Cavaliers (2-0) at Celtics (0-2) Round 1 Game #3 4/23/15

[SCeltic34]

I'm still not convinced the Cavs are a championship caliber team.  They should be counting their blessings that they're in the weak East.

Kyrie clearly doesn't understand how to win at the championship level.  Teams are absolutely going to welcome him dribbling the air out of the ball and jacking up tough shots.  Kevin Love got his because of poor defensive rotations, a lot of them due to Bass.  And LeBron is having to play 40+ minutes to hold his team down.

Chicago, Atlanta, and whoever comes out of the West are miles better than we are. 

[Who]

A strong defensive center and rebounder would be nice but unless that center has a good offensive game to boot ... it would only further expose how limited the Celtics perimeter players are offensively.

[PhoSita]

The Celts are working their butts off and still probably won't win a game.  That's not close.

That doesn't mean this hasn't been an admirable effort.

[jpotter33]

Guys ... These games have been decided by three possessions or more and in the last few minutes the Celts haven't even had the opportunity to tie it.

That's not a close series.

These have been close games, more the last two than the first one. We've been in the game in the last minute, and they only get up to three possessions after the game is decided in the final seconds with free throws and stuff. No rational person would say these last few games weren't close...

[PhoSita]

A strong defensive center and rebounder would be nice but unless that center has a good offensive game to boot ... it would only further expose how limited the Celtics perimeter players are offensively.

Right.  Add Hibbert to this team and they improve defensively but he would drag down the offense.

The frontcourt needs a complete revamp, I'm afraid.  Size, athleticism, and inside scoring needed.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

A strong defensive center and rebounder would be nice but unless that center has a good offensive game to boot ... it would only further expose how limited the Celtics perimeter players are offensively.

Robin Lopez.

Good finisher, good FT shooter, solid interior presence and relatively young. Target him.

[BigAlTheFuture]

Yeah, Cavs might get to the finals by default... but there's probably 3-4 teams in the West that would beat them in 5-6 games. Spurs, Warriors, Clippers, Grizzlies.

[PhoSita]

Guys ... These games have been decided by three possessions or more and in the last few minutes the Celts haven't even had the opportunity to tie it.

That's not a close series.

These have been close games, more the last two than the first one. We've been in the game in the last minute, and they only get up to three possessions after the game is decided in the final seconds with free throws and stuff. No rational person would say these last few games weren't close...

The Celts have never had an opportunity to tie or go ahead in the last few minutes.

In what world is that close?

[SHAQATTACK]

I'm still not convinced the Cavs are a championship caliber team.  They should be counting their blessings that they're in the weak East.

Kyrie clearly doesn't understand how to win at the championship level.  Teams are absolutely going to welcome him dribbling the air out of the ball and jacking up tough shots.  Kevin Love got his because of poor defensive rotations, a lot of them due to Bass.  And LeBron is having to play 40+ minutes to hold his team down.

Chicago, Atlanta, and whoever comes out of the West are miles better than we are.

Rockets , Spurs , Clippers > than LeDiva All Star Club

[blink]

We all know that in the end this is just about talent.  The best 3 players on the Cavs are so much better at scoring than anyone on our team it just isn't close.  The only thing keeping us in games is our effort, balls, and hustle.  You have to tip your hat to that.  But it isn't going to win a playoff series for us when we are a 7 seed playing against Lebron.

It is going to take great execution, and supreme effort to take a game or two from the cavs.
We just don't have anyone who is that big a threat on offense.  Turner was impressive tonight, but when we needed the bucket down the stretch lebron just raises the level of play on D and gets the crazy block.   Jae played really well too, but just isn't enough of a threat on offense to open up things for the other players.

Obviously IT struggled a bit in this game.  Seems like the cavs were making a point to limit his open looks, more scrambling d to slow him down. Gotta credit the Cavs for adjusting their D to slow him down a bit.  Every shot he takes is contested.  Also, when an opposing team is focused on your 6th man as the best scorer on your team it says something.

I feel bad for our team.  We gave an absolute supreme effort tonight.  Talent gap is just too big.

[GratefulCs]

In the long run, as much as most of us hate lebroid, at least he aint on the lakers!

[Vox_Populi]

If we replaced Turner with Wall...could we win a game..

More like replace Bradley with Wall. PLEASEEEE

I think besides rebounding, these games have subtly, or maybe not too subtly, shown the team needs a real point guard. You can't put Bass and Zeller in some situations when they have to make a decision. Or whenever our guys pick up their dribble and can't lead a pass to another player. And the lack of dribble penetration at times.

[GratefulCs]

I'm still not convinced the Cavs are a championship caliber team.  They should be counting their blessings that they're in the weak East.

Kyrie clearly doesn't understand how to win at the championship level.  Teams are absolutely going to welcome him dribbling the air out of the ball and jacking up tough shots.  Kevin Love got his because of poor defensive rotations, a lot of them due to Bass.  And LeBron is having to play 40+ minutes to hold his team down.

Chicago, Atlanta, and whoever comes out of the West are miles better than we are.

LeDiva All Star Club

That needs to become a club

[MBunge]

1.  Defense.  This style of switching everything and the help defense you've got to give when you do that takes a lot of discipline and experience.  These players don't have enough of either yet.

2.  Offense.  What Stevens is trying to do can work in the NBA.  The Hawks have proven it's not just something the Spurs do.  But again, the team just has little breakdowns here and there.

3.  Talent.  There are a lot of nice players on this team.  Doesn't look like any of them are in the class of Love or Kyrie, let alone LeBron.

4.  Coaching.  Stevens deserves most of the praise he's gotten but he needs to learn as well.  No Olynyk?  Playing Datome?  Not playing Smart more?

5.  The future.  Looks great.  Might not get all the way next year but there is no one in better shape than Boston.  And that includes Philly who, if Embiid and their draft pick this year come in and help them win 20 more games next year, will still have fewer wins than Boston this year.

Mike

[GreenFaith1819]

Proud of our C's, regardless of outcome here.