The Work Is Not Done
by Jeff Clark on May 12, 2010 6:04 AM EDT
in Boston Celtics Articles
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Make no mistake, I throughly enjoyed the victory last night and in truth I'm still reveling in it. However, it wasn't an elimination game. The job isn't over. Bob Ryan summarizes:
Doc Rivers was happy, for sure, but he was also pragmatic. "One thing we told our guys was that we've done nothing,'' he said. "All we've done is win three. You've got to win four.''
This is, in fact, a very similar situation to the one the Celtics were in at a comparable stage last year. They were up, three games to two against the Orlando Magic then, and they had the luxury of knowing a potential Game 7 would be at home. If the Celtics don't get the job done at TD Garden tomorrow night, we'll all be back here Sunday.
By the way, the Celtics lost that Game 7 at home last year. There have now been three road victories in this series. No one should be struck dumb if there is a fourth.
The Cavs were thoroughly destroyed last night but then again so were the Celtics in game 3, but they came back and won the next 2.. Does anyone really think LeBron is going to go quietly into free agency without one last jaw-dropping performance?
On the other hand, he's really only had short spurts of dominance in this series. The end of game 1, the start of game 3, a few more here and there. Whatever the Celtics are doing to keep him out of rhythm is working. Doc Rivers and Tom Thibodeau deserve all the credit in the world for the moves they've made. And the best part is that he's just one guy. Take him out of his game and you leave the Cavs searching for answers that they don't have. Not so with the Celtics. (per Julian Benbow)
"That's the beauty of our team,'' said Pierce. "It makes us so dangerous. When you look at Cleveland, you know you've got to stop LeBron. With us, we've got four or five guys who can lead us in scoring. You never know where it's going to come from and that's what makes us so dangerous - different guys stepping up different nights."
This is not last year. This is not the regular season. We have our full team together playing with great pride and teamwork again. The work is not done, but the groundwork has been laid. If the Celtics can come out and execute their gameplan with a sense of urgency on Thursday, then we'll have a chance to avenge that game 7 loss to the Magic last year.
For his part, Kevin Garnett is geared up (to the surprise of nobody).
"We cannot come back here, [Cleveland]" Garnett said. "We have to think this is our Game 7 coming up and we cannot afford to have the best team in the league have a Game 7 on their floor. Just not possible."
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From what they're saying in Cleveland, LBJ may just go quietly
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2010/05/cleveland_cavaliers_vs_boston_4.html
Apparently, there are a lot more problems in that team than we realized. This tends to explain the lethargy and… resignation… with which they played. It may not take much to push him/them into surrender mode.
finish it!!
expect that LeBron will do everything that he got for his last game before his free agency…but celtics can stop him..go celtics!
Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde
Agree…
Which team will appear for game 6th!!!
True
The Cs win two in a row after the worst playoff loss in team history. Cleveland can do the same.
The Cs need to keep pressing it.
the big 3 did it. the big 4 did it. the big perk did it. the big baby did it. they brought game. and they have to keep on bringing it til the job is done. but they are somewhat schizophrenic. even in 2008, those 3 losses to atlanta, etc. got in the way of great team play. they can get discombobulated and passive. kg’s favorite nonswearing statament is – we have to be aggressive to win – and i hope that’s in their brains and veins going into the next game.
In spite of all the BS put out by sportswriters......
the real fact is: whoever makes shots wins. Lebron had PLENTY of open shots…and missed. The Celts hit (Baby two from the side and Ray’s two back to back 3’s). If Lebron had hit half of his shots and Baby/Ray missed their’s, it would have probably wound up a tight game. Lebron absolutely killed us in one game. Everything he shot went in and many from WAY outside and with a hand in his face!
The coaches can talk about defense all they want but I watched the games and saw who was wide open and still missed and who was being well defended and still hit.
Agreed
Like Doc always says, it’s a make/miss league. It seems the Celts, particularly Ray, shoot better on the road for some reason. The crowd at home always has that expectant roar when Ray catches the ball, and it seems to throw him off. On the road, he is such a great rhythm shooter, it happened in Chicago last year, and in Cleveland this year. Let’s hope this tide turns in Game 6.
Lebron only took 14 shots
That speaks to a bigger problem than just missing. Pierce took 21, and he certainly wasn’t hogging the ball.
Yeah, the Celtic's took 80 FGAs to only 68 for the Cavs.
The FTAs were equal (shocking in itself) at 34 attempts each.
The defense DOES make a difference because while, yes there are many wide open shots for each team, good defense DOES force a portion of bad, hurried shots that end up at a lower percentage and that adds up.
Lebron James is not a champion
Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dwayne Wade are champions. They have this streak in them that only the greats do. Bill Russel had it Wilt didn’t. Lebron James doesn’t have it. He may be the most physically gifted and talented player of his generation but he doesn’t have that edge. The Cleveland Cavaliers have made him the face of their franchise. His teammates are under pressure from the fans and themselves to win “A Ring for the King”. But he doesn’t want it himself. He loves the idea of it. He acts like he wants it. But his recent comments showed us the real Lebron. “I spoil a lot of people with my play,” saying words like that just show how arrogant he is. This is the playoffs dude. Are you saying that you’ve spoiled your teammates and that they shouldn’t count on you? Even his quote taking accountability for his performance says nothing about a championship. It’s all about him.
