Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here…
highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as
satisfying as a good morning dump.
Rivers wants Garnett to look for his own offense more, which runs
counter to his nature.“He’s got to stay on that,” Rivers said between games. “He fights his
own self because people don’t get that. They criticize him for being
unselfish which is the craziest thing on earth, but that is who he is.”Garnett has been aggressive. He tied a season-high with 20 shot
attempts in Game 1 and shook off a slow first-half in Game 2 in which he
went 2-for-9, by making his first three shots in the third quarter when
the Celtics dominated play.“Kevin was playing way too fast in the first half but he was still a
concern on the post,” Rivers said after Game 2. “They’re trapping.
They’re worried about him right now.”
WEEI: Cavs don't rest on off day
I'm going to disagree with Chuck on KG on the post. I do think he can drop 20 on Jamison if he's left alone. But even more than that, I think KG, with single coverage, can sit there and pick the Cavs apart as the rest of the Celtics set picks and cut to the hoop.
But let's stay on the scoring for a second. The Cavs have a bit of a dilemma right now. If you leave KG 1-on-1 with Jamison, he can get his shot off. If you leave Ray Allen 1-on-1 with Anthony Parker, he can get his shot off. If you leave Rajon Rondo 1-on-1 with Mo Williams, he can get his shot off. Only Paul Pierce has a struggle offensively 1-on-1… but he's too good to leave alone. He's forcing LeBron to play D.
So who do you use for the double? When do you send the double? Or do you let Jamison just check KG and hope for the best?
I see what Chuck is saying about KG being the 4th option on offense. That's true. But that's a hell of a 4th option. It's not like Mike Brown idiotically trying to establish Shaq early in the first 2 games and watching his team fall behind early both times. Sending the ball to KG actually has the possibility of paying off for you.
On page 2: Doc wants even more from Rondo
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
“There were times I actually wanted him to attack a little more,” Rivers
said. “There were times, especially when we lost our way a little bit
in the fourth quarter (allowing Cleveland a 15-0 run that proved
meaningless only because the C’s held a 25-point lead at the time it
began). But he just had a great floor game. I call him (Jason) Varitek. I
thought he called great balls and strikes, if you want to put it that
way.”…“We get the ball to him as much as possible when we get stops because he
can create havoc,”
Paul Pierce said of Rondo. “He is one of the fastest point guards in the league
when he gets into the lane and finds guys. He can also finish, and
that’s what we need.”
Herald: Rajon Rondo makes point
What?
You want Rondo to do MORE?
Actually… yeah… I can see why Doc would say that. It's the playoffs. And sometimes a great performance isn't enough. Sometimes, when you're great… you have to be greater.
So Rajon is going to have to keep pouring it on this Friday… and on Sunday… and beyond. Because he can't be stopped, and in the playoffs, you have to keep pushing until there are all zeroes on the clock.
The rest of the links:
Herald: Ainge wrapped up in towel flap | Winning never gets old | Subs start to step up | Cavs face sore subjects | Tony Gaffney lives a Green dream | Globe: James, Cavs will try to tough it out | Celtics team up for latest laugh | ESPN Boston: Throwing in the towel | Thibs a hot commodity | CSNNE: Perkins lowers the anchor defensively for C's | WEEI: Sheed takes heed from Garnett | USA Today: Danny Ainge, winner or loser? | Cleveland.com: Another MRI for LeBron's elbow | CelticsBlog: Bobby Vines tribute | Celtics Hub: The matchup Boston is winning | NBA Musings: What your press conference outfit says about you 4 | CSL: Henry Abbot is out
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