Boston Celtics @ Cleveland Cavaliers
by: MYoung
2/09/04

Place: Gund Arena in Cleveland, OH
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
TV/Radio: TNT/WTAM 1100

Projected Cavaliers Starters:

PG: Jeff McInnis
SG: LeBron James
SF: Eric Williams
PF: Carlos Boozer
C:  Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Cavaliers Injury Report: PF/C Tony Battie (bruised knee) and C Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje (sprained ankle) are on the injured list. 

Projected Celtics Starters:

PG: Mike James
SG: Jiri Welsch
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Chris Mihm
C:  Mark Bount

Celtics Injury Report: PF/C Raef Lafrentz (knee) is on the injured list.  PF Vin Baker (suspension) is out indefinitely.

Key Matchups:

Eric Williams vs. Paul Pierce - To say that Paul Pierce has done whatever he's wanted to against the Cavaliers would be an understatement.  He has dominated in some fashion in each meeting between the teams this season.  When on, Pierce is as unstoppable a player as there is in the league.  Pierce plays at the perfect speed never seemingly going too fast or slow.  You don't think he is going that fast then he is by you.  You don't think he is jumping that high then he is dunking on you.  A smart offensive player, Pierce will vary his game.  He can be relentless going to the basket and is skilled at initiating contact and going to the free throw line as well as having a good midrange game in which Pierce will create space by stepping back, fading away or pump faking to get the defender in the air.  Add to that his three point range and passing ability Pierce is one of the great all around players in the NBA.  His former teammate Eric Williams defensively has had problems with quicker SFs who are good off the dribble.  Williams has shown to be a better team and help defender than individually.  He must, however, try and keep Pierce from penetrating.  When he does that he gets to the line a ton and create open shots for teammates.  The best way to defend Pierce is to make him shoot contested jumpers over the top and give double team help when needed.  Pierce can go on a tear from the outside but it is a better poison than having him dissect your interior defense.  Offensively, Williams can do what he does best and post up.  You always want to make a scorer work defensively and going to Williams would stop Pierce from roaming defensively and could get him in some early foul trouble.

When Cleveland has the ball: The past few years the Cavaliers have not handed Boston's defense well.  In Boston they get blitzed by their pressure and at home they have the tendency to falter as the game progresses when Boston makes adjustments.  PG Jeff McInnis has helped the Cavaliers change their turnover habits but McInnis himself has had problems when teams pressure him.  His worst turnover games have happened when defenses ball pressure him up the court.  The Celtics will use their quick PGs to disrupt the Cavaliers from getting into their offense.  Coach Paul Silas has been imploring his young guards; LeBron James and DaJuan Wagner to vary their offensive games.  He wants James to drive to the basket more often and more aggressively and Wagner to shoot more jumpers to compliment his slashing game.  The Cavaliers get into some their biggest trouble by taking bad and quick jumpers.  Ball and player movement will be a key against Boston because if you don't move the ball which the Cavaliers haven't been doing by standing and watching the ball on offense they can stifle your offense.

When Boston has the ball: New coach John Carroll has made some changes to the Celtics offense since taking over for the since resigned Jim O'Brien.  Boston now spreads the floor and gets the ball to Pierce on the move to make it more difficult for teams to trap and double team Pierce giving him more room and more opportunities against one defender.  Such changes are perfect for Pierce's one on one skills and slashing ability.  Even though Pierce is still the focal point the Celtics now run less plays and are less predictable.  The Celtics shoot less three pointers than in the past but it remains a big part of their offense especially off the attention that Pierce draws.  Off the bench Ricky Davis and Walter McCarty provide offensive firepower and rookie PG Marcus Banks comes into the game and changes tempo.  Also, with PF Vin Baker suspended the Celtics are more apt to with a smaller quicker lineup more often playing Walter McCarty at PF.

Game outlook: There are a lot of storylines coming into tonight's game.  The Cavaliers haven't beaten Boston since November of 2000, Ricky Davis is coming back to Gund Arena for the first time since the trade and the comments he made ripping everything in the Northeast Ohio, the Cavaliers are on a three game losing streak and Boston has been reeling after Jim O'Brien resigned.  Most importantly, Cleveland is 3 1/2 games behind Boston for the 8th playoff spot making this a must win game.  It's a two game swing at stake and the Cavaliers will have to shake off a horrendous second home egg they had against Washington and play with the intensity needed for a playoff team.

CavsTalk Home