2nd Round: Boston vs. Cleveland - Series BOS leads (2-0)

[Icness]

The team that shoots the outside jumpers better, and I'm not just talking 3s, is going to win. Both teams rely a lot on drives and kickouts that lead to jumpers--the Celtics moreso, but with West now at PG the Cavs do it more than they did.

Cleveland should dominate the glass. They led the league in both total rebounding and offensive rebounding, and neither Pierce nor Allen are very willing board crashers. If the Celtics cannot contain Z, Ben, Varejao, and Smith giving 2nd and 3rd chances to score, it's gonna be over pretty quickly.

Everyone ignores just how good a defensive club the Cavaliers have been the last season and a half. They make the other team play ugly. The teams that give the Cavs trouble are teams that have a PG who can shoot, because it prevents the high defenders from sagging and helping out on the wings. Rondo can do a lot of things, but he's not a great shooter. The Celtics don't run the high pick/roll very much, so they can't toast Z backdoor or keep Wallace from lurking in passing lanes and providing weakside help on Pierce.

I really think it comes down to Ray Allen. The Cavs have no answer for him if he's stroking it, and Wally hasn't been consistent enough shooting to exploit Allen's underaggressive defense. But if he's shooting under 40% from 3 and not getting to the FT line, Cavs will win in no more than 6. If he's making 3-4 3s a game and getting games where he scores 29 points on 15 shots, Boston will triumph.

[greenbeans]

P2's trippin, you'll be wishing for the Wiz. after 2 games, cause you don't really think this team will be a push over compared to Atl!?! And don't start crying about the refs when things go sour for your team this series.
We used to do that in Cleveland when the Cavs were playing Jordans Bulls, but here it was he was just that much better than everyone else, just like Lebron.

you watch any of the games in atlanta?? doesnt sound like it

[Gordon Bombay]

boston will probably win the series, but i think the cavs will make them work in boston (they'll also get beat by about 30 in one of the games in beantown). i think it goes 7 games with boston winning because i dont think lebron will let another team celebrate on our floor again

hoping for cavs in 6 tho

[b-ball forever]

Celts in 6

Perkins can do a decent job on Big Z, Cavs won't be stoppin Ray Ray or Rondo. And KG... well um... poor Cevap

[DEEP3CL]

Cavs win this series. Match up wise the Cavs have the advantage. Simply because Paul can't guard L-Train by himself he'll need help.

Boston will have to gear their defense to cut down LeBron's drives to the basket. Yes KG will be able to help off Big Ben because he's no threat to score at all. But on the other end is where Ben will be effective.

This series is all about the match ups. If Joe Johnson gave the Celtics fits just think what kind of nightmare LeBron is going to be for them.

Lets look at the key match ups

Big Z & K.Perkins

Z has enough offense to keep Perkins in foul trouble, plus a huge size advantage. Advantage : Cavs

Ben & KG

Ben will be able to rough up KG a little bit given he's a veteran not some scrub. KG can get his turn around j off any time he wants but beating Ben off the dribble he will not. But Ben will have t stay out of foul trouble in Boston thats the key. Advantage : Celtics

LeBron & Paul

Paul's defensive will be severely tested, L-Train will get his calls regardless if he's in Boston or Cleveland. If the Celtics can't contain him it will make them do things with their defense they haven't done all season. Advantage: Cavs

[greenbeans]

yeah, the point and shooting guards dont count this series. were goin nba jams apparently

[Feed Your Head]

neither Pierce nor Allen are very willing board crashers.

Pierce has ALWAYS been a good rebounder, 6.4 for his career compared to 6.9 for Lebron who is considered a very good rebounder for his position and has 3 inches on PP.

They key to this series IMO is how much the Celts backcourt can expose the Cavs weaker backcourt, if Rondo and Ray dont have very good series then the Celts are in bigtime trouble.

[Curmudgeon]

I agree with Big_Matt34. A big problem for Cleveland is who will guard Ray Allen. If it's Wally Z. Ray is going to have a field day.

I expect to see Cleveland use a number of different combinations, such as a Gibson/West backcourt, with West guarding Shuttlesworth. Alternatively, someone like Devin Brown or Sasha Pavlovic will have to step up.

