Adjustments for Game 2

[j804]

Doesn't matter what adjustments are made, we are done in 4 or maybe 5 if we can pull one out in Boston.

why do we even play the games right?

[mahonedog88]

Interesting take on Felger and Mazz right now...obviously grasping at straws because the Cavs are the much better team, but Brad Stevens is getting some flack, and they're starting to convince me.

Stevens has to understand that this isn't the regular season anymore.  He HAS to start adjusting minutes.  In a game like game 1, when Evan Turner is struggling like he is and yet Isaiah Thomas, albeit a little sloppy at times, is actually playing pretty well, Turner should NEVER get more minutes than Thomas.  They needed better rebounding and yet Sullinger and Jerebko only played about 15 minutes each.  Avery Bradley had a garbage game and yet played over 30 minutes.

He's gotta work better at finding the hot hand and actually playing them.  He's gotta understand that regular season rotations and playoff rotations aren't the same thing.

[littleteapot]

Interesting take on Felger and Mazz right now...obviously grasping at straws because the Cavs are the much better team, but Brad Stevens is getting some flack, and they're starting to convince me.

Stevens has to understand that this isn't the regular season anymore.  He HAS to start adjusting minutes.  In a game like game 1, when Evan Turner is struggling like he is and yet Isaiah Thomas, albeit a little sloppy at times, is actually playing pretty well, Turner should NEVER get more minutes than Thomas.  They needed better rebounding and yet Sullinger and Jerebko only played about 15 minutes each.  Avery Bradley had a garbage game and yet played over 30 minutes.

He's gotta work better at finding the hot hand and actually playing them.  He's gotta understand that regular season rotations and playoff rotations aren't the same thing.

I agree. Using your depth doesn't always mean using everyone in every game. It often means having a better selection so you can always put the right players in the right positions.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Interesting take on Felger and Mazz right now...obviously grasping at straws because the Cavs are the much better team, but Brad Stevens is getting some flack, and they're starting to convince me.

Stevens has to understand that this isn't the regular season anymore.  He HAS to start adjusting minutes.  In a game like game 1, when Evan Turner is struggling like he is and yet Isaiah Thomas, albeit a little sloppy at times, is actually playing pretty well, Turner should NEVER get more minutes than Thomas.  They needed better rebounding and yet Sullinger and Jerebko only played about 15 minutes each.  Avery Bradley had a garbage game and yet played over 30 minutes.

He's gotta work better at finding the hot hand and actually playing them.  He's gotta understand that regular season rotations and playoff rotations aren't the same thing.

I agree about Turner. Right from the opening tip the Cavs were playing aggressive defense, and right from the opening tip Turner looked uncomfortable against the pressure, while Thomas (despite a bit of sloppiness) pretty easily handled the pressure defense.

Besides, this is the playoffs, and Thomas is the team's best scorer, so he should be getting a heck of a lot more than his usual 26 mpg. I know he's a bit of liability on defense, but it's not like Boston's gonna hold Cleveland to 90 points and win a defensive battle.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I was quite obvious that having Crowder and Jerebko on the floor made a huge difference for the team today.

Bradley played probably the worst game of his life and still was only -6.  Turner simply was not helpful.  If he is in the game and they give him that 12-15 footer he has to take it.  He cannot take Lebron off the dribble and get into the paint.

I wouldn't be surprised to be see more Sullinger if rebounding continues to be an issue.

Rebounding was a big problem, so I think Sully and Jerebko need to be in there more. I also think Turner needs to take a back seat to Thomas (if we're going to lose, we should at least go out with guns blazing), that Crowder should get the lion's share of minutes guarding LeBron, and that the team should encourage the offensive aggression we saw from Olynyk in Game 1.

[littleteapot]

I agree about Turner. Right from the opening tip the Cavs were playing aggressive defense, and right from the opening tip Turner looked uncomfortable against the pressure, while Thomas (despite a bit of sloppiness) pretty easily handled the pressure defense.

Besides, this is the playoffs, and Thomas is the team's best scorer, so he should be getting a heck of a lot more than his usual 26 mpg. I know he's a bit of liability on defense, but it's not like Boston's gonna hold Cleveland to 90 points and win a defensive battle.

I don't think we should just put Turner on a shelf though. He is very erratic and you can't overreact to a single poor performance IMO. I would still start him and play him at least 25 minutes.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I agree about Turner. Right from the opening tip the Cavs were playing aggressive defense, and right from the opening tip Turner looked uncomfortable against the pressure, while Thomas (despite a bit of sloppiness) pretty easily handled the pressure defense.

Besides, this is the playoffs, and Thomas is the team's best scorer, so he should be getting a heck of a lot more than his usual 26 mpg. I know he's a bit of liability on defense, but it's not like Boston's gonna hold Cleveland to 90 points and win a defensive battle.

I don't think we should just put Turner on a shelf though. He is very erratic and you can't overreact to a single poor performance IMO. I would still start him and play him at least 25 minutes.

I wouldn't shelve him; he makes a lot of positive contributions. I just think the team badly needs Thomas's firepower.

[mahonedog88]

Interesting take on Felger and Mazz right now...obviously grasping at straws because the Cavs are the much better team, but Brad Stevens is getting some flack, and they're starting to convince me.

Stevens has to understand that this isn't the regular season anymore.  He HAS to start adjusting minutes.  In a game like game 1, when Evan Turner is struggling like he is and yet Isaiah Thomas, albeit a little sloppy at times, is actually playing pretty well, Turner should NEVER get more minutes than Thomas.  They needed better rebounding and yet Sullinger and Jerebko only played about 15 minutes each.  Avery Bradley had a garbage game and yet played over 30 minutes.

He's gotta work better at finding the hot hand and actually playing them.  He's gotta understand that regular season rotations and playoff rotations aren't the same thing.

I agree about Turner. Right from the opening tip the Cavs were playing aggressive defense, and right from the opening tip Turner looked uncomfortable against the pressure, while Thomas (despite a bit of sloppiness) pretty easily handled the pressure defense.

Besides, this is the playoffs, and Thomas is the team's best scorer, so he should be getting a heck of a lot more than his usual 26 mpg. I know he's a bit of liability on defense, but it's not like Boston's gonna hold Cleveland to 90 points and win a defensive battle.

100% agree.  When guys like Lebron and Irving are playing around 40 minutes a game, Thomas HAS to be playing at least 35 minutes a night.  As much as I'd like to see the Cs defense shut down this team, it's just not going to happen.  Their offense is too good and considering individual offensive talent isn't exactly a strength of the Cs, Thomas playing at least 35 minutes a night is really the only chance we have to keep pace with them.

[celticsclay]

I know we were expected to lose, and we had about the same final margin as was expected also, but anyone else get pretty bummed from the game. When we were up 8 in the second quarter i started thinking, hey, maybe this team can keep rolling! Now I am feeling a lot less optimistic and losing to Lebron makes my bones hurt.

[Beat LA]

We better werk dat Bass, lol.