DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Cavs vs. Celtics Playoffs Thread (Part 2)

Cleveland Cavaliers say they're healthy, ready to go for Game 3 vs. Boston Celtics
Mary Schmitt Boyer, The Plain Dealer
May 06, 2010, 8:51PM

LeBron James' right elbow?

Fine.

Anderson Varejao's back?

Fine.

Shaquille O'Neal's right thumb?

Fine.

All of the above went through a full-contact practice Thursday, and everybody is ready to go for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals tonight in Boston.

That apparently includes the Celtics' Kevin Garnett (foot) and Kendrick Perkins (knee), who also practiced Thursday.

Everybody on the Cavs knows what has to be done to erase the memories of the 104-86 loss in Game 2 on Monday that evened the series at 1-1.

"As a team, we all need to come out more aggressively," James said. "Not only myself. I can't go a whole first half and only take five shots and shoot 40 percent from the field. I have to be more aggressive, try to get more shot attempts up.

"It's hard to get into an offensive rhythm when you're not into it offensively early like I was [not]. As a team, we all have to do the same thing. When we get good looks we have to take them and we have to knock them down.

"Whoever is out there has to be productive."

Though he patiently answered question after question about his sore right elbow, James made it clear he will not use it as an excuse and will play through it.

"It felt good today," he said. "It didn't flare up today at all. We had contact drills and I was able to go through the whole practice and it didn't flare up one time today, so that's a good sign.

"If it's hurting throughout the game, there's no way it can stay off your mind. You want to be conscious about it, but at the same time, I've got to be able to pull through it and find a way to try to help the team. It doesn't change my approach.

"But if you're dribbling up and down the court and you can feel a twinge or you feel it lock up, it's going to stop you from doing some things that you usually would be able to do. It is what it is and I've got to play with it."

Anderson Varejao expects to be able to go a full game on Friday battling the likes of Boston's Kendrick Perkins in Game 3 of their playoff series.

"It's still a little bit sore, but it's much better," Varejao said of his back. "I did treatment the last two days and I believe it will be fine for the game."

O'Neal said his right thumb was not bothering him and was not responsible for him shooting just 8-of-22 in the series.

"I'm OK," said O'Neal, who missed the final six weeks of the regular season after having thumb surgery for a torn ligament suffered in Boston on Feb. 25. "I'm used to taking 30-40 shots a game. The little chippies I shoot, I've just got to make them. It's just me. I'm just missing. It's only my sixth or seventh game back. Like I said earlier, I won't miss 'em all."

James said the team is counting on O'Neal.

"We need him to get going," James said. "We need him to get into some type of rhythm. He hasn't shot the ball particularly well from the field. He hasn't played a lot of big minutes. But we need him to get going. I think he understands that.

"He wants to play well. We want him to play well. It has to start [Friday] for him to get into some type of rhythm."
According to O'Neal, it's not his thumb, or Varejao's back or James' elbow that's the problem.

"We know we've got to play better defense," he said. "We know we've got to play better overall basketball. We know we're a damn good road team, so if we do what we're supposed to do then we'll be fine.

"We match up with any team in the league pretty well," O'Neal continued. "We've just got to do what we practiced . . . work on the small things."

Asked specifically about James and his elbow, O'Neal said: "He's a warrior. You guys talk more about it than he does. He's going to play through it. He's not going to make any excuses. His elbow has nothing to do with our team defense. Everyone has to do their part."
web page

LeBron takes part in full practice


INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- LeBron James knows he's in for a painful playoff run.

Chasing an NBA title with the Cleveland Cavaliers at less than 100 percent, the two-time league MVP said Thursday that his injured right elbow -- now with its own Twitter page -- feels better but it won't be completely healed until he rests it after the season.

James has accepted his fate.

"I've got to play with it," he said.

James made it through a complete practice Thursday without his elbow "flaring up" as the Cavaliers got in a final workout before heading to Boston for Game 3 on Friday night. After the Celtics' win in Game 2 on Monday evened the series, James spent the past few days icing his elbow and undergoing electrical stimulus treatments.

A scheduled second MRI has been canceled, but James said doctors have told him his injury, diagnosed as a sprain and bone bruise, isn't going away anytime soon.

"It could be a recurring thing through the whole playoffs," he said. "If we continue to win and continue to be in the playoffs it could be a recurrence, and it may not be better until the offseason."