But the key to ANY series involving Cleveland is what to do about LeBron. He has to be kept from getting to the rim, which means the Celtics have to double team and then rotate very crisply to the shooter when LeBron gives up the ball. That's easier said than done.

[INKtastic]

^^ why is Ray Allen's shooting the bigger concern in this series

Ray Allen - .398 from 3 - best on the celtics

Daniel Gibson - .440 from 3
Wally Szczerbiak - .413 from 3
Damon Jones - .417 from 3 - doesn't even play in the playoffs because Gibson makes him unnecessary.

Cavs in 6

[celticfan42487]

Because unlike Wally and Gibson, Ray Allen isn't just a three point shooter.

[Cevap]

he's a shut down defender too

[triplet1984]

I've got Boston in 6.

The Cavs could probably win if they had a running game but they don't.

Boston is FAR better at the 2 spot, and the 4 spot, and marginally better at the 1 spot... the only REAL advantage Cleveland has is of course Lebron, but Pierce is also an elite 3.

[INKtastic]

Z is clearly better than Perkins

[P2]

Z is clearly better than Perkins

And Rondo is clearly better than Delonte.

[Gordon Bombay]

ok so a quick recap

rondo better than west
allen better than szczerbiak
lebron better than pierce
kg better than wallace
z better than perkins

ok, glad the stating the obvious period has ended

[INKtastic]

-= original quote snipped =-



And Rondo is clearly better than Delonte.

I was responding to this

I've got Boston in 6.

The Cavs could probably win if they had a running game but they don't.

Boston is FAR better at the 2 spot, and the 4 spot, and marginally better at the 1 spot...

I give cleveland the advantage at the 3, the 5, the bench, coaching, clutch play and playoff experience, Boston has the advantage at the 1, 2, and 4.

[Ortho Stice]

Cavaliers in four--five if Garnett decides not to dig a hole in the sand in the fourth quarter and hide. As lj4mvp noted, the Cavs have innumerable advantages over the Celtics, including but not limited to the 3, the 4, the bench, coaching, and experience. Another shrewd observation made by another poster is that Joe Johnson destroyed the Celtics and the Cavs, you may or may not know, have a player named Lebron King James. Lebron is like twice the player JJ is, and will just score whenever he wants, then. Also, the Atlanta Hawks--the Atlanta Hawks!--took them to seven games. Now the Celtics have to a play a team, you may or may not know, that went to the finals last year. Yes, the Celtics won 21 more games than the Cavs during the regular season. But as the Hawks proved, records mean little, if anything. The keen observer needs to disregard regular season records and look at the facts: Cleveland's advantage at the 3, the 5, the bench, coaching and experience.

[JoshB914]

The Celtics need to stop getting beat off the dribble. They are a great defensive team but they are not very quick. If Josh Smith went to the foul line that much, imagine how many times LBJ will go to the stripe?

[TommyPoints]

Cavaliers in four--five if Garnett decides not to dig a hole in the sand in the fourth quarter and hide. As lj4mvp noted, the Cavs have innumerable advantages over the Celtics, including but not limited to the 3, the 4, the bench, coaching, and experience. Another shrewd observation made by another poster is that Joe Johnson destroyed the Celtics and the Cavs, you may or may not know, have a player named Lebron King James. Lebron is like twice the player JJ is, and will just score whenever he wants, then. Also, the Atlanta Hawks--the Atlanta Hawks!--took them to seven games. Now the Celtics have to a play a team, you may or may not know, that went to the finals last year. Yes, the Celtics won 21 more games than the Cavs during the regular season. But as the Hawks proved, records mean little, if anything. The keen observer needs to disregard regular season records and look at the facts: Cleveland's advantage at the 3, the 5, the bench, coaching and experience.

I disagree with most of this. Atlanta was a much tougher matchup for Boston with their long athletic players and Ray Allen having to defend against JJ was a problem. Boston should have a much easier matchup with Cleveland and an easier time doubling Lebron. Z is better than Perk, but I think Perk fits Boston better playing next to KG. As far as coaching and bench that is pretty subjective and I would not give the advantage to Cleveland. We'll get a taste tonight and a better idea of who is right I guess.

[oikosnomos]

Its going to be a good series. I am pretty sure of it.