I'm Encouraged, Despite the Loss

[Change]

I'm very encouraged. If they cut the TO and make few more shots, C's win game2.

[PosImpos]

The first half was very good.  The second half was pretty miserable.

The latter was encouraging, the former was pretty disappointing.

Overall, it was pretty much more of the same from this group...they gave us some flashes of brilliance, more than a few reasons to be hopeful - and then didn't have enough to close it out. 

So I guess I don't really see much of a moral victory in this Game 1.  Hopefully Games 2-4 will give me more to feel good about.

[GreenFaith1819]

Even with the lack of production from Sheed - the man isn't hurting us, per se.

Worst case Scenario with our Bench is this: Glen, TA, Marquis and Finley. I'd even give Shelden some burn. Even Glen will play better next game.

Pierce certainly won't play bad again next game. He will adjust. He's the Captain, he's done this before.

I'm as happy as a Pig in Slop for the way KG has played this post-season. He cancels out Jamison, Varejao.

Perk rebounded well, and kept Shaq in check.

Rondo should be able to have his way with Mo, Delonte, and the other CLE guards for remainder of series.

Ray had yet another solid game shooting.

Even with the disparities in the calls, and Lebron's Fake injury, we were still in this until the end.

[vinnie]

Even with the lack of production from Sheed - the man isn't hurting us, per se.

Worst case Scenario with our Bench is this: Glen, TA, Marquis and Finley. I'd even give Shelden some burn. Even Glen will play better next game.

Pierce certainly won't play bad again next game. He will adjust. He's the Captain, he's done this before.

I'm as happy as a Pig in Slop for the way KG has played this post-season. He cancels out Jamison, Varejao.

Perk rebounded well, and kept Shaq in check.

Rondo should be able to have his way with Mo, Delonte, and the other CLE guards for remainder of series.

Ray had yet another solid game shooting.

Even with the disparities in the calls, and Lebron's Fake injury, we were still in this until the end.

When Sheed is on the floor, the Celtics are basically playing 4 versus 5. That hurts the team, plain and simple.

[Spicoli]

I'm encouraged too, but I would have been more encouraged if we had pulled this win out.

It would have shown we learned something from the regular season. About how to fight back against our wilting 2nd half ways.

Alas, that didn't happen.

But if we are going to keep the gameplan to have Lebron get 30+....then we can't let another Cav hit 20.

If Lebron goes for 30 and another Cavs player goes for 20....it's a loss  99% of the time.

TP. LeBron is going to get his 30, regardless if he's playing poorly or not. The key has always been, not letting Mo Williams get his as well. If we shut him down, we're good. The help D has to be better in pick and roll scenarios involving Mo Williams.

[GreenFaith1819]

Even with the lack of production from Sheed - the man isn't hurting us, per se.

Worst case Scenario with our Bench is this: Glen, TA, Marquis and Finley. I'd even give Shelden some burn. Even Glen will play better next game.

Pierce certainly won't play bad again next game. He will adjust. He's the Captain, he's done this before.

I'm as happy as a Pig in Slop for the way KG has played this post-season. He cancels out Jamison, Varejao.

Perk rebounded well, and kept Shaq in check.

Rondo should be able to have his way with Mo, Delonte, and the other CLE guards for remainder of series.

Ray had yet another solid game shooting.

Even with the disparities in the calls, and Lebron's Fake injury, we were still in this until the end.

When Sheed is on the floor, the Celtics are basically playing 4 versus 5. That hurts the team, plain and simple.

Well, I don't know. If this was the case, then Doc wouldn't or shouldn't play him.

I keep mentioning Pierce, and I don't want anyone to believe that I am blaming him, but next game he won't shoot 5-17. he'll be back.

[LB3533]

There was a reason the Cavs played poorly. Our defense.

But once we let one guy get hot (Mo), that's all Lebron, and his 35/7/7, needed to pull away from us.

If we could have just contained the Williams streak a bit better & not make any more silly turnovers...we would have won the game due to our earlier built up 11 point lead.

[Bahku]

There was a reason the Cavs played poorly. Our defense.

But once we let one guy get hot (Mo), that's all Lebron, and his 35/7/7, needed to pull away from us.

If we could have just contained the Williams streak a bit better & not make any more silly turnovers...we would have won the game due to our earlier built up 11 point lead.

Yeah ... that was the turning point. If we could've stifled that little run, I think we would've been OK. As soon as we let the crowd back into it, the tide was turned. That's when we should've used a hard foul ... on Williams to send a message and get some emotion back.

[Q_FBE]

There is stuff to work off of. But what concerns me is those bench matchups.

Hickson kicked Stubby's butt.

West kicked TA's butt.

Sheed kicked Sheed's butt.

The ball don't lie. 

I just wish we had an answer for Cleveland's bench.

[Bahku]

Bahku - don't call your posts "Blind Optimism." I call my Optimism "Looking at the Celtics History of Overcoming Great Odds."

Nice Post. Loss was frustrating, but as long as we have the 2008 KG Anything is Truly Possible. And there is no reason why Rondo cannot keep up this pace. CLE has no answer for him.

Our Bench was not great..TA played well, but that is it. I look for Glen to be more productive next game, too.

If Pierce would've hit a few more shots, we win this one. I can understand why he may have been tentative, but he must adjust his game when the calls aren't going his way.

I look for The Captain to come out Big next game.

We got this.

Yeah ... I think we've gotten the wake-up call for this series, it will be more consistent effort from this point on. I also think the Cavs aren't quite as cocky or as sure of themselves as they were before this game. Let's hope we get a better shake on the free-throw stripe, or at least some realistic calls on LBJ.