Preview: Celtics at Cavaliers, May 11th
2010-05-11
Here we go. Biggest game of the season. Whoever wins this one is a game away from a date with the Magic. LeBron and the rest of the team has to come out aggressive and get that crowd going. Shooters have to get it going and keep that defense spread. Slow Rondo down by limiting transition opportunities — limit turnovers, hit those boards, and watch the long rebounds. Also, hustle at every opportunity. I have no idea what’s going to happen tonight, but hopefully it’ll be the Cavs with the 3-2 advantage when the final horn sounds. Have fun, everyone.
tough pill to swallow.
Things look bleak. There’s an old saying “gotta have faith” – but at some point, people deserve to have their faith rewarded.
sorry need to fix the PF comparison:
“Rashard Lewis > Jamison (close, but Lewis is efficient, higher true shooting %, Jamison terrible on D)”
@danny Good points, but this Cavs team is NOT good enough to win a championship, even if LeBron plays out of his mind (which he usually does). Orlando is on a mission and are better than the Cavs AT EVERY position except SF: Jameer Nelson >> Mo Williams VInce Carter >> Anthony Parker Matt Barnes <<<<< LeBron James (see I'm being fair, that's five " Antwan Jamison (close, but Lewis is efficient, higher true shooting %, Jamison terrible on D) Dwight Howard >> Shaq (sorry Deisel, you’re OLD) Bench: Pietrus, Gortat, JJ Redick, Brandon Bass, etc. >> Varejo, West, Hickson,… Read more »
wish I did Chip. I think ‘Bron puts out a big performance on Thursday, so he claims he went out with effort, something comparable to the ’08 game 7 in Boston, but Boston wins by less than 8 points. The Cavs, in this series, seem toast to me. The Celts have champions, and are too experienced to blow their strangle hold.
Danny, “deranged” is a great word to use.
Anyone else have an insane feeling of hope right now?
the points comparing Bron’s performance to Kobe in the ’06 game 7 against Phoenix are not valid. LA was the big underdog in that series, had pushed it to 7 only because of Kobe’s off the charts brilliant play. That game 7 was lost in the first half, and Kobe tuned out after that, implying he had done all he could, he needs players. In the ’08 finals against Boston, Kobe played well enough, and fought, the team just wasn’t mentally prepared yet to win. The Cavs were heavy favorites in this series, and Lebron’s performance is utterly dis-connected to… Read more »
I don’t like Kobe and I think that Game 7 performance in any discussion about Kobe’s supposed killer instinct, but who knows, maybe he has matured since then…in any case, it doesn’t really matter what Kobe would or would not do. It just seemed to me that Lebron tonight didn’t want the ball, he didn’t want to be the center of the offense, and this team is done if he doesn’t do that, because that is how they’ve won all year. I’m as confused as anyone but that is what it looked like.
I’ve got nothing to say except: Go Suns!
Man you wrote a shitty blog post, what do you expect from us? You wrote an article using no facts or evidence and you’re waving it around now? This team sucks and LeBron played like shit tonight. We built a team where LeBron had to dominate to win and he didn’t show up tonight. We lost. LeBron gets the blame for playing so awful and most of the team gets the rest of the blame for not picking up their best player when he doesn’t give them 35-10-10. Hate this team. Hate Jamison. Hate Mo. Hate Andy. Hate Parker. Worst… Read more »
Seriously Jim. Kobe took 3 shots in the second half of game 7…. and they lost! Check it: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/12666699/ns/sports-nba/
He won 4 rings, congratulations to him. I’m not disputing that at all. But your claim that his “issue hasn’t ever been his refusal to impress his will on another team” is just wrong…
I tried to tell you all months ago……
http://whybedumb.com/index.php/2010/01/dont-hand-the-cavs-anything-just-yet/
Again Todd, Kobe has won four rings. Sure, Kobe had some bad games in that series, but it wasn’t because he stopped trying. And I believe the Lakers ended up winning that series. Kobe’s issue hasn’t ever been his refusal to impress his will on another team. His problem is when he tries to become Superman as Bill Simmons says. My point is this: in game 5 in a series tied 2-2, Kobe doesn’t shoot 4 shots in the first half (unless he’s super pissed at Jackson). Jordan doesn’t either. Ditto Bird, Johnson, etc. We can go down a list… Read more »
@Todd: That’s true, the Orlando games were close when he did that, but this game was not out of reach early in the 3rd quarter. The Cavs came all the way back from 22 down against the Celtics in Bostonin the 4th quarter at the end of the year. Maybe that doesn’t happen in a playoff game, but they still had a chance when they were down 12-16 in the 3rd. I just didn’t see any response from Lebron. You have to admit, it just looked different from the Lebron we are used to.
