breaking down the celtics/cavs matchup

by hooray on Feb 24, 2010 10:47 AM EST

Here's my take on the matchups for tomorrow nite:

Rondo is a top 3 PG and the motor of this team. Mo Williams is coming off a shoulder injury and is 3-18 in his two games back. Obvious edge to Rondo.

SG - Ray Allen vs Anthony Parker

They're both great 3pt shooters and decent defensive players. Ray has been playing out of his mind since the trade deadline, I'm gonna give this one to RayRay

SF - Marquis Daniels vs LeBron James

Moving right along...

PF - KG vs Antawn Jamison

KG seems to be getting his legs back, and Jamison is still learning the Cleveland system, I don't know - I'm leaning towards giving the edge to KG

C - Perk vs Shaq

Normally I would give this one to Perk in a heartbeat, but he doesn't seem to have his head in the game lately, and Shaq is playing his best ball of the year. I think Shaq gets the nod here.

Bench - Sheed, Nate-rob, Baby, Scal and TA vs Varejao, Delonte, Jamario, Boobie and Leon

This is a tough one but i think Cleveland is deeper. I like the Celtic's starting 5 better - even without Paul - but from top to bottom, the Cavs have more talent.

Coaching - Doc vs Mike Brown. Both are overrated, in my book. I'm just gonna leave this one alone.

Thoughts?

Be respectful and keep it clean. Thanks.

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If you are offered me either one of those starting lineups...

I would take the Cavs in a heartbeat…

But my thoughts on how the C’s should attempt to get the best of LeBron:

I would like to see the Celtics start TA tomorrow night. Get TA in the game and frustrate LeBron as much as possible early game. I think TA is without a doubt our best 1 on 1 defender that we have. If I were Doc, I would encourage TA to get in LeBron’s grill and really make LeBron work on the offensive end and if TA thinks he’s beat on a layup / dunk situation, just hack the shit out of LeBron. Don’t let LeBron get hot early on. Also, I’m assuming LeBron would match up on TA on the defensive end (Ray Ray would wear LeBron out) and TA is great at slashing to the basket and conducting fouls. Early foul trouble for LeBron would also be a possibility with TA starting the game. Start TA. That’s my opinion.

by avirgile2 on Feb 24, 2010 11:32 AM EST reply actions

I expect that you'll see a lot of TA

Both TA and Marquis are our best on-ball defenders and Doc’ll probably expend most if not all 10 fouls to give off those guys defending and harassing LBJ.

As a matchup, it does look extremely one-sided offensively when you compare LBJ to either TA or Quis in that spot in the lineup. But they are both plus-defenders and as a tag team won’t get worn out by Lebron. They won’t stop him. But they can at least slow him down a little and every point you shave off of Lebron’s output counts.

It will be up to the rest of the team to create points. Ray, Rondo & KG are obvious, but Perk & Sheed should be able to score on Shaq & Antoine in the post.

by mmmmm on Feb 24, 2010 2:43 PM EST up reply actions

Don't exactly think Ray would wear lebron out, but I would definetly start TA and have him be up in brons grill

To cavsfan
lebron may be the best but he isn’t perfect and absolutely guardable and able to be worn out, tho I don’t think Ray is one who could wear him out. He isn’t going to be shut down the same way another guy could be shut down, but he can be prevented from getting hot. Your comments are getting annoying and I have only encountered a few, are you a jock sniffer?

by Warrior Spirit on Feb 24, 2010 2:26 PM EST reply actions

per above - I believe he is referring to when Lebron is on defense

that he would get worn out trying to chase Ray all over the court – because that’s what Ray does on offense.

by mmmmm on Feb 24, 2010 2:55 PM EST up reply actions

lebron is generally an on-the-ball defender

and ray generally plays off the ball, running around screens and curls and such. therefore, i do not expect to see lebron guarding ray except perhaps in the final minutes if ray emerges as the go-to offensive option (which he very well may).
expect to see lebron guarding marquis and staying around the top of the key looking to cut off passing lanes. that’s more or less his defensive game.

by hooray on Feb 24, 2010 3:00 PM EST up reply actions