http://youtube.com/watch?v=2O9MQvV12Cw&fmt=18]YouTube - Lebron James' Massive Windmill Slam on KG (5.12.08)[/ame]

 

[Buckeye86]

This has probably been mentioned, but nice no call on the blatant foul by KG on that dunk, the refs must have been admiring Lebron's freakish athleticism too much to see it.

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

This has probably been mentioned, but nice no call on the blatant foul by KG on that dunk, the refs must have been admiring Lebron's freakish athleticism too much to see it.

He dunked the ball with such force that it was hard to see how hard KG really pushed him. I saw the replay a half-dozen times but didn't notice the foul until I was looking at some of the picture jwins posted.