Not to rain on anyone’s parade, but once again, the only difference between the debacle in Game 2, and Saturday night’s 108-84 blowout over the Boston Celtics in Game 3 was the wine and gold made shots. They shot over 50% from the floor, and LeBron James still did not shoot the ball exceptionally well. It doesn’t mean they’ve solved the Celtic defense, and it doesn’t mean the Cavaliers should play better from here on out. There still is a lot of work to do.
Because in Boston, they are probably writing and talking about the Celts inability to win playoff games on the road. They are probably saying Doc Rivers’ team cannot be considered an elite team until they win away from Beantown. Therefore, Boston will be highly motivated to win Game 4 at The Quicken Loans Arena. They have a lot to prove with a win tonight. They don’t want to go back home with the series even because they will have to hear more talk about why they cannot get it done when playing on the road in the playoffs.
On the other hand, the Cavaliers can’t afford to feel good about themselvers. They still trail in the series, 1-2, and only won when they shot the lights out. Yes, the Cavs were more patient in Game 3 offensively, and they did look to beat the Boston zone, by hitting back side passes for easy hoops, but the game would have been much closer if not for Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, and Joe Smith making shot after shot after shot. Those three played exceptionally on Saturday, and based on history, it is difficult to believe they will play that well again tonight.
If you are a Boston fan, you have to be wondering when Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are going to put together some consistant performances. The chore of being the primary defender of James is taking a toll offensively on Pierce, who had poor games in both odd number contests. Allen looks to be showing some age, and his troubles are despite being checked by Szczerbiak, not noted as a great defender. Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo have had to play offense by themselves at times, and that has to concern Doc Rivers.
The hope for tonight’s game is that the Cavalier defense continues to play effectively. They have done a pretty good job of containing Rondo, and the Celtics aren’t exactly burning the nets like the old Denver Nugget teams coached by Paul Westhead. The biggest thing the Cavs need tonight is James making the mid-range jumpers which the Celts are giving him. If he hits those, it will open him up to go to the basket, and also give West, Gibson, Smith, and Szczerbiak more open looks, which they have to knock down on a regular basis.
This is the equivalent of an elimination game for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Win tonight and they have a shot to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for a second consecutive year. A loss would almost certainly mean the series will end Wednesday night in Boston. Both teams have something to prove tonight, because the Celtics , although ahead in the series, cannot be happy with their play on the road. The Cavaliers need their superstar to show up big tonight, his teammates picked him up in Game 3, now it is his turn.
JK
Cleveland Sports Perspective 