Celtics Begin Title Defense with Playoff Rematch
by FLCeltsFan on Oct 28, 2008 4:34 PM EDT
in Boston Celtics Games
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PrintCleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics, Oct 28, 2008 8:00 PM EDT
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At 
Cleveland Cavaliers (0-0) at Boston Celtics (0-0)Tuesday, October 28
8:00 PM ET
Season Game #1, Home Game #1
TV: TNT
Radio: WEEI, WTAM
TD Banknorth Garden
Cavs Blogs: Waiting For Next Year l Fear the Sword l Cavalier Attitude
The Celtics open their title defense with a repeat of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. These two teams clashed in the preseason with the Celtics coming away with a 96-94 win. In that game, the Cavs lead for most of three quarters but the Celtics outscored the Cavs 23-15 in the fourth quarter to pull out the win.
The Cavs took the Celtics to 7 games in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals last season, with each team winning on its own court. In the off season, the Cavs improved themselves with the addition of point guard Mo Williams who will give them another option on offense. After seeing the difference that defense has made for the Celtics, the Cavs have said that they plan to stress defense this season.
The Celtics have had a full week off since their last preseason game. The Cavs last played on Friday. The Celtics will have to be careful that they don't come out sluggish after having such a long time off since their last game. The Celtics ended the preseason 6-2 while the Cavs finished 3-5.
The Celtics starters are set but the Cavs are still uncertain as to who will start at the 2 guard spot. Right now, Pavlovic has the edge, but former Celtic, Delonte West is also being considered because of his toughness and quickness. It is still unsure who will begin the season on the inactive list for the Celtics, but if I had to take a guess, it would be Patrick O'Bryant, J.R.Giddens, and Sam Cassell O'Bryant and Giddens saw their minutes go down as the preseason wore on and Sam never played in the preseason at all.
SG: Ray Allen vs Sasha Pavlovic
JR Giddens (hip) probable, but will more than likely be inactive
Matchups to Watch
![[image]](http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/boston/PierceBos.jpg)
Vs ![[image]](http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/cleveland/LeBronCle2.jpg)
The matchup between Paul Pierce and LeBron James is always an entertaining one. When they last met in the playoffs, it was Pierce coming out on top in a classic shootout. LeBron will be looking to even the score. These two have developed one of the better player rivalries in the league.
![[image]](http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/boston/RondoBos.jpg)
Vs ![[image]](http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/milwaukee/MWilliamsMil.jpg)
The Cavs improved over the off season by bringing in Mo Williams to man the point. Throughout the playoffs, Rondo was able to take advantage of veteran point guards and out-play them and hopefully he will be able to pick up where he left off. This is a classic matchup between an up and coming player and a wiley veteran.
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C's vs. Cavs
Umm…. These two teams met in the conference semifinals not the conference finals. Oh well, it doesn’t matter. C’s win big.
Hmmm...
Who said that the Cavs will win? Must be a troll…
by Amager Celtic Fan on Oct 28, 2008 10:15 AM EDT reply actions
The thing I found most satisfying about last year was not necessarily the title, but all of the good basketball along the way. In contrast to prior years, where we only saw flashes, last year the team was consistently good. They defended, They shared the ball. Pierce, in particular, elevated his game. Most of the games were a pleasure to watch.
So that’s what I’m looking forward to this year: more good basketball. A win or a loss in an individual regular season game isn’t that critical, because if they contuinue to play the right way, they will win 55-60 games without breathing hard.
Sorry
Thanks for catching that error, Spartpete and thanks for fixing it Jeff. I must be losing it.
Perk and Powe... the Next Big Thing
i have a feeling
that the cavs will win, i am not a troll. but i have this weird feeling that the cavs come out and try to beat up the celtics adn do a good job of it. and peirce gets abused.. just abolsutely humiliated by lebron tonight. garunteed.
i think however that the celtics are a far superior team.
remember when...
