cavs v celtics - game 1

[davemanddd]

and so it begins!!! time for lebron to have another one of those "no regard for human life" moments on kg's face. we can only hope. tip is at 8:00. go cavs!!!

[Cerebral_DownTime]

Cavs 96

Celtics 89

[davemanddd]

Cavs 96

Celtics 89

i could dig that. people can say all they want about blowouts, but a competitive, back-and-forth game all along the way where nobody gets more than 7 or 8 points ahead is quite enjoyable. of course, i want the cavs to be ahead at the finish. hee-hee!!!

[peeker643]

Not me dave.

If and when the Cavs get the opportunity to humiliate and embarrass the Celtics I will be pissed if they don't take it and relish every single second.

Hate that GD Boston team with a passion.

Pour it on every opportunity you have. Humble them, humiliate them and remove their will to compete. I want it to be emasculating for KG and Pierce.

[Orenthal]

Cavaliers 106

Celtics 89

I say all I want about blowouts and then some. Wild crowd at the Q and a KG meltdown.

Individually...
At PG Mo gets destroyed by Rondo on defense, but will hit clutch 3's when needed. Redz in the cog role will be depended on to keep the second team fluid and play stopper on Rondo. Have I ever mention that Delonte is one of few players on the team that knows how to pass the ball into the post. Something that Mo just cannot seem to execute.

At SG the combo of Parker, Moon, and Delonte will be tasked with keeping Allen in check. No 30+ point games out of Allen, keeping him closer to 15ppg, and hitting just enough shots to not be a complete blackhole. Moon should be seeing more and more of Parker's minutes. Not that I am a Parker hater, the guy has an obvious role, that being a guy who hits open looks, doesn't have to be involved on offense, has verteran calm/savvy, and just enough length and defense to not be Sasha/Wally.

Small forward should be a battle with The King at the top of the mountain.

Power forward is a matchup where 'Twan should shine. Against Boston he is 14ppg and 8rpg on the season and that include an outlier Shaq thumb game as he was just getting acclimated to the offense. He should be able to pull KG away from the basket forcing him to stay active on defense. KG will have an advantage posting up 'Twan, but it seems post injury that KG prefers much more to be a mid range jump shooter. I'd have to aquiesce to posters more familiar with his current gae.

At center my irrational love for Shaq, and his ability to dominate opposing players wwill color my analysis. Perk can muscle up on Shaq and make it somewhat more difficult, but beyond that what is their answer? It will be on Shaq to continue making those chippies and not having any horrible shooting nights as he did in Chicago. Also Roker needs to stay with Shaq for longer periods, and not fall into regular season rotations. Our defense and rebounding seemed much tighter when Shaq was in the game, if only because he eats up so much space, and is not afraid to put opposing players on the ground.

Bench is an easy Cavaliers advantage. They have Wallace and Allen as their main subs, we have Redz, Moon, Andy, and Hickson. Not to mention Boobie Gibson who is ready to step right in should a guard go down. This is the deepest Cavaliers team I have ever witnessed, and one that has the complete advantage on paper. Forgot Nate Robinson, but still advanbtage Cleveland.

[davemanddd]

what is much more demoralizing, getting beat in a blowout or losing a game at the buzzer or by just a few points??? people tell me all the time that if they're going to get beat, they would much rather get blown out. they say they can always stomach a blowout better because they will just chalk it up to a bad game that snowballed out of control, but when they lose at the buzzer or even by just a few points, they beat themselves up over it, second-guessing themselves about their efforts and what they could have done differently. i want boston second-guessing themselves the whole gawd-damned series long and never coming up with any solutions about what they can do to beat the cavs.

[JoJo White]

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf ... ton_2.html

CLEVELAND -- Pregame from The Q:

Projected starting lineups

Celtics: Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins

Cavs: Mo Williams, Anthony Parker, LeBron James, Antawn Jamison, Shaquille O'Neal

Officials

Eddie F. Rush, Jason Phillips, Bill Spooner
• There is some mystery as to how James' elbow will hold up at the start of the series. It has been an unpredictable injury so far but the expectation is that he should not be hampered by it too much. It may flare up at times but nothing he dealt with in the Bulls series would force him to the bench, even if it may alter his game a bit.

