Probably the worst news for the Cavs

[Chris]

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

Agreed.  I think Pierce can pick his spots, but if he has a big game, I think it is a bad sign for the C's.

[Drucci]

Nice thread Roy, I agree with you, I was thinking after game 1 "well Paul won't have two bad games in a row" and now I'm thinking he is due for one or more good (not even great) games in this series... so the Cavs will have to take the punches and hopefully Pierce gets hot when Rondo and KG/Ray are already dominating the game.

[Evantime34]

Sorry didn't mean to change the subject Roy, now I'll give you my opinion on your topic.

So far in the first two games I have seen Pierce struggle to score on LeBron. At some point in the series the Cavs will be putting Lebron on Rondo due to the fact that he is absolutely killing anyone who is guarding him. At this point Pierce will take advantage of the mismatch. If they switch LeBron back on him Pierce will already be hot and it will be too late. Pierce scores 30+ in this game.

I predict this game will happen Friday. As a basketball fan it obvious that the Cavs need to switch the match up on Rondo. It should be obvious to Mike Brown too. With 3 days of rest inbetween games I think the Cavs try to make that switch. When they do, they will get absolutely torched by the truth.

[FallGuy]

Ultimately, I think the series rests with the Celtics, regardless of what the Cavaliers do. The Celtics are more capable of winning it and equally capable of giving it away. They’re better, but sloppier.

[misha]

PP is the last guy I'm worried about. He'll get his in the next games. Even though, like many pointed out, Lebron is not a bad defender, Paul can still score 30+ points on him.

[Bankshot]

Only the first game was a lousy shooting night. The second night he was 4-10, that's not bad.  One more made shot and he would have been 50%.

[MMacOH]

Sorry didn't mean to change the subject Roy, now I'll give you my opinion on your topic.

So far in the first two games I have seen Pierce struggle to score on LeBron. At some point in the series the Cavs will be putting Lebron on Rondo due to the fact that he is absolutely killing anyone who is guarding him. At this point Pierce will take advantage of the mismatch. If they switch LeBron back on him Pierce will already be hot and it will be too late. Pierce scores 30+ in this game.

I predict this game will happen Friday. As a basketball fan it obvious that the Cavs need to switch the match up on Rondo. It should be obvious to Mike Brown too. With 3 days of rest inbetween games I think the Cavs try to make that switch. When they do, they will get absolutely torched by the truth.

It would be interesting to see how Moon or Jamison would handle guarding Pierce

[Evantime34]

Sorry didn't mean to change the subject Roy, now I'll give you my opinion on your topic.

So far in the first two games I have seen Pierce struggle to score on LeBron. At some point in the series the Cavs will be putting Lebron on Rondo due to the fact that he is absolutely killing anyone who is guarding him. At this point Pierce will take advantage of the mismatch. If they switch LeBron back on him Pierce will already be hot and it will be too late. Pierce scores 30+ in this game.

I predict this game will happen Friday. As a basketball fan it obvious that the Cavs need to switch the match up on Rondo. It should be obvious to Mike Brown too. With 3 days of rest inbetween games I think the Cavs try to make that switch. When they do, they will get absolutely torched by the truth.

It would be interesting to see how Moon or Jamison would handle guarding Pierce

Pierce would blow by Jameson on the perimeter. Moon would get abused when Pierce posted him up. If they go to this match up who ever they stick on him will be in heavy foul trouble. Then the other would come in and pick up a bunch of quick fouls.

Their best lineup defensively would be Parker on Pierce, LeBron on Rondo and Moon on Ray. However, if they use this lineup LeBron plays the point the entire game takes 40 shots and involves 0 teammates in the game.

[MMacOH]

Sorry didn't mean to change the subject Roy, now I'll give you my opinion on your topic.

