RSS
Home
Celtics beat Cavs, 95-89: notes, observations, Rondo analysis
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
AP Photo/Tony Dejak: Rondo didn't show us anything new.
Notes
• Celtics start out very tentative on offense, while the Cavs can’t miss.
• LeBron gets a nasty block on Rondo, who attempted that dunk as if it was an after-practice layup.
• Shelden Williams comes in early in the first…thanks Big Baby.
• Bench giving big-time lift: Sheed hitting jumpers, Shelden Williams and Daniels active, Sheed crashing boards.
• 14-7 run to end first, thanks for bench getting them going.
• Game follows traditional formula: home team builds big lead because of an amped crowd, veteran road team weathers storm and comes back slowly as leading home team tries to recover lost magic.
• Coaches schmooze w/the refs, Doc def does a better job, asking the ref he lost weight, while Mike Brown can barely mumble a “How you doin'?” It’s the little things, Mike.
• Cs knocking down 3s: between Ray, Sheed, House and Pierce; not a huge part of their game last year.
• Perk doesn’t pick up a foul until 2:11 in second, a nice change of pace for Perk, as last year his first foul would come about two minutes into the first.
• Kg picks up first tech of season at the end of the first half…that didn’t take long.
• Celtics pull off 10-2 run to open third, intensity on both ends picked up and Cavs completely off balance. Got to give credit to Doc for pulling the team together and keeping the fire stoked through the halftime break.
• Cavs’ frustration shows with Shaq foul on KG.
• Cs get nice lead and start to lose focus, as Doug Collins mentions – of course a lot of teams do this, including Cleveland, who did it in the first half.
• Shaq and Z on floor same time in fourth, which apparently Mike Brown didn’t practice much during the pre-season. Nothing like trying something brand new in a big-time season opener, Mike.
• Shaq invisible after hot start, finishes with 10/10 in 29 minutes.
• Shelden Williams pretty much a waste, 4/3 in 13 with 3 fouls.
• KG hits money shot over Shaq…incredible high arcing shot off the backboard.
• LeBron not getting calls down the stretch – charge, carrying, blocking call – very interesting to see the refs not buddy up with LBJ.
• Pierce jumpers down stretch ice it, very clutch, very good to see.
Player Spotlight: Rajon Rondo
• Hits jumper early.
• Turns ball over on cut, looking sloppy and out of sync.
• Blocked by LeBron, see above.
• Active defensively, not doing much on offense.
• Getting extended rest for house early second quarter; seems like a good idea by Doc as House is more active and an outside threat.
• In early third, a nice play by Rondo to go to hole off of tipped pass, an immediate correction, showing aggression with no hesitation that is good to see.
• Nice give-and-go with KG; taking advantage of space, which will be very key if his shot doesn’t develop..
• Tremendous hustle: steal from Shaq, two offensive rebounds, but typical Rondo, can’t make put-backs.
Scouting Analysis
A solid all-around day for Rondo, providing 8/10 with 3 steals in 34 minutes, shooting 50% from the field. He did hit one jumper, but also missed two, including one very badly down the stretch as the Cavs were creeping back into the game. This game felt like any Rondo performance from last year, which is good and bad. Good, because he didn’t show much rust and he was nearly an All-Star last year. Bad, because we need to see improvement in his outside game, and once again it wasn’t there. He was 1/3 from the perimeter, and the Cavs started giving him space, thus pushing down on the post and paint to limit KG, Perk, Sheed, and Pierce.
It didn’t work, as the Cs still won and Rondo’s numbers are respectable, but he didn’t show us anything new tonight.
Game Overview
Very impressive win by the Cs. KG finishes with 13/10 in 33 minutes, looking very sharp except for his missed dunk. Rondo had an 8/10, and Pierce 23/11 with some clutch shots to put the game out of reach. Perk’s D on Shaq was excellent, and the bench was outstanding, outscoring Cleveland’s 26-10. Sheed with an excellent debut: 12/3 in 24 minutes.
Time to pack this one away and move on to Wednesday’s game at home against Charlotte. No time to get too pumped up over this excellent start, because Charlotte is an improving team looking for a win over Boston to get its season going. But before we go, one video as a parting gift for Cavs fans...
You can also follow me on Twitter (rawdenm).
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
