Celtics Have No Answer for James in Game 3
by Jimmy Toscano on May 8, 2010 12:05 AM EDT
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After blowing out the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Monday night, the Celtics returned home to host Game 3 on Friday night. Unfortunately for them, LeBron James and the Cavs returned the favor- dominating from start to finish en route to a 124-95 shellacking of the Celtics.
Celtics fans attending tonight's game were, unfortunately, witnesses to what James is capable of. He went off for 21 points in the first quarter, outscoring the entire Boston team (17) for that quarter. He ended the night with 38 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, departing midway through the fourth quarter.
"I think he's healthy," coach Doc Rivers said after the game. "That's how I am going to characterize it. His elbow looked very good tonight, and so enough with the elbow injury, alright?"
"We told our guys," Rivers continued, "you knew he was going to grab the ball and he was going to attack all game, especially early, to get his guys involved. And he did it, but I didn't think we gave any resistance, you know? I mean, he was playing HORSE."
Ray Allen had a similar response when asked about James' performance tonight.
"He jumped out early and attacked us," said Ray Allen. "We didn't have that same aggressiveness on the defensive end or offensively. Just thinking about it, we just let him attack us- continue to attack us. Then offensively we didn't have anything. We didn't start the game moving the ball around and getting good looks and it just snowballed."
The Cavs took a 65-43 lead into halftime, shooting 62% from the field in the process. They also got to the line that half 17 times, hitting 15 of those free throws. The Celtics, on the other hand, shot a meager 43% from the field and only went 6-8 from the line.
The second half was more of the same for both teams, as the Celtics failed to bring the deficit any closer than 20 points for the remainder of the game. The Cavaliers continued to shoot the lights out, and finished shooting 60% from the field (44-74) and 91% from the line (31-34).
As good as James was, he had a lot of help tonight. The entire starting lineup on the Cavs scored in double figures. Antawn Jamison added 20 points and 12 rebounds while Shaquille O'Neal finished with 12 and nine. Even old friend Delonte West chipped in off the bench with 14 points.
"I just think we weren't very aggressive," Pierce said. "I mean they just got every shot they wanted, they got to the rim when they wanted, we didn't step up, we didn't cut off the seams. So, you know, that's the ballgame when you let a good offensive team like the Cavaliers come in here and shoot the ball and get to the rim, and get to the line- do what they want."
James singlehandedly outscored the Big Three tonight, 38-37 as Paul Pierce (11 points) and Allen (seven points) just could not get it going at any point throughout the game. Kevin Garnett finished with a team high 19 points on 8-11 shooting, but it obviously was not enough with the lack of help from his teammates. Rivers did note that they do need to get Garnett the ball more, and failed to do so tonight.
Rondo, guarded throughout the game by Anthony Parker, took a team high 17 shots, hitting nine to end the night with 18 points, five rebounds, and eight assists. Still, the lack of assists is a sign that the ball wasn't moving the way the Celtics needed it to tonight. Rivers credited the Cavs high shooting percentage as a reason why the Celtics couldn't run with Rondo. When he gets the ball in transition is when he is the most dangerous on the court.
Not enough from Paul
It was the third straight game this series that Pierce has had a quiet night offensively. No doubt guarding James all game is a tough task, but the Celtics count on getting more offensive production out of Pierce. He admits that he needs to shoot the ball better (4-15 tonight including 1-5 from the field) but isn't going to put himself ahead of the team.
"It doesn't matter what I do offensively individually," said Pierce. "I mean, I could have scored 30 tonight and we probably would have lost the game the way we played defense... I know I can bounce back but I got to do it within the framework of the team where it's going to equal wins because, you know, it's not all about one person."
Rivers also noted that Pierce needs to step up his game for the rest of the series.
"He's got to get more involved. He's got to play better. And defensively, as a group, we got to help him some, and then he's got to get into LeBron more. So it's a combination."
Same old...
Anybody who has followed the Celtics throughout the season has heard the lines "sense of urgency" and "need to be more aggressive". Both of those sayings were in full affect after tonight's loss, a troubling sign for a team thought to have broken out of their regular season funk.
"Tonight we were awful," admitted Rivers. "Just didn't play with a sense of urgency, and they played like with a Game 7 mentality. You could see it early. I thought we had two lousy practices. I thought our preparation was pulling nails. And so, that was the result."
