Barkley says Cavs will Win EASILY

[footey]

key to series: to what extent can Glen off-set/neutralize Varajao?

[BudweiserCeltic]

key to series: to what extent can Glen off-set/neutralize Varajao?

I know I've repeated myself, but the key of the series is to not leave the Cleveland shooters wide open for the corner 3s. Those will completely kill us.

[housecall]

key to series: to what extent can Glen off-set/neutralize Varajao?

I know I've repeated myself, but the key of the series is to not leave the Cleveland shooters wide open for the corner 3s. Those will completely kill us.

I agree but the biggest concern i have is bench strength or lack thereof.tp

[Brendan]

Bench is less of a factor in the playoffs because the starters minutes will go up. This is good / bad. Means the bench gap isn't as much as a challenge - also means more LBJ.

Key to the series is to steal game one IMO. LBJ may be at less than 100%, we have time to game plan and throw a wrinkle their way, we'll be rested. You want LBJ to turn into the one man show and keep their shooters contained and handle Shaq 1:1. Have to watch the second chances with Sideshow  et. al. too. If we do steal game one, we'll have a chance at winning in 6 by holding serve. Otherwise it will be very tough to win the series (CLE is a very good team.)

We also need a couple "one of those games" from someone unexpected - Sheed, Finley, or TA are all still capable of throwing in a monster game (the first two guys if the shots fall.)

My prediction (made with my heart, not my head): C's in 6.

[LarBrd33]

You guys are kinda selling me on it.   It's great that Sports fans have such short memories, I guess...

Before the Heat series... I expected Wade to tear us apart.   I figured if we somehow made it past the Heat, the Cavs would step on our throats.  We played like crap this year.   We limped into the playoffs playing .500 basketball.   All signs pointed to us being old, washed up, weak defensively and lacking chemistry. 

So we win some games against a crappy Heat team and now I guess we feel like all is right in the world?  Maybe.  I can't tell.  We started off the season strong.  The team kept making excuses that they were "bored" and "not trying", but I still saw them focused, trying and getting owned by better teams several times throughout the season.   I have no idea.   I think it's still an easy prediction to say the Cavs will win easily.  I can't fault Barkley for making it.   But all this optimism is making me think maybe we have a chance.  Maybe i'll drink the kool-aid, ignore all the team's faults and buy into the excuse that we were bored all year and waiting for this series to start.

[Celtics17]

Rondo is the key to the series. His play will be what makes us win or lose and he is the only player who can propel us past Cleveland. What I mean is this. We have to have Paul playing well to somewhat offset Lebron. Also, BBD and Perk will have to contain Shaq and Verajo, KG can and will contain Jamison but Rondo is the guy that can flat out break the games open for us. Ray too but I still feel the key is Rondo's play. You know, all I heard on the news today was about Lerbon's ridiculous numbers last night with his 12 rebounds, 9 assists, whatever amount of points but noone said much about Rondo's numbers last night or for the series. If Rondo puts on a show this series goes 7.

[LarBrd33]

I don't know how anyone can say the "key to the series" is anything other than Pierce.   If Pierce can somehow limit Bron a bit, we might do what we did 2 years ago.  Bron was still amazing, but he shot bad in that series and Pierce played out of his mind enough to somewhat cancel him out.    Problem is... 2 years ago the Cavs came 5 points away from taking the series.   The Cavs are much stronger this year, LeBron is much better this year... and the Celtics are much weaker this year.  

Common sense prediction:  Cavs in 5. 
Wishful thinking prediction:  Celtics in 7

[Celtics17]

I say the key is Rondo and here is why. If Pierce doesnt somewhat neutralize Lebron then we dont have much of a chance but if he can then it's close. Rondo would be the difference maker. Of course, at this point in their careers I would say Rondo is the better player and not by just a little either.

[LarBrd33]

I say the key is Rondo and here is why. If Pierce doesnt somewhat neutralize Lebron then we dont have much of a chance but if he can then it's close. Rondo would be the difference maker. Of course, at this point in their careers I would say Rondo is the better player and not by just a little either.

Eh... I still say the series rides on Pierce's ability to deal with LeBron.  If Pierce is off his game, we're sunk.  I kinda get the Rondo argument, but I think Ray is more relevant.

It will be interesting if the Cavs stick to their gameplan from 2 years ago.  They completely took Ray Allen out of the series... sent double teams at him, made sure he was never open and constantly ran him away from the 3 point line.   

