Thoughts on Irving and Love's playoff debut?

[Drucci]

Curious to see what you thought about Kyrie and Love's first performance in the playoffs : they are obviously the key to the series in the sense that they have no experience and, if they both underperform (or even a single one of them, though it would be harder for us), we could really surprise Cleveland.

Of course it was only one game but I think Irving showed that he played well under pressure, even in the playoffs. He did get lucky on a lot of his 3 pointers though, when he was very well-defended but dropped them anyway. It's unlikely he will stay that hot for the rest of the series (well... hopefully at least) so I will take that as encouraging.

As for Love, he performed like I excepted him to : he was invisible when the game was tied or going against Cleveland, bricking shot after shot and getting beat on defense. His only contribution was on the defensive boards. When Cleveland got a big lead he did get his stats and his last 3 in the 4th quarter definitely killed all hope of a comeback for us but otherwise he looked kind of lost and under pressure so that's another positive takeaway for the next games.

[krumeto]

I agree on both of them.

Kyrie was ridiculous on O and better than usual on D. MVP of the first game.

I am not sure how we should guard him. If we fight over screens, he is too quick and creative with his finishing. If we go under, well, we saw how that ended. Best bet would be to show him different AB and Smart looks and give him different P&R coverage- blitzing big, dropping big, etc... The D should be however on the same page.

Love was inept in the post. I think Bass and JJ covered him very well there. Did his thing rebounding -wise. I'd say a below-average debut.

[Roy H.]

I basically agree, as well. Kyrie made big shots and performed well under pressure. His 20 first half points carried the Cavs.

Love was largely invisible. He shot 2-for-11 in the first half, and outside of a good stretch for a couple minutes in the 3rd quarter, didn't contribute much. His 19 points were largely empty. 

[Iggzilla]

Kyrie was great, without a doubt. But he did hit some tough contested shots, which hopefully won't fall for him anymore as the series progresses. I honestly don't know how they can contain him, except maybe putting multiple defenders on him to give him different looks on defense, and just hope it bothers him enough to have a bad game.

Love was pretty mediocre. He only got to eat when the Cavs had a big lead that he had little part in creating. His defense was spotty, as usual. Celtics should be looking to attack Love any chance they get, tire him out on the defensive end or force him into foul trouble.

[SHAQATTACK]

Irving is where DWade was ten years ago .   James ran for the newest stud in town , as Wade is nearly done as a 40 minute per game starter.

Irving is the asset we can not over come .  He is IT that's 6 inches taller.   

He just can't be contained .

I would like to see CP 3 and Irving play.

Love can be handled to a certain extent ......he seems like a third wheel to me......if James and Irving are heathy , Love is not really necessary .

We have no answer for the pair of LeBron and Irving .  Not a knock on C's .....few teams have two top five players on their team to even challenge them.

Spurs are best equipped to deal with Cavs or Rockets with Howard to close the paint down .

[jambr380]

I haven't watched a lot of Cavs games this year so I don't know if this is indicative of how they play, but, based on this performance, I sure hope we don't sign Love to a $25/yr contract (or whatever it will be). We already have some pretty skilled bigs, and, while I know they don't have Love's rebounding ability, I am hoping that we can bring in a center to make up for those deficiencies. We have a tough squad, we just need the interior defense to prove it.

[GC003332]

Kevin Love appeared to very nervous/tight early on pushing his shots coming up,really short. Except for a couple of offensive rebounds in the third wasn't much of a factor really.Defensively fairly poor as usual providing little to no resistance down low, the Celts attack him with little or no respect for his d.
Kyrie Irving was really ready to go, if he hits those buzzer beaters and tough contested 3's at a good rate all series you just have to tip your hat to him.
Assuming the Cavs do take care of business, I don't think the Bulls will be intimidated what so ever, if they can pound the Cavs on the glass like we didn't / can't I could see them taking the Cavs to the limit in the second round, real question is will Lebron or Kyrie have those big offensive games to get the Cavs over the line.

[Celtics4ever]

NBA definitely padded Love's stats with FTAs, I still do not want him on the C's.

[Moranis]

Love didn't shoot the ball well, but he had 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and got to the line 8 times (nearly double every other Cav).  If they can keep him that involved and his shot starts falling, the rest of the league is in trouble.

[Celtics18]

I think they both kinda suck. 

[manl_lui]

Irving has a monster game, and it games like these, there's not much you can do. There are 2 or maybe even a few instances where we have our guys right in his grill and he still knocked down those shots, the one on Thomas was brutal, I know he has 2-3 inches on him, but Thomas was literally an inch away from him and he still knocked down that corner 3. It was unreal.

Love on the other hand I am not afraid of. I agree with the Gorman, Tommy and others yesterday. Don't let Love be Chris Bosh. You have to completely take him out of his game. He didn't shoot very well yesterday. He shot < 40% (correct me if I am wrong), I can live with that. However, we absolutely need to box him out. He has a lot of offensive rebounds. Take Love out of his game and keep doing what we are doing and should do fine

[apc]

I am worried about Love confidence growing in the upcoming games. it hard enough to deal with Irving and James.
we must play out best defensive unit for most of the game, but that really hurt us offensively.

[TheTruthFot18]

When you play with LeBron you can play your game to the max. If you're shots aren't falling, just defer back to him.

They're going to have good games no matter what.

[CelticsFanFromNYC]

I am worried about Love confidence growing in the upcoming games. it hard enough to deal with Irving and James.
we must play out best defensive unit for most of the game, but that really hurt us offensively.

I agree. I feel any answer we have to slow down Cavs defensively comes with the sacrifice of our offense. there running wit 4-5 shooters at all times except when Tristan Thompsons in the game (who destroyed us on the OFF board).

Honestly (IMO ofcourse) is either we double team Lebron less and take what he gives us OR just try to rotate on defense faster as we now recognize  everyone on the Cavs are shooting that corner Bruce Bowen 3 point shot. I honestly dont see the Cavs palying that good for 4 games str8. Id be very impressed if our team takes this series 6 games.

[PhoSita]

Kyrie looked like a superstar against a team that had no answer for him defensively, nobody who could hope to match up, or put pressure on him on the other end.

Love looked like a talented player in a small role who put up numbers in garbage time.  He got numbers largely because the Celtics didn't really have an answer for him, either.

Tristan Thompson was the third best player in the game after Kyrie and LeBron.