Pierce echoed Rivers' comments.
"I think when you come home and you got Game 3 in your home building after taking care of business on the road, you got to come out with a better sense of urgency. You got to know the Cleveland Cavaliers are going to come in here with all the urgency of the world."
Well, now they know, and knowing is half the battle. The other half is doing. And the Celtics will have to do a whole lot more than they did tonight if they want to even this series back up. The good news is that they don't have to sit around and dwell on this game. Game 4 is just around the corner, so they can use tomorrow to see where they went wrong in Game 3, and apply it to Sunday's pivotal Game 4.
"Waiting three, four days without play, I am excited that it's early on Sunday," said Ray Allen. "The great thing about the NBA is that we do get to put these games behind us real quickly- a game coming back in almost a day and a half. I am ready for the next game."
All in favor of putting this game behind us?
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as a wide eyed optimist like i have been all season....
i have to say this game was just disheartening and i think it will be a struggle the rest of the way… pretty depressed right now… and the captain is the worst part of watching all this…
i hope this is not the beginning of the end for him but if it is its been a hell of a ride
reality check
2 people were injured -Garnet and Perkins—fine —the whole team went on vacation from practice for 3 days?When they knew Cavaliers would be coming out hot to make up for a bad game??DOC RIVERS What were you doing to prepare this team—for a blowout!!!! Celtics were not shooting—they were throwing the ball at the rim hoping ball would go in—-Celtics were cold as ice!!!! you have a big lead and then you play DEAD!!! LIKE ALL SEASON—-BAD HABITS COME BACK TO HAUNT THE CELTICS IN PLAYOFFS———-THEN CELTICS LOOSE IN THE PLAYOFFS AT HOME BY THE MOST POINTS IN FRANCHISE HISTORY—-GOOD HONOR FOR A TEAM WITHOUT CELTIC PRIDE!!!!NEXT YEAR—-HOUSE CLEANING…….
Why are we hearing this from the coach of a veteran team?
“Just didn’t play with a sense of urgency, and they played like with a Game 7 mentality. You could see it early. I thought we had two lousy practices. I thought our preparation was pulling nails. And so, that was the result.”
Why are the practices bad? Why is there no sense of urgency? The answer is simple — it has been the same all year. Nothing has really changed.
DOCS RIGHT
Team of celtics rather go fishing and retire, RIGHT CELTICS, FISHING? Where is your desire to win PIERCE? Allen what happen to your 3 point shots??—-where was the defence the whole game? ANSWER—DOC DID NOT HAVE 1 DAY OF PRACTICE!!!! REAL SAD TO PLAY SO BAD ON YOUR HOME COURT—-JUST LIKE REGULAR SEASON!!!! BUNCH OF CLOWNS!!!!
reality check
A HIGH SCHOOL TEAM COULD HAVE BEATON THE CELTICS
ebb and flow
we’re still in this series, still have gross mis-matches at the pg and pf positions, and still are the best road team in the NBA.
this is the SAME team that blew the Cavs out on Monday.
there is still lots of basketball left to be played.
UBUNTU
REALITY CHECK
DREAM DREAM DREAM—-TEAM CELTICS LOST THEIR SCORING TOUCH—-DREAM DREAM DREAM
If there's one thing that would come from dismantling this team....
We’d never have to hear that meaningless idiotic word again.
That said, this was only one game
by Finkelskyhook on May 8, 2010 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions
Hopefully Doc says “you guys aren’t man enough to beat this team, unless you show otherwise, I’m retiring”
100% right
This Celtic Team is a bunch of WIMPS!!!!
Celts are down by one game only... chill guys
Pfft.. there’s another home game coming up, they can still head to Cleveland with the series tied.
Pfft.. there’s another home game coming up, they can still head to Cleveland with the series tied.At least we’re not staring up at the Cavs like the Spurs are at the Suns.
CLEVELAND VS BOSTON
BOSTON has too many bouts of inconsistant play to bounce back—-the team totally sucked!!!! thats why it would have been better for them to forfeit and throw the towel in…..total loosers!!!!
Why don't you run that by Stern.
Maybe he’ll just have the Celtics forfeit the rest of the games so the world doesn’t have to watch the fix.
What a loser – that’s you by the way.
My mistake. I thought he
was another Vinnie. Apologies.
