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Loose defense, sloppy offense lead to Celtics' rout and 1-6 record
By Brian Windhorst Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Saturday, Oct 27, 2007
BOSTON: The Cavaliers and Boston Celtics are polar opposites on more than transaction-wire frequency.
After watching Friday night, one team looks ready for the start of the regular season, and one looks like it could use another extended training camp.
The Celtics have their new ''Big 3'' to be sure, but they seem to have a lot more polish than the team they're gunning to unseat as Eastern Conference champion.
The Celtics smoothly and cunningly hit the Cavs with another blowout at TD Banknorth Garden, 114-89 in the preseason finale for both teams. It's the last game that doesn't count for the Cavs, but the completion of a 1-6 preseason in which the Cavs were outscored by an average of 17 points in their losses certainly makes them want to forget.
In back-to-back games, with the team's starters playing very close to regular-season minutes, the Cavs got hammered twice with startlingly similar pockmarks. Just like Thursday, in a 33-point humbling in Toronto to the Raptors, the Cavs played loose and effort-challenged defense and sloppy offense.
Which left LeBron James staring at a box score that was floating in the water as he iced his ankles after the game that
showed 14 second-half turnovers and no less than, brace yourself, 62 points in the paint for the Celtics able to sum things up rather tightly.
''The season starts next Wednesday. We either get it together or get blown out some more,'' James said. ''It's as simple as that.''
The Celtics shot 59 percent and had more assists (34) than the Cavs had baskets (31). Kevin Garnett, operating like a point power forward in the new scheme, tore the Cavs apart from the low block with post moves and tremendous passes to talented teammates. He put up a triple-double with 21 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in just 33 minutes. Ray Allen added 20 points, and Paul Pierce had 12 points and six assists.
''We gave up the middle (on defense) a million times, and that's a cardinal sin for us,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. ''When we do that, we pay for it.''
James scored 17 points but needed 18 shots to get there. Larry Hughes had 18 points but needed 17 shots to get there and committed five turnovers. It took the Cavs more than 11 minutes to get their first assist.
Despite all that, they were down just two points early in the third quarter by scrapping. But it ended abruptly as they were outclassed down the stretch, a common happenstance of late.
Roster moves afoot
The Cavs will probably make cuts today or Sunday, bringing their roster down to 13. The only training-camp invitee who seems a lock to make the team is Dwayne Jones, who is the backup center for the moment. With two extra roster spots, though, the Cavs might be active in looking to pick up new players.
Sources said the roster flexibility has the Cavs involved in some trade talks with other teams with too many guaranteed contracts. In addition to the roster spots, the Cavs also have a trade exception of $1.75 million if they find something they like. Also, the Cavs might be active on the waiver wire with a number of teams being forced to make hard cuts over the weekend. The team's scouts have been heavily deployed during the preseason looking at potential cuts.
Dribbles
Damon Jones played another good game, scoring 12 points. He shot 46 percent in the preseason on 3-pointers. . . . It appears Mike Brown has gone away from Shannon Brown, who has struggled with turnovers, as part of the rotation. Starting in the second half Thursday, Shannon Brown's minutes started going to Ira Newble. Newble scored 10 points off the bench Friday.
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.
BOSTON: The Cavaliers and Boston Celtics are polar opposites on more than transaction-wire frequency.
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