• Two things to watch defensively in the early going. One is whether the Celtics can begin to stay in front of James, something they didn't do all season as he averaged nearly 37 points against them. Second is whether Williams or anyone else can stay in front of Rondo. When Rondo is getting inside on the Cavs and distributing, Boston will look like world beaters. When the Celtics can't stop LeBron and the Cavs can go to their spread offense and let James pick Boston apart, the Cavs will look like world beaters. The word is the Celtics may try seldom-used Marquis Daniels on James for stretches. Also they might use Tony Allen, who for some reason has a rep that he can slow James down though I haven't seen any real evidence. I guess Allen forced LeBron to miss a couple shots in the last meeting and that suffices for that title.

• Will be interesting to watch the bigs. Can Perkins keep O'Neal out of his favorite spot on the block? He is a specialist at denying position. And, without a great backup depending on Rasheed Wallace's mood, can O'Neal get Perkins in foul trouble when the Cavs look to establish the low post early. Also, how will Mike Brown use JJ Hickson, if at all.

• The X-factor matchup in the entire series could be the impacts of Glen Davis vs. Andy Varjeao. Varejao is vital for the Cavs in this season because of his pick-and-roll defense and how his activity can bother the Celtics. Meanwhile Boston, which has shown it isn't a great rebounding team at times, needs Davis' energy to create extra possessions.

[Orenthal]

what is much more demoralizing, getting beat in a blowout or losing a game at the buzzer or by just a few points??? people tell me all the time that if they're going to get beat, they would much rather get blown out. they say they can always stomach a blowout better because they will just chalk it up to a bad game that snowballed out of control, but when they lose at the buzzer or even by just a few points, they beat themselves up over it, second-guessing themselves about their efforts and what they could have done differently. i want boston second-guessing themselves the whole gawd-damned series long and never coming up with any solutions about what they can do to beat the cavs.

A 4 game sweep of blowout games is more demoralizing. Blow outs are always more demoralizing as you sit and watch the other team destroy you knowing there is not a single thing you can do to stop the pain. IMO a close game, especially in a playoff series allows the opponent to think they only have to do x and x and they would win. Na, blowout anyday of the week.

[British_Pharaoh]

OT people

[British_Pharaoh]

“We don’t like them, they don’t like us,” Cavaliers guard Mo Williams(notes) said. “It’s obvious.”

Mo sets the tone beautifully

[British_Pharaoh]

Cleveland needs to go small: The Cavaliers beat Boston twice this season, both times making heavy use of a smaller lineup featuring Anderson Varejao and J.J. Hickson getting major minutes. Shaquille O’Neal was injured during the first win and out during the second. He’s back now, and that might not be a good thing against a Boston offense that will look to pick-and-roll the lumbering O’Neal all night. Varejao bedeviled the Celtics all season but was a non-factor against Chicago- he’ll need to be in regular-season form. And J.J. Hickson has to- has to- play.

Do we all agree this will NOT happen??

Brown isn't as astute as Jesse

[FUDU]

Win



Some where in the early 4th I'll post the same pic saying "stop the fight".

[davemanddd]

what is much more demoralizing, getting beat in a blowout or losing a game at the buzzer or by just a few points??? people tell me all the time that if they're going to get beat, they would much rather get blown out. they say they can always stomach a blowout better because they will just chalk it up to a bad game that snowballed out of control, but when they lose at the buzzer or even by just a few points, they beat themselves up over it, second-guessing themselves about their efforts and what they could have done differently. i want boston second-guessing themselves the whole gawd-damned series long and never coming up with any solutions about what they can do to beat the cavs.

