<table class="gamePreview" border="1" width="700" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="center" colspan="2"> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana">2008 NBA Playoffs: Eastern Conference Semi-Final Game 1: Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics - Tue 6 May 8:00 (TNT) Game 2: Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics - Thu 8 May 7:00 (ESPN) Game 3: Boston Celtics @ Cleveland Cavaliers - Sat 10 May 8:00 (ABC) Game 4: Boston Celtics @ Cleveland Cavaliers - Mon 12 May 8:00 (TNT) Game 5: Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics - Wed 14 May TBD (TNT) Game 6: Boston Celtics @ Cleveland Cavaliers - Fri 16 May TBD (ESPN) Game 7: Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics - Sun 18 May TBD (TBD) </font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="Home"> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana" color="#00A35F">#1 Boston Celtics (66-16)</font></p> </p> </td> <td class="Road"> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><font color="#B90456" face="Verdana">#4 Cleveland Cavaliers (45-37)</font></p> </p> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4 align="center"><font face="Verdana">Projected Starters</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="roster"> <td> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana"> <font face="Verdana" color="#00A35F" size="2">PG Rajon Rondo SG Ray Allen SF Paul Pierce PF Kevin Garnett C Kendrick Perkins</font> </p> </td> <td> <p align="center"> <font face="Verdana" size="2" color="#B90456">PG Delonte West SG Wally Szczerbiak SF LeBron James PF Ben Wallace C Zydrunas Ilgauskas</font> </p> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Playoff Stats</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="seasonStats"> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00A35F">Points</td> <td>99.2 ppg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00A35F">FG%</td> <td>45.7%</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00A35F">3pt%</td> <td>41,6%</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00A35F">Rebounds</td> <td>38.3 rpg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00A35F">Assists</td> <td>24.7 apg</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#B90456">Points</td> <td>95.5 ppg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#B90456">FG%</td> <td>43.1%</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#B90456">3pt%</td> <td>38.2%</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#B90456">Rebounds</td> <td>44.8 rpg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#B90456">Aassists</td> <td>23.0 apg</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Season Team Leaders</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="seasonStats"> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#B90456">Points</td> <td>Garnett 21.5 ppg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#B90456">Rebounds</td> <td>Garnett 8.5 rpg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#B90456">Assists</td> <td>Rondo 7.5 apg</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00A35F">Points</td> <td>James 29.8 ppg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00A35F">Rebounds</td> <td>James 9.5 rpg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00A35F">Assists</td> <td>James 7.7 apg</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Key Matchup #1 - <font color="#00A35F">Paul Pierce</font> v <font color="#B90456">LeBron James</font></font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="keyMatchup"> <td colspan="2"> <font face="Verdana"> v Since LeBron came into the League in 2003, there have been several epic battles between the two forwards, both carrying the lion's share of the load for their respective teams. But today there are new factors, not least Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, but also that this is the Playoffs. There is an even greater burning desire and even more pressure on both players, but with Pierce now being one-third of the Big Three, his main focus must be to contain LeBron James. And if he can, the Cavs might go down without a whimper.</font></p> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Key Matchup #2 - <font color="#00A35F">Kevin Garnett</font> v <font color="#B90456">Ben Wallace</font></font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="keyMatchup"> <td colspan="2"> <font face="Verdana"> v If there's anyone in the NBA who deserves to win a title this year, it's Garnett. If there's anyone who wants it more than Garnett, who shows more passion on the floor, I'd like to see them. It will no doubt be an immensely close matchup, but if Ben Wallace can rekindle the defense that saw him win the Defensive Player of the Year Award, this series could get interesting. If he can contain the beast that is Kevin Garnett, we could be in for a treat of a series.