Game 1 Recap: Just Need To Win Game 2
I believe the goal was to win one in Cleveland, no? Didn’t have to be the first one. If anything I am more confident because now Brad has film. Lots to get to so let’s jump right in…
We learned last night that when the Celtics show up, they can play with these Cavs. The first quarter was a perfect example. When this team moved the ball and didn’t turn it over Cleveland couldn’t stop them. We saw right away that Kelly Olynyk made the trip, and he showed why he is going to be a matchup problem this series. He forces you to come play him out deep, and someone like Thompson can’t stay with him off the dribble. I hope to see more of that in Game 2. Kelly would finish with 12 points and things looked good after one. Unfortunately, Avery Bradley did not make the trip for Game 1. I hope to see him soon.
The problem would be that as well as they played in the first, the Celts played that bad in the second. Turnovers were the main culprit, as they would commit 6 in the frame. Also, Kyrie happened. His threes were just not real. You couldn’t have defended them any better, and it didn’t matter. The Celts had held him in check for the most part, but starting in the second he was just unconscious.
Overall, the Celtics just played sloppy. Against a team like this, you cannot turn the ball over like they did. You saw what was possible if you didn’t, we now see what is possible when you do. Isaiah unfortunately was the biggest offender. After cutting a 20 point lead to 6, he turned it over what seemed like 4 straight possessions, which enabled the Cavs to finish the third on a 9-0 run. They would finish with 14 for the game, that needs to be better.
I expect a little different defensive strategy in Game 2 as the Celtics could not defend the three point line for their life. The Cavs would hit a total of 13 and each one was a huge momentum play. There is nothing you can do about some of the prayers that the Cavs hit, but something has to change moving forward.
Ok, I feel like I’ve gone on long enough, and explained valid reasons why the Celts fell short, but this has to be addressed. We saw an old friend yesterday, that bastard #STERN. Right from the jump the NBA was right back in its old ways of helping Lebron. 29 to 23 fouls. 33-22 FT difference. Anyway, to the no-calls!
Easy foul here. About as clear as you can have but shocker, there wasn’t a call and the Cavs turned it into points.
Ah the old “I don’t need to play by the rules” goaltending miss. You almost have to respect the NBA’s ability to miss Day 1 stuff (I don’t care if Isaiah still scored, that was a momentum play).
Anytime you can avoid calling a moving screen on Kevin Love causing him to have a 3rd foul, but can give that 3rd foul to Kelly Olynyk you have to do it!
There’s probably a dozen more, we all saw them. That is why I will truly hate Lebron, because of the help he gets. The dude is the best player on the planet, and each year it is the same story. You could see that even Breen and Van Gundy knew they were fouls/horrible calls so it’s not just a case of me being a biased Celtics fan. These were calls that were clear to everyone on the planet but the officials. Fact.
Here is why there is reason to be optimistic. The turnover problems can be fixed. Odds are Avery will actually show up for Game 2. Hopefully Evan Turner doesn’t suck so bad. They didn’t get blown out. Crazier things have happened. There is no reason you should feel any less confident, remember the goal was to split. A win in Game 2 gives us momentum going into the Garden then boom, Celts up 3-1 and it’s a wrap.
Feel better? Me too.
Go Celtics.