Rondo and KG were still on their game
There I said it. It wasn’t all bad. I hope our boys are as pissed off and embarassed by this loss as the Cavs were from game two. Let’s hope it puts some fire in their bellies and the gives them the eye of the tiger for Sunday’s game. It is do our die on Sunday. We can’t go into Cleveland down 3-1 or it’s all over, Johnny. I know the TRUTH has a great game in him that is dying to come out.
we're still in the series
the Celtics can bounce back because its the Celtics. instead of whining about the game we should keep our heads high and continue cheering for the team and supporting them. I tell you I ain’t over till it’s over. Celtics can win this. remember the Celtics never give up.
Go Celtics!
gie+Rondo4MVP
I can see the worls is ending again, it just one game! We will win on Sunday then you all can be at ease…..
win sunday and be at ease??
just like the celts did after winning game 2
come into game 3 at ease..this team is a mystery
why did they have 2 bad practices??
even if they do win sunday..old habits are hard to break.
i’d like to thank this team for shaking me of being such a diehard fan because now i know how stupid it is to put my energy into watching a bunch of over paid jerks.
im just glad i didnt pay my hard earned money for a ticket at the garden to watch this crap
sixth man
we will never win if it is 6 against 5……
Celts give home fans the finger again
Once again at home the Celts did not show up. They played with total passivity. Rondo, the other players and the coaching staff made only toke efforts to speed up the game in the first quarter. As a total group they let Cleveland set the tone and that was that.
This year the Celtics have produced their worst efforts at home. Their attitude at home seems to be if the other team is really gonig to play we don’t want to. We’ve got other things to do.
I have watched Paul Pierce play with passion and heart for yeats with lousy teams. Now I know he wants to retire as a Celtic. But right now he is playing as if he is already retired.
It says a lot when you have to say that your teams only shot is because they do not have the home court advantage.
Why,,
Do we not use Rondo’s strength? The kid is lightning fast, so he should get some isolation sets and break down the taller, slower defender. Can drive and score or kick the ball.
BBD looked like he was terrified to touch the ball. All offense seemed to have to go through Ray or Paul. Easy to beat a team when only a couple of people are suppose to have the ball.
So sick of watching the C’s come down the court and run the same plays without adjusting. Great teams and coaches adjust to what is presented to them and conquer. I can’t wait until we get someone who can complement Rondo’s quickness. Might make for some exciting basketball again.
we certainly were outplayed. just a few words about the refs, tho. perk and kg off the floor early and 2 obvious fouls on lebron that were not called made a big difference.i don’t think stern wants to see his baby boy lebron on the bench it’s sickening. it’s also sickening to see a slowed down, confused pp play a crappy series.
1. the officiating is really taking boston out of their game early. james gets everything at the rim
no matter what…PP gets zero. 2. tomorrow is the season. a loss and the season is over
Bennett Salvatore's initials are B.S.
We are left with the question of whether game 2 was Celtics dominating or the cavs taking the game off – but the one-sided officiating in the last 2 games is beyond irritating.
by nba is the worst on May 8, 2010 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions
when our starters don't play well
the bench doesn’t play well. I knew in the first 2 minutes that we didn’t come to play. we were settling for jumpers and rondo was pulling up instead of going to the hole. pierce’s first shot was a push- he looked liked he ws trying to will the ball in the basket. how does this keep happening again and again? it’s sort of like watching a pitcher who can no longer throw the ball over the plate. there is definitely something mental going on with this team when they play in the garden. they don’t have the ability to come back at home because their confidence at home is non existent. I think the bad losses at home to the nets, washington etc impacted this team more than they will admit. They don’t believe the home crowd is for them so where the garden was once a huge advantage, now it’s a disadvantage. I don’t know if the fan base has changed or the types of fans ahve changed but what I do know is that if the celts are going to win game 4 the crowd will have to be factor.
overconfident to a fault....
winning game 2 by a blowout didn’t give them a sense of urgency
for this game, specially since they’re back home….thoughts of
“we got their asses right now, they ain’t coming back after this
homestand!!” well, guess what, cavs regained home court.
would’ve been better to win a hard-fought close game 2, got their
juices flowing and amped for game 3.
long break between games 2 & 3 probably lulled them to sleep,
nba knows everything about ratings, scheduled these games to
cover the weekend.
by Vince_frmthePhils on May 8, 2010 9:44 AM EDT reply actions
REBOUNDS!!!!.. Celtics 30 / Cavs 45
Perkins 21 Min 2 Reb
Sheed 15 Min 1 Reb
BigBaby 18 Min 2 Reb
OUR FRONT COURT IS RIDICULOUS!!!!