A 4 game sweep of blowout games is more demoralizing. Blow outs are always more demoralizing as you sit and watch the other team destroy you knowing there is not a single thing you can do to stop the pain. IMO a close game, especially in a playoff series allows the opponent to think they only have to do x and x and they would win. Na, blowout anyday of the week.

when was the last time you ever saw a sweep with 4 straight blowouts, especially in the 2nd round??? just look at what happened against chicago after the cavs blew them out in game 4??? the cavs were lucky to escape with a 2-point victory and the series win in game 5.

blowouts are not demoralizing, people. they are motivating!!! they make teams suck it up and take some pride in themselves and come out with a much more determined effort in their next game that quite often results in a bounce-back win. happens all the time.

what is demoralizing is when you repeatedly come oh so close but can never quite get over the hump. just look at the browns vs the broncos in the 80's. never could get over that hump and the browns have been demoralized ever since. same thing with the indians of the 90's.

you see, the funny thing is that when you barely beat a team so many times in a row and once they start second-guessing themselves, they start to worry about whether or not they have what it takes and when that doubt creeps in and it seems like no matter what they do to fix things, they will fall prey to their own self-fulfilling prophecy and still lose. that's what i want to see happen to the celtics. now "that" would be truly demoralizing.

[RickNashEquilibrium]

Cleveland needs to go small: The Cavaliers beat Boston twice this season, both times making heavy use of a smaller lineup featuring Anderson Varejao and J.J. Hickson getting major minutes. Shaquille O’Neal was injured during the first win and out during the second. He’s back now, and that might not be a good thing against a Boston offense that will look to pick-and-roll the lumbering O’Neal all night. Varejao bedeviled the Celtics all season but was a non-factor against Chicago- he’ll need to be in regular-season form. And J.J. Hickson has to- has to- play.

Do we all agree this will NOT happen??

Brown isn't as astute as Jesse

I think it will happen. Even Brown wouldn't be so aloof to not give him significant run in order to at least try gassing the Celtics. While the C's are fully capable of burning the Cavs on the P&R, it would be in our best interest to get out and run. If the Cavs can take advantage of the situation (Celtics age), it would be wise to keep the game up-tempo and look to push in transition.

Good to be back yall. Still trading barbs with ES eh EY? You guys crack me up. EY - whats your take on the Magic this postseason? Sweep the 2nd round and take the Cavs to 7 in the ECF? I know we talked about this months ago and we were all unsure exactly how that roster would shape up. Safe to say, they are gelling at the right time. Putting it bluntly, I really think if its Cavs-Magic in the ECF, the winner will be hoisting the Larry O'Brien in a month.

[pup]

what is much more demoralizing, getting beat in a blowout or losing a game at the buzzer or by just a few points??? people tell me all the time that if they're going to get beat, they would much rather get blown out. they say they can always stomach a blowout better because they will just chalk it up to a bad game that snowballed out of control, but when they lose at the buzzer or even by just a few points, they beat themselves up over it, second-guessing themselves about their efforts and what they could have done differently. i want boston second-guessing themselves the whole gawd-damned series long and never coming up with any solutions about what they can do to beat the cavs.

A 4 game sweep of blowout games is more demoralizing. Blow outs are always more demoralizing as you sit and watch the other team destroy you knowing there is not a single thing you can do to stop the pain. IMO a close game, especially in a playoff series allows the opponent to think they only have to do x and x and they would win. Na, blowout anyday of the week.

when was the last time you ever saw a sweep with 4 straight blowouts, especially in the 2nd round??? just look at what happened against chicago after the cavs blew them out in game 4??? the cavs were lucky to escape with a 2-point victory and the series win in game 5.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_NBA_Playoffs#.281.29_Cleveland_Cavaliers_vs._.284.29_Atlanta_Hawks

Just sayin

[Cerebral_DownTime]

Almost game time.

Time to get drunk and watch the the Cavs pound the final nail into the Celtics coffin.

Show No Mercy!

[pup]

Sweep the leg

[British_Pharaoh]

Ha there's blood already

[Triple-S]

Fuck big baby davis.

also, reggie miller sucks as announcer, but everyone here knows that.

