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BOSTON
CLEVELAND |
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204
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Final
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| Eastern Conference - Round 1 - Best of 7 - Game 1 | | |  | |
| 709 | BOSTON | 203.5 | 204.5 | | 710 | CLEVELAND | -11 | -12 |
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| All Games | 40-42 | +4.3 | 48-33 | 42-40 | 101.4 | 48.5 | 44.3% | 52.5 | 101.2 | 48.2 | 45.0% | 53.7 | | Road Games | 19-22 | +11.5 | 27-14 | 20-21 | 101.3 | 47.4 | 44.4% | 52.0 | 102.6 | 48.0 | 45.3% | 53.9 | | Last 5 Games | 5-0 | +6.8 | 5-0 | 2-3 | 105.8 | 51.8 | 46.3% | 49.2 | 92.8 | 43.2 | 45.0% | 52.4 | | Playoff Games | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 |
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| Team Stats (All Games) | 101.4 | 48.5 | 39-88 | 44.3% | 8-25 | 32.7% | 15-20 | 75.4% | 53 | 11 | 25 | 21 | 8 | 13 | 4 | | vs opponents surrendering | 99.7 | 50 | 37-83 | 44.9% | 8-22 | 35.1% | 17-23 | 75.0% | 52 | 11 | 22 | 20 | 8 | 14 | 5 | | Team Stats (Road Games) | 101.3 | 47.4 | 39-87 | 44.4% | 8-25 | 32.1% | 16-21 | 74.7% | 52 | 11 | 24 | 21 | 9 | 14 | 3 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 101.2 | 48.2 | 38-85 | 45.0% | 7-22 | 33.6% | 18-23 | 75.5% | 54 | 11 | 22 | 19 | 7 | 15 | 5 | | vs opponents averaging | 99.2 | 49.7 | 37-83 | 44.7% | 8-22 | 34.9% | 17-23 | 74.9% | 52 | 11 | 22 | 20 | 8 | 14 | 5 | | Stats Against (Road Games) | 102.6 | 48.0 | 39-85 | 45.3% | 7-22 | 33.3% | 18-23 | 77.2% | 54 | 11 | 23 | 19 | 7 | 15 | 5 |
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| All Games | 53-29 | -10.7 | 39-43 | 34-47 | 103.1 | 53.2 | 45.8% | 52.0 | 98.7 | 49.9 | 45.6% | 49.0 | | Home Games | 31-10 | -6.6 | 21-20 | 16-25 | 103.4 | 54.9 | 46.8% | 52.5 | 96.0 | 47.4 | 43.8% | 48.5 | | Last 5 Games | 3-2 | -0.5 | 1-4 | 3-2 | 98.8 | 47.6 | 45.6% | 53.4 | 104.0 | 49.2 | 47.7% | 48.2 | | Playoff Games | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 |
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| Team Stats (All Games) | 103.1 | 53.2 | 38-82 | 45.8% | 10-27 | 36.6% | 18-24 | 75.1% | 52 | 11 | 22 | 18 | 7 | 14 | 4 | | vs opponents surrendering | 99.7 | 49.8 | 37-83 | 44.8% | 8-22 | 35.0% | 17-23 | 75.0% | 52 | 11 | 22 | 20 | 8 | 14 | 5 | | Team Stats (Home Games) | 103.4 | 54.9 | 38-81 | 46.8% | 10-26 | 38.9% | 17-23 | 74.6% | 52 | 11 | 24 | 18 | 7 | 14 | 4 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 98.7 | 49.9 | 38-84 | 45.6% | 8-23 | 34.3% | 15-20 | 74.5% | 49 | 11 | 24 | 21 | 8 | 13 | 4 | | vs opponents averaging | 99.4 | 49.6 | 37-83 | 44.8% | 8-22 | 34.9% | 17-23 | 75.0% | 52 | 11 | 22 | 20 | 8 | 14 | 5 | | Stats Against (Home Games) | 96.0 | 47.4 | 37-84 | 43.8% | 8-23 | 35.1% | 14-19 | 75.0% | 49 | 11 | 24 | 21 | 8 | 13 | 4 |
