Different Venue, Different Result Cavaliers Clobber Celtics In Game Three 108-84

However the first impression of this “NKOTB” version of the Cavaliers was totally positive. This move gives Cleveland some new offensive weapons in Wally Szczerbiak, and Joe Smith but this transaction really revolves around the other two players Ben Wallace and Delonte West. Wallace was having a terrible season in Chicago, the team blamed it on bad feet, my sources told me bad team. Ben basically was not inspired, and not playing with the enthusiasm he needed to do his job correctly, and that has historically been being among the top rebounders in the Association. His numbers had been way down, he recorded a double-double Sunday night. The other key is Delonte West, when he first went to Seattle in the deal that sent Ray Allen to Boston, there was talk of him being the starting point guard for the Sonics. For what ever reason he fell out of favor there and it never materialized. The question is can he be a starting point guard for NBA contending team? Although his shot selection could have been a lot better, he did dish off 6 assists, as did starting back court mate Devin Brown. That’s 12 assists from your starting back court it’s been a long time since we have seen that on a Cleveland team. LBJ And New Kids On The Block Help Cavs Trap Grizzlies 109-89

LeBron James and Delonte West each scored 21 points, the Cleveland Cavaliers shot 53.6% (37-69) from the floor for the game, and 52.6% (10-19) from outside the arc as they beat up the Boston Celtics Saturday night 108-84. The victory in the first game played in Cleveland this series was also the first for the Cavaliers in the series who now trail Boston 2-1. This was a game that Cleveland needed to win to remain viable in this Eastern Conference Semi Final series. The fact that they did it in such a convincing fashion was a statement to the Celtics, that this series was far from over.

The first quarter of the game was much like game two as Cleveland came out aggressively while the Celtics looked like they had left their game in the locker room. The Cavaliers at the end of the first period had a 32-13 lead. But unlike game two, Boston did not turn the table on Cleveland, although they outscored the Cavaliers it was by a meager two points, and Cleveland went into the locker room with a 52-35 advantage. The third quarter was much like the second as Boston shaved a point off the Cleveland lead but still went into the fourth quarter still down by double digits, as they trailed 79-63. Cleveland officially turned into a blowout in the fourth quarter as the “Green Team“ never got closer than 14 points.

LBJ is not having a good series against the Celtics, but his teammates especially West came up big in this game. James scored 21 points, but he was 5-16 from the field, far below is usual accuracy. He made up for it in other ways though as he dished off 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 blocks. West came up huge in the Cavaliers biggest game of the season, scoring 21 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, Joe Smith had a big night coming off the pine, scoring 17 points, 6 rebounds, 1 block, 1 assist. Wally Szcezerbiak scored 16 points, 1 assist, Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 12 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists. Ben Wallace also had a good game scoring 9 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, including 7 offensive boards, 2 blocks, 2 assists, 2 steals.

Boston was led by Kevin Garnett who scored 17 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, Paul Pierce scored 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals. Kendrick Perkins scored 12 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 assist, James Posey came off the bench and scored 11 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block. Ray Allen scored 10 points, 4 assists, 3 steals, 3 rebounds. Game four will be Monday night at the Q with Boston leading the series 2-1.