Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics- Game 3 5/7 7pm (series tied)

• SQ_Crazies

  

  How has he gotten into LBJ's head? Two games in and his averages are numbers KG can only dream of.
• devil1197

  KG is not in Cleveland's head, it has nothing to do with KG and all to do with stopping Rondo.
  
  Boston is good but Cleveland is better. Its a 7 game series tied at 1-1 after Cleveland playing two bad games, I'll take it.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  People are putting too much into 1 game, that is all.
• JakeGiant

  SQ_Crazies wrote: People are putting too much into 1 game, that is all.

  I'm not. Within a month, there's been 3 games in succession when Boston has had sizable leads at least through mid 3rd Q. In typical Boston fashion, they've allowed the other team back in it because they occasionally go in dumb mode. It cost them Game 1.
  
  Yes, KG made LBJ go beta on that Easter Sunday game. It hasn't stopped although the Dancing Queen will have everyone know it's all about his elbow.
• devil1197

  So its not Cleveland getting back into the game, its Boston letting them into it?
  
  Well anyone could say that Cleveland needs to quit letting Boston get a lead early so they don't have to come back later.
  
  If Cleveland comes out with the intensity from the start then those leads never happen. Its easy to twist anything to how you want it to sound. I mean come on, you just don't allow teams to get back into a game down 21 at one point without realizing during that time span to turn it back on and quit playing "stupid".
  
  Go beta? You do know that LeBron had 35/7/7 in the 1st game correct, yeah KG was sure in his head. He had a bad game in Game 2 which is still better than most peoples good games (24/7/4/3/2 shooting just under 50%). Like I said, KG is nowhere near LeBron's head.
• JakeGiant

  I didn't know Cleveland is playing KG.
• devil1197

  KG is not in ANY Cavaliers player's head.
  
  They had a bad game, it happens.
  
  But keep thinking that Professor lol.
• vdubb96

  

  JakeGiant wrote: Hold the phone; Game 2 was a wakeup call?
  
  I remember an Easter game when they said that was the wakeup call after KG went chirping after the Cs went up 20ish in that game as well. In typical Boston fashion, and the 2 following games, they let the Cavs back in it, with Game 1 costing them.
  
  Two things, and I even said this back on Easter...
  
  1) Boston is a lot better than give credit, and probably better than Cleveland.
  
  2) KG's barking on Easter got in Cleveland, and especially the Dancing Queen's head. Instead of seeking MRI on an elbow that you think is the culprit, go seek a Psychiratrist, LBJ.

  And your the resident NBA all knowing??? Interesting.
• 2quik4u

  

  garnett goes for 18 mean mugs in a loss
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Go beta...lmao! Look at the numbers, again, numbers KG can only dream of.
  
  And the Easter game was won by Boston with extensive help from the officials. I'm not one to bitch about officiating and that isn't what I'm doing. Home teams get calls, I'm fine with that. Refs miss calls and get some wrong all the time, I'm fine with that too. They have a hard job. But they missed a few that cost us that game IMO. That happens sometimes and sometimes you benefit from it--nothing you can do, just have to fight through it as best you can. You can't win every game--which is why no team ever has. And then LeBron went for the dagger on the road with the three at the end when he had an easy lay in. And I was fine with that too, I liked his thinking to be honest, especially since the game didn't mean a whole lot. KG didn't get in LeBron's head at all. I haven't seen anyone get in LeBron's head since he came into the league, he doesn't get rattled. He thrives on the pressure you put on him by yapping. Ask Bosh's girlfriend. I think players and coaches getting into other players heads is an idea that is way overrated. All of these guys are professionals. As many times as a guy has had a bad game and it seems like you can draw a line to a point where someone got in his head, a guy has had a good game with that same line. It's just basketball, some days you've got it and some days you don't. That's why people are so concerned with averages. If we compared players based on their greatest potential then there would be no argument that Kobe is the best scorer in the game. He scored 81 once, that's his know potential.
  
  Like I said, too much thought going into one game. Thankfully, I'm certain the team is over it and looking forward to getting back on track on Friday.
• JakeGiant

  SQ, that Easter Sunday was nearly equally officiated. I cannot say it was nearly the same in both games in Cleveland.
  
  Okay, I'll let you guys believe what you want. We'll do a final review when the Cavs are toast.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  I won't argue about it, and like I said, I'm not complaining. It is what it is, stupid to complain about it ever. But there were a few obvious calls down the stretch that killed the Cavs momentum and allowed Boston to take back control of the game. Refs just missed em, but the majority of the time they won't. Find a replay of the game if you want, you'll see them.
• lhslep134

  

  I was really high last night and came to this conclusion, something I've tried to shield myself from.
  
  How is this really different than having the best or second best team in '95 or '97? Or when we had the best pitching staff in baseball in '07?
  
  It's CLEVELAND something is GOING to go wrong, it always does. I've tried so hard not to accept this become of Lebron's transcendental game, something the league has never seen before, but g-d damn it we're fucking Cleveland and somethings going to go wrong.
  
  Last year it was extreme unpreparedness against the Magic. I thought we could have beaten them, but they won the mental war and the series.
  This year it's Lebron's elbow. That's not an excuse, that's the REASON we're not going to win it all. We made it pretty damn clear that when healthy we're by far the best team in the league, but right now we're not close to fully healthy.
  
