Probably the worst news for the Cavs

[Roy Hobbs]

... is that Paul Pierce hasn't had a good game yet, and we still stole a game on the road.

Does anybody realistically think that Paul will keep putting up 13 - 14 point nights, on lousy shooting?  There are going to be games where he gets hot, and when he does, I think the Cavs are going to be in even worse trouble than they are now.

A lot of Cavs fans seem to be thinking that we've given the Cavs our best punch, and all they need to do is play better to compete.  However, our games have been far from perfect.  Pierce hasn't been contributing much, and the bench (outside of Rasheed last night) has been non-existent.  Despite that, we won a road game (and could have won two).

I'm very, very optimistic about this series.  At this point, I'd go so far as to call us the favorites, not just from a fan's point of view, but objectively, as well.

[PosImpos]

Well, I was thinking this too.  On the other hand, Pierce is regularly being defended by the best player in the game, so him playing below his normal level isn't that surprising. 

I think if the C's are to win this series it'll have to be won by Rondo, Allen, and KG.  I wouldn't rule out a game winner or a big shot here and there from Pierce, though.

[Roy Hobbs]

Well, I was thinking this too.  On the other hand, Pierce is regularly being defended by the best player in the game, so him playing below his normal level isn't that surprising. 

I think if the C's are to win this series it'll have to be won by Rondo, Allen, and KG.  I wouldn't rule out a game winner or a big shot here and there from Pierce, though.

It's not like Pierce hasn't had big games against Lebron in the past, though, or like Lebron is shutting Paul down.  Pierce is simply missing open shots right now, and maybe trying to do a little too much.  I think he'll find his shooting stroke, and will at the very least get back into the 18 - 20 point per game range.

[Chris]

Please don't let Paul Pierce see this.  The last thing this team needs is Paul Pierce thinking he needs to take over a game.  If it comes organically, great, but Pierce is not what he was 2 years ago. 

[moiso]

The defense has a lot to do with Paul not getting in a groove, but the fact is that it's been a long time since Paul has put together a string of dominant games.  We used to count on Paul to have consistently good games, now we hope for a big one here or there.

[angryguy77]

... is that Paul Pierce hasn't had a good game yet, and we still stole a game on the road.

Does anybody realistically think that Paul will keep putting up 13 - 14 point nights, on lousy shooting?  There are going to be games where he gets hot, and when he does, I think the Cavs are going to be in even worse trouble than they are now.

A lot of Cavs fans seem to be thinking that we've given the Cavs our best punch, and all they need to do is play better to compete.  However, our games have been far from perfect.  Pierce hasn't been contributing much, and the bench (outside of Rasheed last night) has been non-existent.  Despite that, we won a road game (and could have won two).

I'm very, very optimistic about this series.  At this point, I'd go so far as to call us the favorites, not just from a fan's point of view, but objectively, as well.

Agree 100%

[Evantime34]

... is that Paul Pierce hasn't had a good game yet, and we still stole a game on the road.

Does anybody realistically think that Paul will keep putting up 13 - 14 point nights, on lousy shooting?  There are going to be games where he gets hot, and when he does, I think the Cavs are going to be in even worse trouble than they are now.

A lot of Cavs fans seem to be thinking that we've given the Cavs our best punch, and all they need to do is play better to compete.  However, our games have been far from perfect.  Pierce hasn't been contributing much, and the bench (outside of Rasheed last night) has been non-existent.  Despite that, we won a road game (and could have won two).

I'm very, very optimistic about this series.  At this point, I'd go so far as to call us the favorites, not just from a fan's point of view, but objectively, as well.

Not to nitpick but I do not like the expression stole. It makes it seem like the C's barely won and were lucky to get out of there with a win (everyone is using this phrase, this is not directed at you).

I would say if we won game one we would have went to the Cavs house in the middle of the night and took all their stuff. In game two we showed up at their house rang the doorbell and walked in. When the Cavs saw us they decided to give us the deed to their house.

To recap if we had won game 1 it would have been theft. Winning game two was claiming ownership.

[angryguy77]

I think we are going to see cleveland do everything they can slow down rondo and kg next game. This should give paul some space to find his range again.

[Eddie20]

Yes, and it's true what Doc says...(paraphrase) "Role players play better at home".

