Cleveland Game cements the fact the Cavs have IT's number

[GRADYCOLNON]

Tonight's game was tough to stomach despite the fourth quarter magic.  A lot of the issues stemmed from Isaiah Thomas and Al Horford inability to conduct good offense in the third quarter as they were shut down by strong Caviler defense.  The third quarter struggles are reminiscent of IT's playoff struggles.  These particular offense droughts, featuring porous defense, are cementing the criticism of IT and why the team is considered a pseudo-contender. 

During the fourth quarter run, a bright spot was Marcus Smart.  His use of Jerebko and Zeller to spread the Caviler's defense thin was refreshing as the Cavs could no longer predict the offense. And the defense was strengthened because Smart overpowering Irving and Jerebko was slowing Lebron more so than Smart. 

The smaller lineups that feature Bradley, Smart and Thomas really struggled on defense, cementing that this experiment isn't working with the three guard lineup.  It should come down to alternating Smart and Thomas running the point.  This could prove beneficial down the road as opposing teams tend to overpower IT at least one-quarter of the game. 

Brad Stevens may need to consider moving Thomas to the second unit in these games and let Smart run the offense.

[max215]

31 and 9 on 8/13 shooting. Yes, he very clearly needs to be benched.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Yes and no. They have the right approach—trying to get the ball out of his hands—but that move will backfire/no longer work when/if the Celtics ever have another deadly offensive player.

[Ilikesports17]

Wrong guy. They have Big Al's number. Have for a while.

[hpantazo]

That's what good teams generally do, game plan to slow down your best scorers, especially when you only have one great scorer.

[Csfan1984]

31 and 9 on 8/13 shooting. Yes, he very clearly needs to be benched.

I kind of agree with this point. I like Smart but IT is a driving force for the offense. IT starting isn't that big an issue. Cavs are just better than the C's. Smart isn't better than IT to start over him. And that offense IT brings is needed.

[max215]

31 and 9 on 8/13 shooting. Yes, he very clearly needs to be benched.

I kind of agree with this point. I like Smart but IT is a driving force for the offense. IT starting isn't that big an issue. Cavs are just better than the C's. Smart isn't better than IT to start over him and that offense is needed.

This is the salient point here. Anyone who was surprised to discover this tonight is just downright naive.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

31 and 9 on 8/13 shooting. Yes, he very clearly needs to be benched.

I kind of agree with this point. I like Smart but IT is a driving force for the offense. IT starting isn't that big an issue. Cavs are just better than the C's. Smart isn't better than IT to start over him. And that offense IT brings is needed.

Yeah, this team's offense would be pretty much dead in the water without IT. No offense to Smart, who seems to be pretty good at running plays, but he's not a threat like IT is. This team, without IT, probably struggles to score 90 a game.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

31 and 9 on 8/13 shooting. Yes, he very clearly needs to be benched.

I kind of agree with this point. I like Smart but IT is a driving force for the offense. IT starting isn't that big an issue. Cavs are just better than the C's. Smart isn't better than IT to start over him and that offense is needed.

This is the salient point here. Anyone who was surprised to discover this tonight is just downright naive.

I agree. Cleveland's talent level is head and shoulders above Boston's (and that's not a dig at IT!).

[Csfan1984]

31 and 9 on 8/13 shooting. Yes, he very clearly needs to be benched.

I kind of agree with this point. I like Smart but IT is a driving force for the offense. IT starting isn't that big an issue. Cavs are just better than the C's. Smart isn't better than IT to start over him and that offense is needed.

This is the salient point here. Anyone who was surprised to discover this tonight is just downright naive.

I agree. Cleveland's talent level is head and shoulders above Boston's (and that's not a dig at IT!).

It wasn't till I read that lol tp

[jpotter33]

I think you have it the opposite way around.

IT's offense was pretty good tonight, and they really couldn't stop him. However, he was abused defensively. They ran play after play trying to put IT in switches and/or fighting through picks, and they'd just shoot right over him if they didn't get those things. I'm surprised more teams don't do that to us more often.

Al was the one who just got completely owned tonight, which isn't good news considering that any path to a championship will almost necessarily go through the Cavs in the East.

[Clench123]

Not only the Cavs.  The Hawks shut him down in the playoffs too.  It's not hard to do really.  He's our only scorer and until we get another scorer all teams has to do is collapse on him and we are weakened. 

This team has a lot of faults.  It's not their fault, it's Danny's.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I think you have it the opposite way around.

IT's offense was pretty good tonight, and they really couldn't stop him. However, he was abused defensively. They ran play after play trying to put IT in switches and/or fighting through picks, and they'd just shoot right over him if they didn't get those things. I'm surprised more teams don't do that to us more often.

Al was the one who just got completely owned tonight, which isn't good news considering that any path to a championship will almost necessarily go through the Cavs in the East.

Was this directed at me? I can't tell.

You're right, they attacked IT a lot, and that's a big problem—or at least, it WILL be a big problem come playoff time (though maybe that depends on matchups?).

Horford, though, needs to do much better.

[guava_wrench]

It was a game that went down to the wire. It was on the road. The game was an excellent showing by the Celtics.