LeBron has been embarrassed
so far against the Celtics, but don't expect that to continue when the Cavaliers
get back home. Boston won't get their first road playoff win tonight.
The Boston Cletis have dominated LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers
with their defense in the first two games of this series, as James has twice as
many turnovers as field goals made. Tonight Cleveland comes back home where it’s
do or die time.
Overall this season the Cavs actually allowed more points per game than
they’ve scored, but they did finish 14 games over .500 at home where they
managed just under 98 points per contest. In order for the home team to get the
win tonight, they will have to get things done on the glass. In 2008 the
Cavaliers were the best rebounding team in the league, but they have been out
rebounded in each of the first two games of this series. Coach Brown’s team
isn’t likely to hit for a high percentage from the floor, so if they’re not
getting second chance opportunities, this could be a four game series.
Boston didn’t play a whole lot more poorly on the road this season than they
did at home. Boston is 31-13 outside of Massachusetts and they outscore their
opposition by over seven points a game in those contests. On the road, Boston
gets things done from the 3-point line where they hit eight a game and over 39%
of their attemps.
Concerning for Cavs backers has to be the fact that Cleveland has only
covered 17 of 44 home games while Boston has been a covering machine on the road
this season. That is, until the playoffs where Boston got swept on the road
against the eighth seeded Atlanta Hawks.
Boston has shown a dominance at home in these playoffs that they have yet to
show on the road. James has been embarrassed thus far and that doesn’t seem
likely to continue. I think we all remember what happened in the 2007 playoffs
when people were calling out Lebron in the series against Detroit. The Cavaliers
have their backs against the wall and have to get a win in order to keep
championship dreams alive. Tonight King James finally gets off and the Cavs make
this a 2-1 series.
Free Play: Cleveland -1½ (-110)