Celtics-Cavaliers Playoff (Game 6) Highlight

The Cavs have forced Game 7.

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Both teams play hard, even though neither team have shot well. The Celtics have fought their way back, from 16 points deficit in the third, to 3 points margin with 16 seconds remaining in the clock. The fact that the C's haven't quit is a good sign.

But Celtics have given too many fouls and the Cavs capitalise. Lebron James alone scores 13 of his 32 points from the foul line. He also has 6 of the team's 10 assists, 12 rebounds and 2 steals.

Doc Rivers have inserted Eddie House and Glen Davis into rotation, instead of Sam Casssell and Leon Powe. The result is mixed. While House has contributed some quick buckets, Davis has lot of trouble around the rim.

With the experience of previous round, the C's should be more mentally prepared to handle the intensity of another game 7. Added with the energy of home court, the C's hopefully can continue to clamp on Lebron James, as they have done a good job so far, but without giving up silly foul.

Celtics-Cavaliers Playoff (Game 4) Highlight

Celtics lose in a hard-fight game, even though their offence is still out of sync. But in the fourth, the momentum has shifted away from the C's and Lebron James dominates.

The Cavs now has the upper-hand in this series, as they have figured out how to score over Celtics' defence. And on the contrary, the C's aren't playing well under pressure.

Watch game highlight (NBA TV) and post-game press (NBA TV).

How often do you see the mother of NBA superstar get into game action. Happy Mother's Day.

Celtics-Cavaliers Playoff (Game 3) Highlight

The Celtics get blown out. During the regular season the C's are really only blown out once in the regular season (back on March 14 against the Jazz). But so far this postseason, they are 0-4 on the road.

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The Celtics shoots just 40% from the field while allowing 53% shooting from the Cavs. Doc Rivers said, "We got great shots to start the game, but when we started missing them, and instead of being the solid defensive team we've been, we got down because our offense was down."

To me it sounds like the C's still lacks the cohesiveness to fight through adversity, which will be tested again and again before they can reach championship caliber, like the Pistons.

LeBron James has a better-than-solid stats (21 points, eight assists, five rebounds, four steals and three blocks), but again is inconsistent, in missing 11 of 16 attempts. But his newly acquired teammates comes up big, including Delonte West (21 points) and Wally Szczerbiak (16 points), the two ex-Celtics. Joe Smith has 17, Ben Wallace adds 9 points and 9 rebounds.

Celtics-Cavaliers Playoff (Game 2) Highlight

LeBron James continue his shooting slump (6 for 24), while Ray Allen and Paul Pierece bounces back (16 and 19 respectively).

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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.

(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

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.

Celtics-Cavaliers Playoff (Game 1) Highlight

With Ray Allen failing to score and Paul Pierce getting just 4 points, the Celtics find a way to win the game. That's playoff basketball.

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Celtics' team defence crowds LeBron James into shooting 2 for 18 (12 points), while keeping the rest of the Cavs in-check, especially 3 Points FG (22.2%).

Kevin Garnett scores 28 to make up for an off-night for the rest of the Big Threes. Rajon Rondo scores 8 of his 15 points in first quarter, and Sam Cassell scores 8 of his 13 points in the fourth.

Celtics-Cavaliers Game (Round 4) Highlight

Neither team play well. The Cavaliers are playing the second night in a row and have yet to settle their rotation. The Celtics are adjusting, an evening after returning from the long West coast trip. So their head-to-head now stand at 2-2. Watch highlight (NBA TV).

The Cavs use Ben Wallace to keep Kevin Garnett out of the post, but Garnett burns Wallace with series of jumpers in pick-n-rolls play.

With the Pistons losing, the Celtics are now leading by 3 games.

On a separate note, the Celtics have signed veteran P.J. Brown as free-agent, adding defence and strengh to their PF position.

Play-off Projection - Part II

The impact of latest trades make the play-off projection slightly more interesting.

Cavaliers' multi-players trade has drawn the most attention. John Hollinger and Chris Broussard of ESPN analyses it as an upgrade in long-range shooting and adding toughness to the team. The consensus is that this new Cavs is good enough to challenge the Conference champs spot. I still have doubt about their new roster match-up against to say the Pistons, and how quickly they can settle their rotation with less than 30 games before play-off. The Celtics will face them on Feb.27.

