Is Cleveland Just a Better Version of Miami?

[Dybdal]

No, in my opinon we could beat Miami with just our starting 5' i dont believe that holds true about the Cavs and i dont think the Cavs can beat the Celtics with just their starting 5'

This series will be won and lost on the sidelines by the coaches, eighter side i think can force key matchups when bringing people off the bench to get some production and thats where i think we will eighter win or loose.

[kenmaine]

I suppose the similarity is that both teams have one superstar and a bunch of role players, but Cleveland is far superior. The Cavs 'role players' are actually good.
 
One thing I worry about is the officiating. I know, DUH.

Everyone is aware that LeBron will get every possible call to the point of absurdity, but I watched a little of the Cavs-Bulls game last night and there were THREE consecutive outrageously bad calls in Shaq's favor when he was bullying defenders out of the way. And I like to think my opinion is unbiased, because two of the calls went against Brad Miller, who I have zero fondness for.

So I'm expecting an uphill battle, with the C's in constant foul trouble. Time for Baby and TA to shine. Maybe even Sheed

Anyway, I'm enough of a "homer' to predict the C's winning the series, and also enough of a homer to hope that LeBron's elbow really is injured- not seriously, just enough to cost them the series.

[MMacOH]

Last night was actually very good example of how this year's Cavs are much better than last year, and why they are much better than Miami.  Lebron and Mo were both off their game last night.  Last year, that was a death sentence.  Last night, it just meant that Jamison and West had to step up their games and they did (along with Shaq).  Jamison was an excellent addition to this team. 

[Eddie20]

Playing Miami in the first, and right before Cleveland, was a great for us. It allowed us the opportunity to play with similar defensive strategies that we will likely implement vs a familiar (one man dominating the ball) attack. Consider the Heat a tune up of sorts.

[MMacOH]

Playing Miami in the first, and right before Cleveland, was a great for us. It allowed us the opportunity to play with similar defensive strategies that we will likely implement vs a familiar (one man dominating the ball) attack. Consider the Heat a tune up of sorts.

If the Celtics play the same defense they will lose, plain and simple.  The Celtics took the ball out of Wade's hands and left O'Neal and Beasley open to convert in the paint and they couldn't.  Jamison, Shaq, AV and Hickson can all convert in the paint.  Jamison especially can convert in the paint or knock down jumpers.  You can't just double Lebron high like you can with Wade.  Miami has no one to support Wade.  Lebron has much better teammates. 

[BudweiserCeltic]

Playing Miami in the first, and right before Cleveland, was a great for us. It allowed us the opportunity to play with similar defensive strategies that we will likely implement vs a familiar (one man dominating the ball) attack. Consider the Heat a tune up of sorts.

If the Celtics play the same defense they will lose, plain and simple.  The Celtics took the ball out of Wade's hands and left O'Neal and Beasley open to convert in the paint and they couldn't.  Jamison, Shaq, AV and Hickson can all convert in the paint.  Jamison especially can convert in the paint or knock down jumpers.  You can't just double Lebron high like you can with Wade.  Miami has no one to support Wade.  Lebron has much better teammates. 

That's false. For the most part we didn't double team Wade. Only when he penetrated we rolled a big man to help out on penetration. At times we used Rondo to help trap him. Other than that we played him straight up.

It's what we've always done since '08.

[Fafnir]

Playing Miami in the first, and right before Cleveland, was a great for us. It allowed us the opportunity to play with similar defensive strategies that we will likely implement vs a familiar (one man dominating the ball) attack. Consider the Heat a tune up of sorts.

If the Celtics play the same defense they will lose, plain and simple.  The Celtics took the ball out of Wade's hands and left O'Neal and Beasley open to convert in the paint and they couldn't.  Jamison, Shaq, AV and Hickson can all convert in the paint.  Jamison especially can convert in the paint or knock down jumpers.  You can't just double Lebron high like you can with Wade.  Miami has no one to support Wade.  Lebron has much better teammates. 

That's false. For the most part we didn't double team Wade. Only when he penetrated we rolled a big man to help out on penetration. At times we used Rondo to help trap him. Other than that we played him straight up.

It's what we've always done since '08.

We did have an extra help defender in the paint, that's what the C's usually do with LeBron.

We did hard double when he went supernova in game 4.

[Mr October]

Playing Miami in the first, and right before Cleveland, was a great for us. It allowed us the opportunity to play with similar defensive strategies that we will likely implement vs a familiar (one man dominating the ball) attack. Consider the Heat a tune up of sorts.

If the Celtics play the same defense they will lose, plain and simple.  The Celtics took the ball out of Wade's hands and left O'Neal and Beasley open to convert in the paint and they couldn't.  Jamison, Shaq, AV and Hickson can all convert in the paint.  Jamison especially can convert in the paint or knock down jumpers.  You can't just double Lebron high like you can with Wade.  Miami has no one to support Wade.  Lebron has much better teammates. 

Maybe you weren't watching the same series as me, but I thought during the doubles the open players (big or small) were out side of the paint bricking jump shots... Miami's perimeter shooting was mostly terrible. If the Cavs get cold they could find themselves in trouble.

This series is really going to come down to rebounding first, hitting your perimeter shots second... not sure what the 3rd most important factor is yet - probably the emergence of a role player. We already expect the stars will mostly get theirs.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Playing Miami in the first, and right before Cleveland, was a great for us. It allowed us the opportunity to play with similar defensive strategies that we will likely implement vs a familiar (one man dominating the ball) attack. Consider the Heat a tune up of sorts.

If the Celtics play the same defense they will lose, plain and simple.  The Celtics took the ball out of Wade's hands and left O'Neal and Beasley open to convert in the paint and they couldn't.  Jamison, Shaq, AV and Hickson can all convert in the paint.  Jamison especially can convert in the paint or knock down jumpers.  You can't just double Lebron high like you can with Wade.  Miami has no one to support Wade.  Lebron has much better teammates.  

That's false. For the most part we didn't double team Wade. Only when he penetrated we rolled a big man to help out on penetration. At times we used Rondo to help trap him. Other than that we played him straight up.

It's what we've always done since '08.

We did have an extra help defender in the paint, that's what the C's usually do with LeBron.

We did hard double when he went supernova in game 4.

But it's really not much different than any other player penetrating. Our bigs always come to help on penetration and close the middle. There's simply a higher focus on him.

As for doubling hard in game 4... well he went supernova as you said, so it was under special circumstances. It wasn't a game plan to come into the game double teaming him as some teams would've done.

In general we always play straight up until circumstances force us to. When circumstances force us to do so, then we'll see how we'll respond. But until then...

[MMacOH]

I'll admit I only saw Wade's super game 4 to draw my assumptions.  If the Celtics will be content to let jump shots be had off the pick and roll then look for Jamison to pick and roll with Lebron and get the ball.  He is an excellent jump shooter.