This is melodramatic, maybe, but I’m not watching on Thursday.
And Todd, I am purely hypothesizing why he’s playing like this. I think the injury is bogus; game 3 he went off with the same shoulder problem. Boston hasn’t really done anything differently but pack the paint more; again a tactic Lebron sees almost on a daily basis. So why is he so hesitant? Why is Lebron just standing out on the perimeter? Why does Lebron refuse to impress his will on an inferior team?
When I was in high school, the Drive and the Fumble were just devastating. But if the Cavs lose this series, it will be the second worse sports disappointment ever on my personal list, behind Jose Mesa coughing it up in ’97. And I cannot believe we’re this close to actually seeing it happen. I still have faith the Cavs will pull out Games 6 and 7. But I have no idea how. I don’t have the energy to even think about what Lebron does after that. No point worrying about it now. I just don’t want this season to… Read more »
@Jim: I’m pretty sure you made the Kobe comparisons… and people merely pointed out that you made a factual statement that was ridiculously incorrect (“Kobe doesn’t let a game like this happen.”).
Lebron is pretty matter-of-fact at his press conference. I just can’t get a read on the guy.
Not sure Kobe comparisons are fair guys. He does have four titles. Lebron has zero. Zip, nada. none. Lebron doesn’t have the same fall back Kobe does because, frankly, he can’t back it up with rings. What I saw was the Cavs best player; two games in a row, look average. That will not get it done.
He’s would be a moron to go to the Knicks. If he leaves, my money is on the Bulls, and you can’t really fault him for it. Unless he wants to be a savior for the city of Cleveland (and I have thought maybe he wanted that as part of his story), the Bulls offer him a legitimate chance to win championships immediately. Plus, if he plays anywhere else, Chicago fans/writers will always insist that Jordan was better. Not saying he’ll ever win out in that debate, but playing there gives him the chance.
@TR: I think that’s a fair characterization of what happened. And you’re right, he didn’t pound the rock and demand the ball like he did against Orlando. However, in that Orlando game, they were going tit-for-tat in a close game when that happened. Here, it wasn’t really close from a minute into the third quarter onward. I don’t think it would have been physically possible or practical for him to takeover the game like he did in Orlando. I hope we can just chalk it up to an abysmal game all around, sort of like Game 2, but I am… Read more »
Am I getting ahead of myself if i’m looking forward to the 2011 draft?
Barkley dancing on LBJ’s grave. This dude is toast.
Did I miss a headline earlier today? I think Lebron already signed for the Knicks.
@Todd: I agree with you that it doesn’t make much sense but it really looks like he isn’t trying. Fair point, his jump shot wasn’t falling. But that has happened before. But in this game he didn’t respond by trying to drive to the basket, which is the thing he is better at than any person in the world. Compare this performance to the desperation performances in the Orlando series last year. He got himself in isolation and drove to the hoop and got fouled, even when it looked like he was so tired he could barely stand. Tonight he… Read more »
If he comes out flat in Boston, then it will confirm my overwhelming suspicion that he tanked it in this series. When/if (but ‘when’ is looking increasingly more likely at this point) I would fear for his safety in his first game back in the Q.
@Jim: Perhaps you didn’t watch Kobe’s team fold away a 3-1 lead to Phoenix, and then have him take 3 shots in the second half of game 7. I just don’t think it’s possible Lebron is “not really trying.” That’s a theory that just doesn’t make any sense. Why would he just not try? If you want to say he’s folding under the pressure, that I can buy, because I think he is (I think this whole game goes differently if he would have just made his first jump shot and had confidence). But he’s just not trying? WHY? Not… Read more »
@Jim, Kobe doesn’t let a game like this happen??? I guess you never watched the ’08 finals.
He may wear a Bulls hat.