…the C’s had the ceremony honoring Red and the team came out with a stinker of a game? That was a very different group and I just can’t see this group doing the same.
Look for a good win tonight.
Agree
…but I think LBJ & friends will be a bit motivated by the festivities tonight.
I expect an ugly, grinding defensive game in the 70s, low 80s.
thats what i'm saying
i think cavs prevail on the strength of lebron bein under the impression that he should prove he is the best player on the planet. either way, i’m just a basketball, so all i really want is a close game.
Shirley...
Shirley, you don’t have to apologize for a “lapsus calami” like that.
With the effort you put up on daily basis, you have tons of credits piled up.
Thank you again, and keep up the great work.
Not Losing...
Ray will show that he’s ready for a better season then last and abuse any Cavs defender that happens to wander his way.
Celtics by 10+
Rondo doesn't believe in easy buckets...
Great preview as always, FL. I’m juiced!
Is anyone else having trouble getting into the chat?
Go Celtics! Go Hoyas!
weird
Weird. For me, it keeps saying “Error connecting to server. Try again in a few minutes.”
Go Celtics! Go Hoyas!
by CelticBalla32 on Oct 28, 2008 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions
keeping eyes peeled
should appear on youtube soon
and the truth scores first points of the season!!!
Not many people have been talking about him – he could put the Cavs over the top potentially
by TheBetterFaulk on Oct 28, 2008 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions
No, his show on Comcast Sports Net was the best part of the season (besides winning the Championship, obviously)
by TheBetterFaulk on Oct 28, 2008 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Down by 6 at the quarter
Hey not a bad quarter really, getting warmed up.
Tony Allen...
Looks like Gerald Green right now. What do I mean by that? A lost spectator
Rondo doesn't believe in easy buckets...
Be back
Ok back to my TV unfortunately there on two different floors :(
Rondo doesn't believe in easy buckets...
Tony...
needs to slow it down a bit. He’s definitely being a black hole out there.
Rondo doesn't believe in easy buckets...
First time post
Lifelong Sonics fan, relocated to Celtics Nation, big fan of Ray Allen and now without a team. As for our shared interests, I was lucky enough to get to have courtside seats during Big Baby’s last two years at LSU before my family’s relocation back north and of course our shared admiration of Ray. Hopefully I can find some other souls who share my hatred of Craig Sager’s suits. Anyways, howdy! Hopefully the C’s can crawl back in this with LeBron back on the bench.
"Relax, don't worry, have a homebrew." - Charlie Papazian
If he had the personality
then I’d say yeah – but to me he looks more like Tom Tolbert with a rug.
"Relax, don't worry, have a homebrew." - Charlie Papazian
Nice to see
some great defensive rotation leading to that 24 sec. violation.
"Relax, don't worry, have a homebrew." - Charlie Papazian
Save Ilguaskas...
..Before Perk Body Slams him.
Side note: Like the Beard.
Rondo doesn't believe in easy buckets...
Well the only body slamming Perk's gonna do
is sitting on the bench for the rest of the half. He’s gotta stay on his feet on a fake that far from the rim.
"Relax, don't worry, have a homebrew." - Charlie Papazian
In order to do that...
the C’s (especially Ray) are going to have to find their range from 12’ out. Shooting 38% isn’t gonna cut it.
"Relax, don't worry, have a homebrew." - Charlie Papazian
Quick Scare
Had to hold my breath when Rondo hit the floor . He’s amazingly durable, but he can’t hit the floor like that too many times without something getting injured. I mean seriously he bounced a couple of times on that one.
Rondo doesn't believe in easy buckets...
That was just the arbitrary “Rondo appearing to get seriously injured but actually being fine.” It happens every single game. Hopefully it doesn’t take too big of a toll on him in the long run
on that note, holy crap at that alley oop, LBJ is ridiculous
by TheBetterFaulk on Oct 28, 2008 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Shaking off the rust, not an awful first half…considering how poorly we played I’m not too disappointed. Man is it good to have basketball back.
