Series Thread: ECF: Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavs

[LogicMan]

Every single guy that steps on the court for the Celtics has contributed to these wins, even Aaron Baynes has been a hugely significant player

Best 3 point shooter in the playoffs

 

[LogicMan]

The consensus seems to be that Doncic and Ayton will be 1-2........I like Bagley offensively, do wonder if he will get pushed around on the defensive end

Got to go Ayton, have to

 

[Shanemansj13]

So how about they trade KLove and a draft pick for a star and sign PG or Cousins? Seems legit. Going to have to trade JR, TT or a combo of players to shed cap too.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

whats a typical HOF resume look like?

Love will have probably 6-7 all star games, and a championship or two....probably only a couple ALL NBA teams....i highly doubt thats enough

I doubt his resume ever reaches those levels.

 

[BigKen]

James doesn't have to do any heavy lifting while in Cleveland.

NO, he has to do all of the lifting. He scored 27 more tonight than Sunday. Between him and Love they toss in 64 and the other 8 guys can't each score 2 more to get to 108. Odd isn't, the Cavs can't break 100 against the Celtics defense after averaging 114 up to the ECF. Right now they're averaging 88 a game against the Celts.

Cavs lose Game 3 in Cleveland and LBJ won't even be in Cleveland for game 4. His locker will be clean and he'll be driving the back roads west.

 

[trojanfan12]

You know what is crazy though?

LeBron actually didn't play all that well.

He made a bunch of 3s early on, but was more or less average shooting after the first quarter. Not bad, but not great. He turned the ball over 6 times and went 5-10 from the line.

LeBron must be better than this for Cleveland to win. Not saying he needs to score 50 (he might), but he does need to be more efficient. Boston is the far superior team.

I don't know that he necessarily didn't play well. He shot over 50% from the field. He's gotta do better from the free throw line though, that was a Shaq performance from the line last night.

I think it's about the defense that the Celtics played.

I heard a stat that of the 29 shots he put up, 28 were contested. That'll wear a guy down, even a freak like Lebron.

 

[Shanemansj13]

NO, he has to do all of the lifting. He scored 27 more tonight than Sunday. Between him and Love they toss in 64 and the other 8 guys can't each score 2 more to get to 108. Odd isn't, the Cavs can't break 100 against the Celtics defense after averaging 114 up to the ECF. Right now they're averaging 88 a game against the Celts.

Cavs lose Game 3 in Cleveland and LBJ won't even be in Cleveland for game 4. His locker will be clean and he'll be driving the back roads west.

I don’t think he will be gone just bc of that BUT he will want some big roster changes. Signing a bigtime FA and then trading some of these big contracts and draft pick for another bigtime FA. So a total roster formation. I think Love stays but who knows.

The main contracts I see going are:

TT $17.4
JR $14.7
Hill $19

I mean that is $50 mil right there

 

[trojanfan12]

Just think how they'll be when Irving and Haywood are back next year. Ya think Stevens will be able to work them in..

I doubt it. Dude seems kinda clueless.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Tristan lol

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

I don't know that he necessarily didn't play well. He shot over 50% from the field. He's gotta do better from the free throw line though, that was a Shaq performance from the line last night.

I think it's about the defense that the Celtics played.

I heard a stat that of the 29 shots he put up, 28 were contested. That'll wear a guy down, even a freak like Lebron.

The best thing that happened for the Celtics were the Raptors.
Cavs thought that their season long issues were magically cured.

 

[trojanfan12]

Have you watched either of these games?

They traded for Clarkson,Nance and Hood because they were old and slow. But, those guys are struggling offensively, so Korver, Smith, Love and TT are getting most of the minutes. The Celtics are literally running circles around them because they are so much more athletic. They get whatever shot they want, while the Cavs are completely 100% reliant on whatever James can create.

Since Boston is arguably the best defensive team in the entire league, James can't create the same quality looks that the Celtics are getting.

