04/24/24
May 12, 2010
Cavaliers Lose By 32 to Celtics in Game 5: The Cleveland Cavaliers lost 120-88 to the Boston Celtics in game 5 of their NBA playoff series Tuesday night. "James looked as if he wanted to be just about anywhere else, including perhaps Guantanamo," writes Lynn Zinser of the New York Times.
posted by rcade to basketball at 04:34 PM - 15 comments
That quote is amazing. I know he's great, but that's a staggering display of ego.
posted by rcade at 04:38 PM on May 12, 2010
In most basketball games, there is a sequence of plays that can be seen as changing the momentum and giving one team the win. This seemed to be absent in last night's game. It was a matter of a relentless defense and a well-executed offense that left Cleveland without answers. While LeBron has been less than spectacular over the course of the series, although he has shown many minutes of brilliance, he does not have the other weapons, defensive or offensive, to stop a more complete team such as Boston. With only 5 players allowed on the floor at one time, when you have to choose between stopping Allen, Pierce, Garnett, or Rondo, you tend to run out of defenders.
posted by Howard_T at 05:17 PM on May 12, 2010
Simmons had a good diary of the game (as long as you're not a Cavs fan, I suppose) and Joe Pos has an interesting take on Lebron's night.
That quote is amazing.
I think it's pretty out-of-context though. And he really only has had a handful of bad games. The fact he didn't fill a whole reporter's notebook with things his coach screwed up in this series is testament to his restraint. Is there a worse coach in the league? I feel like I could have the Cavs in the next round already.
posted by yerfatma at 05:18 PM on May 12, 2010
For quite a while last night, LeBron seemed to either not try, not care, or to give up. The play is going on, other Cavs players are flying around the court, trying (unsuccessfully) to get something going, and LeBron is standing completely out of the picture. I was amazed by this.
I've never wanted to compare LeBron to Michael Jordan, but it seems there are always those comparisons. It's games such as this that should make those comparisons (at least at this point) stop. Michael Jordan would NEVER make himself invisible in this type of game. These were the situations where he was at his best, and every single player and person knew he would take over the game. LeBron is great, don't get me wrong, but don't be a regular season monster and then give this type of performance in potentially the biggest game in recent Cleveland Cavalier history. Getting blown out like they did? Ridiculous.
posted by dyams at 05:33 PM on May 12, 2010
Maybe the Lakers will sign him. He'd fit right in with their MO of going white flag when faced with a capable, team-oriented opponent (Lakers/Pistons and Lakers/ Celtics Finals).
posted by beaverboard at 06:39 PM on May 12, 2010
Yeah, they white flagged it all the way to an NBA championship last year. Their fourth since 2000. Way to cherry pick your facts.
posted by cjets at 07:24 PM on May 12, 2010
Not cherry picking facts, as it were; I don't consider the 2009 Orlando team to be as capable as the other two teams I mentioned.
Credit where credit is due: the Lakers certainly took care of business in closing out the Finals last year during the block of 3 road games. But how they finished the Finals in 2004 and 2008 is more appalling than their 2009 championship is impressive.
posted by beaverboard at 09:50 PM on May 12, 2010
LeBron does have a history of pouting when he has a bad game.
Keep in mind he's shouldering a huge amount of responsibility for a guy his age, and the Cavs would probably be battling the Nets for draft picks rather than being a game away from the conference finals without him.
Last night's game was alarming ... and it did also remind me of the Lakers' complete collapses in 2004 and 2008. Game 6 should be interesting.
posted by cixelsyd at 10:37 PM on May 12, 2010
That's a bunch of crap beaverboard. And I don't even like the Lakers. To suggest they wilt when faced with a good defensive team from the East ignores the fact that they ate up good defensive teams on their way to the finals (or that they are a good defensive team themselves - they are).
I'm with fatty - Cleveland has little excuse why this series has been so back and forth. They've looked like total shit in their losses, and it ain't because Boston is so ultra good defensively.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 11:40 PM on May 12, 2010
If you read that Simmons' column, he gives some reasons why the Celtics have been able to survive; the most believable ones are about Brown's awful rotations.
posted by yerfatma at 08:06 AM on May 13, 2010
I don't consider the 2009 Orlando team to be as capable as the other two teams I mentioned.
Is it possible that the Lakers made the Magic look less capable? The Magic were world-beaters against the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals last year. The Lakers made short work of them.
posted by rcade at 10:20 AM on May 13, 2010
In LeBron's defense, perhaps there really is something wrong with his elbow. While he denies it is bothering him, I saw a recent quote in which, when asked about it, he said something to the effect that it would be taken care of in the off-season. That tells me there is a problem and that it is indeed bothering him.
posted by Howard_T at 12:34 PM on May 13, 2010
Thing about this game is that the Celtics looked gawd awful right outta the gates I thought.
posted by Spitztengle at 01:42 PM on May 13, 2010
In LeBron's defense, perhaps there really is something wrong with his elbow.
I honestly believe his elbow is likely bothering him a great deal. But if it's so bad he can't even attempt to penetrate or drive the lane, then it must be a horrible injury. We're talking about the biggest game the franchise may ever play, and he couldn't put forth more effort than that? If the injury means he shoots poorly, I can understand that. But to stand around, away from the action as much as he did? I expected more from him.
That being said, watch him come out tonight and explode for 50, making my comments look foolish. But I do want to see a Game 7.
posted by dyams at 06:13 PM on May 13, 2010
I spoil a lot of people with my play. When you have three bad games in seven years, it's easy to point them out.
Nothing like shouldering the blame huh LeBron?
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