This was a very interesting game, with both good and bad news for both teams. I said it before the playoffs and I say it again now: this one is shaping up to be a clash of heavyweights that very well might be a classic.
Cavs Good news: The Cavs are a quick-strike team. They aren't the type to apply steady pressure over a game, but instead they kind of coast along and then go on scoring binges that either catch them up or pull them away. They have been down double-figures now in each of the last three games they have played against the Celtics, but have come back in all three of them and won two.
Celtics Good news: They are on the same level as the Cavs. That was in doubt all the way up to Saturday. I suggested before that the Celtics were much more elite than 4th seed, but until both teams were on the court tonight there was no way to know for sure. Now we know. The Cavs might win this series, but the Celtics are right there with them.
Cavs good news: LeBron James is too much for Paul Pierce. This is logical, as I'm not sure LeBron is human, but the Celtics have not yet adjusted their game plan. Here is what Pierce has looked like in the last eight playoff games against the Cavs:
Game 7: 41 points, 13-for-23 FG (57|PERCENT|), 5 assists, 4 reb, 4 TOs
Other 7 games: 15.4 points, 36-for-103 FG (35|PERCENT|), 3.3 asts, 4.7 reb, 3.4 TOs
Pierce took 17 shots (making only five) on Saturday and ran a lot of iso offense in the fourth quarter...two huge no-nos if the Celtics want to compete.
Celtics good news: Kevin Garnett is almost all of the way back...through three quarters. Through three quarters tonight I saw him be more offensively aggressive than I've seen him at any point this season, taking and making shots that he just hasn't attempted since he hurt his knee. (Exhibit A: his dribble-drive dunk on Varejao). He has upped his minutes in the postseason back to the 35 - 36 min range, but you can tell that he still doesn't have his legs in the 4th quarter. He has been steadily progressing, though, even in the late part of games.
In the 4th quarters of the first 2 playoff games KG took only 3 shots total and grabbed only one combined board in those two quarters. In the 4th quarter of the last two games KG has grabbed 5 boards, dished 3 assists, blocked a shot, and taken 9 shots himself. You can tell that his legs are still shaky because he has made only 3 of those 9 shots and is front-rimming a lot of them. But he is obviously building up, getting more active and more assertive late, and with all of the time between games in this series there's a legit chance that he gets up to full speed before it's all said and done.
Cavs Good News: Shaq paid dividends. He was held in check for most of the game, but late in the fourth quarter when the Cavs needed a bucket they were able to iso Shaq on the post and neither Glen Davis nor Kendrick Perkins were able to stop him. This is huge, as if this trend continues it gives the Cavs two need-a-bucket-get-a-bucket guys to count on.
Celtics Good News: Rajon Rondo has another gear and the Cavs don't have an answer for him. He got to the rim at will, scored a bunch of layups, got fouled a bunch of times, and most importantly made his free throws. The Celtics went away from him late, which not coincidentally coincided with their offense stalling. But if they're smart, they'll see this is a matchup they should ride to make up for Pierce getting LeBron'd.
Bottom line: This should be a great series. Both team have strengths they should exploit, and weaknesses they need to minimize. Despite the fact they had home court advantage already, this was a huge win for the Cavs. They won the first toss-up game, and in series like this the toss-up games are the ones that decide the winners and losers. But there are still potentially six games left, and I'm looking forward watching every minute of every one.