The Celtics’ season of over-achieving ended today with a fourth straight playoff loss to Cleveland, 101-93, a game that featured injuries, cheap shots, flagrant fouls, ejections, and a near-miracle finish. And the Celts might have won it if they had only shot a little bit better from the arc and the free-throw line.
Boston fell behind early and trailed by as many as 21, but true to form fought back in the final minutes after the game seemed to be over. Despite being down by 16 with 3:14 remaining, the Celtics got to within 6 points with the ball and 36 seconds left. Gigi Datome had a good look at a 3-pointer but missed it, and that was the end.
The Celts shot just 33-85 from the field (38.8%), including a horrendous 3-23 (13%) from the 3-point line. They compounded that trouble by missing 13 free throws (24-37, 64.9%).
Jared Sullinger was Boston’s most effective player all day, finishing with 21 points on 9-17 shooting, plus 11 rebounds. Isaiah Thomas also scored 21 points, although he missed his first 10 shots and finished 4-17, including just 1-7 from deep. IT did make all 12 of his free throws and added 9 assists before fouling out.
Meanwhile, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving combined for 51 points and 21 rebounds. Even so, Iman Shumpert probably hurt Boston the most, scoring 15 points on 3-4 shooting plus 8-8 from the line, with 3 blocks, 2 steals, 10 rebounds and disruptive defense.
Entering the game, Brad Stevens knew that to stay alive in this series, the Celtics needed to get off to a good start, deny the Cavs offensive rebounds, and don’t allow runs. He thought it would help to start Jae Crowder instead of Marcus Smart – but it didn’t help.
Right away, the Cavs demonstrated they wanted to close out the series today. In their first three possessions, they scored 5 points off two offensive rebounds; then ran off 10 straight points to lead 17-8; and held a 29-19 lead after the 1st quarter.
Cleveland had to overcome the loss of Kevin Love in the 1st quarter. In a tussle for a rebound, Kelly Olynyk grabbed Love’s arm, which popped out of the shoulder socket. Love sprinted straight to the locker room and never returned, having played only 6:38.
It got worse in the 2nd quarter, as Cleveland extended to a 57-36 lead by halftime. The Celts were hurt by Thomas being completely ineffective. In 16:30 of playing time, he was 0-7 from the floor, with just 2 points from the line and 3 turnovers. Sullinger was one of the few Cs to get anything done, posting 10 points and 5 boards in the half.
The game was ugly on the scoreboard but got ultra-physical because of Kendrick Perkins, one of our former heroes who’s gone to the dark side. A minute after entering the game, and with Cleveland up 19, Perk tried to take Crowder’s head off while supposedly setting a pick. The big man was charged with a flagrant one and somehow, in the ensuing scrum, a double tech was called on Perk and Crowder. Perhaps Perk was retaliating for the injury to Love, even though Crowder had nothing to do with that.
It didn’t end there. JR Smith showed his true colors in the 3rd quarter by back-handing Crowder hard in the face as they positioned for a rebound. Crowder crumpled to the deck and, as he fell, suffered a left knee sprain. Jae was done for the day, as was Smith, ejected with a flagrant two (and probably facing a suspension).
Incredibly, the Celtics closed to within 8 after Sully made a 3-pointer with 10 minutes left in the 4th. But Irving answered with his own triple, the Cavs regained control, and eventually were able to run out the clock.
The Green:
- Trailing by 21 at the half, the Celtics outscored Cleveland 25-13 in the 3rd quarter to get back in the game.
- True fact: Phil Pressey tied up LeBron on a drive and then won the jump ball.
- Smart had a rough start to the day (see below) but redeemed himself somewhat with 11 points (4-8 shooting), 6 rebounds and a number of gritty plays.
The Gross:
- After being replaced in the starting lineup on Saturday, Smart was late to today’s morning shootaround. He didn’t check into the game until start of the 2nd quarter.
- Five early second-chance points for Cleveland led to a Celtics timeout just 1:22 into the game. ABC showed Brad delivering an angry (for him) lecture on the bench: “That stops right now!”
- Desperate times, desperate measures: Gerald Wallace played nearly 4 minutes in the first half, guarding LeBron.
- Evan Turner was invisible: just 2 points, 3 assists in 17 minutes.
- Smith was ejected from a Celtics-Knicks playoff game two years ago today for elbowing Jason Terry in the face.
The Greenlights:
Bad blood highlights:
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The Grid:
- For a change, the Celtics had more second-chance points than Cleveland, 21-14.
- Points in the paint: Cs 48, Cavs 36.
- Cleveland also shot poorly: 39.7% from the field, 21.2% on 3s, and missed 11 FTs.
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