People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. ~Rogers Hornsby
I disagree
I think he’s fine with the pressure, but his team isn’t. To my eyes it looks like Shaq and Anthony Parker are their best players under pressure, but they don’t lack the athleticism and/or skills to lead the team to a championship. LeBron has made some bad decisions in the last few games, but give the Celtics defense some credit – they know that nobody else on the Cavs can step up if they go all out stopping LeBron.
Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison are disasters for them. They wilt under pressure. Those are their #2 and #3 guys! I think that’s the difference in the teams. The knock on KG has always been that he couldn’t perform when the stakes are high, but luckily here we have Rondo (the best), Pierce and Allen (very good) who thrive under the pressure and can relieve the burden from KG. LeBron doesn’t have that luxury, but I don’t think he lacks a killer instinct.
Mo Williams is the best thing that ever happened to the Celtics!
Mo was the best thing for the Magic last year as well
He’s a playoff gift that keeps on giving.
Even though the Hippopotamus lacks a stinger for a tail, a truly wise man would rather be sat on by a bee. ~ Banacek
by funny80sguy on May 12, 2010 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions
good point on Cleveland's supporting cast
Plus even tho Shaq is not a wilting flower, I think we match up with him well. I actually like seeing him pound, pound, pound the ball down there.
The close out game
… is always the hardest to win. But the Celtics almost must win Game 6. Even though we have beaten them 2 out of 3 on their turf, we shouldn’t take that risk again. Just can’t afford to give LBJ more chances.
@ sdhman11
Lebron isn’t a champion? Yes, in the sense of winning a title. But in 04 when LeBron led the Cavs to the championship, he won every series by himself. Remember in the ECF when he scored something like 23 straight points? He has the killer insinct, just his team plays off of him and when he isn’t dominating the game, they tend to fall apart.
They never won
Went to the finals in 07, swept by Los spurs
by Warrior Spirit on May 12, 2010 9:04 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Killer instinct is what the C's need in game 6....
KG hit the nail on the head when he said that game 6 is the C’s game 7.
Considering that they must leave it all out on the floor and do whatever it takes to win the game.
The last thing we want is to go back to Cleveland.
Though the C’s could still win a game 7 in Cleveland the Cavs are demoralized and on the ropes and we want to put them away now when and not give them a chance to get back into this series !
Incredible
I hoped the C’s would bring the effort, Pierce would bounce back and the Celts would squeak by in a close game. I didn’t expect a blowout. Amazing.
Agreed
Defense. Team play at both ends will be the key.
"The idea is not to block every shot. The idea is to make your opponent believe that you might block every shot." - Bill Russell
Yes, intimidation is the key to domination.
by Marjun Raposon on May 12, 2010 10:59 AM EDT reply actions
I think we’re going to see KG go absolutely bananas n Friday. Our big 3 are going to show little jimmy what it takes to be a champion. I think the Celts will go to KG on the block right from the start. And then go to a classic inside.outside game – to RA.
PP comes out early replaced by TA, who keeps on going up the middle. By the second quarter, the Cavs do not know which way to turn.
And the Truth comes back in fresh and hammers them to death. And little jimmy gives up because the 3 man defense just crushes him like a pigpile at recess.
As much as I loved the win last night
it won’t mean as much if they don’t take this series. I have full faith the C’s can do it. While I believe the Cavs are obviously fully capable of winning the next 2, I’m having a hard time envisioning the Celtics losing both, so I’m hoping they just take care of it tomorrow night at home. I also just want to add that I think KG has been quietly having a great series. As much as I don’t like to make excuses for the team when they were hurt, I think it’s really showing how healthy they are through their play right now and I hope it continues.
by faithfulcelticfan34 on May 12, 2010 1:56 PM EDT reply actions
Thursday game
It is right to say that the work is not done yet. The Celtics need to come out and take care of business in another surgical manner.
Being a life long Celtic fan and living in Ohio, there is nothing better than seeing them beat the Cavs everytime they play. I know that is possible but for jusst one more night lets hope that it is.
His highschool team beat our local team twice in the regionals in highschool, King James was an ass then and still is. The NBA has had it’s share of asses over the years but none like this one.
Please guys, even if we don’t win the championship, take care of business and not let the Cavs continue on any farther than Thursday night.
KICK THEIR BUTTS
YUP
Totally agree, can’t enjoy the win too much….yet. Like doc said, winning 3 games is still nothing, gotta win 4 before it counts. We don’t want a repeate of game 3 when we had all the momentum and came out flat. Only having a day off will help that I hope. I am still nervous of this next game—all of this is the perfect storyline of good ole lebron to have another breakout game with all the media down on them, so Boston can’t let that happen.
Yes
This Series isn’t over yet
The Celtics need to come out in Game 6 with a higher intensity and greater aggressiveness than they did in Game 5.
Celtic Pride! They have to show everyone especially the critics THE HEART OF A CHAMPION!
Go Celtics! UBUNTU!
gie+Rondo4MVP
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