Cavs (9-8) at Celtics (13-2) 12/2

[FLCeltsFan]

Cavs inbound Snow takes it to the hoop and misses a layup. Newble is fouled on the put back attempt by Posey. He hits both FTs. RA with a pass across the lane to Tony who drives into the paint and hits a fall away. Jones misses and Z gets the rebound but fumbles it and Davis gets it. Great ball movement with 4 passes and then RA gets it inside to DAvis for a layup. Cavs miss and Tony rebounds. Celtics turn it over. Pavlovic hits a 3 from the top of the arc. RA splits the double team in the lane and is fouled. He rims out the first FT. Hits the second. Davis dives for the steal but is called for the foul. Cavs inbound with 14 on the SC. Davis called for his 5th foul as he steps into the lane to take a charge. Snow hits Snow misses the second and Davis tips the rebound out and it goes out of bounds off Cleveland. House hits a 3 off the catch from RA. Brown misses in the lane and Posey rebounds. foul called of Gooden as House drives into the lane. Celtics inbound on the side. RAy allen's pass is tipped out of bounds and Celtics inbound with 8 on the SC. RA misses a 3 at the SC and Davis grabs the rebound and is fouled by Pavlovic. Rondo comes in for RA. Tony misses a shot in the lane and Cavs rebound. Cavs turn it over. Tony takes it to the hoop and is fouled by Pavlovic. Tony hits the first and misses the second. Cavs rebound. Pavlovic misses under the basket. Posey rebounds. House misses a 3 nd Cavs rebound. Cavs miss a jumepr and Rondo rebounds. House misses a 3 and Cavs rebound. Pavlovic troed to pass behind the back and is called for a travel as he got it stuck back there before being able to pass. Time out is called with 5:06 left in the 4th and and Celtics up 77-56

[FLCeltsFan]

Scal, Tony, House, Posey and Davis on the floor for the Celtics. Celtics turn it over. Tony called for a foul. Powe comes in for Posey. Cavs take it to the hoop and miss a layup but Jones is there for the put back dunk. Tony missea s jumper and Newble rebounds. Blocking foul called on Davis as he steps in to take another charge. Posey comes in for Davis who fouled out to a big hand. Snow misses the first. and hits the second. Powe makes a move to the hoop and misses a layup. Tony rebounds and misses the put back. Cavs rebound and quickly hit a jumper. Posey misses and Powe grabs the rebound but loses it. Cavs miss and Scal rebounds. House's 3 rims in and out and Cavs rebound. Cavs miss a jumper but track down the rebound. Nichols misses a 3 and Jones rebounds. Cavs hit a 3 from the top of the arc. Time out with 1:54 left in the 4th and Celtics up 77-64

[FLCeltsFan]

Celtics miss and Cavs rebound and quickly get to the hoop for a layup. Powe has it stripped and get it back and lays it in. Brown hits a 3. Tony gets into the paint and passes to Posey whose shot is blocked by Jones. Cavs miss a jumper and Scal rebounds. Brown called for a foul. Powe at the line. He misses the first. Hits the second FT. Celtics with a steal and get it ahead to Posey who pulls back instead of finishing the break with just 3 seconds left. Final score Celtics 80 and Cavs 70

[DERRENMATTS]

I'm rather disappointed at the lack of energy to start the game. Its not that the Cavs were playing good--we just weren't playing with energy or hustle. We even struggled against the Bobcats. There seems to be a trend of playing to the level of our competition. This is not good. The Spurs always play their usual high quality level. So do the Suns, and the Pistons. We gotta develop that type of standards.

[cfoo]

This is true. We are capable of blowing out a lot of teams from start to finish and we should be. There is no excuse although i I understand why there was a lack of energy once lebron was announced he was out. The thing is the nba is a marathon and its not like football where its 16 games. the nba season is much longer so i dont know what is better. Do you try to kill every team or is it ok to coast a bit? that's a good debate.

[DERRENMATTS]

Its always better to end the game early on. Come out strong, build a big lead, let your second unit come in and keep the lead relatively safe, and in the second half, continue to play aggressively, and rest the starters in the 4th.

We shouldn't have to turn it on in the 3rd quarter against a lesser team (and that's what the Cavs are without Lebron).

[cfoo]

Well we kind of coasted the 1st half. Blew them out in the 3rd and rested our starters the entire 4th quarter, so isnt the effect the same? I'm not condoning that, but if the players know that. I dontt hk the team is sitting there saying that's ok. SOme teams coast a bit through the regular season and then turn it up in the playoffs. We are 13-2 and have blown out a lot of teams. You can't do that every game. Guys get tired. Lose motivation. These aren't robots we are dealing with. They are people. people get tired and come out flat sometimes. I'd be more concerned if Doc wasn't on them or the players weren't on themselves for it, but they are. You kind of have to give them the benefit of the doubt sometimes. It would be different if they weren't on it, but they are..... Me sayng it's ok is different.

IMO, the team as been going full bore. GArnett is on 24/7. SO is Pierce and Doc and everyone else. We kind of took a break the past few games. We took it easy during the Knicks game. Got some good practice. Came out and blew out miami. I knew we would. WE came out and blew them out in the 1st 3 quarters and then rested the 4th and people complained we let them back in teh game.. The cleveland game we coasted the 1st half. Blew them out the 2nd and rested the 4th. It's good we got rest the past few games.... It will pay off in the long run. They deserved a break of sorts...... We have been going all out. We came out 3-0 in those games and our stars got a good rest. It was good.

I guess hte point you can say we should come out and play our !!!GREENIAC!!! off every game, andblow teams out the 1st 3 quarters then rest and that's a good goal, but these are people and it's easier said then done. Different factors cause us to come out flat at different times and players get tired, don't play well in different stretches. It happens. that should be a goal they are working towards and its a discipline.

I'd be more concerned if I didn't think they know that and if it weren't a goal. I think it is. You listen to Doc and he gets upset that the bench comes in in the 4th quarter and lets teams back into the game and when we play sloppy when we are up. He knows this. That is why I think it is their goal. He screams when we dont run and really put these teams away. He knows what he's doing. He also is understanding and isnt doing it in a way where he doesnt understand it. He understood we came out flat because of lebron being out. He didnt condone it. I think we will be alright. We keep saying the right things. It just sometimes takes time to get everyone on the same page and it's not that easy. 13-2 and we've blown out a ton of teams is good. We can improve and they know this. I have complete faith in Doc and this team. they knwo what they are doing... That's teh difference. Noone is disrespecting each other or anything. They have the right mindset. Some things just take time. i listen to doc and the players after the games and they know what they are trying to do.