Boston Celtics (45-35) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (40-40)
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
7:00 pm ET
Celtics vs Cavaliers
TV: FxNE, FxOh
Radio: WKNR 1100
Head Coaches
Doc Rivers and Brendan Malone
Probable Starters
Gary Payton and Jeff McInnis
Tony Allen and Ira Newble
Paul Pierce and LeBron James
Antoine Walker and Drew Gooden
Raef LaFrentz and Zydrunas Ilgauskas
6th Man
Ricky Davis and Robert Traylor
Players to Watch
Paul Pierce and LeBron James
F.Y.I.
After Philidelphia defeated the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, it became a 2 way race for the final playoff spot between New Jersey and Cleveland. Both teams share a 40-40 record, although the Nets hold the tie over the the Cavaliers. New Jersey face Washington and Boston in their final games, whilst Cleveland travel to Toronto after the Celtic game.
Injury List
Boston Celtics
No injuries
Cleveland Cavaliers
Luke Jackson
Dajuan Wagner
Scott Williams
Karma's Keys
* The last home stand. Cleveland have in general been quite successful this season at the Gund Arena. With the playoffs still a slight possibility, you would expect for the fans sake to see all efforts to keep their plight alive.
* Boston have secured their first post-Bird division title, and a win tonight seals home court in the first round.
* The Celtics hold a very dangerous triple threat of Pierce, Walker and Davis. These guys are efficient at getting into the paint and getting to the line. They also fancy themselves from range where they are less effective. The Cavaliers would be wise to try and make them shoot over us, rather then the usual procession of easy layups or kickout open J's.
* LeBron has just been taking too many shots lately. He, though is largely blameless. Gooden and Ilgauskas have to really stand up and demand some ball. The talent is there, but the will not quite of late. Ira Newble has been doing his part to push this team, but he is limited which is why players of Z's and Drew's talent should be more prominent.
* Coach Malone really needs to stick to what works. He has a habit of going away with what is effective. If Varejao is handling Walker and Gooden and Traylor struggles, play him. Same goes for Snow when he lifts our defensive intensity in his short stints.
Final Thoughts
This obviously is a must win. We need to finish this season in winning fashion. We have the chance to finish with a winning record and place some pressure on New Jersey. Pressure can do funny things to players (Carter) at times. We obviously are not in the position we seen ourselves in not too long ago, so hopefully the Cavalier's do not add another "what might have been" to their ever growing list!
Cavalier's in a nail biter.
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