Celtics-Cavs Second Round Series

[OCBucksFan]

Yeah it sucks we lost, but lets look at the positives here for the long run...

We missed a ton of free throws...man it sucked if we make them we win...Thing is I don't think this will happen in game 6/7...

I agree here, 2 out of three games in Boston, the Cavs could have won and probably should have won game one. There were also a lot of dumb decisions made in the third quarter that could be reviewed. This game goes back to Cleveland, and odds are you're looking at a game 7.

Boston played out of their mind offensively for 2.5 straight quarters...Yet we stayed with them, while they tried to piss the game away...

LBJ got his shot going...Yeah he missed the 3 pointers, but overall his jumper was better, which opened up the driving lane for him...

What all this means...with the way Boston is playing on the road...We can go back home, hopefully get a win, continue to play well, hold Boston down...

Then it will be for it all in game 7...I called the series to go to us in 7...and I still believe that if it goes to game 7 that we will win...

It sucks that we should of won this game tonight, if we played some better defense, got some key rebounds, hit our foul shots, and we get a couple calls...Like the one when LBJ was mugged, or Boobie or Wally hit wide open 3's...Either way not trying to make excuses, gotta give credit to Boston as they came out to play tonight and played very well on the offensive end, and made great adjustments, and Rando played the game of his life...

This one is over yet...

Once again keep the faith Cleveland!!!!!!!!!!!!

If Cleveland can play like they did the first 1.8 quarters they did tonight, this isn't a problem. Some things to consider here, Boston isn't looking that great, and LBJ is a serious fucking X-factor in any game. He's a Kobe, a Jordan, a West, he's a player that can have games where he plays out of his mind and does things that make your jaw drop, stuff that you wonder how is even possible.

Don't give up hope, Cleveland will probably win at home and then the pressures on. Here's a bit of reality, the pressure is on more for Boston that Cleveland, afterall, haven't they been considered the champs since 2 weeks before the season ended?

 

[NFBuck]

I agree here, 2 out of three games in Boston, the Cavs could have won and probably should have won game one. There were also a lot of dumb decisions made in the third quarter that could be reviewed. This game goes back to Cleveland, and odds are you're looking at a game 7.

The thing that's clouding my optimism is that positive things don't generally happen to teams that let two games they woulda/coulda/shoulda won get away. I believe we win game 6, but I'm less optimistic about game 7.

 

[BUCKYLE]

Go Celtics!

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I am not an Indians fan, but this is going to be karma biting Boston in the ass after they came back and got the Indians last year in the playoffs...

At least that is what Earl Hickey tells me...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

CELTICS 96, CAVALIERS 89
Cleveland Cavaliers allow 14-point lead to slip away as Boston Celtics take 3-2 lead in NBA playoff series


Thursday, May 15, 2008Branson Wright
Plain Dealer Reporter
Boston- Game No. 5 in the postseason had been a special number and time for LeBron James over the years. James had been so good, he averaged over 40 points and over 50 percent from the field when the series was tied, 2-2.
In those three games, which included the memorable 48-point performance against the Pistons last season, James averaged 41.1 points on 52.3 percent shooting.
Well, some good things must come to an end.




Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

CAVALIERS INSIDER
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James played AAU basketball with two Boston Celtics


Thursday, May 15, 2008Branson Wright
Plain Dealer Reporter
Boston- The Boston Celtics' Leon Powe and Kendrick Perkins, and Cavaliers forward LeBron James once played for the same AAU team - the Oakland (Calif.) Soldiers.
In 2001, the trio made up one of the best AAU teams of all time. One of the most memorable games took place in Houston. James' performance was comparable to his 48-point performance against the Detroit Pistons in Game 5 of last year's the Eastern Conference Finals.
"That was fun," James said. "That AAU game was one of my best games."




Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers reveals source of inspiration


Thursday, May 15, 2008Mary Schmitt Boyer
Plain Dealer Reporter
Boston
-- Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers can talk basketball all day. Offense, defense, current trends, historical perspective. You name it.
But heading into this season with the best basketball team he ever coached, he got some inspiration from a fellow Marquette University board member, who introduced him to the term "ubuntu," a unifying African concept and one of the founding principles of the new republic of South Africa.




Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Rondo's stormy rally blows over Cavaliers



Thursday, May 15, 2008 Mary Schmitt Boyer

Plain Dealer Reporter
Boston -- Wally Szczerbiak saw the promise of Rajon Rondo last year when the two of them were in training camp with the Boston Celtics.
"I could see he had that special knack to do whatever it took out there to get the job done," Szczerbiak said after Rondo had 20 points and 13 assists -- both career playoff highs -- to help the Celtics to a 96-89 victory over the Cavs on Wednesday night in TD Banknorth Garden.
"He's not the greatest shooter in the world, but he's got that it.' He goes out there and he just plays. He doesn't let things affect him. He did a good job tonight."

