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

[P2]

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

Agreed. I have a weird feeling, despite the lead. Make it go away, C's.

[FallGuy]

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

Agreed. I have a weird feeling, despite the lead. Make it go away, C's.

I share your queasiness. Can we play better in the second half than the first? I hope so. We'll need to.

[RJ87]

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.

It's not Pierce hating, just simply stating the facts. As of right now, Paul is 15 for 44 in this series. It's not because we've gone "away" from him. He's gotten his shots, he's just not hitting them. Go back to the first round, he had a few good games, but I wouldn't say he was consistent. Like I said, I love the guy, but he's not the same player that can absolutely control a 4th qtr anymore.

Just for the record - I hope I'm wrong, I really do. Nothing would make me happier than to see him go off.

[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.

It's not Pierce hating, just simply stating the facts. As of right now, Paul is 15 for 44 in this series. It's not because we've gone "away" from him. He's gotten his shots, he's just not hitting them. Go back to the first round, he had a few good games, but I wouldn't say he was consistent. Like I said, I love the guy, but he's not the same player that can absolutely control a 4th qtr anymore.

Just for the record - I hope I'm wrong, I really do. Nothing would make me happier than to see him go off.

Pierce's mid-range game has really fallen off. The numbers are clear.

We can pretend/hope he's still a superstar but he's not. Superstars bring it (almost) every single night. Paul can do it now and then at this point in his career.

[Who]

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 agree, Pierce is not a superstar.

Pierce is still an All-Star caliber though.

[Bahku]

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.

Paul is in a funk, he hasn't lost it ... no one else on this team has scored or can score 32 points and 9 rebounds easily like he did on the 23rd against Miami ... come on! He's playing poorly right now, like everyone else on the planet has played poorly (more than once) in their past, but he's still our number one offensive weapon overall ... and he'll be back.

[Ohio Celtics Fan]

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.

Paul is in a funk, he hasn't lost it ... no one else on this team has scored or can score 32 points and 9 rebounds like he did on the 23rd against Miami ... come on! He's playing poorly right now, like everyone else on the planet has played poorly (more than once) in their past, but he's still our number one offensive weapon overall ... and he'll be back.

I love Pierce I really do but I really think that Ray has become our #1 option now. He's been more consistent scoring in the paint and I've heard that he's a pretty good shooter too.

[aporel#18]

Let's put the 2-2 and then start the Paul Pierce bashing... please, let's try to stay positive. Go Celtics!!!

Refs are horrible, LeElbow is an horrible person, and I can't stand Delonte West, that "playoff foul" on Rondo disqualifies him as "likable". Please, don't start more Delonte West back to C's threads. I'd rather have Gerald Green AND Antoine Walker AND Brandon Wallace

Go Celtics!!! get the W

[outcry]

this interior defense looks awful so far. hopefully we tighten up.

[Who]

I agree with JVG -- Jamison's jumper is overrated. He does most of his damage close to the rim. That is where he is a very efficient and capable complementary scorer.

Jamison is a solid jump shooter who takes a lot of jump shots ... rather than a great jump shooter who hits them at a high clip.

A lot of his reputation as a shooter is down the large number of shots he takes from that range rather than what percentage of them he makes.

[Drucci]

The defense is ridiculous on Jamison since the beginning of the game though, he just gets easy baskets after easy baskets. KG playing selfish, good, keep it up they can't stop you!

[FallGuy]

this interior defense looks awful so far. hopefully we tighten up.

It's not the interior D - it's the perimeter D. They keep getting right to the hoop.

[Ohio Celtics Fan]

PP with 4 fouls, good thing? At this point, I think so.

[outcry]

i agree with jvg here. too many of our guys in foul trouble. it's not worth it to foul shaq at this point.

[Who]

Pierce had, what, three thirty point games this season?

The Hawks game, the Knicks game and in the playoffs against Miami.

Pierce simply isn't able to sustain high scoring performances anymore. He doesn't have the stamina to do so at this stage in his career. He burns out after a quarter or a two. He is still a danger man and a good-to-very good go-to scorer ... but no longer an excellent go-to scorer. He isn't prolific enough anymore.