Cavs' Weekend Round Up: Cleveland Falls To Boston, Bounce Back Against Miami

This weekend was so-so for the Cavs, splitting two games over the weekend. 

Cleveland first traveled to Boston to face the reigning NBA champions for what was set to be a tie-breaker between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference, both having one win against the other so far this season. 

I was optimistic for the Cavaliers though, who I thought would surely beat a Celtics team that was without big man Kevin Garnett, who’s been out with a knee strain.

Both teams came out strong and kept the first quarter close.  But there was a sort of bad omen around the six-minute mark when Rajon Rondo picked off a LeBron James pass and took it to the rack. 

But the Cavs kept the game close through the end of the first, highlighted by James’s beautiful monster dunk finish over Kendrick Perkins off a give-and-go from Delonte West.

Perkins appeared to have soiled himself.

But the second and third quarter would be Boston’s, gradually putting more points between themselves and Cleveland. The Cavs faced a nine-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter. 

While our boys made a valiant effort and put up a good last quarter, it would be too great a deficit to overcome.  So, similar to the previous nine times these two teams have played, the home team came out on top, 105-94 in favor of Boston. 

The newly-acquired Stephon Marbury and Michael Moore even contributed a bit for Boston as well with a combined eight points in the game. But don’t feel bad, Cavs fans.  Marbury has a “3” tattoo on his head, but now suits up in No. 8 for Boston. 

How embarassing that must be for Marbury.

But can you really blame the Cavs for the loss to Boston? Playing in front of thousands of ugly Irish people can be very distracting.

The Cavaliers would, however, get back in the win column the following night at home against the Miami Heat.  The event pitted the league’s top two scorers LeBron James and Miami’s Dwayne Wade against one another in an all-important Eastern Conference contest. 

LeBron got started in a big way, with a quick break away and dunk that got everybody at “The Q” on their feet.  The first quarter would end with the Cavaliers ahead 28-14. 

The newly-acquired Joe Smith also made a positive impact for the Cavs as the big man finished with nine points and five rebounds in just 21 minutes of floor time.

This recent acquisition of Smith will definitely improve the Cavs’ dominance in the paint.  After Ben Wallace broke his leg against Houston, Cleveland was definitely in need of a big man, and Smith fits the bill. 

Smith is also a former No. 1 draft pick (who cares if it was the 1995 draft).  Along with James, Cleveland is one of the only teams in the NBA to have two No. 1s on their roster.         

Anderson Varejao and West were solid as usual, and combined for 31 points against the Heat. 

But the real story of the night was Mo Williams.  Probably the best acquisition Cleveland’s made since LeBron was drafted, Williams was on fire.  He hit six three-pointers throughout the game, and would finish with 29 points.

Lead by Wade, the Heat made a late-game push, even outscoring Cleveland in the second half.  The Heat cut the lead to six points midway through the fourth quarter but the deficit created by the Cavs in the first quarter would prove to be too much for Miami. 

LeBron finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists for his 21st triple double of his career and his fourth of the 2008-09 campaign. 

Cleveland took the win, 99-89. 

Dwayne Wade led the Heat with 25 points, and he was even sent home early after being ejected for crying too much to the officials. 

Now, I’m no math major, but I do own a calculator and 25 is less than 29, so, Mo Williams is better than Wade.

Suck it, Miami.    

With the victory over Miami, Cleveland improved to 49-13 overall on the season.  Their home record increased to an astonishing 28-1, with the one loss coming courtesy the Los Angeles Lakers back in the beginning of February…I hate you, Kobe. 

 The Cavs are money at home, and though we came up short against the Celtics on Friday, the next time these two teams meet will be in Cleveland, and with an improved atmosphere, better looking fans, and a lack of drunken Irish hecklers, I assure you it will be a whole different ball game. 

Games against Boston will prove to be pivotal as the playoffs approach.  It is vital that Cleveland secure the No. 1 spot in the bracket so we won’t have to play both the Celtics and the Orlando Magic, who are right on our heels with a 46-16 record. 

In my totally unbiased opinion, the Cavs are the best team in the league and every other team is stupid.

Go Cavs!