Apparently, the Cleveland Cavaliers made some adjustments following their disappointing loss in game two against the Boston Celtics.  They turned an 18 point loss into a 29 point victory, defeating the Celts on the road, 124-95.  It was the C’s biggest home playoff loss in their illustrious history.

 

LeBron James looked healthy, and took control of the game from the outset, scoring 21 points in the first quarter in route to a 38 point, 8 rebound, 7 assist night that reminded everyone why he’s the league’s most valuable player.  James was aggressive early, looking to score immediately, and had his jumper going.  When he’s hitting from outside, no one can guard him.

 

James had help as well.  Antawn Jamison also looked to attack the basket in the first quarter, and he finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds.  The wine and gold wound up with six players in double figures, all five starters, and Delonte West off the bench pitched in with 14 points.

 

The biggest difference was a the defensive end, though.  Boston was held to 43 points in the first half, as the Cavs built a 22 point halftime lead.  The most improved situation involved the handling of Rajon Rondo, who was a huge problem in the first two contests.  Rondo would up with 18 points and 8 assists, and he needed 17 shots to score his points.  Controlling him was the key to the game.

 

 

However, Doc Rivers correctly pointed out that Cleveland’s hot shooting may have been the biggest factor in keep Rondo in check.  The Cavaliers shot almost 60% from the floor, and it’s hard to run a fast break when you are taking the ball out of bounds under your own basket.  Anthony Parker did pick up Rondo in the backcourt several times in an obvious attempt to make him work as much as possible.

 

The blowout loss may work to the Celtics advantage though, because Rondo played only 35 minutes, the most of any Celtic.  Therefore, fatigue won’t be quite the factor it might have been for a quick turnaround game Sunday afternoon.

 

It was kind of the reverse of Monday’s game in that while the Cavs shot very well, Boston shot poorly, hitting just 43% from the floor. 

 

Now, Cleveland has to be greedy.  They have a chance to take both games in Boston, and come back home with a chance to win the series.  That said, the Celtics will definitely bring a different mindset Sunday.  They will be back in desperation mode, knowing another loss will mean their season will be ending soon.  The Cavs have to match that intensity or suffer another beating like the one they absorbed in game two.

 

Hopefully, a lesson has been learned.  It is doubtful the wine and gold will shoot 60% or put up 124 points in game four.  However, if the Cavs do bring the same type of defensive pressure to the court, they can win in Boston again. 

 

At the very least, the Cavaliers took back their home court advantage in the series.  That’s reason enough for our civic concern to ease just a bit. 

 

JK

 

Watching Cleveland Indians on television, one has to be struck by the paltry crowds at Progressive Field.  Listening to sports talk radio, one has to be struck by the lack of conversation regarding the Tribe.  Talking among friends, conversations about the city’s baseball franchise are short and greeted with groans.

 

If the team’s ownership wonders why, all they have to do is look in the mirror.  They are the reason. 

 

A poll recently said the Cleveland Indians were baseball’s most hated team based on articles on the Internet.  Apparently, more negative things are written about the Indians than any other baseball team. 

 

Once again, the ownership is the chief reason.

 

When you lose 95 games the previous season, and your biggest off-season acquisitions are Mike Redmond and Russell Branyan, there will not be any buzz or excitement about the team.  Baseball owners are either in the winning business or in the hope business.  The Dolan family isn’t in either.

 

On the field, the team is a mess right now.  Everyone, including me, thought the Indians would be able to hit, and the pitching would be questionable.  However, through 26 games, almost 1/6 of the season, we were very, very wrong.

 

A team has to have either power or speed to be able to produce runs, and the Tribe has neither.  Cleveland ranks 13^th in the AL in home runs and slugging percentage (ahead of Seattle), and they are tied for 11^th in stolen bases.  They can get guys on base, as they are 7^th in the league in on-base percentage, mostly because they draw walks.

 

However, the walks don’t do any good without power to drive in the runners, and they rank 3^rd in the league in striking out, another horrible stat for a team without pop.

 

The organization has to make some decisions.  Although, based on the past, they will them off until June or July.  Here is what they should do, and sooner rather than later…

 

Middle infield shift.  Mark Grudzielanek has been a productive player in his major league career, but is now 40 years old, and struggles to hit the ball out of the infield.  Luis Valbuena has struggled mightily at the plate, and his two errors, which cost the team a win yesterday, should signal his return to the minor leagues. 

 

Jason Donald is hitting .323 in Columbus, with a 940 OPS.  He should be called up and put in the lineup at 2B immediately.  Another plus for him is he was acquired in the Cliff Lee deal.  Either Brian Bixler or Anderson Hernandez can be called up as well to serve as the utility infielder.  Bixler is a natural shortstop that can provide defense when he is in there.

 

Shifting lefties.  Rafael Perez should be designated for assignment as soon as possible.  The front office was waiting for him to return to his 2007-08 form, but it has now been a year and a month since he’s done that.  If he’s not walking guys, he’s giving up hits.  He certainly cannot be expected to get guys out at the major league level. 

 

The Indians can bring up Jess Todd to replace him.  They would only have two southpaws in the bullpen (Aaron Laffey and Tony Sipp), but they really only have two with Perez as the third.