While this new Cavs does reinforce my previous prediction for the No.3 seed, they will not be able to overtake either the Celtics nor the Pistons.

Jack McCallum, the Sports journalist, predicts that the Pistons will eventually overtake the Celtics, with a more favorable schedule on the road. With only 3 games ahead and Kevin Garnett still not in good shape, I share this with concern.

Play-off Projection

With two more months to go before the post-season, let's project the possible play-off match-up for the Celtics.

Below is the current seeding of each team in the East, and their W-L records,
__1. Boston 41 - 9
__2. Detroit 39 - 13
__3. Orlando 33 - 21
__4. Cleveland 29 - 23
__5. Toronto 28 - 23
__6. Washington 25 - 27
__7. New Jersey 23 - 30
__8. Philadelphia 23 - 30
__-----------------------
__9. Atlanta 21 - 28
_10.Chicago 21 - 31
_11.Indiana 21 - 32
_12.Milwaukee 19 - 34
_13.Charlotte 19 - 34
_14.New York 15 - 37
_------------------------
_15.Miami 9 - 42

Celtics' first round match-up could be any team ranging from the Nets, currently No.7, to the Knicks, currently No.14. With several possible trade scenerios in working trying to beat the deadline, it could have major impact to number of teams (Nets, 76ers, Bulls, Knicks) and their chance for the last two play-off spots. The Hawks, currently No.9, have a very good chance to get in with the new addition of Mike Bibby.

The second round match-up will be very interesting in several aspects. Firstly, my projection is that the Cavaliers (currently No.4) will eventually overtake the Magics for the No.3 seeds. And if the Celtics can maintain their No.1 seed, they will have the advantage to avoid playing the Cavs and then the Pistons (currently No.2) in the next round, and take on a relatively weaker team instead.

Secondly, which relates to above, the Cavs currently has the best chance among the East to beat the Pistons in the play-off, as they have done it last year. I know that the Celtics like their chance too, but there is a number of uncertainty against them. One is the match-up with Chauncey Billups individually, and also with the Pistons' play-off experience. So, if the Celtics can maintain their lead over both teams and forcing them to face each other in the second round, there will be a chance for the Celtics to by-pass the Pistons all together. Even if the Pistons beat the Cavs, it should wear them down a little.

As a Celtics' fan, i will take that.

Celtics-Cavaliers Game (Round 3) Highlight

This game is more like the second match-up betweem the two, as Lebron James have missed the last one. Watch highlight (NBA TV, ESPN).

James can see that the Celts have the best record in the NBA, and he also believes they are at or near the top in another category. Asked if the C’s were among the most talkative teams, he said, “They’re up there. You’ve got them and the Pistons. Those are the two teams that talk, but they’ll back it up.”

On whether the talk is antagonistic, James said, “In a competitive way, but sometimes it can get annoying. But they back it up. Detroit, we all know that they get flying at the mouth sometimes, but they play great basketball. The same with the Celtics.”

The quietest team?

“Utah,” James said. “They just kick your (butt) and they don’t say nothing.”

Celtics-Cavs Game Highlights and After-thoughts

If you have missed the game, like me, here is the highlights (ESPN).

Two after-thoughts.

It seems that Ray Allen's legs are tied towards the end of regulation, as he missed two free-flows uncharacteristicly (he has played 44 minutes up to that point). I guess his sore ankle, hurt in previous game, also making it difficult to play the long minutes. Given the Celtics' bench is thin in guard-position due to injury, let's keep monitoring how coach Doc Rivers will handle Allen's playing time tomorrow against the Knicks.

It is reported that LeBron James has been talking trash with Paul Pierce the entire second half. After LeBron James misses an 'in his face' attempt to end the regulation, he becomes more focus and asserts his dominance during OT. I know that it is only November, but Paul Pierce and his team will remember this loss.

Both teams will meet two more times during regular season, including the one coming this weekend (Dec. 2, local time) at home. I can almost sense that the Celtics will do anything for revenge.