Dominated

[rav123]

...and the crowd energy and passion is way higher than during the season.

Our fans have flipped the switch  

why does everyone think that if they increase the tempo it somehow hurts boston? i think boston is a better team when they can get out and go

Because Cleveland has a more athletic team, and a deeper team. The Big 3 would all tire more quickly than Cleveland would.

This.  The Cavs have outscored the Celtics this year with a smaller lineup.  The Celtics can get out and run in spurts, but they can't do it consistently.  

Are you a Celtic or Cavs fan?  

MMacOH is a Cavs fan.

[Atzar]

I think the Cavs' problem is that Rondo is playing like the best point guard in the NBA right now.  For six of the eight quarters thus far, he has absolutely ruined Mo Williams on both sides of the ball.  I think the reason the Celtics lost Game 1, more than Mo catching fire in the third, was the fact that the Celtic offense went away from Rondo in the fourth quarter and instead tried to get Pierce his hero shots.  Pierce needed to try to contain LeBron as best he could while resting on offense, and Rondo and KG needed to run the offense. 

LeBron is the best player in this series, but thus far Rondo has been a fairly close second.

[MMacOH]

The reason the Cavs are successful with a small lineup in because KG and Perk can not keep up with Hickson, Varejao and Jamison on the pick and roll.  When Shaq is in the game, he negates the pick and roll by being in the lane.  When Shaq is out of the game, the Cavs spread the floor, run the pick and roll and beat the Celtics to the hoop with their quickness.

The Cavs are going to put a lot of focus on stopping Rondo tomorrow night.  He has been dominating the Cavs.

[Bankshot]

Yeah, I hope Brown is too scared to bench Shaq. Shaq in the game is good for the Celtics. 

[Brendan]

I think if he used the roster better, they'd be unstoppable, and we'd be down two-nil. Brown is very average, and average doesn't go against superstars, including superstars that are past their prime and can sabotage things (Shaq.) - I was never a Doc fan early, I feel about how I would feel had the Sox won in 03 with Grady Little. But one thing is - he didn't take any crap from Pierce early on, Doc established that he'd be respected or fired for butting heads with the superstar, but he wouldn't be cowed. Brown? Don't think we can say the same thing. (BTW - The Zen Master didn't know how to do that either - which is why Shaq/Kobe split couldn't be managed.)

Shaq could be used more effectively as a 6th or 7th man - especially when Lebron is out and the Celtics' weaker defenders are playing.

Lebron at the PF is a nightmare for the C's (look at Hickson's hot game 1 - he's not doing anything Leron couldn't do ten times better.)

And I agree with Who - Parker's reputation as a defender is mostly reputation at this point. Maybe he's good against isolate and attack off the dribble guys, Ray Allen is rubbing him off screens all day.

[makaveli]

Yeah, I hope Brown is too scared to bench Shaq. Shaq in the game is good for the Celtics. 

Yep, Shaq is the weak link, and C's and everyone else know about it. That KG PP high pick is a 90% chance of scoring the ball.

[BballTim]

]

The Cavs are going to put a lot of focus on stopping Rondo tomorrow night.  He has been dominating the Cavs.

  That should open things up for Paul and the others.

[Chris]

The reason the Cavs are successful with a small lineup in because KG and Perk can not keep up with Hickson, Varejao and Jamison on the pick and roll.  When Shaq is in the game, he negates the pick and roll by being in the lane.  When Shaq is out of the game, the Cavs spread the floor, run the pick and roll and beat the Celtics to the hoop with their quickness.

The Cavs are going to put a lot of focus on stopping Rondo tomorrow night.  He has been dominating the Cavs.

I agree with all of this, although I think the advantage the Cavs have with the quicker lineup has been negated a bit in the playoffs by the C's higher level of focus compared to the regular season. 

Agreed about them focussing more on Rondo though.  I expect them to put Lebron on him, playing as a free safety, taking away passing and driving lanes, and they will try to force him to shoot.  Rondo has done a much better job of adjusting to things like this lately, but he is going to have to take it up another level next game, if he wants to stay effective.  I expect to see much more of other guys initiating the offense, and Rondo roaming around looking for "holes" in the zone, where he can get open, and throw off the defensive rotation.  I also would expect him to turn up the defensive intensity another notch, in order to try to force more turnovers, to open up the fast break game for the C's.

[Greenbean]

The reason the Cavs are successful with a small lineup in because KG and Perk can not keep up with Hickson, Varejao and Jamison on the pick and roll.  When Shaq is in the game, he negates the pick and roll by being in the lane.  When Shaq is out of the game, the Cavs spread the floor, run the pick and roll and beat the Celtics to the hoop with their quickness.

The Cavs are going to put a lot of focus on stopping Rondo tomorrow night.  He has been dominating the Cavs.

