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Celtics' suffocating defense is executed perfectly. LeBron wants to get to the bucket off pick-and-rolls (85% of their offense, James says) so his defenders are fighting over the top of screens while Kevin Garnett or Kendrick Perkins traps him on the other end. And when he wants to pass out of those double teams to the open teammate, the weakside defenders are rotating and closing to the shooter as soon as the pass is in the air.
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Celtics finishes the first quarter down 24-17, after missing 8 of 15 shots while Cleveland shot 52.4 percent from the field. Entering the second quarter are Leon Powe, James Posey, PJ Brown, Sam Cassell and only one starter on the floor in Pierce. Using mostly reserves in the second, Boston outscores Cleveland 27-12 in the frame to vault to a 44-36 halftime lead and never looks back.
