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Round 2 Game 2| Cavaliers vs Celtics| Mon. May 3rd, 2010| 8pm (et)

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Da_James_Gang

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Key Reserves
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Other reserves: Jawad Williams, Danny Green, Leon Powe, and Sebastian Telfair

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Key Reserves
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Other reserves: Oliver Lafayette, Brian Scalabrine, Tony Gaffney, and Tony Allen​

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Celtics-Cavaliers Preview


CLEVELAND (AP) -- As the Boston Celtics wore down and showed their age in the fourth quarter of Game 1, one of them was still accelerating.

The Cavaliers couldn't slow Rajon Rondo.

Shaquille O'Neal took care of that.

Cleveland's humongous center flattened Rondo on a drive to the basket in the closing minutes, a hard -- and mostly clean -- two-handed foul that may have contributed to the Cavaliers' 101-93 win as much as LeBron James' 35 points or Mo Williams' surprising slam dunk over Paul Pierce.

As Rondo, who finished with 27 points and 12 assists, approached the basket, O'Neal came across the lane and knocked the Celtics' speedy point guard to the floor. After spending a few minutes gathering himself and making sure all his limbs were still functioning, Rondo missed the first free throw before making the second.

He didn't score again.

"Shaq has always fouled me like that," Rondo said Sunday as the Celtics prepared for Monday's Game 2 at Quicken Loans Arena. "That's going to happen, but I'm still going to get up."

The Celtics led by 11 in the third quarter of Game 1 and would be up in this best-of-seven series if not for a second-half fizzle that can be partially blamed on their aging roster as well as some blown opportunities late in the game.

With Cleveland leading 92-91, Ray Allen missed a 3-pointer when he was accidentally bumped by referee Jason Phillips. Boston trailed 94-91 when Pierce tried a short jumper that bounced off the rim. Kevin Garnett was alone underneath for an easy putback but misfired.

The Celtics had their chances. They missed them.

"We had some good looks at it," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "Jason Phillips blocked Ray's wide-open 3 one time. It's not Jason's fault, but Rondo got it to Ray in a great spot and the official ran into him. Kevin had a point-blank look. (Kendrick Perkins) bobbled a couple. I'm not that upset late in the game with some of the shots we had. I was just really upset at our guys with the execution and the next pass.

"We were so good in the first half. I just thought we settled. We'll take those same shots."

However, they may not be as available as in the opener.

After Williams was abused by Rondo (19 points, eight assists) in the first half of Game 1, the Cavaliers switched it up and put Anthony Parker on Rondo, who attempted just two shots after halftime. Parker's length made it tougher for Rondo to turn the corner and find open teammates, and Pierce certainly didn't help by going 1 for 10 from the field in the second half.

Rivers was more upset with his team's lack of floor spacing and casual attitude on offense.

"A lot of it wasn't Rondo's fault," he said. "I thought Rondo kept pushing the ball up the floor, but there were three guys behind him."

In the first half, the Celtics looked like their old selves, opening an 11-point lead with tenacious defense and offensive execution.

In the second half, they just looked old.

With Rondo and Glen Davis in foul trouble, Rivers went deeper into his reserves but got little help from them. Rasheed Wallace, 36, scored two points on 1-of-5 shooting in 13 minutes and was beaten to several loose balls by Cleveland forward Anderson Varejao. Michael Finley, 37, didn't score in three meaningless minutes.

The Cavs' depth and overall athleticism was too much for Boston to handle in the third quarter, which the Cavaliers closed with a 21-9 flurry, triggered by Williams' unexpected dunk over Pierce -- a play perhaps symbolic of the Cavs' fresher legs and rise as favorites.

For the Celtics to win, they can't count on Rondo to carry the scoring load. He only averaged 13.7 points during the regular season, but with Boston's Big Three of Pierce, Allen and Garnett shooting a combined 8 of 27 in the second half of Game 1, Rondo had to do more than he could.

Pierce knows he needs to be more assertive.

"I need to be going to the basket a little more," he said. "I was a little disappointed only going to the free-throw line twice. I think I need to be a little more aggressive, but I'd still take the shots I took in that game. We feel like (Game 1) is a game we let slip away by little things. We've just got to clean those things up, come back with the same type of energy and with a little more perfection to our game and we'll be OK."

The Cavaliers, who traveled to Akron on Sunday to help James accept his second straight MVP award, may let Rondo score again as long as they limit the Big Three's production. And they know that if Rondo dares venture inside the lane that O'Neal, who outweighs him by 150 pounds, will be waiting.

Rondo, though, said he's not worried about another encounter with Shaq.

"It's not him," he said "It's the floor."

Game #1 Highlights​

 
Sorry ahead of time if something is incorrect or missing or if its not up to par. Was kind of rushing and didn't do everything i wanted to. Also missed a few details, but gotta get up early for work. I'm just glad i got something up.
 
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Mo will initiate the Scorched Earth policy.


We'll win.
 
You just gotta love boo...I mean, playoff basketball. :chuckles:
 
Sorry ahead of time if something is incorrect or missing or if its not up to par. Was kind of rushing and didn't do everything i wanted to. Also missed a few details, but gotta get up early for work. I'm just glad i got something up.

Everything looks great man, as always.

Although in your haste, I question you searching "LittleMidgets.com" for pics. :chuckles: :eek:
 
Wow, now we know why Sheed hangs out by the 3-point line: his giant nostrils push him back 20 feet each time he exhales.

Those things look like F-18 thrusters

jet_engines_afterburner_F-18_fighter_plane.jpg
 
i wouldnt mind seeing a little jamison at the 3 post up action when peirce sits with some sort of imaginary injury, jamison can stick iwth tony allen or daniels

also looking for shaq to make a layup in the first quarter.
 
Celtic's "Key Reserves" are a bunch of monster-lookin fuckers aren't they? I vote them ugliest bench in the league (not like it really makes a difference)

Good preview! Mo needs to get pissed off like he did last time...it makes me wonder what Paul Pierce said to him, if anything, because after that dunk he just stared him down
 
Here is your NumbersDon't preview:

Game Preview – Monday May 3, 2010 – Boston Celtics @ Cleveland Cavaliers – Game 2

The Cavaliers have not lost a home playoff game vs. the Celtics since Game 2 of their ‘91-’92 series, a series that the Cavaliers took in 7 games. The Clevelanders hope to continue that trend tonight. The Cavaliers hope to continue another trend as well, as they have now held the Celts to less than 100 points in 8 straight playoff games, holding Boston to 93 & under in 6 of those games, dating back to the beginning of their 7 game series 2 seasons ago.​

View it in its entirety.

*Will update with info from Last Playoff Meeting when I get home from work at 5-5:30.*
 
Finally Mo got ticked off being abused and outplayed...now it's time for AJ to attack the lizard..errrr..Garnett..
 
The Celts had our number for good parts of three quarters which give them some hope of stealing one. I'm hoping for a more energetic start which to me is getting West and Andy in there ala Jones and Marshall after 6-7 minutes.

I'm not so worried about Rondo going off on us. As Chicago showed us, they can be frustrating but if the others aren't going with him we'll wear them down the stretch.
 

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