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

• devil1197

  mallymal614 wrote: 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?

  Mo Williams is and has always been the X factor. Guys like Jamison are usually going to get their points (he only shot 6 times in the 1st game but has been solid every other game). When Williams is scoring Cleveland is almost guaranteed to win or at least be in it within 1:00 to play. Cleveland won't win the title unless Williams hits his average or more. He had one bad game in the Chicago series and one bad game on Monday, so hopefully he has his one bad game out of the way already.
  
  I think we can give up the Gibson talk unless he comes in during Game 3.
• mallymal614

  Agree! And why not run Boston off the court? Playing a half court game helps a team like Boston.
• wes_mantooth

  

  mallymal614 wrote: Agree! And why not run Boston off the court? Playing a half court game helps a team like Boston.

  Yep, but if Brown insists in getting Shaq involved in the offense...they cannot do it.
  
  Gotta put the egos aside and play Hickson more.
• devil1197

  mallymal614 wrote: Agree! And why not run Boston off the court? Playing a half court game helps a team like Boston.

  I stated in a different thread that I thought JJ was a better match up player for Cleveland in this series so we will see how it goes.
  
  But you cannot run an uptempo style for the entire game, there needs to be that fine line between uptempo/half court offense. Hopefully Brown can find those rotations and work with it.
  
  Shaq is needed against Bynum and Howard, JJ is athletic on offensive and to run the floor but his defensive rotations also aren't the greatest recently.
• KR1245

  

  Nows not the time to panic and change starting lineups, I wouldnt suggest that but I really think the Cavs need to get off to a quick start in game 3. If they come out sluggish like they have the first two games I think you make an immediate switch. I dont know what lineup Brown has considerred but he cant afford to sit back and wait for something to happen. Is it going to get to the point where we put Bron on Rondo? It seems like they have tried everybody else.
• hoops23

  

  I can understand why you would go to Shaq to start off..
  
  1) if it works this time, keep using it and draw fouls
  
  2) if it doesn't work, you can tell the big fella you tried, and try something else now.
• I Wear Pants

  I really hope the Cavs come out and just truck through them this first game. I'd be surprised if they get both in Boston but getting the first one at their place would take a lot of wind out of their sails.
• hoops23

  

  KG is listed as questionable for Game 3 due to his knee. Seems he tweaked it in Game 2.
  
  Though, he says he's playing, which I didn't doubt at all.
• wildcats20

  

  Yeah KG won't miss this unless he's dying on the sidelines.
• mallymal614

  Chris Webber just said on Inside the NBA that Lebron should guard Rondo. Anyone agree?
• hoops23

  

  Yes^
  
  God bless Mo, but he can't stay in front of Rondo, and that's nothing against him because Rondo is a great penetrating PG... Delonte West has trouble guarding him as well and Delonte is a very good defender.
  
  LeBron won't shut down Rondo from getting into the lane on every possession, but LeBron is fast and much bigger/taller than Rondo.
  
  Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon could slide up and guard Paul Pierce, who at this point in his career has become a glorified jumpshooter. Mo can spend time on Ray Allen as well as the other half of the Moon/Parker combo (whichever one isn't guarding PP at the time).
  
  Antawn is doing a fine job on KG. 20+ shots both games with 18 points a game. I'll take that.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  mallymal614 wrote: Chris Webber just said on Inside the NBA that Lebron should guard Rondo. Anyone agree?

  Yeah, I think most logical Cavs fans called for this about half way through game 1. And it's already been mentioned in this thread.
  
  Going big benefits us in a lot of ways.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  LTrain23 wrote: Antawn is doing a fine job on KG. 20+ shots both games with 18 points a game. I'll take that.

  Me too, fuck the media. KG has taken 20+ shots 276 times in his career, scoring over 20 in 231 of those games. But yeah, he's really killing us just like ESPN wants everyone to believe. Jamison isn't doing a great job defensively, because he isn't that great defensively, but he's holding his own and keeping up with KG well enough.
• KR1245

  

  Bron on Rondo and Mo on Allen. If thats not working try bringing in Moon to guard Pierce and leave AP on Ray.
  
  Bron
  AP
  Moon
  Tawn
  JJ/Andy
  
  I think that could be a pretty solid lineup vs that team. We would be quick and athletic at every position. The C's have struggled with up and down teams(Hawks for example) all season long. Run their old asses out of the gym
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Just leave Mo on the bench. Sorry bud, just not getting it done.
  
  LeBron
  Delonte/AP
  AP/Moon
  Jamison/JJ
  Shaq/Andy
  
  JJ and Andy could play either the 4 or 5, but I'd like to see JJ get more time at the 4 which is his true position. He has a few times during this series, but he's not a center, period. When playing the 5, Andy does a much better job of understanding his role on defense and staying down near the basket. When JJ the 5 down there, Rondo does what he wants.
• Pick6

  

  ^what?? one bad game doesnt mean 'not getting it done.'
• mallymal614

  There a few things that worry me about Lebron defending Rondo. Rondo may be the fastest point guard in the NBA, so if Lebron defends him, it could cause him to get winded since he will have to do equal work on defense, as well as offense. Plus it can free up other scorers. Now Pierce can do work, or Allen, etc. I'm not saying it would be a bad idea, I'm just not so sure about it.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  One bad game?
  
  Two bad games.
  
  Rondo should be the focal point of our defense, and Mo can't and won't be able to do shit on him. Yes, Mo bailed us out in the 3rd quarter of game 1 but we play on 2 ends of the court, not one. I'm not saying he shouldn't get any minutes, but he has no business in there guarding Rondo. ESPECIALLY when Rondo is locking him down as well. I'll change my tune when he grows some balls and is able to repeat his mindset in that 3rd quarter for an entire game. Not saying he's got to score 40, but game 2 he looked scared. Same with most of game 1. In that 3rd quarter he went nuts because he got that dunk and some confidence and he went right at Rondo. No fear. That's how he has to play, and he's only played 1 quarter that way so far.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  mallymal614 wrote: There a few things that worry me about Lebron defending Rondo. Rondo may be the fastest point guard in the NBA, so if Lebron defends him, it could cause him to get winded since he will have to do equal work on defense, as well as offense. Plus it can free up other scorers. Now Pierce can do work, or Allen, etc. I'm not saying it would be a bad idea, I'm just not so sure about it.

  Keep Rondo out of the paint and Boston starts to scramble on offense. LBJ can do that more often than anyone else on the team.
• hoops23

  

  
• hoops23

  

  Antawn Jamison interview about Game 3 summary:
  

  "I have not slept since the loss"
  
  "We were embarassed" "we have a sense of urgency"
  
  Also, they recognize the intensity needed to play better defense.
  
  Plans to attack the basket more.
  
  "learned from mistakes" Plans to do a much better job fronting KJ,.
  
  major communication errors have been identified and worked on defensivly.
  
  Plan to see more pick and rolls with Jamison!!!
  
  "will not let Rondo control the tone of the game"
  
  "we need to attack a team like Boston"
  
  "You will see changes" "More Movement, better ball movement"

• wes_mantooth

  

  ^^^I hope he is lying....or he is going to be pretty tired.
  
  This schedule is such bullshit..I haven't had my basketball fix, I just cannot get into watching these other series.
• vdubb96

  

  ^^^THIS!!!
  
  GO CAVS!!!! I"M FREAKIN" STOKED FOR TONIGHT!!!!!! HUGE GAME!!!!!
• Midstate01

  

  I don't know why, but I think the cavs win by 13+ to tonight.
• osu45804

  

  I love your reverse psychology you're trying to pull lol