Two-for-eighteen shooting.
Let me repeat myself... two-for-eighteen shooting. That was what LeBron James brought to the table tonight in Boston against the NBA's best regular season team, the Celtics.
Delonte West had a great night against his old backup point guard from his days in Boston just a year ago. But Rajon Rondo added a solid performance himself, combining with Kevin Garnett to score most of the Celtics' first half points.
On a bizarre night in the NBA Playoffs, LeBron James had - quite possibly - his worst professional basketball game... EVER. Between horrible three-pointers, a handful of missed layups, and multiple frustrated fouls, James offered the Cavaliers absolutely nothing on defense and only his free-throw shooting (eight-for-ten). Only LeBron could make a night where he fell just a rebound and a single assist short of a playoff triple-double look so bad. His twelve points were largely due to the "Dwayne-Wade Treatment" which has brought him to the line continuously -whether he deserves it or not- ever since he first made the NBA Playoffs.
Now I know by stating this I open the door to the lowest-common-denominator commenters who will say "LeBron Rulez" or "Celtics sux" (or some other amazingly intelligent insight), but I'm sorry... it has to be said.
When it all comes down to it, Paul Pierce shut down the supposed "MVP Candidate" more effectively than anyone has all year, and maybe better than anyone ever has before. Sure, Pierce ended with only 4 points himself, but his contribution was shutting down Cleveland's only shot at a victory... LeBron James. Ray Allen was scoreless, but the Celtics were able to produce without his usual offensive numbers. Again, this was largely due to Pierce and the Celtics' complete shutdown of the young man known as LBJ.
Until Cleveland manages to win a game, or LBJ makes some type of offensive contribution, the story will no longer be "Are the Celtics good enough?"
Instead, the question many fans were asking themselves after tonight was...
"LeBron Who?!"
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2 months ago
I wouldn't credit Paul Pierce alone for shutting down LeBron. He sat for eight minutes in the first quarter and LeBron was still terrible then. Not to mention the two or three other defenders who closed on him at the basket. Or the numerous times where LeBron just hoisted a 20-foot jumper and didn't even try to attack the basket. Or the lack of any type of help from a teammate under the height of 7'3" to shake the defense a little.
But I'm not exactly sure how going to the free throw line 10 times equals "Dwyane Wade" treatment, but sure, we can roll with that. And saying the Celtics were able to produce without "Ray Allen's usual offensive numbers"...I mean, I guess if you're happy with 76 painstaking, agonizing points, than that's fine with me - the Cavs will probably win the next four games if that's the benchmark.
But I personally was sick to my stomach watching this game. Even if the Cavs won I wouldn't have been happy.
2 months ago
Fair points Scott, I appreciate the analysis. You're right, the defense was more than just Pierce, however, after watching him since his rookie season it's one of his better defensive games (when he was in the game) against another team's superstar and he's had many of these matchups.
I'll cede that this was an ugly game and tells us absolutely NOTHING about the rest of the series. This one was a coin toss and the Celtics won. Grizzly, ugly basketball, but as a C's fan, it's nice to see us win one after losing two similarly ugly games against Atlanta (Game 3 in Atlanta was nothing but absolutely dominance from the youngsters and I can't take that away from the Hawks!).
Looking forward to both teams coming out Thursday night completely disappointed with their respective performances.
2 months ago
Even as a Cavs fan, I was dissapointed to see LeBron hogging the ball so much in the 4th quarter after missing so many shots. The Cavs were having a fair amount of success with the ball in other people's hands and even LeBron should have realized that this was just not his night.
Instead, he made the same mistakes that led to the Game 5 loss last week. He tried to play hero and force up a string of ill-advised shots in the final minutes. Something just wasn't clicking for him tonight. He was downright clumsy at times; that is, compared to his usual self. Tonight was not the night to have him play 1-on-5 for the final possessions.
Still, I shouldn't be too surprised. It seems to have become the status quo for the Cavs of late. The last 3-5 minutes is "LeBron time." Mike Brown throws out the playbook and lets LeBron run the offense - for better or worse. On nights like this, though, it's painful to watch.
I wouldn't say that this game tells us nothing, though. As a Cavs fan, I'm encouraged that they showed some good defense against Boston. As usual, they did a good job rebounding and (besides LeBron) they didn't turn the ball over a whole lot. Guys like Ilgauskas, West, and Gibson all had pretty good games tonight. Even Charles Barkley had to notice more depth on the Cavs' roster.