What do you mean "keep up" with the pick and roll? I agree they cannot keep up with their energy maybe in the open floor, but KG is the best pick and roll defender in the league even at this poitn IMO.

I agree with your assertion that the Cavs are better suited to go small but just not for the reason you are stating.

Also, a major advantage we have had so far is KG's size advantage in the post over Jamison. Going small doesnt help that much. Either way it will be interesting to see what Brown does.

I am positive he will put LeBron on Rondo for stretches and Im hoping the Celtics will be ready to attack that strategy.

[Rondo2287]

The reason the Cavs are successful with a small lineup in because KG and Perk can not keep up with Hickson, Varejao and Jamison on the pick and roll.  When Shaq is in the game, he negates the pick and roll by being in the lane.  When Shaq is out of the game, the Cavs spread the floor, run the pick and roll and beat the Celtics to the hoop with their quickness.

The Cavs are going to put a lot of focus on stopping Rondo tomorrow night.  He has been dominating the Cavs.

I agree with all of this, although I think the advantage the Cavs have with the quicker lineup has been negated a bit in the playoffs by the C's higher level of focus compared to the regular season. 

Agreed about them focussing more on Rondo though.  I expect them to put Lebron on him, playing as a free safety, taking away passing and driving lanes, and they will try to force him to shoot.  Rondo has done a much better job of adjusting to things like this lately, but he is going to have to take it up another level next game, if he wants to stay effective.  I expect to see much more of other guys initiating the offense, and Rondo roaming around looking for "holes" in the zone, where he can get open, and throw off the defensive rotation.  I also would expect him to turn up the defensive intensity another notch, in order to try to force more turnovers, to open up the fast break game for the C's.

So if they put bron bron on Rondo doesnt that mean that either Ray or Pierce is gonna be guarded by Mo?  Wont we be able to exploit those matchups big time?

[Chris]

The reason the Cavs are successful with a small lineup in because KG and Perk can not keep up with Hickson, Varejao and Jamison on the pick and roll.  When Shaq is in the game, he negates the pick and roll by being in the lane.  When Shaq is out of the game, the Cavs spread the floor, run the pick and roll and beat the Celtics to the hoop with their quickness.

The Cavs are going to put a lot of focus on stopping Rondo tomorrow night.  He has been dominating the Cavs.

I agree with all of this, although I think the advantage the Cavs have with the quicker lineup has been negated a bit in the playoffs by the C's higher level of focus compared to the regular season. 

Agreed about them focussing more on Rondo though.  I expect them to put Lebron on him, playing as a free safety, taking away passing and driving lanes, and they will try to force him to shoot.  Rondo has done a much better job of adjusting to things like this lately, but he is going to have to take it up another level next game, if he wants to stay effective.  I expect to see much more of other guys initiating the offense, and Rondo roaming around looking for "holes" in the zone, where he can get open, and throw off the defensive rotation.  I also would expect him to turn up the defensive intensity another notch, in order to try to force more turnovers, to open up the fast break game for the C's.

So if they put bron bron on Rondo doesnt that mean that either Ray or Pierce is gonna be guarded by Mo?  Wont we be able to exploit those matchups big time?

Mo was covering Ray for periods of the last couple games as well.  Other than when they post him up, it doesn't make a huge difference, since the Cavs play the passing lanes so well, that it makes it very tough to get Ray the ball in one of his "spots".  And with a guy like Lebron playing free safety off of Rondo, it makes it even harder, because his wingspan is able to take away 90% of the passing lanes himself, forcing Rondo to make dangerous passes that need to be absolutely perfect.

[Greenbean]

The reason the Cavs are successful with a small lineup in because KG and Perk can not keep up with Hickson, Varejao and Jamison on the pick and roll.  When Shaq is in the game, he negates the pick and roll by being in the lane.  When Shaq is out of the game, the Cavs spread the floor, run the pick and roll and beat the Celtics to the hoop with their quickness.

The Cavs are going to put a lot of focus on stopping Rondo tomorrow night.  He has been dominating the Cavs.

I agree with all of this, although I think the advantage the Cavs have with the quicker lineup has been negated a bit in the playoffs by the C's higher level of focus compared to the regular season. 

Agreed about them focussing more on Rondo though.  I expect them to put Lebron on him, playing as a free safety, taking away passing and driving lanes, and they will try to force him to shoot.  Rondo has done a much better job of adjusting to things like this lately, but he is going to have to take it up another level next game, if he wants to stay effective.  I expect to see much more of other guys initiating the offense, and Rondo roaming around looking for "holes" in the zone, where he can get open, and throw off the defensive rotation.  I also would expect him to turn up the defensive intensity another notch, in order to try to force more turnovers, to open up the fast break game for the C's.

