[Playoff Matchup Thread] Cleveland vs. Boston

[CLEistheCITY]

I don't care either, but losing to a team that bad says something is still dysfunctional on some level.

It speaks to health problems, or coaching issues, or some issue that's going to haunt you later.

Great teams simply don't lose to a team that bad in the playoffs. I mean, if Lebron gets has a mild ankle sprain and misses a game, so be it, it would be understandable. But I'm not intentionally being hyperbolic, I can't think of a worse team that's ever made the playoffs. Brad Stevens is a genius and the east is bad, and they were super fortunate to catch three games to end season against teams that don't care one bit. They're small and bad.

I don't care if every other series goes 7. I wouldn't read much into that. But if we lose a single game to Boston, its a bad sign. I'll hope for the best, but won't be making any parade plans.

This is beyond stupid. When the Celtics won the title in 08 (after a 66 win season), they were taken to 7 games against a below .500 Hawks team. If the Cavs gave up one game against the Celtics, nobody is going to go in panic mode after the series is over. Just stop.

 

[ajz20]

To me not getting a sweep is a bit of a missed opportunity. This is not Indiana or even Miami. Hell even Brooklyn with Lopez and company may have been tough to sweep, but this Celtic team talent wise should not be in the playoffs.
Imperative we get some rest before the Bulls series.It will be very physical.
If we get past the Bulls, have to play ATL on the road in a long series as well. I hope we dont foul around and sweep them. A loss means we lose two days of rest going into the second round.

I am predicting a sweep. Two easy wins at home. Two close wins on the road where we pull away in last 3-4 minutes. This goes 6 or God forbid seven and we would have wasted alot of unncessary energy will need in May and hopefully June.

 

[Chris]

Celtics will beat us twice. But we obviously win the series.

You heard it here first.

 

[CLEistheCITY]

Celtics will beat us twice. But we obviously win the series.

You heard it here first.

Are you basing that off the ass kicking the Cavs provided to them when they actually played their full team?

 

[ajz20]

Celtics will beat us twice. But we obviously win the series.

You heard it here first.

No reason to lose twice to the least talented of the 16 teams in the post season. if it were the Pacers, sure. Besides Isiah Thomas, who is going to create offense on a consistent basis?
I am sure they will come out swinging in Game 3, take a 8-10 point lead in the first. We should have no problem once the emotion wears out, and then win a competitive game in game four to sweep.

Losing two games means you lose 4 days of rest leading into the Bulls series. With Love's back issues, and wanting to preserve Lebron's energy, plus our short bench, I would reallly be upset with that outcome. You sweep, you can have a mini training camp for 4-5 days perhaps 6 before the Bulls show up to NE Ohio.

 

[TitleTown]

Was watching the Celts game on League Pass tonight and their color guy was telling Danny Ainge (who happened to have joined the broadcast) about what a great job he did in getting Zeller, a "starting caliber center," for nothing.

Ainge said that he liked Zeller since the draft and knew the Cavs would need to move pieces to get LeBron, but ultimately thinks the Cavs did a pretty good job essentially getting LeBron out of the deal because of the cleared cap space and also said Griff has done a nice job putting this team together.

You could tell that Ainge had a lot of respect for Griff, which I guess makes sense since they have known each other since the mid-90s when Ainge was a player/coach in Phoenix.

Anyways, I thought I would just throw that tidbit in there for anyone that wasn't watching. Hopefully whatever extra assets we lost will be worth it in the end.

Those announcers are smoking crack. Yes, gave up too much in the trade, but it's pretty clear that Griff's hands were tied.

Zeller and his t-rex arms is not starting center caliber. He's good, but not THAT good. C'mon.

 

[CLEistheCITY]

Anybody have a TV schedule for the playoffs? I am trying to get a rough idea when each round will be played.

 

[castor777]

When James was with the Heat over 4 postseasons, they only swept a playoff series twice. So I'm guessing it'll be the same here and Celtics will steal a game on a night we just don't have it. Cavs in 5.

 

[nikolajz1]

I don't know why people think this will be such an easy series. Since they acquired IT they've been one of the best teams in the NBA. I think we'll see some pretty close games and it'll be a good way for Love and Kyrie to get some meaningful playoff minutes.

