DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Official Cavs vs Celitics Game 3 Thread

If we lose tonight, the series for all intensive purposes, is over. Let's hope LeBron can pull out of his slump and return to form

Cavs Searching For Answers on Offense

CLEVELAND -- As part of their preparation for Game 3 tonight against the Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers and their coaching staff thoroughly reviewed game film of their weak offensive efforts in Games 1 and 2. The question is, was it the right game film?

As the Cavs attempt to figure out how to dent the Celtics' rough and athletic defense, they may want to look to the past to help them with the present. Going back to the strategy -- and the type of lineup -- that won them the Eastern Conference title last year may be the best medicine. A bit of the old could certainly provide a more positive outlook.

It's hardly new territory for the Cleveland, which trails Boston 2-0 in the series and is looking to figure out how to exploit one of the NBA's greatest offensive talents in LeBron James.

This is the fourth time in the past three seasons the Cavs have lost the first two games of a series, and offensive woes have been the common thread. These struggles are an extreme sore point for the team's fans, who have watched three different offensive systems grind to a halt around James in the postseason.

But the Cavs and coach Mike Brown do have some positive memories to look back on, which may be just what they need to do.

Last season the Cavs' offense was a mess in their first two losses to the Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals. They averaged only 76 points and shot just 38 percent in the first two games at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

This is very similar to what happened with Detroit. We found a way last year and I am confident in myself and my teammates that we can do it again.

--LeBron James
James averaged 14.5 points and shot 35 percent in those games as the Pistons employed a defense very much like the one the Celtics are using now. Detroit's Tayshaun Prince, a very long perimeter defender, made it tough for LeBron to shoot over him, and the Pistons played a mini-zone around the paint behind Prince to stop James' drives, usually with Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess stepping up.

In this series against the Celtics, the early results are even worse for LeBron and Cleveland: He's shooting just 8-of-42 shooting (19 percent) for 16.5 points per game, and the Cavs have collectively bottomed out at 34 percent shooting and 72.5 points a game.

The Celtics are using Paul Pierce and James Posey on James, and playing a mini-zone in which big men Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins are discouraging drives and daring the officials to call defensive three seconds in the lane. The one addition the Celtics have made is they haven't been trapping James on pick-and-rolls and are allowing him to take jumpers if he wants them. This is similar to how the Spurs played James in the Finals: denying his passing lanes and challenging him to make jumpers. As a result, the Cavs' offense has degenerated, with James dribbling on the perimeter and looking for a hole -- making it easy for the Celtics to set up and prepare for an endless series of ineffective pick-and-rolls.

This general defensive scheme is known as "shrinking the floor," with defenders collapsing to the middle when James or the ball gets in there. Many teams run this system on defense, but the Celtics and the Pistons happen to be among the best because of their length on the outside and the talents of their big men inside.

Last postseason, the Cavs countered the Pistons by going to a spread offense. Starting in Game 3, the first of four straight wins for Cleveland, Brown went to a small lineup of shooters, with James as playmaker, for chunks of the game. In the middle was Anderson Varejao, who at his best is a perfect pick-and-roll partner because he's so athletic. Daniel Gibson, Sasha Pavlovic and Donyell Marshall stationed themselves around the perimeter and waited to catch and shoot.

James would operate from the top of the key, putting him in position to go a number of different directions with his driving and passing skills. Detroit ended up getting burned by the shooters, especially Gibson. By the time Games 5 and 6 came around, the Pistons were often unsure whether they needed to continue to pack the paint for LeBron's drives or stay out on the shooters. James exploited their indecision for 48 points in Game 5; Gibson capitalized on their preoccupation with James for 31 points in Game 6.

[+] Enlarge
LeBron James

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images

It seems like every Boston Celtics defender has at least one eye on LeBron James at all times.
The personnel has changed somewhat since, but the Cavs still have the pieces to try to spread things out and potentially force the Celtics into some lineup changes. Both Varejao and Joe Smith can defend centers and power forwards, allowing the Cavs to play small in the frontcourt. James can play point power forward, especially with Ben Wallace doubtful for Game 3 with a viral inner ear infection. Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West are normally proficient 3-point shooters, though they've been streaky during the playoffs. Gibson, in only his second season, has already built his reputation on his playoff marksmanship.