So if they put bron bron on Rondo doesnt that mean that either Ray or Pierce is gonna be guarded by Mo?  Wont we be able to exploit those matchups big time?

Well the idea is that Lebron literally does not play defense on Rondo so Lebron would be able to help onto either of those guys. We have seen this before with Kobe on Rondo in the Finals. It can work for stretches but Rondo has become excellent at attacking the hole even when guys are sagging off of him.

Ball movement will be paramount to make the Cavs pay for leaving a guy open.

[BballTim]

The reason the Cavs are successful with a small lineup in because KG and Perk can not keep up with Hickson, Varejao and Jamison on the pick and roll.  When Shaq is in the game, he negates the pick and roll by being in the lane.  When Shaq is out of the game, the Cavs spread the floor, run the pick and roll and beat the Celtics to the hoop with their quickness.

The Cavs are going to put a lot of focus on stopping Rondo tomorrow night.  He has been dominating the Cavs.

I agree with all of this, although I think the advantage the Cavs have with the quicker lineup has been negated a bit in the playoffs by the C's higher level of focus compared to the regular season. 

Agreed about them focussing more on Rondo though.  I expect them to put Lebron on him, playing as a free safety, taking away passing and driving lanes, and they will try to force him to shoot.  Rondo has done a much better job of adjusting to things like this lately, but he is going to have to take it up another level next game, if he wants to stay effective.  I expect to see much more of other guys initiating the offense, and Rondo roaming around looking for "holes" in the zone, where he can get open, and throw off the defensive rotation.  I also would expect him to turn up the defensive intensity another notch, in order to try to force more turnovers, to open up the fast break game for the C's.

So if they put bron bron on Rondo doesnt that mean that either Ray or Pierce is gonna be guarded by Mo?  Wont we be able to exploit those matchups big time?

Mo was covering Ray for periods of the last couple games as well.  Other than when they post him up, it doesn't make a huge difference, since the Cavs play the passing lanes so well, that it makes it very tough to get Ray the ball in one of his "spots".  And with a guy like Lebron playing free safety off of Rondo, it makes it even harder, because his wingspan is able to take away 90% of the passing lanes himself, forcing Rondo to make dangerous passes that need to be absolutely perfect.

  I think that having someone other than LeBron cover Pierce will be more of an advantage for us.

[Chris]

The reason the Cavs are successful with a small lineup in because KG and Perk can not keep up with Hickson, Varejao and Jamison on the pick and roll.  When Shaq is in the game, he negates the pick and roll by being in the lane.  When Shaq is out of the game, the Cavs spread the floor, run the pick and roll and beat the Celtics to the hoop with their quickness.

The Cavs are going to put a lot of focus on stopping Rondo tomorrow night.  He has been dominating the Cavs.

I agree with all of this, although I think the advantage the Cavs have with the quicker lineup has been negated a bit in the playoffs by the C's higher level of focus compared to the regular season. 

Agreed about them focussing more on Rondo though.  I expect them to put Lebron on him, playing as a free safety, taking away passing and driving lanes, and they will try to force him to shoot.  Rondo has done a much better job of adjusting to things like this lately, but he is going to have to take it up another level next game, if he wants to stay effective.  I expect to see much more of other guys initiating the offense, and Rondo roaming around looking for "holes" in the zone, where he can get open, and throw off the defensive rotation.  I also would expect him to turn up the defensive intensity another notch, in order to try to force more turnovers, to open up the fast break game for the C's.

So if they put bron bron on Rondo doesnt that mean that either Ray or Pierce is gonna be guarded by Mo?  Wont we be able to exploit those matchups big time?

Mo was covering Ray for periods of the last couple games as well.  Other than when they post him up, it doesn't make a huge difference, since the Cavs play the passing lanes so well, that it makes it very tough to get Ray the ball in one of his "spots".  And with a guy like Lebron playing free safety off of Rondo, it makes it even harder, because his wingspan is able to take away 90% of the passing lanes himself, forcing Rondo to make dangerous passes that need to be absolutely perfect.

  I think that having someone other than LeBron cover Pierce will be more of an advantage for us.

I agree...well, to a point.  As long as Pierce is committed to taking the ball to the hoop, then yes.  If he is just going to be launching up 20 footers, then it doesn't matter who is on him.

[MMacOH]

You guys are all making great points about how the Cavs will play Rondo.  Basically, I see the Cavs doing their best to get the ball out of Rondo's hands and make the rest of the Celtics become distributors (instead of just getting set up by great Rondo passes).  I have a feeling Brown is going to mix up some lineups as well.  Something like Lebron, Moon, Jamison, Hickson and AV may be out there to have length at every position. 

And, Greenbean, about KG, he just can't keep up on the 'roll.'  Hickson routinely beats him to the bucket once KG shows on Lebron.  And, with the floor spread, Perk can't rotate over fast enough either