Live Thread: Cavs @ Celtics, Game 4
2015-04-26
Game three between the Cavs and Celtics was an all out slug fest. There were tons of bizarre foul calls, lots of hands restricting players’ movements, and even some trash talk. If the Cavs win tonight, they will have a little extra rest before their next game. Their second round matchup is against whomever comes out of the Bucks, Bulls series. The Bucks beat the bulls with zero time left on the clock yesterday to force a game five.
The Celtics certainly are playing to win, but after watching their last game, I don’t think they will get the victory today. Brad Stevens had his team playing the most physical ball of any team in the playoffs on Thursday evening, and the Cavs still came out ahead, 103-95. Stevens even tried to “Touch-a-Thompson” in the first quarter of game three. Tristan Thompson made his free throws, and the tactic was abandoned.
The Cavs are winning these games, but they still have another level they can reach. LeBron James is still a little reserved on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor at times. He picks and chooses when he wants to explode into a passing lane or over power a guy in the post. Kyrie Irving has also seemed a little passive. In game three he scored just 13 points, but he seemed scared to head into the paint after the referees stopped calling fouls there. And, offensively, the Cavs are still relying a bit too much on Le-Iso possessions. In game three, the King scored or assisted on 12 of the final 19 points in the fourth quarter; however, he was dribbling the ball a lot and simply taking long twos instead of initiating offensive sets. He only turned the ball over twice though.
David Blatt would be smart to use this game as a practice for the next series. The Cavs need to move the ball and play lock defense to blow out the Celtics. The Cavs shouldn’t leave this one up to Le-Iso plays in the final minutes of action. A decisive TKO would be a great confidence boost heading into the second round.
I’m predicting the Cavs win tonight, 123-89. What are you thoughts?
Ugh. I can’t help it, but KLoves injury really bums me out. I honestly don’t think KO intended to hurt him like this. It was just a freak injury. My stomach sank when I saw Love run off. Only in Cleveland.
Watching Tip Off on TNT, and they are thinking that JR will get suspended a few games, maybe 5. But I find if JR will get suspended , Kelly Olynk should get suspended as well, it wasnt a basketball play. And I think the injury to Crowder just make it look worse for JR.
@SamAmicoFSO: Cavs cautiously optimistic on Love’s shoulder. Early hope is because of how injury occurred, not as serious as Shumpert’s earlier in season.
At LAST, Perkins was used what he was brought for (on the court) – Beat The Shit out Of enemies. I had already started to think that he was meant to actually play basketball.
@ChrisBHaynes: Kevin Love says he dislocated his left shoulder and will be reevaluated in Cleveland. Says he thinks Kelly Olynyk did it on purpose.
Was watching the post-game on Fox Sports Go but it just cuts the feed whenever they want so didn’t get to see any post game presser
It’s on FSO
SOUND OFF ON THE QUICKHIT I POSTED. In honor of Cols.
Hope this fucker olynyk will break his legs and hands and never play basketball again. Boston cunts
Best comment ever hahaha
Stevens just used the phrase “build our corporate knowledge” in the post game presser. What an asshole.
We can all look forward to an article from Simmons tomorrow praising Boston and calling Perkins cheap.
And he’ll defend Olynyk. But if the shoe was on the other foot, it would be THE DIRTIEST PLAY OF ALL TIME!!
Yes… but warranted… Gotta love the Perk Pick!
I love when Olynyk was coming back in, Perk got off the bench, and Olynyk sat back down. Big pussy.
NBA wants more games with Lebron, every Lebron game is money – big money – they want every Cavs series to become 7 of 7. Refs are on the mission.
NBA also tired of having 3-0 series I’m sure… Only the Spurs/Clips is really a series
@netw3rk
Kelly Olynyk is this game’s Gavrilo Prinicip
+1 for the historical reference!
