Cavs (2-1) at Celtics (1-2) Game 4 5/9

[Thruthelookingglass]

Foul trouble again. This game is a lot like game1. Hope the players learned their lesson in game1, don't be tentative even with foul troubles.

It's not just trouble, it's REAL trouble.  We may be seeing more of Shelden very shortly. 

[Frezz]

46 free throws in the first half. Meanwhile, David Stern sits and wonders why everyone hates his league.

[Bahku]

Paul looked out of it in the post-game press conference the other night, too ... man, he has GOT to show up in this second half. He's a super-star, but he's not playing like one ... wake up, Paul! Please!!!

He was a superstar.

Sorry ... not ready to hang him out to dry yet ... I still think he's got plenty left.

[Tommysgod]

Can we please stop the Pierce hating, my god. It's beyond obvious the celtics are going a different way in this series on offense and it doesnt really involve a lot of Pierce. Pierce is our best offensive player, but that doesn't mean we always need to go to him. Doc sees how much Rondo is dominating his matchup, so that's what we've done all series long. This hasn't allowed Pierce to get in any kind of rythem and when your going against Lebron both ways all game its even harder. Pierce will be fine and without him, we wouldn't  be here and we wouldn't have any chance at advancing or winning a title.

[CelticSooner]

This game is a lot like game 1. I hope the C's can get a little more separation.

[Tradetime]

I know I'm probably going to get dumped on for saying this, but Paul honestly looks like he's ready to go play golf.

The problems don't look physical - more mental mistakes. He just looks out of it.

When I think back to this season, and all the fourth quarter collapses, and all the times PP killed our offense in the fourth by dominating the ball... and then marry that to the stories about problems between young and old guys on the team... I wonder...

Is PP the problem on this team?

Idk about the locker room stuff, we may never know about that definitely. But I've said a few times that when Rondo starts to deferring to Paul late in the 3rd qtr/4th qtr our offense becomes stagnant, and that's when we struggle to maintain late game leads.

I agree. Rondo needs to stay as active as possible; keep knocking the ball away from Lebrick from behind, use your speed to keep blowing by Mo Williams and look for his own offense like he has. We can't afford to let Pierce "find his game"-- this is the playoffs.

[Thruthelookingglass]

46 free throws in the first half. Meanwhile, David Stern sits and wonders why everyone hates his league.

Stern's laughing all the way to the bank. 

[Green Hell]

I love the energy of the Garden right now. I thumb my nose at all you naysayers who blamed the crowd for booing. Give the people a show and they will give right back to you, simple as that.

[FallGuy]

Can we please stop the Pierce hating, my god. It's beyond obvious the celtics are going a different way in this series on offense and it doesnt really involve a lot of Pierce. Pierce is our best offensive player, but that doesn't mean we always need to go to him. Doc sees how much Rondo is dominating his matchup, so that's what we've done all series long. This hasn't allowed Pierce to get in any kind of rythem and when your going against Lebron both ways all game its even harder. Pierce will be fine and without him, we wouldn't  be here and we wouldn't have any chance at advancing or winning a title.

Pierce is not our best offensive player. I don't know how anyone who's watched the games can think that.

Also, you can say Pierce will be fine. But he's given us nothing on offense for 3.5 games now.

[RJ87]

Paul looked out of it in the post-game press conference the other night, too ... man, he has GOT to show up in this second half. He's a super-star, but he's not playing like one ... wake up, Paul! Please!!!

He was a superstar.

Yeah, I think that's the problem... He can't do the things he used to physically, but doesn't seem to be making that transition mentally. Look at KG, he's found a way to be effective regardless of what his body can or can't do anymore.  I'm sure Doc realizes Paul initiating the offense late games doesn't work, but he's coddling egos.

Still love Paul, though, don't get me wrong. But I don't like him very much at the moment, lol.

[FallGuy]

I know I'm probably going to get dumped on for saying this, but Paul honestly looks like he's ready to go play golf.

The problems don't look physical - more mental mistakes. He just looks out of it.

When I think back to this season, and all the fourth quarter collapses, and all the times PP killed our offense in the fourth by dominating the ball... and then marry that to the stories about problems between young and old guys on the team... I wonder...

Is PP the problem on this team?

Idk about the locker room stuff, we may never know about that definitely. But I've said a few times that when Rondo starts to deferring to Paul late in the 3rd qtr/4th qtr our offense becomes stagnant, and that's when we struggle to maintain late game leads.

I agree. Rondo needs to stay as active as possible; keep knocking the ball away from Lebrick from behind, use your speed to keep blowing by Mo Williams and look for his own offense like he has. We can't afford to let Pierce "find his game"-- this is the playoffs.

Cleveland is gonna try and make him shoot jumpers in the second half. That's a trap.

We rebound and run - that's how we win. Hell, we don't even have to rebound. We can (and have) run off of made baskets.

[Andy Jick]

Pierce needs to be more aggressive in the 2nd half.

Game 3, we didn't show up. First half of Game 4. Yeah, we showed up. Rondo missed an easy lay up which at the time could've put us up 10, which I don't appreciate: they don't come any easier against the Cavs, especially in the playoffs.

i'd be content if he just had a pulse...

[ACF]

Wow, that KG/Sealy segment was very moving...

[outcry]

But we've got coaches who will do whatever it takes to try to work them publicly. What that does is erode fan confidence.

uh no, stern. the fact that your referees were embroiled in a scandal that left a huge black eye on your league erodes fan confidence. how about getting rid of your go to guys who are over 80 years old and cycle in some young guys who can call a good game?

[misha]

Paul looked out of it in the post-game press conference the other night, too ... man, he has GOT to show up in this second half. He's a super-star, but he's not playing like one ... wake up, Paul! Please!!!

He was a superstar.

He still is. Paul is having a bad series (he's human after all) and going against Lebron doesn't help. He will find a  way to overcome it.