</font></p> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Key Matchup #3 - Key Guards - <font color="#00A35F">Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo</font> v <font color="#B90456">Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak</font></font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="keyMatchup"> <td colspan="2"> <font face="Verdana"> v Up until the Cavs - Wizards series, I would have thought that the Celtics had this matchup easily, but with Delonte West's clutch shooting and Wally Szczerbiak rediscoverinh his touch in Game 6, the Cavs might be able to give the Celtics a run for their money. They will have to carry the momentum through, giving their duo licence to shoot and, who knows, if they knock down their fair share, they might just do the necessary damage to dispose of the Celtics.</font></p> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Keys to the Game</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="keyStrategy"> <td> <ul> <font face="Verdana" color="#00A35F">[*]Contain LeBron - Much was made of the Wizards' hard tactics on LeBron and, interestingly enough, they didn't seem to work as well as they planned. LeBron still maintains an average of near enough 30 points per game despite the hard fouls. If Doc Rivers and his coaching staff can devise a new plan for dealing with the King (that works) we might just see a walkover. [*]Force the Cavs into jumpshots - The Cavs can be very "hit and miss" with their jumpshots, and if seduced into taking long shots early in the shotclock, they might miss enough for a lot of comfortable wins for the Celtics. They might have hot streaks, and might win a couple of games, but I can't see them winning 4 games against the Celtics based on jumpshots alone. [*]Play with high intensity - This probably doesn't need to be said with Kevin Garnett leading the way, but it is essential for the Cetics to play with high intensity at both ends of the floor. If you slack defensively LeBron James will pick you apart. And the Celtics cannot afford that.</font> [/list] </td> <td> <ul> <font face="Verdana" color="#B90456">[*]Rebound hard - The Celtics aren't averaging too many rebounds, but they did average the majority of those in their first series. However, the Cavs need to play to their strengths as much as possible, and it is arguably their biggest strength to rebound hard and get lots of second chance opportunities. Ilguaskas needs to improve his rebounding from the Wizards' series and, if he does, the Cavs might be laying the foundations for another trip to the Eastern Conference Finals and beyond. [*]Play solid defense - The basis of their Finals run last year (aside from LeBron) was strong, solid defensive play. They have lacked such prowess this season, but if they can discover the form that got them the Eastern Conference Championship last season, who is to say they cannot repeat. [*]LeBron James - He's coming of a good, not great, series against the Wizards, but it will take one of similar proportions to THAT series against Detroit last year if this is to be The Year of the King.</font> [/list] </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">The Cavs since 2003 v Boston</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="since03"> <td colspan="2"><font face="Verdana">The Cavs and Celtics have met 18 times since LeBron entered the NBA. The Cavs average 97.6 points per game and have won 11 of the games, whilst the Celtics average 96.9 points per game and have won 7. LeBron James has missed 3 games against the Celtics, and averages 30.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists in those games.</font></td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Prediction</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="prediction"> <td colspan="2"> <font face="Verdana">There is nothing to choose between the two sides this year when they have played. The season series is tied at 2-2, but the intensity rises at this point in the season. The Cavs will hope that the extra game will have taken its toll on the Celtics, but that is unlikely given the huge margin of victory of the Celtics over the Hawks. Nevertheless, it will be important for the Cavs to come out strong at the beginning of the first game to try to build an unassailable lead quickly. It's so tricky to predict the outcome of this series, given the way the Celtics were stretched by the Hawks, who won just 37 games in the regular season. Whilst I'd love to say the Cavs will win, I have the Celtics winning in 7 on my chart.</font></p> <font face="Verdana" size="4"><font color="#00A35F">4</font> - <font color="#B90456">3</font></font></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </p>
I'll take the Celtics in six. I think they'll knock some of their rust off and finish off the Cavs a game sooner, although I still don't like them as much to win it all.
just posted a new topic with the preview at the top. I thought it would be better for reference to the series etc.
