The Opener: Cavs-Celtics Preview

Posted by Brian Robb on Oct 27, 2009 38242 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2009%2F10%2F27%2Fthe-opener-cavs-celtics-preview%2FThe+Opener%3A+Cavs-Celtics+Preview2009-10-27+18%3A35%3A49Brian+Robbhttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D3824

 

Cleveland Plain Dealer

Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers
Quicken Loans Arena
7:30 P.M
TNT

 

We are debuting a bit of a new preview format for this year at Celtics Hub, exchanging a paragraph form to a more succinct, precise and hopefully accurate analysis of the C’s upcoming matchup, with more of a bullet-type feel to it. Hope you enjoy it, and suggestions are more than welcome regarding the new layout. Now to the tale of the tape:

What The Cavs do well (or did well last season): The team’s NBA best record (66-16) for last season would seem to indicate a lot of things. First and foremost is defending home court (39-2). Defense has to be considered their strength, allowing opponents to only 91.3 a tilt last year. Oh and that Lebron James guy is pretty good too I hear. 

What The Cavs do poorly (or did poorly last season): Not a whole lot, but their flaws were exposed against the Magic during last year’s conference finals in guarding mobile big men. Inconsistent outside shooting and a lack of reliable scoring from players not named Lebron also hurt his squad, but a bunch of new faces were brought in to address that problem leads us to…  

New Player to Watch: Shaquille O’Neal. He’s 37, bigger than ever and actually looked solid against the C’s, on the offensive end anyway in last week’s preseason matchup. Time will tell how well he will fit in Cleveland. Honorable mention to Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon, the two new wings brought in to shoot some 3’s and play better defense. Also a tear in the eye of most Celtics fans in seeing Leon Powe sitting on the enemies’ bench.

Player who is gone: No notable contributors just the old guard of Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, and Wally World. Addition by subtraction in most all of these cases.

Guy who concerns us: Lebron James. I could probably go on for awhile here, but will let Lebron’s 29-6-6 career averages against the C’s do the talking. Yikes. Honorable mention to Anderson Varejo who also seems to get a lot of sneaky backdoor hoops against the Celtics. He also tends to piss off Ray Allen and the rest of the Celtic fan base.

Guy who doesn’t: Mo Williams. Rondo’s defense should keep him honest. I like Perk’s chances of containing Shaq in the post as well, all though he could use those 30 pounds back that he lost this offseason for tonight.    

What we want to see from the C’s tonight: A reasonable number of turnovers, establishing an offensive rhythm early, and keeping Lebron’s supporting cast in check. Final thoughts and a prediction, after the jump.

The Celtics have not won in Cleveland since 2004 (0-10 in last 10 visits including playoffs) so Quicken Loans Arena has been a house of horrors for them lately. This is primarily because the C’s have had miserable shooting nights combined with the fact they haven’t been able to stop anyone on the Cavs, much less Lebron during most nights in Cleveland. If the C’s can corral Cleveland’s sharpshooters early, putting more of the onus on Lebron, they will have a chance, tonight. It still won’t be easy.   

Predicted Final Score: Cavs 89, Celtics 85. Kind of hoping to jinx the streak here, but with Cleveland’s success at home and all the distractions surrounding the C’s in the past 24 hours with Baby and Rondo’s extensions talks, I don’t see them breaking through tonight.