What can Celts do?

[rollie mass]

Could the Celtics possibly not start Isaiah and put its best defensive team on floor or pull that at beginning 2nd half hoping that Cleveland doesn't have its game legs.
Would this throw off Cleveland's rotation and cause some temporary confusion?
Some concerted effort to get a particular player that is prone to fouling in trouble early?

[rollie mass]

Ainge was right,no one player is going to get us by Cleveland or the Warriors.
I was for starting our best defensive team,right off the bat and throwing off the cavs traps,then bringing in isaiah..The cavs have men in their prime and the celts have a patchwork quilt.
Our strength is in youth and defense
 Use full court pressure,shuttling in guards like ice hockey shift changes.
They have practiced and worked on game plan for isaiah,somehow change it up.

[Somebody]

Could the Celtics possibly not start Isaiah and put its best defensive team on floor or pull that at beginning 2nd half hoping that Cleveland doesn't have its game legs.
Would this throw off Cleveland's rotation and cause some temporary confusion?
Some concerted effort to get a particular player that is prone to fouling in trouble early?

I would try starting Olynyk or Zeller and isolate them on the post with Thompson guarding them. Get some buckets ans calls to take him out of the game early so we wouldn't get pounded on the boards.

[86MaxwellSmart]

Stop playing like Pansies from the opening tip, go to the basket and don't settle for 3 point shots---would have lost to any team in the league with that pathetic opening---finally got going after Marcus got into it with Thompson. Not exactly how to open up the freaking ECF.

[Csfan1984]

I saw a few good things from C's last night.
-A lot of open shots (just didn't fall).
-Length and athleticism in some match ups worked.
-Running and crashing boards better than getting back and walking up.
-When team executed proper team defense they did get stops.
-When in half court just 4 passes got guys good shots and even open layups.
-Cavs played the same way with certain groups and match ups all game. BS can come up with counters after he watches tape.
-Crowd stayed in it a long time.
-C's can create small runs against this team.
-Cavs got caught on some inbound plays.
-Cavs had more energy to start we yet to see the reverse.

With all those positives C's can do a lot better. They won't win the series but they can make things tougher if they play smart and hit their shots. The opportunity is there to win a few games I know it is very possible now. Let's make adjustments and build on the good and take game 2.

[Celtics4ever]

Stop playing like Pansies

I think we need a no layup rule.

[Big333223]

I want to complain about too many 3 point shots but they got so many good, open shots last night that they just didn't put down. How many wide open 3's did Avery, Thomas, and Olynyk miss in the first half last night? Because it felt like a thousand.

If the C's just make open shots, it's a whole different game last night.

[hodgy03038]

Yes they missed many open 3s. They also missed open layups (Horford, IT). We were TERRIBLE at the FT line. I mean the one foul where IT had 3 shots and he made one? They played scared. LeBron was able to just dribble straight in to the hoop for many layups. We can never beat Cleveland like that. And Tyron Lue twice campaigning officials for flagrant fouls on IT - cmon because IT was so rough on LeBron and Tristan Thompson? Neither of those guys could even feel a foul from IT. I gotta say we need more Jaylen Brown and we need more Marcus on Tristan because Marcus is the ONLY player that knows how to box out.

I expect a much better showing on Friday but they need to act like they think they can beat them.

[jbpats]

They can't do anything, they need rest which unfortunately is not possible due to the scheduling.
Team just looked tired last night, legs were gone. That's why shots weren't falling, not sure if that's why they missed so many open layups, but possibly?

[Big333223]

Yes they missed many open 3s. They also missed open layups (Horford, IT). We were TERRIBLE at the FT line. I mean the one foul where IT had 3 shots and he made one? They played scared. LeBron was able to just dribble straight in to the hoop for many layups. We can never beat Cleveland like that. And Tyron Lue twice campaigning officials for flagrant fouls on IT - cmon because IT was so rough on LeBron and Tristan Thompson? Neither of those guys could even feel a foul from IT. I gotta say we need more Jaylen Brown and we need more Marcus on Tristan because Marcus is the ONLY player that knows how to box out.

I expect a much better showing on Friday but they need to act like they think they can beat them.

I can't understand it but that's what I saw too.

[apc]

I want to complain about too many 3 point shots but they got so many good, open shots last night that they just didn't put down. How many wide open 3's did Avery, Thomas, and Olynyk miss in the first half last night? Because it felt like a thousand.

If the C's just make open shots, it's a whole different game last night.

True , I think all but one bad 3 from IT were open- wide open ! Maybe the guys were intimidated by the moment .

[Surferdad]

Nothing

[hpantazo]

Stop playing like Pansies

I think we need a no layup rule.

This. It felt like the Cavs shot over a hundred layups last night. Its hard to beat any team when they do that.

[bopna]

Stop making Thimpson like an all star. For crying out loud how hard is it to put a body on TT. When MS guarded him he became agitated..had only 1 offensive board while Marcus was on him... Now Olynyk or Zeller or who ever is in there plrase Stop TT. How many points did he had and what is this guys season ave...that alone would tell you he was the big difference....I mean sure Lebron gets his 30 and Kyrie and sometimes perhaps Love but if we dont let Tristan be involved we get somhow a punchers chance.

Prevent those switches against Lebron because his eyes lit up whenever he sees a big on him..just uses his speed and athleticism...if your a big floor him if he drives..absolutely no layup rule..foul him hard if you want to. We need to play like Zaza on him. Make him think twice about driving to the hoop..best way to stop Lebron is to make him a jump shooter.

STOP PLAYING SCARED. Everyone just be aggressive. Our best offensive all season is the drive and kick and it should be no different against LBJ and co. Whenever IT drives 3 cavs would pounce him which means 3 of our players should be open...work their feet on defense. If the drive isnt there generate some offense in the post. Id start posting Brown and Smart and Horford because ive seen several plays where good things happened when we started our offense in the post. Dribble handoffs didn't work very well last night because they knew what IT was going to do.

And please just start making those open threes....we missed so many last night it was insane..the lead should not have ballooned that much had we made half of our open looks.

[TheSundanceKid]

Stop playing like Pansies from the opening tip, go to the basket and don't settle for 3 point shots---would have lost to any team in the league with that pathetic opening---finally got going after Marcus got into it with Thompson. Not exactly how to open up the freaking ECF.

I mean this is pretty on point. We struggled to knock down the 3 point shot to begin, as did the Cavs. The difference was the Cavs were able to penetrate and finish. We had flashes of it with Jaylen and Bradley but everyone else seemed forced when they did it.

The other thing is the coverage of James. We can't just accept KO and Horford being switched onto him. At the very least make them work for it. There was a stretch of 8 straight Lebron points where Jaylen and KO switched, then James blew by KO. That's unacceptable, particularly given how well Jaylen was already doing on James.

The score made it look like we were chasms apart but make some small changes and I think we are right back in it. There were a few silly fouls, cut them out and make the Cavs respond. We are doubtful to win the series of course but every game counts and even just 1 win would be huge for this team.