 

La Porta Problem.  The emergence of Austin Kearns has put the Tribe in a bind regarding La Porta.  He can’t get regular playing time, and he needs to have it to see what he can do.  Branyan is blocking him at first.  To me, Branyan would be the odd man out, but the front office seems to think he can contribute.  The point is La Porta needs to play, and he’s not playing in Cleveland.

 

No one is saying these moves will turn the 2010 Cleveland Indians into pennant contenders, but they would provide some help.  At 10-17 and already in the last place, this season is close to being over before it starts.  That’s why the Dolan’s can’t sell you hope.

 

MW

 

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

 

 

Sometimes, the most unlikely event shakes a team out of its doldrums.  The Cleveland Cavaliers were struggling in game one of their conference semi-final series, until it happened.

 

Mo Williams, coming off a steal, dunked on the Celtics’ Paul Pierce.  Forget about dunking on someone, the fact that Williams dunked at all was a shock.  The unlikely event provided a spark to put Williams en fuego.  He scored 14 points in the quarter, and the wine and gold, who were trailing by 11 at one point, took a one point lead at the end of the quarter.

 

The first half was a worrisome affair for Cavs’ fans.  First, LeBron James looked very tentative at the outset, appearing to favor his ailing right elbow.  He didn’t shoot effectively from outside, and the Cavaliers were down by 11 going into the locker room.  Was something more seriously wrong with his right arm, or was he trying to get his teammates involved. 

 

Also, Rajon Rondo was kiling Cleveland.  He scored 19 points and dished out 8 assists.  He got into the paint at will, scoring and creating excellent opportunities for the other guys in green.  He went past Williams as if he were a statue.  No one could control him, and it appeared to be big trouble for the wine and gold in the first game of the series. 

 

They were still down 11 when Williams dunked occurred.  And from then on, the Cavailers took control, outscoring Boston 43-24 for the rest of the game.

 

James said his elbow loosened up in the second half, and he discovered his jump shot, going on to score 35 points to go with 7 rebounds and 7 assists.  Shaquille O’Neal contributed three big baskets in the fourth quarter, and J.J. Hickson played well too, winding up with 11 points.

 

The Celtics showed, however, that they will not be a pushover in this series.  And there is no doubt, they will come hard after the Cavs in game two on Monday night.  Another loss means they would have to take four out of five from Cleveland to advance, and that is highly doubtful.  If they are going to win this series, they need to win the second game.  The Cavs have to match their intensity. 

 

The Celtics big three of Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen all shot under 50% from the floor in game one, and that will probably not happen again.  Boston will play better, but the wine and gold have room for improvement as well.  Antawn Jamison and Anderson Varajao played okay, but they are capable of bigger things.

 

The Cavs usually need just one other player to step up with a big game along with James to win.  On Saturday night, it was Mo Williams.  Someone else will need to do the job on Monday.

 

JK 

 

 

 

The Boston Celtics are a veteran team.  Three of the four principle stars on the team (Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce) are on the wrong side of 30 years old.  However, don’t dismiss them as an old team.  Instead, remember that they won a title just two years ago, and have the heart of a champion.

 

What should the Cavaliers do to win this series?  Here’s our take on how to accomplish the feat and advance to the conference finals.

 

On defense, the wine and gold need to keep Rajon Rondo from going to the basket and creating havoc.  That’s easier said than done, especially for Mo Williams, whose defensive skills have slipped from a year ago.  Rondo simply isn’t as effective from the perimeter as his outside shooting is not the strength of his game. 

 

When Mike Brown plays Delonte West and Williams together, it makes more sense to put West on Rondo, where his quickness and length can bother the Celtics’ point guard.  Williams can play Allen, who can go to the basket, but seems more content to spot up on the perimeter.  Also, the height difference isn’t much of a difference between the two.

 

The Cavs should use their depth to pressure the Celtics, and make them work hard on every possession.  Cleveland can run multiple looks on defense using Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon to make a short shot clock for Boston.  Mike Brown doesn’t use a lot of pressure defenses, but he may want to reconsider it in this series.

 

Offensively, the wine and gold should run as much as possible.  The defense is part of this, because if they can force the Celtics into misses, the Cavs can get up the floor in a hurry for fast break opportunities.  This strategy once again put pressure on Boston, which can pay dividends as the series goes on.

 

They also must move the basketball.  The Cavaliers cannot run the offense where LeBron James dribbles endlessly on the perimeter.  If they can move the ball back and forth, using both sides of the court, they can blow up the Celtics defensive game plan.  Boston’s defenders are simply not a quick as they were two years ago. 

 

Lastly, this is the playoffs, so every possession is precious.  Cleveland has to take care of the basketball.  And they can’t afford to fall in love with the three point shot.  They have to challenge the Celtic defense by attacking the basket.  Kendrick Perkins is solid defensively, but Garnett is not what he once was at that end.  Although, he is still pretty good. 

 

Much is being made of the three days off between games two and three, but that is because this is the first second round series to get started.  Either both teams would get extra rest before the series started, or it would happen during the series.  And television dictated they wanted this series to start tonight in prime time. 

 

In the 60’s and 70’s, basketball fans talked about the famed Celtic fast break and their running game.  Ironic, isn’t it, that the Cavs need to run the Celtics to win this series. 

 

JK