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Celtics-Cavs Second Round Series

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ABJ

CAVS SEASON PIERCED LeBron scores 45, but it isn't enough to advance past Celtics
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Monday, May 19, 2008
BOSTON: Memories and regrets ? it will be a long summer full of them for the Cavaliers.
Their series finale with the Boston Celtics on Sunday is sure to become a classic, one they'll tell stories about for years to come. It was the sort of game that will trigger the mind when the words ''Game 7'' are uttered, but it will always be tinged with melancholy.
The Cavs, and especially LeBron James, put forth a mighty effort, but all it got them was extra respect at the gallows as their season ended in a 97-92 loss. It will be the Celtics moving on to the Eastern Conference finals against the Detroit Pistons.
It was a game that the Cavs never led ? there was only a brief moment when they had a chance to take the lead. Yet the entire afternoon and evening at TD Banknorth Garden resembled a car chase in a big-budget movie, moving at high speed with an unsure ending.



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ABJ

P.J. Brown scores as LeBron, Pierce duel Cavs fail to make shots in final minutes
By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal sports columnist

Published on Monday, May 19, 2008
BOSTON: The final buzzer sounded, and he turned and walked directly off the court.
A couple of teammates offered pats on the chest, but LeBron James just kept walking.
Right to the locker room, where, when it opened to the media, he sat with his head down, ankles soaking in ice, stomach wrapped in an ace bandage.
James had just scored 45 points and had done all he could ? short of making one more shot ? to help the Cavs win Game 7 against the Boston Celtics.
James scored four more than Paul Pierce, as the duo put on a duel to remember. But James' efforts were not good enough in a 97-92 loss that ended his and his team's season.
Danny Ainge, the Celtics' president/general manager who had traded the Celtics to this point, stood in front of James, his arms on both of his shoulders.



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CPD

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers lose Game 7 to Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics


Monday, May 19, 2008Branson Wright
Plain Dealer Reporter
Boston -- The potential was there all series long, but after six games that set offenses back to the pre-shot-clock era, LeBron James and Paul Pierce finally saved the series with a memorable battle that reminded many of the great one-on-one battles of the past.
Unfortunately for James, the Cavaliers were on the losing end as the Boston Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals with a 97-92 victory in Game 7 on Sunday afternoon before a highly energetic crowd at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston.
The Cavs never led.




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CPD

Video review could give Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown a few nightmares



Monday, May 19, 2008

Boston- When Mike Brown looks at the video of his team's 97-92 loss at Boston in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Cavs coach won't be happy. He'll see that his team not only was outrebounded, 39-29, for the game, but 12-4 in the fourth quarter. He'll see that Boston had an 8-0 advantage in second-chance points in the final 12 minutes, and it was 18-7 for the game. He'll see long rebounds that his team failed to run down, and he'll see defensive assignments that were missed, especially on Paul Pierce (41 points). Overall, he'll see that Boston - which entered Sunday averaging only 81.8 points and shooting 41.7 percent as a team - dictated the tempo. The Celtics' 97 points and 48.7 percent shooting percentage were their best in any game.
A Cavalier who did play defense
was Ben Wallace. Just ask Kevin Garnett, who could not get open. He had only 13 points (5-of-13 shooting) in 42 minutes. Yes, Boston was riding Pierce's hot shooting, but part of the reason was Garnett's struggles inside. Several times, coach Doc Rivers called plays to Garnett, and the players did get the ball to him inside - but Garnett could not score. He had been effective, averaging 21 points and shooting 57 percent in the first six games.




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CPD

Newer Cleveland Cavaliers need more playing time with LeBron James


Monday, May 19, 2008Branson Wright
Plain Dealer Reporter
Boston -- The motivation for General Manager Danny Ferry to make the 11-player trade in February was to help the Cavaliers get back to the NBA Finals.
It did not work this year, and it may have had to do with the limited time the new players -- Delonte West, Ben Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak and Joe Smith -- had with LeBron James.
"There was more of an adjustment to getting them to play alongside myself," James said. "I can adjust to teammates, any kind of teammates, that's put around me. It doesn't take me that long. It was a much more difficult challenge for those guys to get used to our system and get used to playing alongside myself."




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CPD

LeBron loses shootout, but his day will come


Monday, May 19, 2008Bill Livingston
Plain Dealer Columnist
Boston
-- Bag pipes squalled over the PA system, the wild music rising as the warm-ups were ending.
LeBron James stood then, before Game 7 started, on the rakish caricature in the center-jump circle at TD Banknorth Garden, the one of an Irishman in a derby hat, wearing a wardrobe fit for St. Patrick's Day. It is based on a cartoon Red Auerbach's brother Sang drew back in the mists of the Boston Celtics' past.




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CPD

Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce unstoppable in win against Cleveland Cavaliers



Monday, May 19, 2008 Mary Schmitt Boyer

Plain Dealer Reporter
Boston- Paul Pierce stepped to the free-throw line with 7.9 seconds left and his Celtics clinging to a 95-92 lead over the hard-charging Cavaliers in the decisive Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Sunday afternoon in TD Banknorth Garden.
Pierce already had 39 points in the game, and most of his shots had looked like heat-seeking missiles reaching their targets.
His first free throw hit the rim, bounced high and then dropped through the net. A little grin crossed his face.