Still, I think it would be stupid to assume that Paul Pierce and Ray Allen will continue their slumpish shooting or that there will continue to be such a wide discrepancy of free-throw attempts. Despite the win, the Celtics have reason to worry, but then again, so do the Cavs.
Here's to hoping that both teams play better in the coming games.
2 months ago
Touche Matt. Good point about the Cavs defense, it did look rather solid in the second half and forced Boston to take ill-advised shots from distance and fading away.
I'm with you in hoping that both teams play better but at least, it seems, they can't possibly play much worse than tonight.
2 months ago
LeBron was terrible Tuesday night. Missed layups, and even though he shot six of them, he shot too many three pointers.
2 months ago
That was a horrible game all around it was uneventful and the most entertaining part was waiting to see if lebron would keep missing or could he turn it on at the end. Not last night. However the final score was that of a college game not a play off game while i am impressed with good defense offense is the exciting part of the NBA.
Also by the way a rant for the moment why does the NBA spend all this time and money to promote how they are good guys and the NBA Cares.... when in the intro and extro clips they focus on the rough flagrant, egregious, border line violent plays. While the male in me likes that stuff as much as the next fan and i do understand that it sells never the less if the goal is to say that these guys are not street thugs but they are class acts then maybe those clips are not the way to reflect the nba. In the same extro last night they showed Rondo getting slammed to the ground and Kidd slamming Paul (i think it was CP) to the ground. Now i understand it might be the network but if you want the bad boy image accept it other wise stop glorifying it.
Maybe i am turning into a wus in my old age. really my issue is the mixed message that is being displayed. what do you think the young kid is going to emulate the millionaire superstar reading to kids in the community or the UCF or WWE style slam of Rondo?
Whatever i will shut up i feel better now....
2 months ago
I know all everyone wants to talk about is how LeBron stunk it up, but...
Big Z - seriously? In the clutch? I don't even know you anymore.
He basically finished off the Wiz and then drops 22 against boston (on 18 shots, but still 6 of 6 from the line).
2 months ago
Comeon man, Paul Pierce can't play D. I'm the biggest Celts fan ever, but it wasn't his fault that LeBron didn't score. He missed shots, plain and simple. It's the same way Pierce had 2 FGs and Ray had none. He still had 12-9-9, which is a damn good game for any other baller in the league, but it's a horrible game for LeBron. Whatever though, a win is a win, and I'll take it, but let's not pull a DeShaun Stevenson and start sayin LeBron is overrated...do you remember last year against the Pistons?
2 months ago
i could have gone 2 for 18 and im fat slow and white
BREAKING NEWS - Lebron is not the next Jordan
go rondo
2 months ago
hey, read my articles. I'm sure they will provide alternate insight!
2 months ago
Once Lebron recognizes the defense well enough he will explode. Look for good games from him in game 2 and in cleveland. Also it is not just about Lebron. ZZZ is gona be a big x-factor, he's alot taller than anyone the celtics have to match-up with him, and his o-rebounding is gona be huge.
2 months ago
I'm gona go out on a lim and say as a cavs fan i loved the performance from the cavs. they played great defense. All it comes down to is hitting the open looks. Look for the cavs to shoot better at home and therefore opening up the floor for lebron. However they have to find an answer for Rondo, he looks alot similiar to tony parker last year in the finals.
2 months ago
Game was abismal O on both teams part. Posey and the Celts long, tall defenders and LeBron stopped LeBron, not Paul Pierce.
from about 1 month ago
I agree the team defense and Posey were key, but to suggest that Paul Pierce didn't show LeBron up with his defense is to admit that you didn't watch the game.
from about 1 month ago
Whatever, kid.
about 1 month ago
Well, game two happened. While LeBron was not hideous....the result was the same.
He actually got to 21 points, but still sank less than 10 baskets from the field....and the entire team's average sank.
A lot of people are right now saying, wait until Cleveland plays at home. It's understandable, considering that's what happened in the first round, Celtics-wise, but then again, Lebron knows that being down 0-2, is calls for crunch time....or, you're looking at a tee-time in a week.
Still think we're looking at a 6 game series.....but if they drop number 3, turn out the lights, the party by the lake is over.
about 1 month ago
Andrew, another job well done! Very good article, I enjoyed reading it.
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