THE CELTS ARE LUCKY THERE ISN’T A 5TH GAME ” IN THE LAND “—-CAUSE OLYNK ( OLLIENECK “) WOULDN’T WALK OUT OF THE “Q” ALONG WITH A COUPLE OF HIS OTHER TEAMMATES ——-MAYBE WE THANK THEM FOR 1 THING —WE HAVE NOW DEVELOPED / BEEN GIVEN TO US ” A CHIP ON OUR SHOULDER “
Screw Kelly Olynyk…
My dad is an athletic trainer for UCLA’s basketball team. Says most likely with Love it’ll be all or nothing. Either it popped back back in with limited damage and he’ll be fine in a week, or there was a lot of damage and he’ll be done for the year. So frustrating it all comes down to an injury on a BS play.
Agree, just with my own very limited experience. Either nothing serious, or out 3-4 months.
I actually disagree. I saw a few dislocated shoulders playing rugby. I’ve seen it anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Could be back for the finals.
On a strictly long term view, and I know no ine wants to hear this right now….but this could erase any worry I Love not resigning this summer. He clearly was getting into it in game three…..you think this is the way he wants to go out? I don’t think so.
Well he didn’t look like it was agonizing. He ran off like he knew his arm popped out.
Adam Silver is no different than David Stern by ignoring the officiating…this whole serious was out of control and it was not surprising….that Thomas play where he grabbed lebron on in bounds pass is illegal…and yet no call….if I’m gilbert i go off on commissioner and dare them to fine me….that was an atrocious series of officiating and its not getting any better.
Ya, not even a review. Nothing. Tirico and Hubie just laughed it off like it was no big deal. That crew should be ashamed of themselves.
BOS-TON SUCKS! BOS-TON SUCKS! BOS-TON SUCKS!
And also… THESE REFS SUCK! THESE REFS SUCK! THESE REFS SUCK!
And these announcers suck!
Yeah, but I’m not allowed to say that… you on the other hand can rail away… so please do
The sad thing is that I highly, highly doubt that there will be any mention of the lopsided officiating. Nothing will change. NBA officiating has been downright pathetic all season long.
Well, for many years, but yeah…
Wonder if Olynyk is around for the handshakes.
Hope so… maybe Perk can get in a good nut-punch…
Good riddens…………………………………
riddance***************……………………..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the worst playoff game I have ever seen. How did guys play back when these types of fouls were common fouls or no calls? You’d be on a stretcher half way through the year!
Oh gee… thanks Tony Brothers… really appreciate that call…
Covering his ass so he can show how fair he was
You can’t allow a team that is so out classed in talent and ability hack their way into trying to win a game.
Thank God Datome can’t shoot
My only hope is Gilbert pulls whatever strings he has to get this game reviewed and JR exonerated of any suspendable offense.
No doubt about that. The call was in the midst of the play right? I couldn’t tell if it was payback buy it looked like he was reaching not punching. Now Thomas on the cheap in bound should get a look.
Cavs better get their head right and end this right.
Its not the Cavs head thats the problem. Two separate possessions were given to the Celtics that they shouldn’t have had.
Worst refs ever. they all need fined and then fired, No control of the game, no control of anything.
Tony Bros should be taken out back and shot. This is the worst officiating job I have ever seen.
Brown now is into revisionist history. Tirico reeling it in
Okay, just dribble out the clock bron. I’ve never been so desireable of a ISO ball play.
Oh, they are gonna go check this one huh? Wowowow
Hubie Brown and Tirico are so pro-Boston it’s pathetic.
This is ridiculous!
WHATTA JOKE YOU ARE REFEREES
Brown admiring the thuggish Thomas.
What a joke. And the announcers just laughing it off…
WOW JUST WOW JUST UNBELIEVABLE WOW
Thomas mugged LBJ on that inbounds play…
WTF? Tony Bros is drunk!
That James-Thomas no call is only fitting.
How did a 4-0 Cavs beatdown of the Celtics, where the Celtics played a very dirty series become a Boston love fest by these commentators?
Anyway go cavs! solid start to the playoffs!
I know right.
They act like Boston is good enough to compete with the Cavs and they are getting the short end of the stick in terms of Cavs bullying the poor Celtics. Ridiculous.