Wearing a short, black sleeve over his elbow, James shot jumpers from all over the floor during the portion of practice open to the media. He even launched a few long 3-pointers before leaving the gym.

Dealing with the physical part is only one aspect of his injury. For James, trying to block out the pain and still perform at a high level has been a challenge. He'd like to ignore it, but that's not possible when he feels a twinge in the elbow or when the joint locks up.

"If it's hurting throughout the game, there is no way it can stay off your mind," he said. "You want to be conscious about it, but at the same time I need to find a way to help the team no matter if it's hurting or not. There is no way you can not think about it."

James' elbow has been the talk of Cleveland. The city's fragile fans, who always expect the worst, are concerned the Cavaliers have been struck by the same curse that has bedeviled the Indians and Browns, leading to a 46-year championship drought.

The injury's timing is unfortunate, but there isn't anything James -- or anyone else -- can do.

Since the Cavs were eliminated in last year's Eastern Conference finals by Orlando, James has been on a mission to end his seventh pro season by hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

This isn't an obstacle he could have planned for.

"It sucks," he said. "For the most part all season I was healthy and if I had to play all 82 games, I would have. To have an injury at this point in the season where it may slow you up a little bit, it sucks. But it's a part of the game. Nobody feels sorry for me or for our team and we move on."

James is averaging 29.5 points in the first two games, but his passiveness in Game 2 was alarming for the superstar. He has attempted just five outside shots in the opening halves, and when he's had breakaways he has delivered soft, two-handed dunks instead of his normal, signature windmills.

"You want to be smart about things," he said. "I don't want to go up there doing all that crazy dunking where I might aggravate my elbow. Two points is two points."

However, James knows he has to be more assertive. The Cavs can't wait for him to take over a game, and he can't wait for help.

"We all need to come out more aggressive, not only myself," he said. "I can't go a whole first half and take only five shot attempts. I definitely have to be more aggressive in trying to get more shot attempts up. As a team we have to do the same thing, when we get good looks, we have to take them and knock them down."

Center Shaquille O'Neal needs to get going.

He has struggled so far in the series, shooting just 36 percent (8 of 22). The Cavs were counting on Shaq to draw attention down low, bringing in double- and triple-teams and opening up Cleveland's outside game. That hasn't happened, and until the Big Diesel shows up, the Celtics can gear their defense around stopping James.

O'Neal understands what James is going through. The 15-time All-Star has played with his share of injuries through the years and knows how tough it can be to block one out.

"It's very difficult. But he's a warrior," O'Neal said. "He hasn't really mentioned much about it. He hasn't really talked about it. He's going to play through it and he's not going to make any excuses. His elbow has nothing to do with our team defense. Everyone has to do their part.

"I still see the greatest player in the game but we, as the others, have to help him out."

James is amused by all the interest in his elbow.

There have been conflicting reports about his injury as well as the number of tests he has undergone. A satirical Twitter page has popped up, written from the perspective of his elbow.

James, who said he isn't following his elbow on Twitter, confirmed he has had only one MRI.

"According to the TV I've had about 50. 'LeBron has another MRI today scheduled, he has another one when he gets to Boston," he said, playfully mocking the reports. "I've only had one, and I've only needed one."

The Cavaliers hope it stays just one.

web page

Most important game of the playoffs tonight. We absolutely have to get one back on their home court. The biggest thing is defensively we have to get back to playing like we have all season. We have to establish an identity on offense. So far it doesn't look like MB knows who or what he wants out there. That has a lot to do with players not stepping up. The biggest thing so far this series it doesn't look like anyone wants to step up and they seem to be waiting for someone else to or waiting for lebron to carry them. That's got to stop.

If you don't already hate the Magic, watch the first 9 seconds of this video.

Howard Mocks LeBron handshake / chalk ritual

Dwight cracks me up. He's a petulant child in a giant's body. He should probably spend less time worrying about players that are better than him in every facet of the game, and focus on becoming a better ball player. Maybe learn how to shoot free throws, or try to cut down the dumb fouls, or develop a game more than 10 feet from the basket.

Please Run. Please Run. Please Run.