<table class="gamePreview" border="1" width="700" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="center" colspan="2"> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana">2008 NBA Playoffs: Eastern Conference Semi-Final Game 1: Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics - Tue 6 May 8:00 (TNT) Game 2: Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics - Thu 8 May 7:00 (ESPN) Game 3: Boston Celtics @ Cleveland Cavaliers - Sat 10 May 8:00 (ABC) Game 4: Boston Celtics @ Cleveland Cavaliers - Mon 12 May 8:00 (TNT) Game 5: Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics - Wed 14 May TBD (TNT) Game 6: Boston Celtics @ Cleveland Cavaliers - Fri 16 May TBD (ESPN) Game 7: Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics - Sun 18 May TBD (TBD) </font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="Home"> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana" color="#00A35F">#1 Boston Celtics (66-16)</font></p> </p> </td> <td class="Road"> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><font color="#B90456" face="Verdana">#4 Cleveland Cavaliers (45-37)</font></p> </p> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4 align="center"><font face="Verdana">Projected Starters</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="roster"> <td> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana"> <font face="Verdana" color="#00A35F" size="2">PG Rajon Rondo SG Ray Allen SF Paul Pierce PF Kevin Garnett C Kendrick Perkins</font> </p> </td> <td> <p align="center"> <font face="Verdana" size="2" color="#B90456">PG Delonte West SG Wally Szczerbiak SF LeBron James PF Ben Wallace C Zydrunas Ilgauskas</font> </p> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Playoff Stats</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="seasonStats"> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00A35F">Points</td> <td>99.2 ppg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00A35F">FG%</td> <td>45.7%</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00A35F">3pt%</td> <td>41,6%</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00A35F">Rebounds</td> <td>38.3 rpg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00A35F">Assists</td> <td>24.7 apg</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#B90456">Points</td> <td>95.5 ppg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#B90456">FG%</td> <td>43.1%</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#B90456">3pt%</td> <td>38.2%</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#B90456">Rebounds</td> <td>44.8 rpg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#B90456">Aassists</td> <td>23.0 apg</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Season Team Leaders</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="seasonStats"> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#B90456">Points</td> <td>Garnett 21.5 ppg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#B90456">Rebounds</td> <td>Garnett 8.5 rpg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#B90456">Assists</td> <td>Rondo 7.5 apg</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00A35F">Points</td> <td>James 29.8 ppg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00A35F">Rebounds</td> <td>James 9.5 rpg</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#00A35F">Assists</td> <td>James 7.7 apg</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Key Matchup #1 - <font color="#00A35F">Paul Pierce</font> v <font color="#B90456">LeBron James</font></font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="keyMatchup"> <td colspan="2"> <font face="Verdana"> v Since LeBron came into the League in 2003, there have been several epic battles between the two forwards, both carrying the lion's share of the load for their respective teams. But today there are new factors, not least Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, but also that this is the Playoffs. There is an even greater burning desire and even more pressure on both players, but with Pierce now being one-third of the Big Three, his main focus must be to contain LeBron James. And if he can, the Cavs might go down without a whimper.</font></p> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Key Matchup #2 - <font color="#00A35F">Kevin Garnett</font> v <font color="#B90456">Ben Wallace</font></font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="keyMatchup"> <td colspan="2"> <font face="Verdana"> v If there's anyone in the NBA who deserves to win a title this year, it's Garnett. If there's anyone who wants it more than Garnett, who shows more passion on the floor, I'd like to see them. It will no doubt be an immensely close matchup, but if Ben Wallace can rekindle the defense that saw him win the Defensive Player of the Year Award, this series could get interesting. If he can contain the beast that is Kevin Garnett, we could be in for a treat of a series.</font></p> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Key Matchup #3 - Key Guards - <font color="#00A35F">Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo</font> v <font color="#B90456">Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak</font></font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="keyMatchup"> <td colspan="2"> <font face="Verdana"> v Up until the Cavs - Wizards series, I would have thought that the Celtics had this matchup easily, but with Delonte West's clutch shooting and Wally Szczerbiak rediscoverinh his touch in Game 6, the Cavs might be able to give the Celtics a run for their money. They will have to carry the momentum through, giving their duo licence to shoot and, who knows, if they knock down their fair share, they might just do the necessary damage to dispose of the Celtics.