Brown isn't tipping his hand on what he might do, but he says the ball has to start moving and the shooters have to get to the correct spots
.

"We have to move bodies and move the ball from one side of the floor to the other," Brown said. "We haven't been completing plays; we've been stopping them. We also have to improve our spacing."

Of course, the players have to execute as well. Varejao is shooting just 25 percent this postseason after shooting 51 percent last year. Gibson and West have been ineffective in the series, after both shot 50 percent from 3-point range in the first round against the Wizards. James hasn't made anything from outside, open or not, against the Celtics.

If the shots won't go down, the system matters only so much. And playing small won't work for 48 minutes. But it may be solution the Cavs are searching for.

"We just have to continue to try to keep our heads up on offense and try to make the extra pass and get some teammates open, get some guys some good looks," James said. "We have to just try to adjust, get me to a comfort zone, and get everybody else to a more comfort zone.

"This is very similar to what happened with Detroit. We found a way last year and I am confident in myself and my teammates that we can do it again."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/columns/story?page=CelticsCavsGame3-080510

GO CAVS!

I remember last year, and I remember it being bad, but I don't know if it was this bad.

Boston is much quicker, IMO, then Detroit and that will make it hard to have a repeat performance of last year. The bottom line is, we have to shoot better. Everything else opens up if you can make your jump shots.

With that being said, guys like West and Gibson need to attack the basket more on offense, not AV and Wally. If our guards effectively get into the paint, our shooters can do their job which is set their feet and make a shot. Wally is only useful to us if we can get him the ball with his feet set.

I expect us to play better, but we are going to need things to go our way for a win in this must win situation.

Some key differences between detroit last year and boston this year.

Boston appears to be more quick and agressive.
Boston doesnt have a hot head (Rasheed Wallace) on their team.
Boston is more talented
Boston will not let lebron beat them
However Detroit had more experience then boston

I bet Cavs -1 yesterday. GO CAVS

It's Time For The Cavs To Put Up Or Shut Up & Go Home....Personally , as I have mentioned I do Not think we are as Good as last season and I do not believe that we will win this series let along make a return to the NBA Playoffs....However , that doesn't mean that the Cavs shouldn't step up and deliver a victory in front of our Fans as a Good Faith jesture toward next season and our future success....Last year was a Fluke....We are right where we should be now considering that overall Talent that we have on the team JMHO....

When's it start? 7? 8?

EDIT: Nevermind.

I'm probably going to miss at least part if not all of the first half. That sucks, but oh well.


Go Celtics!!!

I really hope they show up to play to night....this series has been hard to watch so far

I heard LeBrick will be late tonight, he's busy working out his future deals when he ends up in New York aftbr his contract expires.

Looks like Cleveland isn't ready to lose this series yet. C'mon Boston!!!

52-35 Cavs up at the half.

We need to win the 3rd quarter and I think we should have this one. No lead is big enough against the Celtics.

We need to win the 3rd and 4th quarter. Boston is to damn good to let up

We never seem to be able to deliver that KO blow when we have a big lead.

LeBron is not playing well offensively but his defense in this game has been spectacular.

79-63 Cavs after 3.

If the Cavs can get to 100, I think we have this one.

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!

If the Cavs win this one, it's because of the guys we acquired in the trade earlier this year. I think that is a very good sign.

We have a series!

Cavs win 108-84

Its a series when we win on their court

Nice Win !....You know my feeling from reading my post ...However , like the rest of you I'm a Fan and I Really hope the Cavs prove me wrong ! .....

Good win, but kind of expected IMO, considering the home team has won every single game 3 so far in this playoff year.

The Nuggets were swept.