I’m too confused to be angry. It’s like LeBron was hungover and just wanted to take a nap. I don’t know what it is. He’s never really had a problem responding to pressure before, even when the Cavs lose he always goes down fighting. The only players who seemed to care this game were Shaq and Parker, maybe Andy and Z too, but they have limitations. Also, weird rotations early on that smelt of desperation, too, like putting in Boobie to play defense for 8 seconds at the end of the second quarter.
I’m with TR. It’s pretty obvious (to me, at least) that LeBron isn’t really trying, for whatever reason.
1-1 odds he wears that damn Yankee hat to the post game presser, too.
1) so let’s start with the obvious. Lebron James is simply not a winner. A must have game 5 against a team he can get points off of, and he take 4 shots in the first half. All the talent in the world and absolutely no heart. That is what separates him from Kobe. Kobe doesn’t let a game like this happen. 2) Mo Williams has to go. If not in a trade then to the bench. Horrible defensively and just shrinks in the playoffs. 3) Mike Brown coached his last game in Cleveland. That’s because the Cavs won’t be… Read more »
I wasn’t convinced Lebron wasn’t giving effort before this game but I am now. I thought the rest of the team tried but they were playing with 4 players and then it got out of control. They have every right to be pissed at Lebron. Can’t really blame then for having trouble executing when their superstar is mentally somewhere else. I really don’t believe Lebron (or anyone) would tank the series to make it easier for him to leave, but something is wrong with him. I’ll watch Game 6 but I think it’s pretty much over. It’s just a shame… Read more »
Best Windhorst Tweet:
This game is so ugly Craig Sager is going to wear it to Game Six.
Rich, shut up.
How’s that?
If the Cavs are eliminated and LeBron leaves after laying this egg…just wow.
Lebron is a fraud because he played terrible the past two games? OK. The bitter Cleveland fans are already starting to spread the hate instead of appreciating what he’s done the past 7 years.
This game was a complete kick to the groin. What a miserable performance by the entire team, especially Lebron. How do you even come back from that in Game 6? Wow.
No Marc, I was not referring to you.
@Kevin – Are you referring to me? I always thought something was wrong with LeBron, either mental or physical. And I never told Rich to shut up.
Windy is throwing down some epic tweets, and Joe Tait sounds devastated. I really feel bad for Tait.
I am leaving today…
Start spreadin’ the news…
The NBA: Where Lebron selling out on his way to New York happens.
Everyone who told Rich to shut up needs to save some face like the above poster did. Also, LeBron is a straight up fraud. You knew there was a reason for his, “No matter what happens, Akron will always be my home” comments. I just don’t understand why this process has been sped up so quickly and in broad daylight. Usually this shit goes on behind the scenes with secret meetings and faked injuries.
They’re playing like they don’t even care. Where’s the killer instinct? I know they used to have it – especially LeBron. Now they seem content to go down without a fight. Do people still think LeBron is “saving” himself for the important games later in the series? I don’t think so.
WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED!! The buck stops with you LeBron. I am so sick of Cleveland sports right now!
Well, here’s to the next 10-15 years of mediocrity/terrible teams in Cleveland. Seeya LeBron.
I feel sorry for the entire city of Cleveland and anybody who bought a ticket to that game. They didn’t even play hard.
Ok Rich, I stand corrected. A piece of sky just hit me in the head. Fair play to you, sir.
is it an option to put delhomme in?
i donno if i can watch anymore of this.
Well, if LeBron’s goal was to play so poorly people would want him gone, then he succeeded.
Thanks for the 7 years LeBron. Good luck wherever you end up.
WHATS WRONG WITH LEBRRRONNNNNNNNN
Lebron picked a bad night to have his worst game ever.
Wow, this is not the time to lay an egg. I don’t know if it’s mental or physical, but something is definitely wrong with James, and has been since this whole elbow business came up. This is not the LeBron we know and love. And it all starts and ends with him – If he struggles, the team struggles.
Someone very wealthy right now is smiling from ear to ear.
Well, we got The Shot, The Drive, The Fumble, and now, thanks to LeBron, The Dive.
Where is Lebron James?!? :[
He’s acting like he’s never seen double teams before. Mike brown better have one hell of a speech ready at half time.
I’m not sure if LeBron is even playing. Bizarro LeBron seems to be getting his minutes first half.
Is lebron gaurding rondo?
Wait. The Cavs are only down 1 after this??? Sweeeeeet.
Not looking good early. Very boring game.
http://channelsurfing.net/watch-nba-4.html