King James Comes Up Short

One down three more to go. There’s a lot to like about this game.
1. Pierce and Allen had a rough night and we still won
2. King James was effectively shut down.
3. Pierce kept his cool when the going got tough for him

I still say Celtics in 4

To win by half a point, we’d need Red coaching. Only he could find a way.

Any more questions about the Celtics winning close games?

Uh, yes. Let’s see them win a close one outside of the Garden. Then I’ll raise a glass with you fellas.

By the way, you missed Pierce taking a charge to get LeBron’s 4th foul. I think that was a HUGE turning point in the 4th.

Two comments:
1. Perkins deserves major props for his switching defense over the last few games. Watch him pick up and stay with James after he gets by the initial defender. I didn’t know he could move his feet like that.
2. Neither Cleveland or Boston moved without the ball tonight and they were doing the same thing in Atlanta. I love KG as much as anyone, but I wish he would not take 5-10 seconds to size up the situation every time he gets it. They have a very effective half court offense, but they aren’t passing.

I loved this quote “Cassell was called for a flagrant foul when he kept James from a free throw with 5 1/2 minutes left in the half. The replay seemed to indicate that James enhanced the damage, and the Boston fans let him know they were on to him” Maybe people are getting tired of Lebron’s wining.

agree mcpu40 about the 1/2 pt win- also any ugly win over a beautiful or meaningful loss. ok kg— you did yourself proud tonite-playing under control. same with posey—brilliant! rondo and perk super. powe swallowed up- sam hit the big ones and i am not ired at pp and ray- they were in the game but pp made several bad paul turnovers. the eastern conference sure plays ugly games but they don’t lack in intensity and defense. baseball-the world series- the super bowl tennis-you name it- don’t have the same kind of long intensive struggles like basketball.

They HAD to prove they could win a close game. Doesn’t matter if it was here or in Antartica. I’m confident that theyll win a road game this series even if they’re all close. Of course I also worry that BronBron will steal a game in Boston.

 I hate to say it but I’m much more worried that Pierce and Allen will be rendered invisible by the Cavs D this series than I am optimistic that the Celtics D will be able to do the same to Lebron. But I think/pray Pierce will break through and have some good games and maybe even a great one or two. This series isn’t going to be THAT ugly the whole way………is it?

Should it really be so unreasonable to ask for your three all-stars to have borderline all-star outings in six (or five at the VERY least) out of seven games in a playoff series?

Wow, what a nail biter. I think my fingers may be bleeding. I believe game 1 demonstrated how tight of a series this is going to be. The defense was good on both sides but we’re going to have to score more points, especially when we go to Cleveland. GO CELTICS!

LonelyTXCel, I am truly puzzled by your comment. KG was immense tonight, by far the best game of anyone on the floor, yet you find fault in him taking his time to size up the defense? Give me that approach to the tune of 28 points and the game winning basket at the rim all series long. It appears you don’t understand the strategy of most NBA teams of waiting to double the post, especially against a great passer like KG, until the post player makes his initial move, rather than doubling right away which gives that player a clear look at who is left open.

What you characterize as hesitancy, is actually him waiting to see where the double is coming from, rather than going right into his move on the catch and then spinning into a late double team, something Big Al has not yet learned and falls victim to frequently. KG is very experienced and knows when to “go” at precisely the right time. It seems you could pick a different game to criticize KG then one where he outscored everyone by far and had the game winning basket. Give Doc credit, much to many ignorant fans chagrin, by putting Cassell in on that final possession, spacing the floor with 4 shooters so Cleveland was hesitant to double lest they leave someone open for KG to pass to for a wide open 3. If Rondo was in, they surely would have left him to double KG and he never would have gotten to the rim the way he did.

LBJ LBJ how many jumpers did you miss today?

i just finished watching the game. what an ugly, ugly game. MORE POSEY!

Celts need to screen for Pierce and free him from Lebron run Lebron through screens all night when he’s on D. Also they should look for Ray Allen early and let him create a bit with the ball, since Wally “broken knee syndrome” is guarding him. Rondo was fantastic in the first quarter, more please.

Doc needs to figure out the rotation.

Powe needs to figure out how to draw contact.

Nice win! Great ugly, defensive battle. Nice work by all really. Some key baskets by Cassell, Posey, Garnett, etc, etc.
I thought Rondo played great in the first half, but I wonder if his offense takes away from Pierce and Allen?
In the end it didn’t matter. Good tone-setting win.

I thought Powe (and PP) tries too hard to create contact. He had an open layup on a touch pass from KG and hung in the air and double clutched trying to get some contact and it never came and he forgot about putting the ball in the hoop. Paul does this a lot down low too.

A few thoughts on a great win…

All seven games will be like this. Neither team will win by double digits.

Get used to seeing Cassell and Posey deep in the fourth quarter. They are cash money at the line.

Dick Stockton is getting into Dick Enberg territory. Scary bad.

I’d like to see a little Eddie House for energy and a deep threat.