[JoJo White]

Z the first option off the bunch. Doh!

[Triple-S]

Mike Brown..play JJ you asshat.

[British_Pharaoh]

How many tips and put backs are we gonna miss?

[British_Pharaoh]

I really really really don't like Rondo

[Triple-S]

what the fuck?

how is Mark Price not on this coaching staff right now and helping with our atrocious free throws and telling Rondo to go eat it?

completely homer bias I know, but come-freaking-on. Atlanta? Really?

[British_Pharaoh]

Praise the lord for Brotha Redz

[swerb]

More Delonte. NO MORE Z. Please Roker.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

'bout time that pussified crowd made some noise.

[swerb]

Rondo is absolutely killing us. FOur fouls on that fat fuck Davis.

[British_Pharaoh]

too many easy boston buckets

Rondo is killing us with his distribution of the ball

[swerb]

Start to this series could not be more disappointing. Cavs are getting outworked, outcoached, outhustled, and outsmarted. LeBron really need that much rest? Was on the bench for like 20 min of real time.

[Triple-S]

This is why simmons gets it.

Over/under on Mike Brown figuring out Hickson-Jamison-LBJ-Mo-West is his best lineup in this series: Game 5, 2nd half. I have the over.

[swerb]

Cavs just aren't boxing out. Celtics beating them to every rebound and loose ball. WTF did we sit everyone the final month of the season for if we're going to loaf at home in game one against the Celtics?

[swerb]

It was clear before this series even started that Mo Williams cannot guard Rajon Rondo. Now we've actually seen Rondo torch Mo for the last hour.

Mike Brown - Mo cannot guard Rondo. Incapable. Please adjust you moron.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

Well..... I guess it could be worse.

[British_Pharaoh]

I don't like this at all

this is the kind of game Rondo plays against us all the time, we can't contain him
and when he's playing like that the Celtics are tough to beat

[pup]

If LBJ cannot be LBJ on offense, make his ass be LBJ on defense and shut Rondo down.

Or let Mo get torched.

[jb]

No D = no "W".

Can JMoon run with Rondo ? This is ridiculous. No choice but to bring Mo off the bench. Cannot keep him on Rondo.

Bron is clearly hurting or numb. Bunny shots just not falling.

[swerb]

Much better energy to start the 2H. And a Shaq siting.

[British_Pharaoh]

Get Shaq off the floor

[Triple-S]

not ledging, but the simple matter is this, if we lose this series, mike brown needs to be fired.

Inexcusable, you have the pieces to win a championship right now, and you keep playing these garbage rotations and get outcoached in every major series sans the Pistons series.

[British_Pharaoh]

not ledging, but the simple matter is this, if we lose this series, mike brown needs to be fired.

Inexcusable, you have the pieces to win a championship right now, and you keep playing these garbage rotations and get outcoached in every major series sans the Pistons series.

I agree wholeheartedly

[British_Pharaoh]

Good to get Rondo out of the game with 4 fouls

time to take the lead

[British_Pharaoh]

Brillaint 3rd quarter

I'm swearing less

[swerb]

Doc needs to play Sheed more.

[swerb]

Crowd finally woke up

[CP]

I'm honestly not sure if that first half wasn't Boston's best shot. They're doing an awful lot of reaching in already as if their old legs are already tired.

[British_Pharaoh]

please tell me Brown is taking notes here


More JJ and AV

[swerb]

Now THATS the way you finish off a quarter. Mo Freakin Gotti. Got back all those points he gave up to Rondo in the 1H. Bron is awake. The crowd is awake.

Now lets finish these pricks off. Hustle, defense, and 10 points from LeBron in the 4Q and we go up 1-0.

[jb]

Crowd finally woke up

All the way turnt up

[swerb]

Z should not see another meaningful minute in this series. Keep Parker/Delonte on Rondo. Hickson needs minutes. Andy should be checking in about 6 min into the 1Q and 3Q and logging 28-30 min a night.