So far in the first two games I have seen Pierce struggle to score on LeBron. At some point in the series the Cavs will be putting Lebron on Rondo due to the fact that he is absolutely killing anyone who is guarding him. At this point Pierce will take advantage of the mismatch. If they switch LeBron back on him Pierce will already be hot and it will be too late. Pierce scores 30+ in this game.

I predict this game will happen Friday. As a basketball fan it obvious that the Cavs need to switch the match up on Rondo. It should be obvious to Mike Brown too. With 3 days of rest inbetween games I think the Cavs try to make that switch. When they do, they will get absolutely torched by the truth.

It would be interesting to see how Moon or Jamison would handle guarding Pierce

Pierce would blow by Jameson on the perimeter. Moon would get abused when Pierce posted him up. If they go to this match up who ever they stick on him will be in heavy foul trouble. Then the other would come in and pick up a bunch of quick fouls.

Their best lineup defensively would be Parker on Pierce, LeBron on Rondo and Moon on Ray. However, if they use this lineup LeBron plays the point the entire game takes 40 shots and involves 0 teammates in the game.

You mean like when Lebron ran the point when Mo was hurt and averaged close to 12 assists a game?

[jpd985]

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.

Lebron is too strong for Pierce to out muscle and he is taller so Pierce can't shoot over him. Plus, Lebron can play Pierce more physical than other players getting away with a lot that should be called a foul

[Evantime34]

Sorry didn't mean to change the subject Roy, now I'll give you my opinion on your topic.

So far in the first two games I have seen Pierce struggle to score on LeBron. At some point in the series the Cavs will be putting Lebron on Rondo due to the fact that he is absolutely killing anyone who is guarding him. At this point Pierce will take advantage of the mismatch. If they switch LeBron back on him Pierce will already be hot and it will be too late. Pierce scores 30+ in this game.

I predict this game will happen Friday. As a basketball fan it obvious that the Cavs need to switch the match up on Rondo. It should be obvious to Mike Brown too. With 3 days of rest inbetween games I think the Cavs try to make that switch. When they do, they will get absolutely torched by the truth.

It would be interesting to see how Moon or Jamison would handle guarding Pierce

Pierce would blow by Jameson on the perimeter. Moon would get abused when Pierce posted him up. If they go to this match up who ever they stick on him will be in heavy foul trouble. Then the other would come in and pick up a bunch of quick fouls.

Their best lineup defensively would be Parker on Pierce, LeBron on Rondo and Moon on Ray. However, if they use this lineup LeBron plays the point the entire game takes 40 shots and involves 0 teammates in the game.

You mean like when Lebron ran the point when Mo was hurt and averaged close to 12 assists a game?

No I mean like the LeBron who got flustered in quarters 1-3 of game 2.
The Lebron that averaged 12 assists a game wasn't doing it against defenses the caliber of the Celtics in the playoffs.

If he's such a good point guard you think that Mike Brown would have went to him in that capacity earlier. I welcome Lebron running the point, guarding Rondo and constantly having the ball in his hands would make him less likely to take over in the 4th (due to fatigue).

[j804]

In other "bad news" for the cavs Anderson Verejao is listed day to day still with back spasms. LOL

[Greenbean]

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.

I agree. One thing to look for and count on is Lebron playing Rondo and sagginf off of his shot and helping on KG and Pierce more. Pierce should then be able to take advantage of some mismatches.

We have alot of weapons on offense.

[Mr October]

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. 

I agree with this. If Pierce needs to stay at 15 ppg, so be it. Everyone needs to pick their spots in this series.

On our home court, TA or Davis are due for an explosive game... perhaps Nate as well.

Heck, Ray is still due for one of those 6-9 from 3 point land games.

Ultimately the offense should continue to go through KG and Rondo the majority of the game. They are the the Celtics' biggest advantage.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I think guarding LeBron is very tasking for him. He's looking a bit sluggish out there at times, while he looked very fresh against Miami. We might need mix assignments a bit more, maybe put Ray on him more often since Ray has more energy.