Game 1:  0-4 = 0 points
Game 2:  4-14 = 16 points
Game 3: 4-12 = 10 points
Game 4: 4-10 = 15 points
Game 5: 4-11 = 11 points
Game 6: 3-8 = 9 points
Game 7: 1-6 = 6 points 

He finished the series 4 for 24 from three.   Everyone assumed he was washed up.  They just played him tight.   

If Ray is getting open shots and gets up to 20 points in game 1... I think maybe we have a chance.

[Celtics17]

Who do you think will be getting Ray those open shots?

[Birdbrain]

I don't know how anyone can say the "key to the series" is anything other than Pierce.   If Pierce can somehow limit Bron a bit, we might do what we did 2 years ago.  Bron was still amazing, but he shot bad in that series and Pierce played out of his mind enough to somewhat cancel him out.    Problem is... 2 years ago the Cavs came 5 points away from taking the series.   The Cavs are much stronger this year, LeBron is much better this year... and the Celtics are much weaker this year.   

Common sense prediction:  Cavs in 5. 
Wishful thinking prediction:  Celtics in 7

Your common sense.

I do look for Pierce to play LJ on defense though but, it will be the the other players (like miami they are a 1 man team) that will either win or lose it for Cleveland.  I expect Jamison, Williams, and Parker to underwhelm.

The only person that took Ray out of the series was Ray.  He was missing wide open shots.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I don't know how anyone can say the "key to the series" is anything other than Pierce.   If Pierce can somehow limit Bron a bit, we might do what we did 2 years ago.  Bron was still amazing, but he shot bad in that series and Pierce played out of his mind enough to somewhat cancel him out.    Problem is... 2 years ago the Cavs came 5 points away from taking the series.   The Cavs are much stronger this year, LeBron is much better this year... and the Celtics are much weaker this year.   

Common sense prediction:  Cavs in 5. 
Wishful thinking prediction:  Celtics in 7

Pierce did not play out of his mind against Cleveland. He had one extremely great game, another very good game, and the other performances were quite forgettable.... some very poor. We still came away with the series.

[TitleMaster]

The only person that took Ray out of the series was Ray.  He was missing wide open shots.

Ray was tossing bricks till the middle of the ECF.

That's when tide turned and the Celts were actually closing out series by winning 'em on the road. Think about it, before game 4 of the NBA Finals, who ever thought that the Celts could rally from being behind 24, to win it on the road?

Thus, I'd say the first two 7 game series was do to Ray's poor shooting, Rondo's lack of know-how on an opponent's court, and even KG having bad road games. With today's team, neither series goes 7.

[LarBrd33]

I don't know how anyone can say the "key to the series" is anything other than Pierce.   If Pierce can somehow limit Bron a bit, we might do what we did 2 years ago.  Bron was still amazing, but he shot bad in that series and Pierce played out of his mind enough to somewhat cancel him out.    Problem is... 2 years ago the Cavs came 5 points away from taking the series.   The Cavs are much stronger this year, LeBron is much better this year... and the Celtics are much weaker this year.   

Common sense prediction:  Cavs in 5. 
Wishful thinking prediction:  Celtics in 7

Pierce did not play out of his mind against Cleveland. He had one extremely great game, another very good game, and the other performances were quite forgettable.... some very poor. We still came away with the series.

True correction.  He played out of his mind in game 7.  The rest of the time he focused all his efforts on slowing LeBron.  LeBron still had an impressive series, but shot under 40%

[LarBrd33]

The only person that took Ray out of the series was Ray.  He was missing wide open shots.

Ray was tossing bricks till the middle of the ECF.

That's when tide turned and the Celts were actually closing out series by winning 'em on the road. Think about it, before game 4 of the NBA Finals, who ever thought that the Celts could rally from being behind 24, to win it on the road?

Thus, I'd say the first two 7 game series was do to Ray's poor shooting, Rondo's lack of know-how on an opponent's court, and even KG having bad road games. With today's team, neither series goes 7.

I disagree.  I specifically remember the Cavs sending two guys at Ray, manning up on him constantly and pushing him away from the three point line.   He wasn't getting open looks at all.  MOst of his shots were self-created.  The Cavs gameplanned for him.  Meanwhile, Pierce was expending all of his energy defending LeBron and didn't have much left to play offense.   Honestly, the Cavs got in Ray's head.  By the Pistons series, his confidence was shot.  He needed a "magic sleeve" to convince himself he still had game.