</font></p> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Keys to the Game</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="keyStrategy"> <td> <ul> <font face="Verdana" color="#00A35F">[*]Contain LeBron - Much was made of the Wizards' hard tactics on LeBron and, interestingly enough, they didn't seem to work as well as they planned. LeBron still maintains an average of near enough 30 points per game despite the hard fouls. If Doc Rivers and his coaching staff can devise a new plan for dealing with the King (that works) we might just see a walkover. [*]Force the Cavs into jumpshots - The Cavs can be very "hit and miss" with their jumpshots, and if seduced into taking long shots early in the shotclock, they might miss enough for a lot of comfortable wins for the Celtics. They might have hot streaks, and might win a couple of games, but I can't see them winning 4 games against the Celtics based on jumpshots alone. [*]Play with high intensity - This probably doesn't need to be said with Kevin Garnett leading the way, but it is essential for the Cetics to play with high intensity at both ends of the floor. If you slack defensively LeBron James will pick you apart. And the Celtics cannot afford that.</font> [/list] </td> <td> <ul> <font face="Verdana" color="#B90456">[*]Rebound hard - The Celtics aren't averaging too many rebounds, but they did average the majority of those in their first series. However, the Cavs need to play to their strengths as much as possible, and it is arguably their biggest strength to rebound hard and get lots of second chance opportunities. Ilguaskas needs to improve his rebounding from the Wizards' series and, if he does, the Cavs might be laying the foundations for another trip to the Eastern Conference Finals and beyond. [*]Play solid defense - The basis of their Finals run last year (aside from LeBron) was strong, solid defensive play. They have lacked such prowess this season, but if they can discover the form that got them the Eastern Conference Championship last season, who is to say they cannot repeat. [*]LeBron James - He's coming of a good, not great, series against the Wizards, but it will take one of similar proportions to THAT series against Detroit last year if this is to be The Year of the King.</font> [/list] </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">The Cavs since 2003 v Boston</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="since03"> <td colspan="2"><font face="Verdana">The Cavs and Celtics have met 18 times since LeBron entered the NBA. The Cavs average 97.6 points per game and have won 11 of the games, whilst the Celtics average 96.9 points per game and have won 7. LeBron James has missed 3 games against the Celtics, and averages 30.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists in those games.</font></td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Prediction</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="prediction"> <td colspan="2"> <font face="Verdana">There is nothing to choose between the two sides this year when they have played. The season series is tied at 2-2, but the intensity rises at this point in the season. The Cavs will hope that the extra game will have taken its toll on the Celtics, but that is unlikely given the huge margin of victory of the Celtics over the Hawks. Nevertheless, it will be important for the Cavs to come out strong at the beginning of the first game to try to build an unassailable lead quickly. It's so tricky to predict the outcome of this series, given the way the Celtics were stretched by the Hawks, who won just 37 games in the regular season. Whilst I'd love to say the Cavs will win, I have the Celtics winning in 7 on my chart.</font></p> <font face="Verdana" size="4"><font color="#00A35F">4</font> - <font color="#B90456">3</font></font></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </p>
Athleticism is the Celtics weakness, the Hawks exploited that big time. The Cavs have the most athletic player in the NBA but not much after that, Boston in 6.
Great thread Chingy. Excellent. And Dark Defender, I tried to make that point in the celtics-hawks game thread. That the Cavs will be a much easier matchup knowing that after LeBron, there isn't any other player that can dominate a game or win it himself. Sure they got some good shooters, but so do we, so that eliminates the shooting, and I think what it'll come down to will be the team defense, which the Celtics have done so good throughout the season. (and the 4 home games in the playoffs, winning by an average of 20+ pts)
If the Cavs can keep it close into the 4th quarters they could very well steal this. Boston's proven they aren't the well oiled machine we/I thought they were. If they have lapses on the road, all the Cavs have to do is win one at home, and they could set themselves up nicely for the upset. The Cavs will have to hit their shots, and Illgauskus can't let Perkins take him out of games.
<span style="font-size:36pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">SERIES THREAD: #1 Boston vs. #4 Cleveland</span></span>
another mod is gonna have to do it, its not working for me when i try to copy after i quote you, so a g-mod is gonna have to do it
for now you could just give a link to the post : http://sportstwo.com/forums/Series-Thread-...13#entry1606013 Game 1 tonight guys, and the best bit of news is that it's on TV in England, I know everyone will be thrilled. Okay, just me then But seriously, this could be one of the best series of the playoffs, but I think it has the potential to be one of grinding, half-court basketball rather than the explosive stuff we see from the Suns, especially. I prefer this style though, it is more tactical and appears to require more thought to it (though isn't always the case). I'm hoping the Celtics will be a little fatigued from the 7 game series with the Hawks, and that the Cavs might just come out on top tonight, but I don't honestly think that will be the case, since the Celts one so easily in Game 7. GO CAVS!
Ew. This game sucks so far, and Lebron isn't taking over at all. Oh well, I know Cleveland is likely to bounce back, in good fashion. There's no way in hell they can continue 21% shooting, anyways. It's pretty good that they're only down 10 while playing this poorly. I'm fully expecting a 2nd quarter comeback.
