Game 5 (CLE 3-1) Chicago @ Cleveland Tuesday for the Casual Fan 8 PM

• Benny The Jet

  

  When does the Cavs/Celtics series start? Or do they have to wait until everyone is done in rd.1?
• mallymal614

  Benny The Jet wrote: When does the Cavs/Celtics series start? Or do they have to wait until everyone is done in rd.1?

  I think everyone has to be done in the East. I believe there been times in the past where another conference started the next round while the other were still in another. Don't quote me though cause I could be wrong.
• devil1197

  LeBron has scored no less than 30 points this year against Boston in every game, just like most teams they have no one to guard LeBron.
  
  The way our role players are stepping up at different points throughout the series, I'll have faith in Cleveland's offense. Jamison is averaging 19 ppg with efficient shooting and every Cav that has played decent minutes has stepped up at one point.
  
  Cleveland did not have this type of bench support last season.
• chicago510

  

  My Bulls fought hard. Rose is going to be a superstar. Just not enough depth and no answer for LeBron.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Saturday, I'm fairly certain that's what they said earlier.
• mallymal614

  The winner of the Cavs/Celtics series will do it in 7 games in my opinion. Boston is starting to look like the team they were 2 years ago. Even Lebron was quoted saying that he thought Boston was pacing themselves for the playoffs late in the regular season.
• Cleveland Buck

  

  1. Those calls on Miller were good calls. They just seem odd because Shaq never gets those calls. If Miller was pulling on Jamison's arm in the post, no one would think twice about blowing the whistle.
  
  2. The Cavs still aren't playing well, taking too many threes, turning the ball over, and sleeping on defense for long stretches of games. Meanwhile, LeBron is hurt and the Celtics are playing like they did two years ago. That's just fucking great.
• mallymal614

  Lebron said he can't feel his elbow. Say he will get a MRI on his day off.
• devil1197

  Cleveland is shooting 40% from deep, they are fine. This team is surrounded by 3 point shooters for LeBron to drive and dish.
• Non

  

  Cleveland is still the favorite but they hit a lot of shots against the Bulls in those two games that were close. The Bulls had to score every possession. LeBron will get his no matter what. If the others keep knocking down those shots they'll win it all but the Celtics with Garnett are a tough defensive team in the playoffs. That's why they were so tough two years ago. They're not as good, definitely older, but no doubt a lot more seasoned than the Bulls in the clutch, getting stops.
  
  The Bulls to their credit were able to go back and forth a little bit better than I expected. They got to the basket and made a lot of awkward shots. I'm not sure if the Celtics can do that well offensively, but I know if they get it to a fourth quarter game it will be a lot tougher than that.
• devil1197

  Got to give props to Chicago though. They are a young and hungry team that played their hearts out.
  
  Cleveland just has too many weapons stepping up. You have Moon hitting a big 3 and 7 quick points in the 2nd quarter, then West comes off the bench to add 16, Jamison beasted the 1st half, Shaq provided 10+ at the C position, and Bron closed out the game. The only down spot was Mo who has played relatively well the other 4 games.
  
  Cleveland now has a competent bench that can provide 15-25 points a night unlike last year. Championship teams will only go as far as their bench plays well imo. If Cleveland gets half the bench production last year that they are getting this season, they beat Orlando imo.
• hoops23

  

  People are easily swayed by Boston, aren't they?
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Blah, blah, blah.
  
  Boston and Cleveland are both 0-0 now and have clean slates. Different matchups, different game plans. Nothing that has happened since the start of the season matters now.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  devil1197 wrote: Got to give props to Chicago though. They are a young and hungry team that played their hearts out.
  

  Agreed. Not enough people are doing this, they're more concerned with how the Cavs "looked". All I know is that they won the series 4-1. But the Bulls deserve the credit for making people think the Cavs didn't look pretty--they're a scrappy team, you have to play ugly, scrappy ball to beat them. They're a playoff team for a reason, anything can happen in the playoffs.
  

  LTrain23 wrote: People are easily swayed by Boston, aren't they?

