In a (virtually) must-win situation, the Boston Celtics buckled down, played a strong game, and evened the series between themselves and the Cleveland Cavaliers at 2-2. How did they do it? Balanced offense, consistent defense, and G-d’s gift to point guards, Rajon Rondo. I can’t remember, in the time that I’ve been watching the Cavaliers, a player who has single handedly caused the Cavs so much grief.
The Cavs came out strong in the 1st quarter with a 7-0 run and adeptly drew fouls. (Kendrick Perkins and Paul Pierce both collected 2 fouls, and Rasheed Wallace collected 3, in the first 12 minutes.) However, after a slow start, the Celtics caught fire, went on a 6-0 run, and never looked back. They were active on the boards, the shot the ball well, and defended the paint like their lives depended on it. Or maybe like their careers depended on it. They held Cleveland to 36.8% shooting, while hittting 55% of their own shots, and collected 13 rebounds. Rondo led his team with 11 points, and the Celts led the Cavs 31-22 after the 1st.
Cleveland showed more signs of life at the beginning of the 2nd quarter and attempted to get back into the game. Shaq had a key block that led to a Mo Williams 3 and the Cavs’ active hands forced several Boston turnovers. However, Cleveland struggled mightily to hold onto the ball themselves, turning the ball over on bad passes and due to lack of focus. When they stole the ball from Boston, the Cavs often turned it right back over and weren’t able to take advantage of extra possessions. Boston went into halftime up 54-45.
The foul trouble that plagued Boston in the 1st quarter came back in the 3rd, with both Pierce and Ray Allen picking up their 4th fouls. When Pierce got called for his 4th, Doc Rivers elected to put him on the bench, presumably to save him for later in the game. Jeff Van Gundy commented that Pierce was foolish to pick up his 4th foul (wrapping up Shaq and preventing a dunk) and be forced to sit, as he is so consistent and valuable to his team. As Pierce is only averaging 11 points a game against the Cavs, and had only scored 5 at this point in game 4, I couldn’t have disagreed more. The only thing Pierce has done consistently this series is miss open shots.
With the Celtics in foul trouble (although Rondo and Kevin Garnett were doing everything they could to keep their team in it), the Cavs took advantage, passing the ball well, finding the man in the paint, and SCORING. Allen’s 4th foul came when he ran into Delonte West behind the 3 point arc, which sent West to the line for 3 successful free throws and gave Cleveland it’s first lead since the middle of the first quarter.
Down 72-74 at the beginning of the 4th, the Cavaliers appeared to have regained their focus and seemed ready to use their 3rd quarter momentum to push them to a victory. And then they turned the ball over 4 consecutive times, which lead to a 10-0 Boston run. During this time, so many people from the Celtics scored, I almost thought I saw Doc Rivers throw on a jersey and take a shot. Cleveland didn’t score until nearly 5 minutes into the quarter, but by that time, the Celtics had the game in hand. Cleveland made a last 10-0 run to close the game to 86-84 at 4:34 to go, but that was as close at it got. Boston pulled away with efficient offense and came away with a 97-87 victory.
With the series tied at 2-2, the pressure is on to win game 5. If the Celtics pull off another victory, Cleveland will be facing an elimination game on the road. Conversely, if the Cavs win, they may be able to use that momentum to take another game in Boston, where the Celtics will be feeling the “win or go home” pressure. I’m sure no one can figure out what I’m hoping for.
If they want to win game 5 and the series, the Cavs must simply find a way to contain Rondo. He had 29 points, 13 assists, and 18 REBOUNDS in game 4. He is helping his team in every area of the game, and making his teammates (minus Pierce and Wallace) more efficient and successful. In game 3, we saw Lebron James on Rondo several times, which was successful. If Rondo starts going on a tear in game 5, I think Mike Brown should use that strategy again to slow Rondo down. Boston also got a huge effort out of Tony Allen, who scored most of his 15 points in the 4th quarter off of Cavs turnovers. You see this often in the playoffs, when a bench player has a monsterous game to help his team to a big win. (Anyone remember Boobie Gibson’s 31 points in game 6 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals against Detroit?) As T Allen is only averaging 8 points per game vs. the Cavs, I think it’s fairly unlikely he’ll have another clutch performance like the one on Sunday. (Anyone remember the next time Boobie was that instrumental in a Cavs’ victory? Exactly.)
As always, go Cavs!
Ash,
I disagree with the theory of putting LeBron on Rondo for extended periods of time. As good as he is, he is not quick enough to stay out of foul trouble guarding Rondo. Plus, LeBron is the reason, both with his offense and defense, that Paul Pierce has been nonexistent in this series offensively. Pierce is expending so muth effort trying to slow LeBron that he has nothing left when the Celtics have the ball.