¬¬
Rondo game high for the C's with 5
KG didn’t rebound either, only 4. Cavs starters had 32 boards, C’s starters 18.
by nba is the worst on May 8, 2010 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions
larry's C got blown out in LA game #3 1984
Mchale decks rambis & Celtics win game 4 ..go on to win the series.
so i still have hope. Last night was a bad loss but it still count sas one loss so if we gather our selves and win game 4….. then we have a series.
100% agree with you tommyfan....
grab game 4 with all our might and passion. most important is
to give ourselves a shot in a best of 3 series that remains…
by Vince_frmthePhils on May 8, 2010 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions
That team had one of the best players in the history of the game
This team doesn’t. Not saying the Celtics can’t win Sunday, but this is a far different scenario. Larry was not afraid to call out his teammates big time in the papers. There is no one on this team, including the coach, willing to do that.
I would love to see that
Sunday afternoons have been problematic this season for the celtics.
I hope the cavs now feel like they can’t lose, and find that the shots aren’t falling at a 60% clip tomorrow…
by nba is the worst on May 8, 2010 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions
game 4 is the season...
c’s lose and it’s definitely over, no way in hell they can beat the cavs 3 straight!
the big 3 have to will the c’s to win, let rondo run the plays, trust each other
and play with heart and passion.
can’t let the officiating affect their play, just grind it out and play their best at
both ends, i’d be proud of them.
i really don’t care if they all foul out by the 4th qtr. point is the entire sports world
will see what a big joke the nba is for doing everything it can to will the cavs
and lakers into the finals
by Vince_frmthePhils on May 8, 2010 9:51 AM EDT reply actions
How does a 'Championship' team lose focus so quickly?
This is no surprise. This is the Celtics we’ve known all season.
The Fixed is in!
The team will not win, not because it can’t, but because the NBA powers of be will not allow it. It is all about marketing players and the NBA. They can market LJ much longer then PP,KG and RA. Money, money money! I have been following the celtics since 1969 and the officiating now determines the outcome of games. It very sad and eventually a retired referee will spill the bean on the NBA.
by Meangreen Machine on May 8, 2010 10:57 AM EDT reply actions
refs
Growing up as a cavs fan I had to watch some guy named Jordan get all the calls, it happens, deal with it. I suppose Bird never got favorable calls,right. Be positive, soon Rondo will be untouchable, a future superstar I think.
by Tom truthteller on May 8, 2010 11:31 AM EDT reply actions
A few things to get off my chest
Im a 51 year old die hard C’s fan who first listened to Johnny Most on WBZ while growing up in CLEVELAND of all places, when they didn’t have a team. Later on Bill Fitch coached the Cavs and his daughter and I went to school together and I used to hang out at their house. Later on I went to Marquette and knew Doc Rivers quite well to say the least. Ive been an actual Doc in Seattle since the late 1980’s and was one of the informed folks surrounding Ray Allens ankle issues. Like a lot of you die hard Sox fans I am a live and die Celtics fan.
Really, no matter what happens from here, what happened to this teams heart? Game after game I can hardly believe or begin to understand what is happening How did a team with Garnett, PP and Ray Allen, three of the hardest working, most dedicated professional driven men in the game, throw away game after game after game looking careless, and out of sorts? What we have seen this year has just never made a lick of sense ESPECIALLY when you add Rondo and Perk to that group. I agree with those who say you don’t get old overnight and so its almost certainly not that, certainly we saw how this team looked last Monday. Were they so cocky that they thought they could win with little effort? Really?
They really softened themeselves up playing half speed all season. They practiced for epic collapses for several months. You play like you practice.
I haven’t given up hope I just feel befuddled with what I see game after game.
I watched the Spurs Suns game last night. In the 4th q, with their “lives” at stake, the spurs get blown out with spectacular play from the Suns bench. Its also weird to me to see the Spurs play like they have. We are a lot like the Spurs.
We should be able to build an interesting team around Rondo. Hopefully we will get lucky. Here is to winning on Sunday and no more letdowns
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