  I'm officially back to being a pessimistic Cavs fan instead of being optimistic about them and pessimistic about the Browns and Indians.
• osu45804

  

  I would love to see the C's come out with the same mentality they have the past two games in Cleveland. Taking it to the Cavs and playing the way the C's want to play. And the point about the Celtics giving up big leads and why isn't it the Cavs that are the ones coming back... It's happened all year to the Celtics they get a big lead and sit on it and hoping they can just coast the rest of the way and it has come back to bite them in the ass many times this year. They can play with and beat anyone in the league if they could just get over that mental hurdle. Similar to two years ago when they didn't win a road playoff game until the Conference finals then they won again in L.A. in the finals... They get over that mental hurdle of not letting a team back in the game I truly believe they can take this series in 6 games.
  
  Rondo has been nothing but awesome this series and I hope he has silenced the critics who say he is overrated. Rajon steps up in big time situations and in the playoffs that's been proven the last two years. Ray Ray needs to just keep working and getting open b/c his shots are falling this post-season. Pierce has started hot to begin games but gotten cold in the 4th, If he can have a game like he did in game 3 vs. Miami we're good. KG has been KG and Perkins is doing what he does down low, Just wish he'd stop going down with the ball and just go straight up once he gets it. The bench has been solid, T.A. has been great, Baby and Sheed have been productive.. Just need to get something out of Michael Finley in game 3.
  
  Go Boston!
  
  
  P.S. You want to talk about officiating? Cleveland shot almost 40 FT's to Boston's 18?.... Cavs are the worst FT shooting team in the league so even when they get to the line I'm confident they'll miss a few big ones in critical moments
• SQ_Crazies

  

  I don't see too many people calling Rondo overrated anymore.
  
  I'm with you though, anyone who still is is a moron. I thought it was very clear last year during the regular season that he was legit.
• devil1197

  I just wouldn't feel comfortable if I am a fan of both teams imo.
  
  Cleveland hasn't played well during both games and their tied 1-1 in the series. Cleveland has played exactly 2 quarters of decent basketball, so I'll take the 1-1.
  
  Boston played possibly their best game of the year in Game 2, played solid in Game 1 but still only a 1-1 showing. Their giving Cleveland their best punches but all Cleveland has to do is win 1 in Boston to regain HC advantage.
• Al Capone

  Let's go Boston!!!! Keep it going!!!
• Sage

  

  disagree with boston playing their best.
  
  they had a ton of turnovers and there was a huge FT discrepancy between the teams.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Compared to how they played most of the regular season, they brought their best in game 2.
• j_crazy

  

  Has Boston "turned it on" as ESPN would have us believe?
  
  I'm not going to lie, I don't follow many things outside of the cavs, so I don't know if they were hurt, or what the deal was for them to seem like pushovers, then turn it on.
• mallymal614

  Sage wrote: they had a ton of turnovers and there was a huge FT discrepancy between the teams.

  Agree. It was even said on SportsCenter that Boston had 18 Turnovers in game two, Pierce didn't have a good game, and the Celtics still dominated. So though they played a good game, it wasn't their best.
• hoops23

  

  devil1197 wrote: All I want is 2-2 coming back to Cleveland.
  
  You would expect with the law of averages for Cleveland to start playing well over 4 quarters soon.
  
  Jamison isn't doing bad on Garnett, KG needed 21 shots to score 18 while Jamison needed 11 to score 16. When a guy is shooting 20 shots plus, he'll score. Cleveland just cannot let any Boston bench player go for 15+ again and I don't think that will happen.
  
  Honestly, I don't know how the game will play out.

  Thank you, because the media is acting like KG is killing the Cavs.. No, he's not. He's taking over 20 shots a game, he better be getting 18 points.
• wes_mantooth

  

  I look for both teams to have a lot of good times. The team that has the most fun will win!!!
• devil1197

  mallymal614 wrote:

  Sage wrote: they had a ton of turnovers and there was a huge FT discrepancy between the teams.

  Agree. It was even said on SportsCenter that Boston had 18 Turnovers in game two, Pierce didn't have a good game, and the Celtics still dominated. So though they played a good game, it wasn't their best.

  When you shoot over 50% from the field and 47% from 3P you can allow yourself to have a couple more turnovers, especially when the TO difference is only +3 in the Cavaliers favor with the Cavs shooting 40% and something along the lines of 27% from 3P.
  
  Pierce may have not had a good game but when LeBron doesn't have an overall good game that means more to Cleveland than it does Pierce for Boston.
  
  Boston played one of their best games all year, everyone expects some turnovers in playoff basketball it will happen. But they shot lights out and played better defense.
  
  So I'll definitely take the 1-1 tied series right now with how the two games were played. Win 1 in Boston and I am extremely happy.
• mallymal614

  True. You have a valid argument. But 18 turnovers? That's well about the league average. That is awful. The Cavs have to get off to better starts. They are lucky to be tied 1-1 instead of 0-2 as they trailed by double digits in the second half of game 1. Lebron needs more help. There has to be an ex-factor. It was Mo game 1, who will it be game 3? Why not give Boobie Gibson some playing time?