Orlando Magic sweep Atlanta Hawks, LA Lakers sweep Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics @ Cleveland Cavaliers: Showdown at the Gund Corral :: 2010 NBA Playoffs Day 25
by Feltbot on May 11, 2010 8:00 AM PDT
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Bring out your old men.
Yesterday
- Orlando Magic 98, Atlanta Hawks 84 -- Magic sweep 4-0.
- LA Lakers 111, Utah Jazz 96 -- Lakers sweep 4-0.
Today
- Boston Celtics @ Cleveland Cavaliers -- 5PM PST on TNT
Jump for the Day 24 Rewind and the Day 25 Preview:
Day 24 Rewind
Orlando Magic 98, Atlanta Hawks 84 -- Magics sweep 4-0.
Do I really need to recap this game? This series was so scripted that the Shaq-dubbed "Master of Panic", Stan van Gundy, never had a chance to get his knickers in a twist. The Magic swept the Hawks out of the playoffs, Joe Johnson out of Atlanta, and Mike Woodson out of the NBA.
Let me just say this about this year's Orlando Magic: Jameer Nelson is very underrated. And so are former Warriors Matt Barnes and Mickael Pietrus. They will give Lebron James fits, if David err..., Lebron has his way with the Celtics.
Next victim: Amare.
LA Lakers 111, Utah Jazz 96
The Jazz had no chance in this series. They don't run like the Thunder, they don't jump like the Thunder, they don't improvise like the Thunder. They've run the same plays for the last 30 years. Or is it 40? Not a great recipe for success when you're smaller and less talented.
And oh yes, they have playoff mega-dog Carlos Boozer.
Maybe I'm being too hard on sneaky ol' Booz. After all, he was up against the best power forward in the league, bar none, Pau Gasol. All-NBA Third Team? An insult.
Where's Rondo?
Day 25 Preview
Boston Celtics @ Cleveland Cavaliers -- 5PM PST on TNT
Thank God for this series. Because there ain't no others! Here are the highlights from the previous episodes:
Rajon Rondo lit the Cavs -- and NBA fans around the world -- on fire in game 4. 29, 18 and 13? Redonkulous! Just how good is this kid? Good enough that Lebron wants to guard him in game 5.
Shaq is PO'd. Mike Brown sat him all of the fourth quarter in game 4. Lebron is PO'd about that too. He called out Mike Brown.
If Lebron is guarding Rondo, he can't be guarding Paul Pierce. The Celtics need Paul Pierce. But Paul Pierce is injured. Paul Pierce is tired. Paul Pierce has been invisible. Calling Paul Pierce!
Lebron's elbow hurts. Sometimes.
Did I leave anything out? This has all the makings of an NBA Playoffs classic. Complete with subplots.
So why do I suspect this game will be a giant let-down? I'll let Doc Rivers do the talking for me, as he described the officiating in Game 3: "I felt like we were playing on the road, to be honest."
Well Doc, you're really on the road now. This doesn't look like Kansas, Toto.
The Celtics have the best team. The Cavs have the face of the NBA. Adjust your wagering accordingly.
My predictions:
- Lightning strikes twice. Cavs go to the line 13 times in the first quarter.
- Boston Celtics over 2.5 technicals.
- A Celtic coach or player gets ejected.
- Shaq plays in the fourth quarter. Or else.
- Lebron James smiles for the cameras. As does another player.
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The World's Best Point Guard?
How come you left out Rubio? Isn’t Spain on the world anymore?
Lights please, lights please, turn off the lights.
by Skeptic con Urquell on May 11, 2010 10:13 AM PDT reply actions
I lol'd
"I tell him straight, 'If you're going to lead, you have to be the first to practice. You have to come in, get your work down and be prepared for practice,' " assistant coach Keith Smart said. "He needs to figure out why he is having stomach problems and he's got to watch how LeBron (James), Kobe (Bryant) and D-Wade (Dwyane Wade) work. He needs to mimic that if he wants his teammates to speak volumes about him." -Keith Smart on Motna Ellis
ESPN box score says it has
Take my bags, not my top 3 pick!
"Winning is not enough. All others must lose." - Larry Ellison
by Badly Browned on May 11, 2010 5:10 PM PDT up reply actions
So much for LeBron guarding Rondo
He was on Paul Pierce that time
When I'm listening (but not watching) to this stream
I realize just how many silly dumb sound effects the Cavs play for their fans
by IQofaWarrior on May 11, 2010 5:50 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Cavs host the most annoying home games
They play a different song every 30 seconds
by RA37thriller on May 11, 2010 8:34 PM PDT up reply actions
LOL, Cleveland is getting whooped
And I still can’t stand the De-Fense chant for the Cavs.