  Apparently beating a team in 5 games that you swept in the regular season suddenly makes you better than you were when everyone thought the Cavs would kill you.
• devil1197

  Boston didn't even dominate Miami either imo, a team who truly only has Wade.
  
  They hit a buzzer beater, lost a game, and blew multiple leads to only close out games the same way Cleveland did against Boston.
• hoops23

  

  I said on another forum, I'd take Chicagos top 3 players over Miamis (aside from Wade)
  
  Seriously, Rose, Deng, and Noah are all players I'd take before Beasley, Jermaine, and whoever else..
• wildcats20

  

  LTrain23 wrote: I said on another forum, I'd take Chicagos top 3 players over Miamis (aside from Wade)
  
  Seriously, Rose, Deng, and Noah are all players I'd take before Beasley, Jermaine, and whoever else..

  IMO the Bulls are a true big away from being in the top 3-4 in the East.
  
  Or at least another star.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  I'd take Beasley over anyone Chicago has outside of Rose. But he doesn't fit right with that Miami team.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  wildcats20 wrote:

  LTrain23 wrote: I said on another forum, I'd take Chicagos top 3 players over Miamis (aside from Wade)
  
  Seriously, Rose, Deng, and Noah are all players I'd take before Beasley, Jermaine, and whoever else..

  IMO the Bulls are a true big away from being in the top 3-4 in the East.
  
  Or at least another star.

  If they get Joe Johnson or Wade and a guy who can slow Bron down better than Deng can, they'll be a contender to win the East.
• hoops23

  

  SQ_Crazies wrote:

  wildcats20 wrote:

  LTrain23 wrote: I said on another forum, I'd take Chicagos top 3 players over Miamis (aside from Wade)
  
  Seriously, Rose, Deng, and Noah are all players I'd take before Beasley, Jermaine, and whoever else..

  IMO the Bulls are a true big away from being in the top 3-4 in the East.
  
  Or at least another star.

  If they get Joe Johnson or Wade and a guy who can slow Bron down better than Deng can, they'll be a contender to win the East.

  I have a great feeling they'll get Joe Johnson.
  
  I was a big believer of Wade going home, but not so much anymore... I don't think he wants to be close enough to his ex. (she lives in Chicago, they had a big fallout, blah, blah.. )
• wildcats20

  

  I agree.
  
  I just think if Noah could slide over to the 4 and they had a legit center(which there aren't many available) it would really help them out. But if you can't get a big, but you can get Wade or JJ you are going to be OK.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Don't see D-Wade leaving Miami, but Johnson gives the Bulls enough with Rose and Noah--assuming Noah improves. Let's not get too excited about him, he put up some big numbers against the Cavs but I really believe in watching the games that their game plan was to just sort of let him do his thing and not bother focusing on rotating to him that much. Check his numbers from the regular season, he's still got a ways to go.
• osu99

  James says arm still hurting...
  
  http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5141472
• SQ_Crazies

  

  wildcats20 wrote: I agree.
  
  I just think if Noah could slide over to the 4 and they had a legit center(which there aren't many available) it would really help them out. But if you can't get a big, but you can get Wade or JJ you are going to be OK.

  But with the Cavs losing Shaq and Z in the coming years, and having Jamison, AV and Hickson. Along with LeBron's ability to play the 4. You have to believe that those athletic, smaller bigs are going to be at a premium in the East. Barring James signing a contract with Cleveland of course, but I really still believe it's a lock.
• Non

  

  Hey I'm giving my opinions. I don't care if it's considered being swayed or not. The Celtics take a lot more pride in their defense and have more toughness in those situations than the Bulls.
  
  That's not to say the Bulls were chumps. They played hard and brought some different problems. But nobody thought the road to the championship went through the Bulls, did they?
  
  Cleveland does have great depth this year. It's scary all of the players they have coming in and contributing. The way the supporting players stepped up and hit shots when it mattered against the Bulls bodes well for the rest of the playoffs but if that stops happening, they could be in some danger. The Celtics may cause those misses because of better overall defense.