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Find out the scoop on the CAVS from award-winning sports writer Bob Finnan.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Game 70: Celtics at Cavs

BOSTON CELTICS (37-34) 93, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (22-48) 92
Quicken Loans Arena
Wednesday
Radio/TV: WTAM (1100 AM), WFUN (970 AM)/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: Can someone please explain how the Cavs continue to cough up big leads and continue to lose games they should win?

They blew a 14-point lead with 8 minutes to play. This one hurts, but remember the Cavs have squandered 27-, 26- and 22-point leads this year.

They've now lost six in a row, as well as 10 of their last 12. It's really getting ugly. They're not getting blown out (other than the debacle in Houston last weekend). They are piling up big leads and then allowing the opposition to storm back.

They were outscored, 21-6, down the stretch. The Cavs made just 1 of 9 shots and turned the ball over three times in the last 5:49.

Do you think they need Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters in the lineup? In the worst way.

But there's a chance we don't see either one the rest of the way. Now, they are turning their attention to trying to get a top 3 pick in the 2013 draft.

There's little chance of overtaking Charlotte and Orlando, who have locks on the top two picks heading into the draft lottery. The Cavs can fall back further in the draft if they win a few games.

I'm starting to wonder if Coach Byron Scott is going to make it. Right now, I'd have to say he won't, despite the team picking up his option worth an estimated $4.5 million next year.

I like being around him, but perhaps the players have tuned him out.

On the game-winning drive by Celtics forward Jeff Green, there were defensive breakdowns. The biggest appeared to be by Wayne Ellington, who turned his back on the ball. That opened up the driving lane by Green.

That just can't happen there. Good teams find a way to make the opposition take a jump shot there. If he makes a contested jumper, so be it. You can't let him waltz all the way to the hole. Inexcusable.

Another thing that was kind of upsetting was Scott allowing 7-footer Tyler Zeller to sit out the last 14:05 of the game. He had 11 points, nine rebounds and a block. He was 5 of 6 from the field. He couldn't have helped?

Scott said if he was a post-up presence, he might have put him back in the fourth quarter. He's not, so he didn't. Marreese Speights ended with 13 points and six rebounds. He wasn't mincemeat. He was playing pretty well. So, Scott stuck with him. 

NEWS FEED: Steve Bulpett's story on the Celtics in the Boston Herald.

LAST GAME: The Cavs lost at Houston on Friday, 116-78.

UP NEXT: The Cavs host Philadelphia at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Quicken Loans Arena.

STARTERS
SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Jeff Green (6-9, 235)
PF Tristan Thompson (6-9, 227) vs. Brandon Bass (6-8, 250)
C Tyler Zeller (7-0, 250) vs. Chris Wilcox (6-10, 235)
SG Wayne Ellington (6-4, 200) vs. Paul Pierce (6-7, 235)
PG Shaun Livingston (6-7, 175) vs. Avery Bradley (6-2, 180)
INACTIVE LIST 
Cavs - C Anderson Varejao, G Kyrie Irving
Celtics - C Fab Melo, F/C Jared Sullinger, G Rajon Rondo
OFFICIALS
Bill Kennedy, Brian Forte, JT Orr

1 Comments:

Blogger Marc Breed said...

http://anlanativeincleveland.blogspot.com/

March 28, 2013 at 10:21 AM 

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