The announcers are so out of touch.
EVIL –GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE—YOU BEAT ME TO IT !!
Shump and LBJ are co-MVPs of this one… Shump has a double double now…
Shump is the man…
Welcome back ShumpyOldMan! We missed you!
In case y’all haven’t noticed, there are 4 Cavs right now with double-doubles
Hubie sounds excited about the drama Love’s injury will have in the second round. This is like journalists rooting for earthquakes and hurricanes.
Friggin chowds… the world wouldn’t miss Boston if it got destroyed…
Really hope league reviews that Olynyk play on Love. If you look at screen caps, it’s clear it’s a dirty play.
Ugh. Screw this series. I’m so mad.
I suppose the only thing we were really missing was a chip on our shoulder. So we have that now. Now Let’s see if we can survive without love for a couple of playoff series.
We can. But we cannot beat the Warriors without love
Yeah, but that would be a month from now…
But we have Leb.
LeBron gets his usual mauling on his way to that drive score… No foul, no mention of the physicality under the hoop shown to Cavs players. Its all about the poor Celtics and how the CAVS are the ones getting away with calls…
Lebron wanted to skip back to the bench there and started to but he must’ve remembered championship hopes are dashed just then and walked back.
Seriously STFU
Seriously? Seriously?? Seriously???
How serious should I STFU? As serious as a dislocated shoulder or as serious as a heart attack?
How serious on a scale of 1 to 10 was your STFU declaration?
Not the time.
CHOKE ON IT BOSTON!
LBJ mugged by three people and no call!!
that was hilarious clearly and 1 play and no whistle whatsoever…thomas drives wildly and whistle blown
See Ta latah Bawwwwwwwstawwwwwnnnnnnn!!!!!!
Hack a Thompson? Really Brad?
Yeah, everyone is praising Brad for making the series competitive with a bunch of scrubs. I hope someone with more authority than I calls him out on dirty strategy. Sorta wished Blatt would refuse to shake his hand or at least give him an earful.
I’m actually feeling better about Love. My gut tells me he’s going to be fine.
Gut Dr.? I hope your guy Dr. Evaluates his arm.
Think positive. Just do it.
Ok. Sending good healing vibes Love’s way.
I meant to say I hope your Gut Doctor evaluates Love.
Just curious, Did you gut also tell you in 2010 that LBJ was staying?
Mine sure did. Stupid gut!
Boston should hand over some picks for screwing up Loves shoulder.
Just force them to keep Bill Simmons, that’s enough.
any boston point guard that drives to hoop a foul is always called
Ok, let’s end this with no one else hurt and regroup in Cleveland.
Moz gets a lot of calls against him because of his size. He does make contact but even when contact is due to the other guy he gets whistled. At least 2 of fouls on him today were minimal contact, way less than what Boston does when the Cavs grab a rebound and they run into that Cav and claw and scratch to get a jump ball called. If he was Crowders or Olynk’s size, he’d be able to get away with a lot more. If he had done what Olynk did to Love, it would have been a foul… Read more »
Honestly don’t think JR should be suspended. Crowder was jousting with him on that possession and probably rocked him three times (that all warranted offensive fouls) before JR swung to push him off.
JR had his back to him when he swung so could not have intentionally be hitting him in the head as he did not know Crowder was crouched down.
I don’t either, but I could see it happening…
AGREED !!—-” ALL FOR 1 AND 1 FOR ALL “—-I THINK IT IS SAFE TO SAY —–FROM ” ALL ” OF US CTB’S THE CELTICS AND SO CALLED ANNOUNCERS / REFS CAN GO ” F” THEMSELVES
Is Mike Miller injured? JJ is 0-6 from the 3 point line so why not try Mike Miller?
Not injured, just bad.
These direct TV commercials with that golden bronzed beach blonde make me forget about Love.
And the talking horse with Jemaine Clement’s voice…
Yeah she’s gorgeous!
I don’t think these refs want us to play defense… that must be it…