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“I feel like we’ve got a great chance of winning Game 3,” Crowder said after Wednesday’s off-day workout at the Celtics’ practice facility. “We’ve been in the game. I think we’re due for a win now, especially in front of the home crowd. They’re going to give us great energy so I feel good going into it.
Added Crowder: “Why wouldn’t I [be confident]? We’ve got a great group of guys and we know what we’ve got to do to win the game. I’m always confident in myself and in my teammates. That’s me.”
At one point in the second half of Tuesday’s Game 2, Crowder and James bumped shoulders after a whistle, with Crowder seemingly unwilling to back down to a player who coach Brad Stevens has repeatedly called the best in the game. Crowder downplayed the brief interaction Tuesday and was asked Wednesday about playing against Cleveland’s physicality.
Crowder didn’t back down again.
“Nobody on that team is intimidating,” he said. “We’re all NBA basketball players. We’re not intimidated.”
Is there anyone who doesn’t like Jae Crowder? Sure, we’d all love him to shoot better than 28% from 3, but it’s Crowder’s mentality, defense and overall physical toughness that make him a valuable part of this team.
We need guys to follow his lead because the series is getting physical.
Crowder and Evan Turner are getting chippy with LeBron James and Timofey Mozgov unleashed a couple of two handed hammers in Game 2.
I’m not advocating the Celtics to follow Mozgov’s example, I’d prefer they respond by putting their asses on the Cavaliers. You know, it’s an old technique called boxing out.
“We know exactly what we need to do. Take away their offensive rebounds and we win the game, I feel like,” Crowder said.
The Cavs have averaged 13.5 offensive rebounds over the first two games. Thompson alone has nine over that stretch. He’s often reached over what there’s been of a Celtics wall for those boards.
“They’re sitting in the paint,” Crowder said of Thompson and Mozgov.
Part of the problem lies with the defensive rotations. If the Celtics are constantly a step behind in rotations, they aren’t going to be in position to box out.
I’m not going to make excuses for Jared Sullinger. If he’s going to log 22 minutes again, he must do better than 2 defensive rebounds.
Related: Worcester Telegram: Crowder not intimidated | Herald – Crowder: Celtics going to get some wins |
On Page 2, Stevens is contemplating a change to the starting lineup?
Down 2-0 in the series, Stevens was contemplating changing his starting lineup, although he wasn’t sold on its effect.
“I’m considering it,” Stevens said, “but one thing we haven’t done is started slow.”
When asked whether sluggish third quarters could play a part in it, Stevens acknowledged that it was a tough balance to find but he wouldn’t reveal more. . . .
In the Game 2 loss, Jonas Jerebko didn’t see the court at all in the first half. Yesterday, Stevens revealed that it was a precautionary measure after the forward suffered a minor calf injury on Monday’s off day.
The calf injury explains why Jerebko played just 4 minutes. I guessed Stevens turned to Sullinger in an attempt to offset the rebounding issues.
As for altering the starting line-up, who goes?
Would Stevens do something dramatic like insert Isaiah Thomas? I’d lobby hard against that. I like the punch he brings to the team midway thru the 1st and 3rd quarters.
You can’t keep Bradley and Thomas together without Evan Turner, because then the point guard situation becomes messy. So I’d keep Jae on the bench.
Could Bass get the boot? He scored an efficient 10 points in game 1, but was awful in game 2.
I say Stevens rolls out the same starting 5.
The rest of the links:
CSNNE – Ainge knows Cavs series important for growth | Supporting casts important in Game 3 | Herald – Turner well aware of Garden crowd effect | Wallace has playoff lessons | Stevens a star because he lets players shine | Globe – Celtics looking for boost from Garden fans | Sad ending for Rondo in Dallas |
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