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LeBron gets 38 points as Boston is creamed in Cleveland
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Saturday, Jan 10, 2009
CLEVELAND: In an atmosphere befitting a playoff game, the Cavaliers and Boston Celtics gave what very well could be a preview of the NBA Eastern Conference finals this spring.
As fans screamed at every rebound and basket and bemoaned every turnover and foul, the Cavs beat the Celtics in front of a sold-out crowd at Quicken Loans Arena on Friday night. It might have been the most significant regular-season basketball game to be played since the debut of LeBron James.
Both teams entered the game with a better-than 78 percent winning percentage at least 34 games into the season, the highest in an NBA game since the San Antonio Spurs played the Dallas Mavericks in March 2006. After serious hype throughout the week, the game lived up to it — if not in the score, at least on the court.
What does this victory tell the rest of the league about the Cavs?
''I don't look at it as delivering a message. The Celtics are still NBA champs,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. ''Do we feel good about the win? Yes, we do. It was good to get a win, especially at home. But is that a message? I'll let you know after somebody raises a trophy.''
LeBron James agreed.
''I don't think we had to win tonight to let teams know. Maybe I guess it did in some eyes. We were a confident bunch of guys before coming into this game.''
The game was physical, and to the referees' credit, they let it be played that way. The Cavs and Celtics battled for every rebound and every loose ball.
Led by a supremely focused James, the Cavs took a 49-40 halftime lead, substantial, yet fragile, given the talent of Celtics starters Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.
Starting the third quarter, it looked as if the Celtics might come back. They had a 5-0 run as Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo went to the line six consecutive times for free throws.
That gave Boston just a touch of momentum and a temporary lift. The Celtics eventually pulled to within three at 52-49 before Brown called a timeout to settle the Cavs.
Something clicked. The Cavs went on a tear defensively.
On one play, Daniel Gibson showed his skills with a blocked shot. James followed with two blocks of his own in the last three minutes of the quarter.
''With certain teams, you definitely know you can't make certain mistakes,'' James said. ''You can't have turnovers. You can't have lapses on defense because they make you pay.''
James might have given his best all-around performance of the season in a game that was supposed to be just another game. Yeah, right.
The look on James' face for most of the game was intensity epitomized. He carried that look and attitude into the fourth quarter as the Celtics tried unsuccessfully all night to break out of a headlock from the Cavs' defense.
James held Pierce to 11 points on 4-of-15 shooting from the floor. Many fans remember Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals last season, when Pierce and James dueled on the floor. There was no duel this time. One player showed up unarmed.
Brown has been beating the drum for James to receive recognition for his defensive prowess for much of the season. On Friday night, James showed why.
He had four steals and three blocks to go with his 38 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
The Cavs held a 72-60 advantage after three quarters, and even then, a concern that the Celtics would somehow make a run permeated the building. This time, the crowd had none of it, screaming ''Defense! Defense!'' each time a member of the Celtics touched the ball.
Some might call it gamesmanship, others might take umbrage with that description, but with a little more than five minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Celtics showed that they had grown desperate. Eddie House was sent on a solitary mission to foul Ben Wallace. When it wasn't House, somebody else drew the duty.
With the possible exception of Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal, Wallace might be the most hapless foul shooter in the league. On Friday night, he connected on 5-of-10.
When fouling Wallace didn't work, it was time for the Celtics to pack it in.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers met Wallace on the court after the game to give him a hug.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas.
CLEVELAND: In an atmosphere befitting a playoff game, the Cavaliers and Boston Celtics gave what very well could be a preview of the NBA Eastern Conference finals this spring.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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smithville, Tn
Posted 08:42 AM, 01/10/2009
Why to go Cavs!! I am glad Cleveland has one team they can be proud off!!
smithville, Tn
Posted 08:44 AM, 01/10/2009
Way to go Cavs!! I am glad Cleveland has one team they can be proud of!!
Posted 08:58 AM, 01/10/2009
LEBRON IS THE MAN!!!! He also has one heck of a team behind him. Win or lose I am proud of them, but of course winning makes me prouder (if that is a word) lol NICE JOB EVERYONE ON A GREAT GAME LAST NIGHT! WOW!
akron, oh
Posted 09:56 AM, 01/10/2009
All that is great but can somebody catch me up on what good the latest super school levy that out going ,since departed american gangsta sylvester biggy smalls tricked our dumb poor citizens into forcing me to pay on my already astounding property taxes ,and don,t look now folks but that edgewood village is looking like one big deserted ghost town .Could it mean our gracious citizens will want to throw more of my money from my house and the federal government to populate it i see a lot of federal program money request being asked for check into the small community papers dont stay asleep people.
CORAL SPRINGS, FL
Posted 10:09 AM, 01/10/2009
he empower...1, I think you are in the wrong tab. GO CAVS!!!!!! What a show!!!!
Tepplin, DC
Posted 10:10 AM, 01/10/2009
empowerment, give it a rest. This is a game thread. Go find a more appropriate subject header.
Bluffton, SC
Posted 01:11 PM, 01/10/2009
empowerment...there are 49 other states and U'Haul is running a special this month. Don't like it ..Leave
akron, oh
Posted 03:28 PM, 01/10/2009
Celtics are getting old.
Posted 09:41 PM, 01/10/2009
This team has great chemistry and hunger enough to win it all.
In short...Go Cavs !!
Akron, OH
Posted 01:11 AM, 01/11/2009
Empowerment how is this sports related?!?!??! You would be better served to write a letter to the editor.
GO CAVS!!!!!!!
N. Canton, Oh
Posted 07:32 AM, 01/11/2009
Yippi!!! Way to go Cav's....Go Boobie!!!! I love him!