Lue is never going to oatcoach Brad Stevens and the Celtics have much more talent after LeBron. Kevin Love is horribly overrated. LeBron is the best player in this series, but Horford, Brown, Tatum, and Rozier have all been better than Love. Hell, Morris and Smart arguably have been too.

I have a difficult time seeing Cleveland winning this series at this point. Never going to count LeBron out, but the Celtics are a much better team.

Lue may want to consider playing 2 or 3 of the young guys more and hope they can make up for their offensive struggles on defense.

As you point out, TT, Korver, Smith and Love are just too slow. The Celtics are getting to the rim any time they want.

Sometimes guys can get their offense going by concentrating on defense and creating some easier looks. May not work, but nothing else has, so it might be worth a try. Especially at home where the role players tend to play better.

 

[Shanemansj13]

You know what is crazy though?

LeBron actually didn't play all that well.

He made a bunch of 3s early on, but was more or less average shooting after the first quarter. Not bad, but not great. He turned the ball over 6 times and went 5-10 from the line.

LeBron must be better than this for Cleveland to win. Not saying he needs to score 50 (he might), but he does need to be more efficient. Boston is the far superior team.

Didn’t play well?? I think that shot to the neck did affect him bc he wasn’t the same but it’s not like he didn’t play well. He didn’t play near his best but that is definitely an overreaction. He literally does everything for this team, he could of ended up with nearly 20 assists if guys could hit their open shots and layups. Boston was also double teaming at times and clogging the lane, not much you can do but pass it to open guys and then they miss shots (other than Love and Korver, in one quarter).

This has nothing to do with Lebron. Can he shoot better from the stripe? Yes, but he is shooting over 75% in the playoffs. Half of those turnovers were after the neck strain and when they were down 10 late. I just don’t think it matters when he has to do so much, kinda like when he plays the W’s. He just can only do so much. The team defense didn’t look very good either and nobody looked motivated. They didn’t look like the same team last night or the night before. Maybe being at home will spark them but I wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t spark them.

 

[gordontrue]

Tristan lol

How did he not get T'd for taunting though? Didn't blame TT one bit for not putting up with that.

 

[Shanemansj13]

The best thing that happened for the Celtics were the Raptors.
Cavs thought that their season long issues were magically cured.

They are capable of defended better than they did last night. I saw more of a lack of effort at spurts of the game. It’s like they didn’t care. They must have watched Game 1 of the WCF’s lol

 

[gordontrue]

Lue may want to consider playing 2 or 3 of the young guys more and hope they can make up for their offensive struggles on defense.

As you point out, TT, Korver, Smith and Love are just too slow. The Celtics are getting to the rim any time they want.

Sometimes guys can get their offense going by concentrating on defense and creating some easier looks. May not work, but nothing else has, so it might be worth a try. Especially at home where the role players tend to play better.

The problem is the Cavs young guys just really aren't that great on defense. And they are true, true rookies, unlike Tatum, cause they've hardly gotten playing time all season. Its too late to go that route unfortunately.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Just think how they'll be when Irving and Haywood are back next year. Ya think Stevens will be able to work them in..

I see them being worse with them. Their chemistry will be all fucked up and Kyrie will be a ball hog Remember he wanted a team built around him. I am started to think this team is built around Brown and Tatum

 

[gordontrue]

I have to say though, these Celtics are strangely likable. Even in the midst of watching my team get their ass kicked, I can't even be mad. I'm just impressed.

 

[trojanfan12]

Interesting irony the Cavs find themselves in a place with no cap space, almost no trade value for anyone on their team, and a bunch of bad contract no impact players.

Perhaps the Cavs GM has lost something off his fastball?

 

[Battlelyon]

Ty CLueless

 

[Heatles84]

So how about they trade KLove and a draft pick for a star and sign PG or Cousins? Seems legit. Going to have to trade JR, TT or a combo of players to shed cap too.

Doubt that would be enough to keep Lebron in Cleveland. Only way would be if they trade the pick and a large package for some of the players you suggested while holding onto Love. But then, after those 3, what else do you have left? Lebron would still have to play over 36 MPG during the season and 40+ during the playoffs just to win.