"I tell him straight, 'If you're going to lead, you have to be the first to practice. You have to come in, get your work down and be prepared for practice,' " assistant coach Keith Smart said. "He needs to figure out why he is having stomach problems and he's got to watch how LeBron (James), Kobe (Bryant) and D-Wade (Dwyane Wade) work. He needs to mimic that if he wants his teammates to speak volumes about him." -Keith Smart on Motna Ellis
He's the Missing Valuable Player!
"I tell him straight, 'If you're going to lead, you have to be the first to practice. You have to come in, get your work down and be prepared for practice,' " assistant coach Keith Smart said. "He needs to figure out why he is having stomach problems and he's got to watch how LeBron (James), Kobe (Bryant) and D-Wade (Dwyane Wade) work. He needs to mimic that if he wants his teammates to speak volumes about him." -Keith Smart on Motna Ellis
Just as I was thinking that Rondo can't shoot
he hits that 3
The only time he can shoot
is in late shot clock situations.
by Reverend_Randy on May 11, 2010 7:07 PM PDT up reply actions
That was an UGLY LeBron miss
maybe there really is something wrong with his elbow again
No way its serious
Even if it was he should be playing at a higher quality of ball. Kobe has been riddled with injuries and he’s holding up.
LeBron needs to step up or he has to go fishing.
"I tell him straight, 'If you're going to lead, you have to be the first to practice. You have to come in, get your work down and be prepared for practice,' " assistant coach Keith Smart said. "He needs to figure out why he is having stomach problems and he's got to watch how LeBron (James), Kobe (Bryant) and D-Wade (Dwyane Wade) work. He needs to mimic that if he wants his teammates to speak volumes about him." -Keith Smart on Motna Ellis
If it was actually serious
wouldn’t that mean he would play worse?
by Reverend_Randy on May 11, 2010 7:50 PM PDT up reply actions
The annoying De-Fense chant finally got to their heads
"I tell him straight, 'If you're going to lead, you have to be the first to practice. You have to come in, get your work down and be prepared for practice,' " assistant coach Keith Smart said. "He needs to figure out why he is having stomach problems and he's got to watch how LeBron (James), Kobe (Bryant) and D-Wade (Dwyane Wade) work. He needs to mimic that if he wants his teammates to speak volumes about him." -Keith Smart on Motna Ellis
Hahahaha
It’s worse when you watch it with headphones
by IQofaWarrior on May 11, 2010 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions
If the Celtics beat the Cavs
which is more shocking? Suns sweeping the Spurs? Or Celtics beating the Cavs?
Mike Brown is worst coach in NBA
Seriously. He has no clue what to do without Lebron carrying the team.
+1
Awful coach.
Serving it up night in and night out -Steph "The Chef" Curry
by dont_stop_believin' on May 11, 2010 7:32 PM PDT up reply actions
I had this discussion with my friend recently
We know the Cavs #1 guy is LeBron. Who’s their #2 guy? We couldn’t really think of who it is.
Ray Allen 3 pushing the lead to 27
This game is over, intellectually, emotionally, strategically, everythingly
In other news
Cleveland residents noticed a swarm of U-Haul trucks running through the city. A police officer stopped one of the trucks and asked the driver where they were headed. The driver replied “LeBron’s place”.
by IQofaWarrior on May 11, 2010 7:50 PM PDT up reply actions
So both the Celtics and the Cavs
have broken franchise records for the worst home playoff loss
120-88
I … wouldn’t have bet on that as the final score.
What’s the storyline for this madness? Never underestimate the heart of champion? LeBron ain’t all that? Mike Brown is an idiot? WTF?
There will be no extra point!
The storyline: Individual greatness does not beat team greatness
by IQofaWarrior on May 11, 2010 8:04 PM PDT up reply actions
And good coaching
Take my bags, not my top 3 pick!
"Winning is not enough. All others must lose." - Larry Ellison
by Badly Browned on May 11, 2010 8:06 PM PDT up reply actions
What’s the storyline for this madness?
Something is wrong with Lebron. He wouldn’t go down this way if he was 100% healthy.
Lights please, lights please, turn off the lights.
by Skeptic con Urquell on May 11, 2010 8:32 PM PDT up reply actions
I dunno … he looked pretty good in game 3. Was he hurt last year when the Magic took him and his team down?
I’m leaning towards Ron Jeremy and Doc Rivers are much, much better coaches than Mike Brown. Maybe not the sole reason the Cavs are in their current bind, but a big reason.