So, what does this leave the Cavs? Obviously, this whole problem stems from the fact that 6-1 Mo Williams is as mobile as an obelisk compared to Rondo. Anthony Parker’s 6-6 height gives Rondo some problems for awhile, but Rondo eventually gets around Parker with his quickness, too. That’s another reason why putting LeBron on Rondo regularly is not a good idea, because he’s not quick enough to prevent Rondo from doing what he does so well.
My solution? How about a little Boobie (Gibson)? Gibson, in my view, has the quicks to at least bother Rondo. Start Gibson? No, because Mo Williams does not deserve to lose his starting spot. Play Gibson off the bench? Absolutely. He won’t stop Rondo, but may slow him down.
In the 2003 NBA Playoffs, Detroit had no answer for Orlando’s Tracy McGrady in the first four games of their first round Eastern Conference playoff series. The 6-8 T-Mac averaged 34.2 points, shooting 48-93 from the field and 12-25 on 3s as the Magic took a 3-1 series lead. Perhaps out of desperation, Pistons coach Rick Carlisle started playing 6-9 Tayshaun Prince on McGrady in Game 5. Prince, who played 28 minutes and scored 2 points in Games 2 & 3 (he DNP-CD’ed in Games 1 & 4), averaged 24.0 minutes and 13.3 points in the last 3 games. Meanwhile, he helped force McGrady into a 25.7 PPG, 26-72 FG and 4-17 3-FG effort as the Pistons won the last 3 games of the series and the series, 4-3.
While we’re on the Cavs, where was Shaquille O’Neal in the 4th quarter of Game 4? Yes, he picked up his 5th foul early in the period, but he had 17 points, 5 boards and 2 blocks to that point. Sit him until the under 9:00 media timeout, then bring him back in. Or even, if Mike Brown is capable of thinking outside the box, LEAVE SHAQ IN with the 5 fouls. Ride him as long as you can while the game is still winnable. If he fouls out, he fouls out, and still plays more than he did in the 4th quarter Sunday. Also, why not play Ilgauskas for a few minutes? Kendrick Perkins is big and not especially fast, so you’d think Z could be an asset.
The Cavs have to decide how badly they want to win this series. They need to be focused for a full 48 minutes. They can’t let Boston outhustle and outwork them, and they MUST not get outplayed from the bench. Don’t be too worried if this series now goes seven games. Last year, Orlando went 6 games in Round One and 7 games in Round Two last year, and it certainly didn’t hurt them against the Cavs, who cakewalked through the first two rounds.
Here’s a clip-and-save: Win or lose, LeBron stays. Unless the Cavs win the NBA championship, Mike Brown goes. He’s made too many decisions this season that appear bizarre to we fans. I’m sure Danny Ferry has scratched his bald head a few times, as well.
I can’t comment as extensively as Dad, having only understood about half of your postings and his response, but I do want to say that I’m getting nervous! The Cavs seem so disjointed this post-season. Will you continue the blog even if they get knocked out this round? (Heaven forbid!)
I don’t mean put LBJ on Rondo for the whole game. I mean switch him on Rondo occasionally to slow Rondo down and temporarily the flow of Boston’s game, if such disruption is needed.
I see what you mean on the Gibson thing. And, if you’re starting Mo, you have 6 fouls for Boobie to give, if necessary, to keep Rondo away from the hoop. That is, if Mo actually steps up from his permanent place in the Playoff Choke Hall of Fame (right next to the Dallas Mavericks) and actually produces offense.
And I don’t know what Mike Brown was thinking sitting Shaq. He had 5 fouls, not 6. Obviously don’t keep him in the entire quarter, but at the 7 or 6 minute mark, PUT HIM BACK IN. That was so frustrating to watch. I don’t know about Z though. KP is slow, but he looks like a cheetah compared to poor Z. I’m the biggest Z fan out there, but in the few minutes he’s played in the post season, he looks slower than ever. Of course, that could be because he has only played a few minutes.
I agree that if we don’t win the championship, Mike Brown goes. It’s Flip Saunders all over again. Get your team close, but don’t close it out. I’m fairly sure you’re right about Lebron. Why would he want to go to the Knicks or some other equally dismal team and be back at square one? He’d have to build a team all over again. However, I think he’ll be more tempted to search for greener pastures if he doesn’t come away with that trophy.
And Jen, of course I’ll keep blogging! If either the Celtics or the Magic manage to eliminate the Cavs, I have to keep writing scathing reviews of their 1 dimensional players (minus Rondo) and their lack of class, civility, and all around respect for the game and its players.