If this is what every Cleveland-Boston game will be like in this series, I'll sign up for that!
Don't be fooled by the 8-point margin- this was a VERY close, hard-fought game- reminded me of their playoff series 2 years ago.
Agree. This is going to be one helluva series. In the end though, it was perhaps the MVP, in this case, the "most valuable patrons", aka the 20,562 in attendance that made the difference down the stretch. When the team was down and out, the fans perhaps gave the team a little moral boost. I was in attendance and that was as fun of a game as you could be a part of. Wow!
Some thoughts:
1. Except for game 4 against Chicago, the Cavs have had to scratch and claw for every one of their playoff wins. In retrospect, last year's 8-game win streak by double-digits may have unprepared them for the close games. It's like a football team blowing out opponents, then struggling in a close game. I have a feelng that these hard-fought battles will be better for Cleveland.
You may be on to something. In the first two rounds of last year's playoffs, we swept our opponents in leading up to the ECF matchup against Orlando. That was the first series where we were really tested. Breezing through the playoffs didn't prepare us well for Orlando. Perhaps a more well contested first two rounds can prove valuable for the Cavs down the stretch?
2. Like the title suggests, tale of two halves. Boston played a near-flawless first half, leading by double-digits most of the way. However, I've seen this movie before- late February, Celtics shot 77 percent in the first half, Cavs clamp down in the second half. Plus, in the NBA, 11-point leads are by no means insurmountable.
You got that right. But remember, first and foremost, the turnaround was lead by the Cavs defense. In the first half, Rondo killed us. Through 2 quarters, he had 19 points and 8 assists. In the second half, the Cavs made an adjustment to put a taller Anthony Parker against Rondo. Parker held Rondo to 8 points and 4 assists in the second half. Also, LeBron's defense on Paul Pierce was just as crucial to the victory. Pierce started off 4-of-5, but finished 1-of-12 the rest of the way.
3. LeBron, with an elbow as scrutinized Dwight Freeney's ankle or Lindsey Vonn's shin, had some shaky moments in the first half... and he still had 35 points. Paul Pierce may have been onto something when he said LeBron at
LeBron looked tentative in the first half. It took him a while to trust his elbow and play his game.
4. Rondo played valiantly in defeat. If Cleveland is going to advance in the playoffs, he'll have to be contained.
The Cavs #1 weakness is defending a top-tier point guard. Mo Williams is just not a good defender. Derrick Rose got the best of him in Round 1 and Rondo got the best of him in this game until the Cavs switched defensive assignments.
5. Turning point of the game- had to be the Mo Williams dunk on Paul Pierce in the 3rd quarter, down by 11. Then he went off for a string of points that got them back in. When they got closer, I felt the momentum was shifting.
You're absolutely right. That Mo Williams dunk (his first official career dunk btw) was indeed the turning point. Down by 11 in the 3rd quarter, that dunk spurred 14 points by Mo in the 3rd quarter and the Cavs lead 79-78 by the end of the quarter.