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CPD

What was seen and heard at the Cleveland Cavaliers-Boston Celtics Game 7



Monday, May 19, 2008 Mary Schmitt Boyer

Plain Dealer Reporter
Boston
- The arena was a wall of noise, and it grew louder with each successive stoppage of play. Every time one of the Cavaliers drove to the basket in the second half, they found themselves surrounded by the din of the fans seated behind their basket.
Early in the fourth quarter of the Celtics' 97-92 victory over the Cavaliers in the decisive Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Sunday afternoon at TD Banknorth Garden, the theme song from "Rocky" blared over the sound system. It seemed an odd choice for a team that had a league-best 66-16 record in the regular season, a perfect 7-0 mark at home during the playoffs and was leading at the time, 77-72.




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buckeyemania11;1166015; said:
I will do it
Click to expand...

BUCKYLE;1166024; said:
You know I'm down like a clown, Charlie Brown.

As long as if he wins, my sig line is not a hate filled cheap shot at a winner. :wink:

Yeah, let's do this.
Click to expand...

osugrad21;1166037; said:
:slappy:

So what are the details of this bet?

Straight up Pistons vs. Celtics or is it road wins?
Click to expand...

BUCKYLE;1166043; said:
I'll take the Celtics straight up. Though I do believe they will probably have to win one on the road.
Click to expand...

...waiting for the official details.
 
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The Celtics have underachieved? I would say they are not playing as well on the road in the playoffs but they have won their games at home and got it done......

I don't understand how Boston can be viewed as a fraud at this point....they are in the conference finals with home court advantage......if they had lost to Atlanta, I could see that being a valid point.....regardless of how you win the series, it only matters if you win.....they are where they need to be...

I am not suprised this series went 7, I said it would go 6. LeBron is going to be one of the all-time greats, he dominates games.......I give him a ton of credit.
 
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NFBuck;1165859; said:
LeBron is the entire reason the Cavs have so many "fans" right now, yet people still tear him down. It's sad and incredibly infuriating for the real fans that supported this franchise since, or even before, the Price-Daugherty days and through the black uniform Shawn Kemp-Ricky Price era. :shake:
Click to expand...

Do you mean Ricky Davis? Fuckin' bandwagon fans. :shake:
 
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I'm glad I did not post right after the game. It would have been an angry post and it would have been unfair to Boston.

Paul Pierce came to play yesterday. He did it on the outside. He took the ball to the basket. He got to the line. He made some nice looks. That had to be the best game of his career... all things considered.

Lebron James was the best player in the league yesterday. Most other days, I would say that it's Kobe. But no one... not Kobe... not Paul Pierce... not Chris Paul... could have done what Lebron did yesterday in Game 7 on the road with little help against the best defensive team in the league. No one.

I unfortunately had to watch the game in Cincy after I watched the Tribe get swept by the Reds. That was miserable. The Queen City is not an Ohio town. They hate the Buckeyes. Yesterday, they hated the Cavs and loved the Celtics. It was very tough for me to keep my cool.


On Boston v. Detroit. It should be an interesting series. I think the Pistons need a split on the road to start it out. But, overall, I believe Detroit actually matches up better against the Cs than the Cavs. That doesn't mean they are going to win (afterall, they do not have a Lebron-calibar player), but it should be a hotly-contested series.

Matchups:

PG: Billups/Stuckey vs. Rondo/Cassell

Edge: Detroit. Billups will be able to stay in front of Rajon and cause him trouble Stuckey played remarkably well last series, and mostly importantly, does not turn the ball over.

SG: Hamilton v. Allen

Edge: Detroit. This one is not as close as you would think. If Ray Allen couldn't take advantage of Wally, he's going to sorely struggle against Hamilton, who will keep him running all over the court. Big advantage for the Pistons here.

SF: Prince v. Pierce

Edge: Boston. Tayshaun struggled last year to contain the stronger player in the Lebron and that should continue in this series, even though Pierce is not the same player. Big matchup problem for Pistons.

PF: Wallace v. Garnett

Edge: Boston. This is the marquee matchup. It will be interesting to see how Boston defends 'Sheed because he can step out and hit the long-range jumper. Wallace also plays strong post defense, and mostly importantly, he's a clutch player. So while I give the edge here to KG in the matchup because of his talent and versatility, this is not a big advantage for Boston.

C: McDyess v. Perkins

Edge: Wash. They're both role players and I don't see this matchup having a big impact on the outcome of the series. Antonio get hit the mid-range jumper ala Joe Smith, so he may give the Cs some of the same problems.

Bench - Edge goes to Detroit because of Maxiell and Stuckey. Both of these guys can have a huge impact on the game. Boston needs to give House more time and I don't anticipate Posey having as big an impact on this series simply because Detroit doesn't rely on one player as much as Cleveland. His defense won't be as important.

Coaching - Edge: Detroit... if only because I think Doc Rivers is mildly mentally retarded.

The Pick: Boston in 7.
 
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