Cavaliers vs Celtics Live Blog
January 9, 2009Halfway Home: Treading Water, A Star Is Born
January 10, 2009Cavaliers 98, Celtics 83 (box)
There is not much that I can say that can not be derived from reading last night’s Live Blog. A quick summary: Cavs came out blazing with an absolutely monstrous first quarter. Typically if you allow your opponents to score 20-plus points out of the gate, you could be in some trouble – unless you put up over 30. The lead carried into halftime, despite a rough patch of play when LeBron James was on the bench. But the second half was all Cavaliers as Cleveland outscored Boston by three in each of the two frames, barraging the Celtics with layups, dunks, jumpers and the occasional three-pointer.
Oh yes, and we did this all without our would-be All-Star big man, Zydrunas Ilguaskas.
Sure, LeBron James’ line of 38 points (13-25 from the floor), seven boards, six assists, four steals and three blocks may not have been his greatest from an overall standpoint. But there is so much that will not go into the box score that was produced by James that made this game simply amazing. Even on plays where James did not end up with the steal (chasing a ball the length of the court only to dive and wind up a bit late), you could see the determination in his body language. He was not going to let Boston waltz into his home and come away with a win. Just ask Paul Pierce, who went 4-15 from the floor for 11 points. I am sure he can attest to the game that James played on both ends of the floor.
Others that deserve a ton of credit? just look your way down the roster. Ben Wallace played a huge game on the defensive end, especially early on. The fourth quarter free throws (gong!) were just icing on the proverbial fro’d out cake. You have to love when he purposely airballs his final attempt, simply so he can get out of the game to foil the other team’s plan. Anderson Varejao? Fourteen points and nine boards. And while he was not credited with a block or a steal, you can bet that he had a lot to do with a few of Boston’s 15 turnovers. Delonte West was with Ray Allen for the entire evening. Mo Williams did his job on both ends of the floor, despite a five-minute burst from Rajon Rondo in the third quarter.
Speaking of Rondo, any time that an announcer says that you’re a “great player who just can’t shoot the ball,” you are not a great player. You’re a good role player on a team with three perennial Hall of Fame players. I hope that the coaches were watching this one as Mo Williams deserves that All-Star nod over a “leader” who has led his team to three wins in their last 10 games. For his sake, I hope that YardBarker lobbying works, because if it comes down to actual play, Rondo does not deserve to play during the All-Star break.
For some locker room tidbits, check out Brian Windhorst’s recap, linked above in the Ben Wallace blurb. This game was all-around excellent to watch. The crowd seemed to be at a high level the entire time, and there’s no doubting that the “MVP” chants were well-deserved. Let’s hope that the team can keep this energy going as they head to Memphis on Tuesday.
15 Comments
Great game! Sat and watched it with a Boston fan and i milked in every minute of it. Especially each time LeBron gave them the big REJECTION! One more thing, that was NOT a foul on LBJ when he rejected Rando on the lay up. The hops LeBron had to reject that up against the top half of the backboard was AMAZING!
@Scott: I know you were trying to say that LeBron did it on the defensive end as well but 38, 7, 6, 4, and 3 isn’t anything to take lightly. This was without a doubt one of the top games LBJ has played.
Awesome win. (I still don’t have a problem with those blue jerseys–especially if it leads to a 15 point win over Boston)
I don’t know if I ever had so much fun watching a game of basketball. As usual, it was broadcast here in Japan a few hours after the actual game time, with commercials cut out. It’s quite a luxury to watch a game without commercials, but if you don’t want to spoil it for yourself, you have to avoid sports news for a few hours before and then, of course, during the game. I made the small sacrifice this time of a self-imposed news blackout and the reward was handsome.
Forget the numbers for a moment: LeBron dominated that game and helped his team beat the Celtics in so many ways. Even his interviews showed him to be in total self-possession. He consistently showed respect for his opponent and teammates on the floor and off.
At the same time, you have to admire Boston’s passing ability, especially around the basket. At times, it is a wonder that any team can stop them at all. Only on a few sequences did they overdo it a little and force themselves into turnovers or lost opportunities. I’m not a fan, but on the whole, even in their weak games, they are a sweet team to watch. Would anyone disagree?
Something that irks me: I cannot understand why Varejao sets up so far from the basket so consistently. It’s fine for him to set a pick out there, but once that work is done, why doesn’t he ever slice across the paint? That’s how Boston seems to get so many dunks and two-foot shots; they’ve got guys passing near the basket all the time. Several times during the game, Varejao got dumped the ball while he was standing way outside his comfort range for shooting, and it wasn’t pretty. You could almost see, “what the hell I am supposed to do with this?” written all over his face.
Does anyone have an explanation for that? Or is it as silly as it looks?
p.s. Agreeing with JJ, I still prefer the wine-and-gold jerseys, but what the heck: fuschia and turquoise would be fine, in the end, if the Cavs only got past Boston in the playoffs in ’em.
I do want to point out that Boston came up with thier excuse before the game. I checked cbssportsline about 15 minutes beforehand and Boston claimed that Rondo had a bum shoulder and while he was probable, he wouldnt be in top form.
At the game, was awesome.
I’m sad Wallace was taken out because the loudest point in the game was when he made those free throws.
The Cavs proved they are legitimite title contenders, which is all you can ask from a JAN home game. If LBJ locks up Pierce like that going forward, the Celtics are in a world of hurt. Three more afterthoughts:
1. Wally for another big looks necessary at the deadline.
2. Getting Z back will be like adding a player from a trade. NICE
3. Time to bring this game on the road to BOS, DET and ORL to prove we can play like this outside of the Q.
Props to Gilbert, Ferry & Brown for creating this monster!
“team with three perennial Hall of Fame players.”
Scott, you cant be a perennial hall of famer. You can be a perennial all star tho…
It does really matter – F$@^ boston!!
doesnt*
That frickin game was incredible. Possibly one of the best I’ve seen since the playoffs a couple years ago. Man what a game!! The Cavs obviously came out tearing things up offensively, but they seemed to have an answer for everything Boston tried to do. That in turn got those guys frustrated and got them off their game. This is the first time I enjoyed watching Paul Pierce be a whiny little b!tch.
I wish they poured more on in the end for that little stunt Doc pulled with Wallace with 5 and half minutes left. That’s weak. I loved that Wallace was making 1 of 2.
What a game…
I wouldn’t have had a problem with Hack-a-Ben if they wouldn’t have conceded the game by putting the scrubs in and STILL hack! The cavs have an excuse to leave one starting big man in garbage time. Z is hurt and i don’t think they had Lorenzen Wright on the active roster.
Rondo gets credit because he’s go three Hall of Famers to play with. Put him on a near .500 team, and he would be getting no recognition. “A great player who can’t shoot?” Kinda like a “great clean-up hitter who can’t hit”? Huh?
After seeing tickets on ebay and stubhub selling for 3 and 4 times face for last night game… I am really happy my 11 game package includes Lakers and the april Celtics game
what an embarrassment, resorting to hack-a-ben AFTER the game was out of hand and all the 3rd stringers were in.
And WOW, Boston lost that game by 20 and i swear we missed about 20 layups in that game.
It bears repeating…..Boston never led the entire game. Awesome game!
adam – once you’re in the hall of fame, you’re in every year. so you might be able to be a perennial hall of famer.