Dominated

[MMacOH]

Okay....last night was just pure domination by the Celtics.  The Cavs looked completely lost and Boston looked like a fine tuned machine.

The Cavs ony hope is to either get Rondo in foul trouble or hope that he just gets plain tired as they have no answer for him at all.

The Cavs also need to do something about Jamison guarding KG.  That matchup is like watching me post up my 2 year old son.

Last night was also an excellent example of how poor of a coach Mike Brown is.  The Cavs continue to play into Boston's hands by running (well plodding actually) Shaq out onto the floor to slow the game down.

Boston played great last night.  Excellent defense, crisp offense.  Their screens were just spot on.  Their physical defense overwhelmed the Cavs.  The Cavs never adjusted to the fact that the refs were letting the Celtics play tough defense. 

The Celtics looked like the 1 seed in the East last night.

[slamtheking]

Okay....last night was just pure domination by the Celtics.  The Cavs looked completely lost and Boston looked like a fine tuned machine.

The Cavs ony hope is to either get Rondo in foul trouble or hope that he just gets plain tired as they have no answer for him at all.

The Cavs also need to do something about Jamison guarding KG.  That matchup is like watching me post up my 2 year old son.

Last night was also an excellent example of how poor of a coach Mike Brown is.  The Cavs continue to play into Boston's hands by running (well plodding actually) Shaq out onto the floor to slow the game down.

Boston played great last night.  Excellent defense, crisp offense.  Their screens were just spot on.  Their physical defense overwhelmed the Cavs.  The Cavs never adjusted to the fact that the refs were letting the Celtics play tough defense. 

The Celtics looked like the 1 seed in the East last night.

The C's finally played the way we expected to see them play throughout the season.  If they had, I agree, they would have been te #1 seed in the East.

[Fafnir]

I think the Cavs should adjust and play Jamison and Shaq less. Of course that means if AV is having back issues the Cavs could be in serious trouble. He's the big that makes the Cavs defense go, and attacks the C's rebounding weakness.

[Roy Hobbs]

What's the general feeling among Cavs fans, MMac?  Are you guys starting to get scared?

I know you've always respected the Celts, but there were a lot of Cavs fans who seemed to think that this was going to be a cakewalk.

Well done, by the way, in terms of not using the word "elbow" once.

[MMacOH]

What's the general feeling among Cavs fans, MMac?  Are you guys starting to get scared?

I know you've always respected the Celts, but there were a lot of Cavs fans who seemed to think that this was going to be a cakewalk.

Well done, by the way, in terms of not using the word "elbow" once.

The Cavs fans who ruin Cleveland fan's reputations (like the idiot who threw a beer bottle last night) are lining up on the bridge (may not be the worst thing if they jumped).  The more down to earth Cavs fans seem to think that the Cavs are not playing with the intensity that they need to (which is very true).  I think most fans were expecting the Celtics from the regular season, which was foolish on their part, so some are getting scared.

I am going to wait until Friday and see how the team comes out.  If the Cavs come out playing with then intensity they should then I think the Cavs can even series in Game 3 or 4.  I still think the Cavs are the better team if Brown can play the guys that should be playing (which is a big stretch for him). 

As for Lebron's elbow, I think it actually bothers him, but not to the point it can actually be used as an excuse.  Lebron isn't the issue with the Cavs right now.  It's his supporting cast that't the problem.

I would like to see more AV on KG, or even Lebron could handle KG better than Jamison.  I wouldn't mind seeing a lineup of Delonte, Moon, Lebron Jamison and AV or Lebron Moon Jamison Hickson and AV out there.  I would like to see the Cavs use much more athelticism and size.  You can actually put Jamison on KG if you have someone tall enough on Rondo to disrupt his entry pass.  Honestly, the less of Shaq the Cavs put out on the floor the better.  I would give Shaq about 5 minutes to see if he is on his game and if he isn't he sits.

[Cman]

Okay....last night was just pure domination by the Celtics.  The Cavs looked completely lost and Boston looked like a fine tuned machine.

The Cavs ony hope is to either get Rondo in foul trouble or hope that he just gets plain tired as they have no answer for him at all.