 

[CLEistheCITY]

I don't know why people think this will be such an easy series. Since they acquired IT they've been one of the best teams in the NBA. I think we'll see some pretty close games and it'll be a good way for Love and Kyrie to get some meaningful playoff minutes.

No, just no.

 

[SalvadoranCavsfan]

Tyler Zeller is going to average a triple double, extending the series to 7 games.

 

[Chris]

No reason to lose twice to the least talented of the 16 teams in the post season. if it were the Pacers, sure. Besides Isiah Thomas, who is going to create offense on a consistent basis?
I am sure they will come out swinging in Game 3, take a 8-10 point lead in the first. We should have no problem once the emotion wears out, and then win a competitive game in game four to sweep.

Losing two games means you lose 4 days of rest leading into the Bulls series. With Love's back issues, and wanting to preserve Lebron's energy, plus our short bench, I would reallly be upset with that outcome. You sweep, you can have a mini training camp for 4-5 days perhaps 6 before the Bulls show up to NE Ohio.

No, there is no reason.

But I've watched enough sports in my life to know that nothing is ever easy on a championship run. This team will face adversity early and often, just like every team that goes on to contend for a title. Things ramp up tenfold in the playoffs and we have one guy with ample experience in the postseason. Thankfully, he's also our best player.

I said similar things back during the Cavs' last two title runs. If you think having a great record makes you invincible in the postseason, you may be surprised.

 

[CLEistheCITY]

No, there is no reason.

But I've watched enough sports in my life to know that nothing is ever easy on a championship run. This team will face adversity early and often, just like every team that goes on to contend for a title. Things ramp up tenfold in the playoffs and we have one guy with ample experience in the postseason. Thankfully, he's also our best player.

I said similar things back during the Cavs' last two title runs. If you think having a great record makes you invincible in the postseason, you may be surprised.

That's true regarding the playoffs, but that is horrible logic to apply to this series. Who on the Celtics have such great playoff experience that they are going to pull 2 wins off in this series? I can see the Cavs giving up a game, but anything beyond 5 games is inexcusable. The cavs outmatch the Celtics in every position. Has all the fapping to IT made you guys forget that we have Kyrie? Kyrie is 100x better than IT.

 

[ajz20]

No, there is no reason.

But I've watched enough sports in my life to know that nothing is ever easy on a championship run. This team will face adversity early and often, just like every team that goes on to contend for a title. Things ramp up tenfold in the playoffs and we have one guy with ample experience in the postseason. Thankfully, he's also our best player.

I said similar things back during the Cavs' last two title runs. If you think having a great record makes you invincible in the postseason, you may be surprised.

Agree 100 percent that this team will face a ton of adversity, but I dont see it coming until the second round unless we have significant injuries next week. I would have predicted a 6 game series vs Indy and perhaps even Miami, 5 vs Brooklyn. But Boston would not be there if we need not hand them both games last weekend. It worked out great for us, as Indy would have been a huge pain to deal with for two weeks.
Boston over achieved with great coaching and great play by Isiah Thomas down the stretch.
Only game I could see us losing would be game 3, when they come out with the energy of the crowd. But, I really expect a sweep and the players should have that mind set too.
As mentioned, with Love's back Lebron's playoff mileage, and other vets we may call upon at the end of our bench; it is important we have a week to get ready for the Bulls Hawks guantlet. That is the 3-4.5 weeks of basketball where you will get all the adversity you are looking for.

 

[Chris]

That's true regarding the playoffs, but that is horrible logic to apply to this series. Who on the Celtics have such great playoff experience that they are going to pull 2 wins off in this series? I can see the Cavs giving up a game, but anything beyond 5 games is inexcusable. The cavs outmatch the Celtics in every position. Has all the fapping to IT made you guys forget that we have Kyrie? Kyrie is 100x better than IT.

It's "horrible logic?" Until it happens, of course.

The Cavs outmatch a lot of teams at every position but still lose to them. It's pretty hard to sweep teams in the playoffs. I'd be shocked if they swept Boston, although happy.