FanHouse's Round Two previews will give you the critical points of every series, so you can talk to your friends like you've been following every team in the Association all season long. Or know what the hell an Ilgauskus is.
Biggest Reason You Should Watch: LeBron James versus Kevin Garnett. No, the two don't guard each other, but the fact is that, for all intents and purposes, LeBron is the Cavs' offense and KG is the Celtics' defense. Oh, and the two teams split their four games this season, with each winning their two at home. We saw how that went for Boston in the first round, and if this thing somehow goes seven, I highly doubt LeBron allows his team to get dropped by 30-something in the deciding game.
Cleveland Can Win If: LeBron can dominate a road game and steal one in Boston. As good as the Celtics were in the regular season, something isn't right with this team yet in the playoffs if they're dropping three games on the road to a 37-regular-season-win Hawks team.
Boston Can Win If: They can hold LeBron to reasonable numbers -- say, less than 30 points per game -- and don't let Cleveland's outside shooters get loose. Delonte West and Daniel Gibson (I'm so over that "Boobie" thing) killed the Wizards in round one, so if the Celtics stay at home on those guys they should be in good shape.
Video Clip to Get You Pumped: All I'm saying is, if LeBron hits from distance like this, Boston has absolutely no chance.
Stud of the Series: It's gotta be LeBron, right? Win or lose, he's going to get his. The question will be, can his teammates help him out enough -- especially defensively -- to get him some wins, especially in Boston.
Biggest Liability: Ray Allen. He's not what he used to be offensively, and defensively, well ... just ask Joe Johnson. Ray-Ray can still hit the clutch shots when you need him, it's the other 47 minutes of the game that the Celtics need to worry about.
FanHouse Prediction: Nothing about the Celtics in the first round scared me, not even their (seemingly) 50-point wins at home. I still think they've got too much for the Cavaliers though, and if the Wizards who play zero defense can get one in Cleveland, then I'm guessing the league's best defensive team will do at least that. Celtics in 6.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-06-2008 @ 12:39PM
angryguy77 said...
The pressure is in Cleavland, they are the ones that have to win on the road, not Boston. Forget last round, I will bet my life that they won't play that bad in Cleavland. I can't wait until this series is over so they can put their playoff road record to bed.
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5-06-2008 @ 12:47PM
frank said...
Perfect picture! You need 4 of the best of Boston to handle Lebron, will they ?
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5-06-2008 @ 1:06PM
Carolyn said...
Great picture. Cleveland is amped. Cavs in 6.
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5-06-2008 @ 1:16PM
cpa said...
Lebron will play well enought to beat the Celtics. The question that remains to be answered is this.
Will any other Cav step up. If they don't the Cavs can't compete. I am a Cavs/Lebron fan. I have watched them play almost every game this season. A lot of those games were painful to watch as open jumber after open jumper clanked off the rim. If Gibson and Wally shoot like they did in game 6 vs Washington, the Cavs will be tough to beat, but I have not seen them do that enought to give me any confidence in their ability to hit those open shots.
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5-06-2008 @ 2:47PM
Trent said...
Sometimes it comes down to one's will to win. LeBron has the fire in his eyes. Cleveland will win this in 6 or 7. Garnet does not have it in him to be a champion. LeBron will put his team on his back and get all the help he needs from Z, Boobie, Verajoa, Big Ben, Wally, Delonte, Sasha, and Joe Smith.
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5-06-2008 @ 3:01PM
khandor said...
Celtics in 7.
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5-06-2008 @ 3:54PM
billybob said...
The Celtics in four. The Atlanta Hawks were a much better team than Cleveland is, especially since Hawks coach Woodson dropped his rotation down to six players for the most part: C Horford (third overall pick in the draft this year, selected right after Oden and Durant, should be Rookie of the Year this year), F Marvin Williams (2nd overall pick in 2006), F Josh Smith (17th overall in 2004 right out of high school, THE league's shot blocker), G Joe Johnson (All-Star), G Mike Bibby (for whom they traded four players, including the 5th overall pick in 2006, Shelden Williams, PLUS this year's 2nd round draft choice) and 6th man Childress (6th overall pick in 2004). The Atlanta bench sucks...and will lose any game in which they're allowed to play...but those six can play with anyone...and would have kicked Cleveland's behind...although they were worn out for game 7.
Cleveland will be easy pickins for the Celtics...who learned not to be overconfident against anyone.
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5-06-2008 @ 8:03PM
joseph matusick said...
Celtics in 5 games.they know who the Cave's are.the men in green will take them in 5 games.King James is gREAT Ball player.but the Cave's will need more then him,and it wount work.
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