The Cavs also need to do something about Jamison guarding KG.  That matchup is like watching me post up my 2 year old son.

Last night was also an excellent example of how poor of a coach Mike Brown is.  The Cavs continue to play into Boston's hands by running (well plodding actually) Shaq out onto the floor to slow the game down.

Boston played great last night.  Excellent defense, crisp offense.  Their screens were just spot on.  Their physical defense overwhelmed the Cavs.  The Cavs never adjusted to the fact that the refs were letting the Celtics play tough defense. 

The Celtics looked like the 1 seed in the East last night.

TP to you since I know you're a Cavs fan.

I guess my response would be similar to LBJ's response after the loss last night.  It is a long series.  We'll see what happens.  The Cs can get frustrated, and if they lose focus or hit a slump, the series belongs to the Cavs.

[slamtheking]

What's the general feeling among Cavs fans, MMac?  Are you guys starting to get scared?

I know you've always respected the Celts, but there were a lot of Cavs fans who seemed to think that this was going to be a cakewalk.

Well done, by the way, in terms of not using the word "elbow" once.

The Cavs fans who ruin Cleveland fan's reputations (like the idiot who threw a beer bottle last night) are lining up on the bridge (may not be the worst thing if they jumped).  The more down to earth Cavs fans seem to think that the Cavs are not playing with the intensity that they need to (which is very true).  I think most fans were expecting the Celtics from the regular season, which was foolish on their part, so some are getting scared.

I am going to wait until Friday and see how the team comes out.  If the Cavs come out playing with then intensity they should then I think the Cavs can even series in Game 3 or 4.  I still think the Cavs are the better team if Brown can play the guys that should be playing (which is a big stretch for him). 

As for Lebron's elbow, I think it actually bothers him, but not to the point it can actually be used as an excuse.  Lebron isn't the issue with the Cavs right now.  It's his supporting cast that't the problem.

I would like to see more AV on KG, or even Lebron could handle KG better than Jamison.  I wouldn't mind seeing a lineup of Delonte, Moon, Lebron Jamison and AV or Lebron Moon Jamison Hickson and AV out there.  I would like to see the Cavs use much more athelticism and size.  You can actually put Jamison on KG if you have someone tall enough on Rondo to disrupt his entry pass.  Honestly, the less of Shaq the Cavs put out on the floor the better.  I would give Shaq about 5 minutes to see if he is on his game and if he isn't he sits.

interesting insights.  always good to see what the opposition is thinking.  thanks for sharing.  TP for the thoughts.

[Potapenko Boxout]

I think the Cavs should adjust and play Jamison and Shaq less. Of course that means if AV is having back issues the Cavs could be in serious trouble. He's the big that makes the Cavs defense go, and attacks the C's rebounding weakness.

I'd play Shaq less, I'm not totally sure about playing Jamison less. He looks good.

[MMacOH]

Thanks for the TPs guys.  I always enjoy discussing the games with you guys.  You won't see me having a lot of discussions after a Cavs win though.  I know the last thing you guys want to hear is a Cavs fan talking after a Boston loss.

[PosImpos]

I keep saying this to my friend who is a big Cleveland fan (and I give her credit for not being a big bandwagoner because she wears a Booby Gibson jersey sometimes):

There's no way the Celtics are going to win three straight against the Cavs.

That and the fact that the Celtics weren't a great home team all season as well as the harsh reality (for the C's) that LeBron simply isn't going to play like that two games in a row and I think Game 3 and Game 4 are going to be very, very difficult for the Celtics.

[Roy Hobbs]

I keep saying this to my friend who is a big Cleveland fan (and I give her credit for not being a big bandwagoner because she wears a Booby Gibson jersey sometimes):

There's no way the Celtics are going to win three straight against the Cavs.

That and the fact that the Celtics weren't a great home team all season as well as the harsh reality (for the C's) that LeBron simply isn't going to play like that two games in a row and I think Game 3 and Game 4 are going to be very, very difficult for the Celtics.

Sure they'll be difficult games.  However, I certainly don't think they're unwinnable ones. 

