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May 12, 2008
Cavs Burst at End Wins Close Game 88-77
They simply do not look like the same team. The Celtics can't get stops they need to get and make shots they need to make to win on the road. That part is obvious. "Why?" is the question.
It was a typical 'play-off close' game all the way until the Cavs broke it open with a Lebron three pointer with 3:17 left. It gave the Cavs a 6 point lead for the first time since the 4 minute mark of the first half. The Celtics actually took their last lead on a Rondo three pointer with 3:59 left in the third at 63-61.
The Lebron trey was the Cavs first score in over 4 minutes, but they held Boston to two points over the same period. After a Pierce jump shot, Danial Gibson made another three pointer to put Cleveland up seven. James then put the exclamation point on a Cavaliers win with an emphatic jam over Garnett to put the Cavs up 9 at 84-75 with 1:45 left. Anderson Verajeo making a bank shot over Defensive Player of the Year Kevin Garnett, and then hitting a long jump turned the previously close game into a vindication of the Cavaliers.
You could say it is the play-offs. You could say it was the referees early on. But ultimately it belongs on the shoulders of the three stars. The Celtics leading scorer had 15 points this evening, and that was a 3 way tie between Allen, Garnett and Rondo. The three stars combined for 43 points total.
Right now Wally Szczerbiak can guard Ray Allen one on one. Anderson Verajeo can guard Kevin Garnett one on one. Paul Pierce isn't Paul Pierce on offense.
Of the three, Pierce has the best excuse by having a long 6' 8" Lebron James guard him. But Pierce is taking some quick threes, and missing them, and he isn't attacking the basket as we know he can. Until the 2:55 mark of the game, Pierce had 9 points.
All three are suppose to be able to create shots for themselves when defenses get tough. They did not. Doc may call those hero shots and he may be right. But right now the Celtics need a hero.
People will say Rajon Rondo did his job. He did not. He had three assists and missed shots he should have made - both at the hoop and from distance, his 7-14 shooting and 1-3 from the arc notwithstanding. Now is not the time for Rondo to be practicing three pointers. His defense has been less than spectacular. Rondo is being left laughably wide open.
Minute Monopoly?
But Rondo has a forgiveness factor that is off the charts among Beantown fans. Short of murder he gets a Get Out of Jail pass free. Monopolizing his minutes(supposedly) is Sam Cassell. Loud and new to the Celtic Green Party, Sam Cassell has no forgiveness factor whatsoever and he has played poorly as well. Many would rather take their Chance with Rondo and leave Sam on the Park Bench. While a Cassell fan, I can't say I agree. But I'm not sure they are wrong either. The Celtics don't have enough equity to build motels, but.... Eddie House anyone?
It was supposed to be a quick 4 games series against the Hawks and maybe a 5-6 games series against the Cavs, to be rested for Detroit. It looks like 2 straight 7 game series now against teams that were thought to be inferior.
At this point, Cleveland continued the ongoing home court domination of the 2nd round. Make no mistake this was a grind it out play-off game. But the Celtics have been in those kind of games before...and won handily.
The Celtics looked tentative to start the game. Except for Garnett and Rondo, no one wanted to shoot, and Rondo was at the beach all by himself for a few shots. He drove and missed a few more.
This does not look like the Celtic team I watched during the season. They are playing defensive defense. During the year their defense was offensive. Example - they were the 5th leading team for steals during the year, even leading the league for a while. Tonight they have just one at half time, by Rondo. They were 4th in the league for causing turnovers (15.3), they have caused just 4 tonight at half time.
Their confidence, or at least assertiveness has clearly disappeared. They are fairly solid, but tentative at the same time. They are missing that intimidating defensive effort individually and as a team.
The funny thing is that they should be playing loose and confident. They are (were) up and they have home court advantage. Yet they look like they are playing not to lose for the most part. Doc and his assistants need to drive that point home. Somebody needs to get these guys back in attack mode.
Joe Smith continues to play very well (8 points, 6 rebounds) and Gibson was expected to finally break out with some scoring and he did while Delonte was getting checked out for blurry vision i the locker room. Daniel scored 14 points and added 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Wally Szczerbiak helped again with 14 points, 9 in the 3rd quarter.
PJ Brown was the best off the meager Celtic bench tonight with solid defense in the middle, 2
blocks, and 8 points on 4-4 shooting with 6 rebounds.
LeBron James shot only 7-20 but continued to draw defenders to him and directed a strong Cleveland attack with 13 assists and 6 rebounds.
I'm never a guy who gives up hope, but things look decidedly less likely that this Celtic team
has the make-up to overcome adversity all the way to the Finals. They still can, but not if they continue to play the way they have on the road. They need to get things to click in again.
Posted by Tom on May 12, 2008 8:57 PM
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Comments
Tom - Eddie House? I think the last thing we needed on the floor is another jump-shooter, since most of the problem was the ball wasn't moving inside enough. Eddie won't help us unless he gets hot, and I think that's asking too much from a guy who's sat as long as he has.
The stretch that buried us was in the fourth quarter, where we held the Cavs scoreless for about 4 minutes, but failed in every offensive possession. I was thinking maybe Tony Allen might have helped. He might have turned the ball over once or twice, but he would have forced the issue at the hoop, and we likely would have ended up with more than zero points in that stretch.
On the flipside, those potential turnovers could have meant the Cavs scored more than zero points in that stretch, as well. I guess I'm thinking we could have used last year's Tony Allen (pre-knee inury, of course).
Posted by: ZekeMowattFan at May 13, 2008 10:10 AM
Well Zeke,
Someone's got to shake things up and hit some shots. Eddie might be able to do that.
At this point we are all looking for ideas that might spark this team.
Even a Big Baby sighting last night was a non-event. I thought he might be the kind of energy player that might help.
You're right, the good Tony Allen would an option.
Maybe Doc should go back to his regular season rotation. I'm at a loss right now. Maybe Glen Davis would have been more effective if he played more and was brought in earlier. He looked like the rest of the team - playing to not make a mistake. You can't win that way.
Thanks, as always, for the comments.
T
Posted by: Tom Halzack at May 13, 2008 1:10 PM
