Post#687 » by Ballings7 » Mon May 19, 2008 2:38 am
Just watched the game on tape (without knowing anything)
Very, very good game - had almost everything you can ask for
LBJ/Pierce duel was just a blast all game long - both played at a high-level
LBJ's mistake on that jump-ball with Pierce was pretty key, great hustle by Pierce
PJ Brown stepped up big-time, showing he can still play a significant role on a team. Doing the kind of stuff he's done over his career. And, not that surprising considering how he played with Chicago last season.
I knew Big Baby would be a different player in the playoffs (not relating to today, but other games)...
Eddie House while he didn't do much offensively, his energy and his defense was excellent. He's improved defensively playing on the Celtics in general, too. I didn't know when they signed him, how well he would do defensively, but has been effective from what I've seen. Even with Cassell, I'm surprised House hasn't played much before these last two games, in the post-season. I think Cassell's actually played some too much.
KG wasn't huge, but his presence was there for sure, especially defensively - solid game by him.
Rondo played pretty well, nice little all-around game
I liked how Delonte West played, for the most part
Offensively, Cleveland has to get more versatile... they're a limited, ordinary offensive team. They have had and do have all the role-players already... but one piece is still missing.
They need to get LBJ a legitimate side-kick. And in part to doing that, LeBron has to play off the ball more, so that can also allow for that 2nd guy to play as more than basically just a shooter, cutter, and ball-mover. The role-players are already there to do that. So aside from doing the aformentioned, the #2 option-guy can create for himself and others. It shouldn't and can't just be others playing off of LeBron (for the most part). Firstly, that's relying and asking of too much on one guy, and secondly, in the case of having a good #2 man, that role restricts what that player is able to do. Things have to be easier on LeBron, and he can't be so ball dominant in that way.