I don't buy the "we can't beat Cleveland three straight" argument.  I mean, we should have won Game 1; it's not like we're being outclassed.

[PosImpos]

I keep saying this to my friend who is a big Cleveland fan (and I give her credit for not being a big bandwagoner because she wears a Booby Gibson jersey sometimes):

There's no way the Celtics are going to win three straight against the Cavs.

That and the fact that the Celtics weren't a great home team all season as well as the harsh reality (for the C's) that LeBron simply isn't going to play like that two games in a row and I think Game 3 and Game 4 are going to be very, very difficult for the Celtics.

Sure they'll be difficult games.  However, I certainly don't think they're unwinnable ones. 

I don't buy the "we can't beat Cleveland three straight" argument.  I mean, we should have won Game 1; it's not like we're being outclassed.

True, I just have a hard time seeing the Celtics - or any team, honestly - beating the Cavs in three straight games.  They're a very good team.  I guess we'll see.

[Drucci]

TP MMac for acknowledging the facts of game 2, it's nice to see opposing fans show some unbiased opinion.

Also, I think it's an error to take the Celtics' regular season home record in consideration for the playoffs. As we've seen so far in the playoffs, the C's still have their usual problems and "collapses" (although they avoided the catastrophic ones) but we've also seen that they play much better at home than they did during the season, and the crowd energy and passion is way higher than during the season.

I think the Garden has become a really tough place to win in for the opposing team once again. Which doesn't mean Cleveland can't or won't win there but it's a tough task in my opinion, regardless of the Celtics regular season's home record.

[KJ33]

I keep saying this to my friend who is a big Cleveland fan (and I give her credit for not being a big bandwagoner because she wears a Booby Gibson jersey sometimes):

There's no way the Celtics are going to win three straight against the Cavs.

That and the fact that the Celtics weren't a great home team all season as well as the harsh reality (for the C's) that LeBron simply isn't going to play like that two games in a row and I think Game 3 and Game 4 are going to be very, very difficult for the Celtics.

Sure they'll be difficult games.  However, I certainly don't think they're unwinnable ones. 

I don't buy the "we can't beat Cleveland three straight" argument.  I mean, we should have won Game 1; it's not like we're being outclassed.

True, I just have a hard time seeing the Celtics - or any team, honestly - beating the Cavs in three straight games.  They're a very good team.  I guess we'll see.

Why do they have to beat them 3 straight games? They only have to win 4 to win the series, if they win Game 3 and go up 2-1, or even go down 2-1, they can still pull off the series by only having to win 2 in a row.

[slamtheking]

I keep saying this to my friend who is a big Cleveland fan (and I give her credit for not being a big bandwagoner because she wears a Booby Gibson jersey sometimes):

There's no way the Celtics are going to win three straight against the Cavs.

That and the fact that the Celtics weren't a great home team all season as well as the harsh reality (for the C's) that LeBron simply isn't going to play like that two games in a row and I think Game 3 and Game 4 are going to be very, very difficult for the Celtics.

Sure they'll be difficult games.  However, I certainly don't think they're unwinnable ones. 

I don't buy the "we can't beat Cleveland three straight" argument.  I mean, we should have won Game 1; it's not like we're being outclassed.

True, I just have a hard time seeing the Celtics - or any team, honestly - beating the Cavs in three straight games.  They're a very good team.  I guess we'll see.

I think that's just it though.  The Cavs are a very good team -- when Lebron is getting support.  I think the C's have really exposed that this series.  The Cavs cannot win when Bron has no support.  This is the same issue that's plagued that team for years.  The difference this year is that there are more players that are likely to offer some support than in years past. 

The Cavs supporting cast does not instill fear in me as a fan.  Only Jamison is really a player that I would expect to see contributions from every game.  Williams, West, Shaq, etc ... are too hit or miss to be counted on every game.  When they aren't having a good night, Cle will not win against really good teams like the C's.  The first 2 games this series lay that out for all to see-->game 1, Williams and West provide support and Cavs win.  game 2, no one is hot and Cavs lose.