Starting Line Up
Rondo has 8 points 3 assists 1 to
Ray has 2points 3 boards 1 to off 1-6 shooting
KG is doing a bit of everything 6 points, 3 boards, 2 steals, an assist and turnover
Perk has 6 boards, and a boat load of Ilguaskas intimidation.
The Bench…. Powe and Baby showed up, Tony and HOuse not so much.
Rondo doesn't believe in easy buckets...
The scoreboard at the top of the screen appears when the game is in progress, and lingers for a while after the game is complete
If you have a game thread running (or a follow up post, or an overflow thread that is linked to the event), then the scoreboard will have a link that points to the thread. It is handy way to jump into the latest game thread…
I'm one of the guys who built the new SB Nation
by Pablo Mercado on Oct 28, 2008 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions
TNT crew is BAD!
So… we want Delonte shooting wide open shots and Tony Allen should work on his defense?! The local deli man can provide more insight about basketball that those three schmucks in the TNT booth.
sorry
We don’t really consider it a swear around my way. I’ll keep it in mind next time.
Rondo doesn't believe in easy buckets...
I’m pretty excited to see Oden after this…should be interesting
by TheBetterFaulk on Oct 28, 2008 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed, but then again, if he’s good the Blazers will be unstoppable soon
by TheBetterFaulk on Oct 28, 2008 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions
As a lifelong Sonics fan...
it still kills me to see Nate McMillan on that bench. While the news might not make it back out east – there was definitely no love between Seattle/Portland. And as much as it’s great to see that Bill Russell has found “Just for Men for Beards” and is starting his first game tonight as a Blazer, I dislike both those teams so much I’m just rooting that the game ends in a tie with both lineups IR’d for the season.
"Relax, don't worry, have a homebrew." - Charlie Papazian
I hear ya
but the Blazers have gone from JailBlazers to darlings of the NBA – the GM needs to get props for that
I know it’s wrong, but I’d really love it if he happened to be a bust. It would be the icing on my championship cake.
Rondo doesn't believe in easy buckets...
When he's on...
Ray Allen has the sweetest “fundamentally sound” 3-point stroke I’ve ever seen (maybe with Chris Mullen coming in a close second). Feet and hips totally square to the hoop, and such a smooth movement from catch to moving that right elbow at 90 degrees and just a slight flick of the wrist at his release point. If I was coaching right now – I’d have a life-size picture of that shot for every kid on my team to mimic
"Relax, don't worry, have a homebrew." - Charlie Papazian
It'll be interesting to see
if all of LeBron’s “words of complaint” to the refs throughout the 3rd have any effect on how the game’s called in the 4th. In other words – does he get the “star” treatment in the C’s building in the 4th?
"Relax, don't worry, have a homebrew." - Charlie Papazian
I guess not...
with Bron picking up his 4th still with a minute left in the 3rd and the Cavs over the limit.
"Relax, don't worry, have a homebrew." - Charlie Papazian
What a quarter
The C’s are picking up where they left off in the post season with 3rd quarter domination.
TA fearless to the hoop
what a nice sight to see.
Doc seems to have his rotations down…an exciting thought.
by TheBetterFaulk on Oct 28, 2008 10:24 PM EDT reply actions
I have never seen a player take so many hard hits and get right back up as Rondo does. He is a lot stronger than he looks.
Perk and Powe... the Next Big Thing
wow
perk, called tight on the last 3 fouls
by ChainSmokingLikeDino on Oct 28, 2008 10:32 PM EDT reply actions
true
certainly. those last three seemed quite aggregious. (first game back. gotta make up for a whole summer without complaining about refs! ha!)
by ChainSmokingLikeDino on Oct 28, 2008 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Thats
how you break a foul scenario!!!
by ChainSmokingLikeDino on Oct 28, 2008 10:47 PM EDT reply actions
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