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Rondo was the point man as the Celtics stepped up their pressure defense in the second half and took control of the game. The Celtics now lead the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals, 3-2. Game 6 will be Friday night in Quicken Loans Arena. Each team has won all its home games in this series so far.
"Rajon Rondo was fantastic," Boston coach Doc Rivers said.
After making just 10 of 24 shots for 22 points in the two games in Cleveland, he rebounded in a big way on Wednesday, just in time for the Celtics.




Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

SCRIBBLES IN MY NOTEBOOK AS CAVALIERS AND BOSTON PLAY GAME 5
Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto writes scribbles in his notebook about NBA Commissioner David Stern, Cleveland Cavaliers


Thursday, May 15, 2008
Boston
- As the Cavs and Celtics opened Game 5, smoke hung heavy over Boston's TD Banknorth Garden. There were indoor fireworks, bombs blasting and the usual pregame havoc. So much for NBA Commissioner David Stern suggesting teams tone it down. At least Ben Wallace didn't stagger off with floor with an allergy attack from the smoke as he did in Game 2.
Before Game 4 at The Q,




Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Sagging Cleveland Cavaliers give Boston Celtics life


Thursday, May 15, 2008
Boston
- You could feel it slip ping away from the Cavaliers.
Boston's crowd was roaring, the confidence of the Celtics players growing, the shoulders of the Cavaliers players sagging. And a 14-point lead late in the second quarter vanishing.

Game 5 wasn't supposed to be this way for the Cavs, especially when LeBron James opened with two beautiful finger-tip jumpers, spinning just right as they settled into the net. His outside shot was back, the Celtics should have been worried - and they were, as was this home crowd.
For most of the first half, not a soul in Boston would have dreamed their team would win, 96-89, taking a 3-2 lead in this best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals.
After all, James believes that Game 5 of the playoffs belongs to him, especially when the teams are 2-2. There have been three previous postseason games just like this, and the Cavs won them all. James carried them on his sweat-soaked shoulders, averaging 41 points in those games.
It looked like it would happen again.




Cont...

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Looks like this one will go seven games...I expect Cleveland to win on Friday....great series.

 

[Piney]

My prediction... the Cavs start strong but the Celtics come back in the 2nd quarter and take the lead midway through the 3rd quarter. Then LeBron takes it to another level in the 4th quarter while Pierce and Garnett disappear again.

Cavs win by 6-10 pts.

So damn close to being right!!!!

Of course missed free throws and running a 1st grade offense in the entire 2nd half does those things. Imagine... the 3rd quarter & first half of the 4th quarter LeBron does his 1 on 5 thing and we stall on offense. We totally go away from the offense that worked the entire 1st half. Seriously... LeBron was torching them by getting the ball on the wing and the post. So Mike Brown decides to do Boston a favor in the 2nd half to go away from it totally.

Then, they go back to having LeBron off the ball in the 2nd half of the 4th quarter and we come storming back. Wally hits that open 3 pointer to bring us with 3 and Boston would have pucked up faster than a virgin's honey potter.

 

[OH10]

Boston really started moving the ball well at the end of the first half and into the third quarter. When they play unselfish basketball, they really do have an efficient offense.

If they continue that play in Game 6, they can actually win in Cleveland. Of that, I have no doubt.

Cleveland needs to cut out the high screen bullshit. Mike Brown seriously has to have an offensive learning disability. The high screen is only effective when Z or Joe Smith get open and hit the outside jumper. When that doesn't happen, the offense just becomes a stand around stagnant offense.

The Cavs can win this series, but they probably won't because Mike Brown is a fucking idiot. What does that guy have to do to get fired?

 

[Piney]

The Cavs can win this series, but they probably won't because Mike Brown is a fucking idiot. What does that guy have to do to get fired?

We don't need a new coach per say. I actually have no problem with Mike Brown as the head coach. He seems to get the players to listen to him (you can tell by how hard they play defense) and LeBron seems to like him.

The only thing he needs to do is admit he needs an assistant who's sole job is to work on the offensive system. We don't need a new coach to get better on offense, we just need our current head coach to realize he needs help.

 

[Bleed S & G]

We don't need a new coach per say. I actually have no problem with Mike Brown as the head coach. He seems to get the players to listen to him (you can tell by how hard they play defense) and LeBron seems to like him.

The only thing he needs to do is admit he needs an assistant who's sole job is to work on the offensive system. We don't need a new coach to get better on offense, we just need our current head coach to realize he needs help.

When Mike Brown pulled the clip board out at the end of the game - I thought 'we're in trouble'

Sure as shit, after the commercial break the Cavs got the 5-second violation