Of course, they could still pull together and go all the way. Stranger things have happened. In ’04 the Sox were down 3-0 to the Yankees with the Greatest Closer in History on the mound to close out the sweep … and went on to win 8 straight games and the World Series…
There will be no extra point!
by Sleepy Freud on May 11, 2010 8:59 PM PDT up reply actions
he looked pretty good in game 3.
Haha, I din’t see that one but a healthy Lebron should look a lot better than “pretty good” din’t he score like 45 points in the playoffs last year when he needed to?.or maybe he wants to look bad so cleveland fans don’t mind him leaving next season?
Lights please, lights please, turn off the lights.
by Skeptic con Urquell on May 11, 2010 10:01 PM PDT up reply actions
They may not beat Cleveland either.
They wouldn’t be favorites against Orlando, but I don’t see why an upset should be out of the question. Do you really think Orlando’s that much worse of a matchup for them than Cleveland?
There will be no extra point!
by Sleepy Freud on May 11, 2010 8:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Probably true, but the NBA playoffs tend to be more about quality than quantity.
There will be no extra point!
by Sleepy Freud on May 11, 2010 8:52 PM PDT up reply actions
I find it interesting
that LeBron didn’t directly answer the question about his elbow affecting him tonight.
Never mind
he directly answered it later
by IQofaWarrior on May 11, 2010 8:35 PM PDT up reply actions
WOW!
You only get so many chances to show you are one of the greatest of all time. Not showing up for game 5 of a playoff game constitutes a huge missed opportunity.
I want to say I fully expect LeBron to come back and tear it up – but this is two bad games in a row, not just one. Jordan had bad games at times too – but he wouldn’t have two in a row and even in bad games he would find other ways to contribute.
The worst part, for Cavs fans, is the lack of anger at himself and his team after getting spanked. He could at least act as if he was concerned or disappointed or fired up.
I’m hoping he gets his act together – the people of Cleveland deserve a championship and I want to see Antwan get a ring.
The worst part, for Cavs fans, is the lack of anger at himself and his team after getting spanked. He could at least act as if he was concerned or disappointed or fired up.
Agreed — the lack of affect was bizarre. My wife, who has no particular feelings for LBJ other than thinking he’s cute, said, “I don’t get it … why is he smiling???”
Injury or no, I think tomorrow night is a pretty big moment for LBJ’s legacy.
There will be no extra point!
by Sleepy Freud on May 12, 2010 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions
J-Rich yes
But the others – no. Jamison played his heart out each night he was here, was a model citizen, and in most likely this is his last shot. Barnes and Pietrus had too short a stay in the Bay and were role players – plus they may have chances down the road with the Magic.
Plus, Cleveland fans haven’t had a championship since 1965 – in any sport! Plus, they have to live in Cleveland. Rough.
To be honest
It looks like he’s playing knowing he’s going to leave. I don’t think it’s a coincidence his best performance was when Jay-Z showed up to watch. His whole attitude just doesn’t seem the same as it was even during the regular season.
by ReggieFan2010 on May 12, 2010 2:28 PM PDT up reply actions
to add insult to injury
LeBron saying the criticism is the result of Cleveland fans being “spoiled” by all his amazing games in the past.
he must really be ready to leave to make a comment like that.
Cleveland fans are anything but spoiled – laker fans, yankee fans, these are spoiled fans.
LeBron also says he is not “disappointed in his play” – um. wow.
Guess what LeBron, the owner of the cavs, Charles Barkley, Tim Legler, Cavs fans, even casual fans of the NBA are disappointed in your play. Man up.
Reasons like that are exactly why I hate Lebron as much as I do Kobe
Okay well Kobe more being what team he plays for
kobe is much worse
But I’ve been a LeBron fan to some degree up to now. This brings him down for me.
The criticism that both receive seemed to reflect differing expectations for what fans want from superstars.
Kobe always seemed like a guy who had it all but still seemed to pout and didn’t look like he was having any fun playing a game – bossing teammates around, etc. LeBron is a guy who has it all that seemed (to critics) to be having too much fun, dancing during games, etc. I’ll take the guy who doesn’t take this all too seriously over the one who likens playing basketball to going to war any day of the week.
Other criticisms of them, they get away with stuff others don’t, they have big egos – bother me less. I blame the NBA for all the no-calls the two get and as players they are smart to take advantage of it – Jordan and Shaq were great at this. To a lesser degree, I blame the media and us as fans for the ego thing. Tell anyone they are the “chosen one” at 16 on the cover of SI and see if they don’t have an ego.
That being said, perhaps his lackadasical attitude is what put them in this current hole?
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