I am extremely anxious

The smirnoff should help.

right off the bat, lbj looks better. dribbling upcourt, his shot looks smooth, and he took a hit from perkins, a tough foul, and shrugged it off. looks like old lbj may be back.

if the cavs take this game, the tables get turned big time, because if the celtics don't win sunday, they're toast and they know it.

Lets not get ahead of ourselves. I'd like to see a dollar's worth of quarters from these guys first.

wow.

keep it up, please.

Why, in the game that we are up by 20, do they show the Jordan shot? Couldn't they have at least shown it last week when we were already down anyways? lol

i'll give them that one, because it's the anniversary, i just hate when they do it for no reason.

like we don't know, like any sports fan doesn't know.

cavs up 22 at the half.

if i am mike brown, i keep pushing these guys. he rang the bell after game 2 and it worked. lebron has been great, but the defense has been so much better.

you pound them in the 3rd, and you don't let up and the 4th quarter becomes meaningless. you win the third and you make it easy on yourself the rest of this game.

keep pounding them.

I'm happy that Mike Brown followed my advice to keep Lebron in to start the 2nd and only rest him if they maintained the lead.

I agree. You gotta take an assassin's mentality. Bury them. Humiliate them.


And then be ready to do it again in the next game.

Never before have have I watched an important game in a catatonic state, I have to protect my mental health.

That being said, great first half, have to find a way to keep it up.

Watching so far tonight is very surreal, hopefully I don't wake up soon......GO CAVS

this is where shaq becomes important, because if he can give you anything in the third, there is no way the celtics can make a run.

what amazes me is we all cried for them to run, and they are a little, but they are crushing them in their halfcourt sets.

and if rondo is gonna shoot and clank jumpers all day, let him rip.

You can tell that you're a Cleveland Fan if:

The Celtics cut the lead to 26, and you start to feel nervous.

Come on mike, rest lbj, we won.

Counter argument is don't give bos anything good to feel about for Sunday.

with that argument, you can also add that maybe the cavs late run which came up short carried over into this game. not sure about that. but i guess that argument can be made.

i think more than anything, the cavs got a wakeup call.

and i like what mark jackson just said, are the cavs gonna take this and be hungry and greedy, or are they gonna be satisfied with the split?

10 more just like this one please.

Boy the Garden sure had a ton of empty seats...

And if a Celtics fan complains about LBJ not shaking hands, I think their entire team was in the locker room when the buzzer sounded. lol

i've been watching the blackhawks, and it's really weird how simliar their series is to the cavs.

other than the hawks losing the first at home and the cavs winning. they got embarassed once at home and grinded out the other, then they go on the road and open up a can.

update. hawks just scored 18 seconds into game 4

i would love nothing more than to see the cavs get this next one and come home to a bunch of fans, who instead of being nervous and worried, will smell blood like a pack of great white sharks.

they need to realize they are the better team, but you don't just win on talent alone.

Nothing like a 30 point eviseration to ease the nerves a bit.

It was nice to see what this team can do when they bring the intensity forty eight minutes. Lets do it again 48 more on Sunday.

That was an unbelievable game, Lebron, West and AJ just destroyed them. The key was lebron coming out and attacking from the tip. everyone followed the lead and by the time boston knew what hit them game was decided. I hope they realize that this has been there the whole time..screw getting shaq involved off the bat, he don't have any game left anyways, lebron needs to get his game off, the rest will follow. Just about everyone contributed. Except Mo of course, but I don't think anyone expects him to now that the playoffs are here. If there was anymore reason to hate the celtics, that cheap foul by perkins and KG being KG, god i wanted shaq to level KG 1 time.. If you really think about the game, we didn't really do anything spectacular, we just executed our offense and rotated well on D, same thing that we did all year and somehow forgot in the playoffs. Hopefully game 2 was a wakeup and the real cavs have arrived

All I have to say is this .....




That's more like it!

mo was 4/8 with 7 dimes.

This is exactly what was needed. Not just a win, but a very convincing blowout.

one other thing that has not been mentioned.

cavs, 31/34 at the stripe.

bout friggin time.

if the cavs hit their free throws, and play defense like they did tonight, the rest of the association can kiss it goodbye.

j/c

Big props to D West. He kept making jumper after jumper when the Celtics tried to make a run.

The whole team came to play. Sunday's game will be a real test of wills. The Cavs felt the pressure tonight. The Celtics will certainly be feeling it next game.