[Brendan]

Lebron is a better defender and Pierce is a worse player than in the past, but if Pierce gets hot with his three point shot, he's going to do some damage. He looked awful for a while last night - until he blew past Williams for the layup that stopped the bleeding.

One thing that was good about our bench in 2008 is there were a lot of guys that could "blow up." Now - not so much. Although any game where Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are both hitting their 3pters makes the C's basically unbeatable.

I do like that we've figured out how to get reliable offense out of KG in the post against Jamison. Posting KG relentlessly really helps the team control things.

[Brendan]

... is that Paul Pierce hasn't had a good game yet, and we still stole a game on the road.

Does anybody realistically think that Paul will keep putting up 13 - 14 point nights, on lousy shooting?  There are going to be games where he gets hot, and when he does, I think the Cavs are going to be in even worse trouble than they are now.

A lot of Cavs fans seem to be thinking that we've given the Cavs our best punch, and all they need to do is play better to compete.  However, our games have been far from perfect.  Pierce hasn't been contributing much, and the bench (outside of Rasheed last night) has been non-existent.  Despite that, we won a road game (and could have won two).

I'm very, very optimistic about this series.  At this point, I'd go so far as to call us the favorites, not just from a fan's point of view, but objectively, as well.

Not to nitpick but I do not like the expression stole. It makes it seem like the C's barely won and were lucky to get out of there with a win (everyone is using this phrase, this is not directed at you).

I would say if we won game one we would have went to the Cavs house in the middle of the night and took all their stuff. In game two we showed up at their house rang the doorbell and walked in. When the Cavs saw us they decided to give us the deed to their house.

To recap if we had won game 1 it would have been theft. Winning game two was claiming ownership.

So you are saying The Celtics took adverse possession of game 2. I like it.

[Brendan]

I think we are going to see cleveland do everything they can slow down rondo and kg next game. This should give paul some space to find his range again.

On point and on target. TP.

Part of the reason PP hasn't been the truth is CLE has been taking him out of his game, result has been KG destroying Jamison and Rondo lighting it up. But that's only part of it - Pierce hasn't looked great either.

If Lebron's elbow lingers I agree with Roy - C's are the favorities.

[drza44]

My response to this would be something I've been noting in the post-mortem posts I've been making after the games: Pierce is performing almost exactly to the level that he did against the Cavs in the '08 playoffs.

Through 2 games, Pierce is averaging 13.5 points (33% FG), 3.5 assists, 4.0 Turnovers

Through the first 6 games in '08 Pierce averaged 15.8 points (36% FG) with 3.3 assists and 3.3 turnovers.

The precedent seems to be set that in the postseason Pierce doesn't shoot well or take good care of the ball against LeBron and the Cavs.

That said.

Pierce had one big explosion in 2008, and it came at the perfect time.  I wouldn't be surprised at all if he's got something like that up his sleeves at some point in the coming games.  On the whole, I think his play will likely be like it's been.  But he definitely has the capacity to explode at any given point.

[MMacOH]

Honestly if Pierce has a grat game that most likely means that Rondo and KG aren't going to be effective whch would be a huge advantage for the Cavs.  

Rondo and KG are the key to this series.  

I think Pierce is giving you what he is going to give you.  Lebron is a much better defender now than he was 2 years ago,and Pierce is working double time to cover Lebron

[PosImpos]

My response to this would be something I've been noting in the post-mortem posts I've been making after the games: Pierce is performing almost exactly to the level that he did against the Cavs in the '08 playoffs.

Through 2 games, Pierce is averaging 13.5 points (33% FG), 3.5 assists, 4.0 Turnovers

Through the first 6 games in '08 Pierce averaged 15.8 points (36% FG) with 3.3 assists and 3.3 turnovers.

The precedent seems to be set that in the postseason Pierce doesn't shoot well or take good care of the ball against LeBron and the Cavs.

That said.

Pierce had one big explosion in 2008, and it came at the perfect time.  I wouldn't be surprised at all if he's got something like that up his sleeves at some point in the coming games.  On the whole, I think his play will likely be like it's been.  But he definitely has the capacity to explode at any given point.

Hopefully it doesn't have to come in Game 7