Treating It Like Game 7: Game 2 Open Thread

Posted by Brian Robb on May 3, 2010 7888108 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2010%2F05%2F03%2Ftreating-it-like-game-7-game-2-open-thread%2FTreating+It+Like+Game+7%3A+Game+2+Open+Thread2010-05-03+21%3A49%3A02Brian+Robbhttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D7888

Offensive Efficiency:

Boston: 107.7 points/100 possessions (15th)

Cleveland: 111.2 points/100 possessions (6th)

Defensive Efficiency:

Boston: 103.8 points allowed/100 possessions (5th)

Cleveland: 104.1 points allowed/100 possessions (6th)

Paul Pierce spoke about treating tonight’s contest like it was a Game 7 at yesterday’s practice and that is the kind of urgency that it will need to be brought to the Q tonight for the C’s to steal one in Cleveland. A couple of key points of emphasis from today’s shootaround came from Doc athis afternoon. (ESPNBoston.com)

On The Need For Bench Help:

“Honestly, we need to get more out of our bench,” said Rivers. “The [starters were] on the floor too long. We have to get more play out of our bench. They have to come through for us a little bit here. We knew that in the first series, but it’s probably more true this series.

“We’ve gotten what we wanted out of our starters, for the most part… I might have to be more patient [with the bench] the whole game. We’re not going to win this series playing five guys 45 minutes per night. That’s not going to happen. I believe in our bench. I do think they’ll come through, but we need them.”

Resounding comments by Doc there, that I agree with for the most part, except his comment about the starters. Rondo, Perk, and KG all had strong outings but Ray Allen’s and Paul Pierce’s performances left a lot to be desired.

Let’s be straight here. Tonight is as close to a must win as it comes, with the odds heavily stacked in Cleveland’s corner if they were to go up 2-0 here, with only about 5 percent of teams in NBA history coming back from 2-0 deficit in Round 2 matchups. The C’s know they have to step up and sustain their Game 1 first half effort on both ends of the floor for 48 minutes this evening. Some things to look for tonight, after the jump

Before we look at tonight’s keys, I have to say, I am sick and tired of hearing that the Cavs may have taken the C’s best shot on Saturday night. Really? That may have been Rajon Rondo’s best shot, but it sure isn’t this Celtics team’s best effort.

Not when Paul Pierce goes 1 of 12 in the game’s final 42 minutes. Not when The Big Three combine for 1 of 14 shooting and 5 points in the fourth quarter. Not when that trio combine for just two free throws attempts for the entire game. And certainly not when the C’s defense allows Lebron James to attempt 12 fourth quarter shots. If they can’t force it out of his hands, they have to at least make him earn it at the line. 

The C’s need to make Mike Brown pay for the idiotic decision to give Shaquille O’Neal crunch time minutes. Perk handled him as extremely well for the first 43 minutes of that contest and needs to finish the job tonight. Elsewhere, the 50/50 balls, the defensive rotations, the extra passes all have to be focused on for the full 48 tonight.

Other things to watch for:

* Will Cleveland’s role players continue to step up big on the offensive end? 

* Turnovers. C’s couldn’t clean up their act in the 2nd half, giving the ball up 8 times to the Cavs 2. They won’t beat Cavs in this department, but they have to keep it closer than that.

* Will Rajon Rondo continue to be aggressive and maintain that attacking mentality into the second half tonight (just 2 shots attempts in 2nd half of Game 1)?

* How short will Doc’s leash be on Sheed, and is this the night he loses his patience with him or even more unlikely…..Sheed contributes with a solid effort?

* Will Doc follow through on his declaration to rely on the bench more and will he look to Marquis Daniels for help to give PP and Ray Allen more of a rest?

* Will Lebron James get more than 2 fouls called on him in any game this series?

* Over/Under on Lebron’s elbow mentions during game: 257

* Will Zach and I buy everyone beers if the C’s hold the Cavs to under 90 points tonight, as Cptn. Bubbles declared in an earlier comment today?

Tip is at 8pm. Tell us what your seeing here and what you think C’s fans should be looking for tonight.