Funny Bone Not So Funny: Cavaliers 101, Celtics 93

Posted by Brendan Jackson on May 1, 2010 784734 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2010%2F05%2F01%2Ffunny-bone-not-so-funny-cavaliers-101-celtics-93%2FFunny+Bone+Not+So+Funny%3A+Cavaliers+101%2C+Celtics+932010-05-02+02%3A49%3A12Brendan+Jacksonhttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D7847

ESPN Recap • Cavs the Blog • Waiting For Next Year

The Celtics squandered a third quarter 11 point lead en route to a missed opportunity for an upset.  All things pointed the Celtics running away with this one as Rajon Rondo really got it going early.  Rondo finished the night with 27 points and 12 assists and thoroughly proved to everyone that he was the best passer on the floor (effectively putting the kibosh on hyperbolic statements about James’ passing ability).  Despite Rondo’s amazing play, the Celtics lost their offensive swagger when Mo Williams heated up in the third quarter.  Williams managed to score 10 points in a little more than two minutes in the third quarter, punctuated by a once in a decade dunk.

After Mo’s little shooting spree, it was all downhill for the C’s.  James was happy to take the reigns over from Williams and ice this game with a timely wide open three with a minute left.  This defensive lapse from the Celtics proved to be one of  few miscues in the final minutes.  Perkins had a costly turnover with 40 seconds left as he mishandled a perfect pass executed by Rajon Rondo, and fumbled it out of bounds- but the game was turning before that.  The Celtics offense was put on ice in the second half and that ended up being the tale of the tape.  The offense disappeared to the point where the C’s were missing not only wide open shots, but must have buckets.  Now a few words from B Robb….

There will be plenty of more time to dissect this tomorrow, but for now, it’s time to give credit where credit was due. This one was nip and tuck until very end, when the Cavs executed when it mattered and the C’s didn’t. Lebron stepped up, Shaq stepped up, scoring the Cavs final 18 points. The C’s Big Three were held to 7 points in the final frame, with Ray Allen being shut out by Cleveland.

For now, it’s just a tip of the cap to the home team. They won one they were supposed to. For the C’s it’s back to the drawing board, with the knowledge they will make this a series, but it will be extremely tough to win one in Ohio. Opportunity number 2 comes Monday.

Much more tomorrow….for now a few beers to ease the pain and a few quick bullets after the jump.

• Rondo (aside from James) really stole the show tonight.  He attacked the lane with reckless abandon and showed that he knew the correct play nearly every time down the floor.
• Kevin Garnett accomplished all that was asked: 18 points and 10 boards is a line welcomed by any team’s starting power forward.
• Paul Pierce and Ray Allen both had a poor shooting nights.  Pierce’s was particularly was highlighted by a missed wide open three from the corner that would have tied the game in the fourth.  Ray Allen was not so timely with his threes as he was in the Miami series- but hey, one game is one game.

Much more tomorrow…