Quote:

---

I gues I do know what Im talking about. I got mauled for even thinking boston could sweep us.

---

You did say could, but that's pretty much an "I told you so" statement. It almost seems like you're rooting against the Cavs just so you can give the board one big collective "I told you so".

Great win tonight. All the "trade players" did well tonight. LeBron is still off, but he looked much more in control today. Overall the team layed very well.

I'm looking forward to game 4. If we can keep some of the momentum we gained tonight, we will do well. LeBron still hasn't had his breakout game of the series,and we all know one of those games is coming before it is all said and done.

type type type

go cavs

Fun game to watch.

Our team defense was spectacular in the first half. We were aggressively busting the pick and rolls and then doubling the dribbler after we forced him high. This took Boston out of its offense and they started making turnovers or had to force up some bad shots.

Our defense allowed us to push the ball more and we took advantage of them in transition. LeBron didn't shoot it well, but he had a nice game. He really opened things up for guys like Joe, Wally, West, and even Wallace. Big Z was amazing again. That little swoop de scoop move he made had me going nuts.

I really liked Wallace's energy. He is a really quick jumper.

West was great. He dominated Rambo. *L*

Joe Smith played lights out. He is very smooth. He is also very effective when he doesn't have to be the man.

I think the Cavs coaching staff did a nice job w/their defensive game plan and they even changed some things up offensively.

While this was an exciting offensive game for us, make no mistake, we won this game w/our defense. It was unreal in that first half. That gives me hope. Because anytime you can shut a team down the way we did........well.........you have a chance.

Kinda funny....

Cavs fan sneaks into locker room
Posted: Sunday May 11, 2008 08:56AM ET

A little-known fact of life that helps open many doors is that if you simply look like you know what you're doing, you'll fit right in. Take, for example, the bold and enterprising fan who wandered down to the Cavaliers' locker room before Game 3 at The Q. The fan wore a pass that resembled the credentials that hang around the necks of media members, but the fine print included no media affiliation. No matter. The man still managed to wander into coach Mike Brown's press conference held just outside the locker room, and he not only crowded around Brown with the rest of the reporters, but also couldn't resist asking a question. "Hey, is LeBron going to score 50?" he blurted. Brown appeared flummoxed for a second before responding, "Uh, I hope so." The fan, donning a red "Rise Up" T-shirt that should have been the tip-off that he wasn't a real reporter, then wandered into the Cavaliers' locker room before Cavaliers employees realized he shouldn't be there and chased him out.

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/50017

Man I love what we did with West on Rhondo...

West layed off him and constantly doubled up on everyone else...

We'll take Game 4...Tied up 2-2...

Back to Boston...Game 5 will decide this one...Whoever takes game 5 will win this thing...We missed a golden one in game 1...Boston won't win another road game this season...They suck on the road and that ain't gonna bode well for em' at this stage...We ain't Atlanta...

We take games 4 and 5 and this thing's over in 6...

Thats awesome. Back in the day, I used to help a lady who ran the NASCAR E mail lists for AOL. That was in the early days of AOL. Now they have a whole department for that. She had my name listed on the website though, so I called up Michigan Speedway and asked for press credentials on behalf of AOL and they sent them to me. That was the year where Rusty Wallace spun Earnhardt during practice, after practice Earnhardt walked up to Rusty in the garage, grabbed his uni and shook him. My wife and I wee like 20 feet away when it happened and I swear we heard Rusty squeal.


KING

i'm still cautious with the way we're playing...

but, if we can get out in the open court like we did yesterday, we can even this thing up to 2-2, and then go into game 5 with momentum... and maybe boston goes into that game a bit on their heels...

we have great success in game 5's...

remember, not only did we have that unforgettable game at the palace last year in game 5, but the cavs did it the year before as well... only to lose that heartbreaker the next game at the q...

i do think we'll see a better effort out of boston tomorrow...

if lebron gets going, i think boston is in big trouble...

Just got a ticket to game 4!! I'll be rooting on the Cavs to victory