If the Cavs-Celtics series were a boxing match, Boston would have a decided edge, winning more quarters than Cleveland. Fortunately for the Cavaliers, it’s not a fight, so the series in even at one game apiece.
Mike Brown was visibly upset after the game regarding his team’s intensity and effort, and called out Mo Williams in particular as someone who has to step up his play.
The whole city knows how he feels.
For some reason, this basketball team seems to think it can phone its way through the first two rounds of the playoffs. For a team that hasn’t yet won a title together, this is a bad attitude. Meanwhile, the Celtics, champions just two years ago, are playing with a sense of urgency.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have played seven playoff games this year, and have played up to their capabilities in two of them. That’s not acceptable if your goal is to win a championship.
The wine and gold shot just 40% from the field, compared to Boston’s 51%. The Cavs were out rebounded 43 to 32. Boston had 30 assists compared to Cleveland’s 17. It was a thorough beatdown by the Celtics, and it was at home!
The Cavs have three days to figure something out to get back on track. Can they win a game in Boston to regain homecourt advantage? Of course. But, the coach is correct in saying they have to play with more aggressiveness and passion.
Cleveland blew a tremendous opportunity early in the first quarter when the Celtics couldn’t make a shot. In fact, it took the Celtics two minutes to make a basket. In that time frame, the Cavs had a turnover, a missed three point shot by Williams, a missed driving layup from James, and another missed jumper from #23. The wine and gold went four minutes without scoring after Antawn Jamison’s basket five seconds into the game.
The same type of drought came early in the third quarter for the Cavs. In the meantime, the Celtics made four layups and two three point shots and opened up the lead. The shots from point blank range are most troubling because it shows the defense is lacking, and that is Mike Brown’s hallmark.
Why was Jamison fronting Kevin Garnett in the post in the third quarter? With his height advantage, that’s an easy pass for a lay in for Garnett, particularly with a skilled point guard like Rajon Rondo making the pass.
Rondo had 19 assists, a record by a Cavs’ opponent in the playoffs, and once again, Cleveland couldn’t control him and he causes huge problems. And when Cavalier defenders did stop him from penetrating, he hit a couple of threes in the first half.
The coaching staff has to find a way to slow Rondo down. It’s obvious that Doc Rivers doesn’t trust anyone else on the floor; the point guard received no rest until a minute was remaining in the third quarter. The Cavs need to double team him, and put pressure on him to tire him out.
We also said the wine and gold need to play an up-tempo game to win this series. Walking the ball up the floor and playing a half-court style game is playing into the Celtics hands. TNT’s Charles Barkley has been preaching this for years, and when you are playing a team with some age, you have to quicken the pace of the game.
That’s the mindset that has to be in place from the beginning of the game. Move the ball on offense, pressure on defense. That will take its toll on the Celtics. Letting them dictate how the game is played is exactly what they want to do.
JK
Cleveland Sports Perspective 