Jan

10

Did We Witness The Passing Of The Torch Friday In Cleveland?

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Analysis, NBA Game Analysis 

Friday night at the Q Arena in Cleveland may have been just 1 of 82 regular season games in the NBA schedule as the Cleveland Cavaliers decimated the Boston Celtics 98-83. However it could have been more than that, the kid brother finally beating the older brother, a shift in established roles, a changing of the guard. The reigning NBA Champs have been in free fall since losing to the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day, while the Cavaliers are prospering even without veteran center Zydrunas Ilgasusksas out with a left ankle injury. Will we look back on this night in early January as a rite of passage for Cleveland when they are playing in the 2009 NBA Finals?

The Boston Celtics were sailing through the Association waters like a luxury liner with the club dominating the rest of the NBA as it was off to it’s best start ever at 27-2. The “Green Team” now however is looking more each day like the Titanic, as they have lost 7 of their last 9 games. The only team they have defeated on the road since Christmas Day has been the Sacramento Kings, with losses to Portland, Golden State, New York, and Charlotte before the loss to Cleveland on Friday. Wednesday they fell to the Houston Rockets at home, their confidence waning as the game was on the line.

The Cavaliers now have the best record in the Association as they are 29-6, while Boston at 29-9 now has dropped to the third best record in the Eastern Conference as they have one more loss than Southeast Division leaders the Orlando Magic. The Magic defeated the Atlanta Hawks Friday night 121-87 and now are 29-8.

Cleveland shot 50.8% (33-65) from the floor for the game and 50% (8-16) from outside the arc for the night. The Cavaliers have opened up the season with a 19-0 record in games they play at home. Cleveland All-Star guard LeBron James helped set the tone in the first that this was going to be his team’s night. The “Wine & Gold” were on top at the end of the period 33-23, and the Celtics never really recovered. Boston was able to shave a point off their deficit in the second, but Cleveland still held a healthy 49-40 advantage at the half.

LBJ took over in the second half scoring 23 points, in the final 24 minutes of play. The Cavaliers increased their lead back to double digits in the third quarter, as they were on top 72-60 heading into the fourth. The Celtics never got any closer than 8 points down at any time in the final period.

James led all players with a game high 38 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, and 3 assists, he even went 9-9 at the line, usually the only flaw in his offensive game. Anderson Varejao has come up big time since the club lost Ilgausksas, he scored 14 points, and had 9 rebounds, Mo Williams added 13 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist, and 1 block. Daniel Gibson had 10 points off the bench, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 block, and 1 steal.

Kevin Garnett recorded a double-double, 18 points, 15 boards, 3 assists, while Kendrick Perkins added 13 points, 1 assist, 1 rebound, and 1 steal. Ray Allen scored 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal, Paul Pierce was held in check by LBJ and got off just 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist.  Cleveland will have a few days to savor this victory, they are now off until Tuesday when they will be in Memphis to face the Grizzlies. Boston will play a home and home series against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday and Monday. They will be in Toronto for a Sunday matinee game, and then will host the Raptors Monday night at the ”New Garden.”  Sunday will be another chance to get the “Road Monkey” off the their collective backs, and right their ship, and send it back it into the smoother waters of pre-Christmas.

© Copyright 2009 thesackattack.net


Updates, Fresh From the Oven, Straight to Your Inbox

Comments

Leave a Reply