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| | Average power rating of opponents played: BOSTON 95.5, CLEVELAND 95.2 |
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| 3/11/2015 | MEMPHIS | 95-92 | W | 6.5 | W | 188.5 | U | 37-85 | 43.5% | 46 | 16 | 37-78 | 47.4% | 47 | 21 | | 3/13/2015 | ORLANDO | 95-88 | W | -5 | W | 194.5 | U | 37-86 | 43.0% | 56 | 16 | 34-80 | 42.5% | 62 | 19 | | 3/14/2015 | @ INDIANA | 93-89 | W | 9 | W | 193 | U | 35-83 | 42.2% | 56 | 11 | 34-85 | 40.0% | 52 | 14 | | 3/16/2015 | PHILADELPHIA | 108-89 | W | -8.5 | W | 195.5 | O | 44-88 | 50.0% | 55 | 11 | 34-84 | 40.5% | 53 | 16 | | 3/18/2015 | @ OKLAHOMA CITY | 118-122 | L | 6.5 | W | 212 | O | 44-84 | 52.4% | 51 | 20 | 42-88 | 47.7% | 52 | 16 | | 3/20/2015 | @ SAN ANTONIO | 89-101 | L | 9 | L | 205.5 | U | 35-88 | 39.8% | 55 | 15 | 38-81 | 46.9% | 50 | 13 | | 3/22/2015 | DETROIT | 97-105 | L | -6 | L | 196 | O | 38-105 | 36.2% | 65 | 13 | 39-89 | 43.8% | 68 | 14 | | 3/23/2015 | @ BROOKLYN | 110-91 | W | 5 | W | 203.5 | U | 47-92 | 51.1% | 53 | 9 | 32-89 | 36.0% | 57 | 11 | | 3/25/2015 | MIAMI | 86-93 | L | -8 | L | 199 | U | 28-69 | 40.6% | 55 | 16 | 34-77 | 44.2% | 48 | 16 | | 3/27/2015 | @ NEW YORK | 96-92 | W | -11 | L | 194 | U | 29-69 | 42.0% | 58 | 16 | 38-87 | 43.7% | 45 | 12 | | 3/29/2015 | LA CLIPPERS | 106-119 | L | 6 | L | 207.5 | O | 39-93 | 41.9% | 50 | 10 | 41-84 | 48.8% | 66 | 12 | | 3/30/2015 | @ CHARLOTTE | 116-104 | W | 3 | W | 195.5 | O | 45-89 | 50.6% | 51 | 7 | 40-85 | 47.1% | 46 | 10 | | 4/1/2015 | INDIANA | 100-87 | W | -4 | W | 200.5 | U | 39-86 | 45.3% | 55 | 10 | 34-81 | 42.0% | 51 | 12 | | 4/3/2015 | MILWAUKEE | 101-110 | L | -5.5 | L | 194.5 | O | 39-88 | 44.3% | 45 | 16 | 45-85 | 52.9% | 52 | 18 | | 4/4/2015 | @ TORONTO | 117-116 | W | 3 | W | 206 | O | 47-97 | 48.5% | 51 | 15 | 40-83 | 48.2% | 57 | 16 | | 4/8/2015 | @ DETROIT | 113-103 | W | -1.5 | W | 202.5 | O | 36-80 | 45.0% | 42 | 11 | 45-84 | 53.6% | 46 | 19 | | 4/10/2015 | @ CLEVELAND | 99-90 | W | 6 | W | 208 | U | 38-84 | 45.2% | 54 | 14 | 32-77 | 41.6% | 51 | 20 | | 4/12/2015 | CLEVELAND | 117-78 | W | -10.5 | W | 197.5 | U | 46-84 | 54.8% | 45 | 7 | 31-79 | 39.2% | 54 | 24 | | 4/14/2015 | TORONTO | 95-93 | W | 0 | W | 206.5 | U | 38-99 | 38.4% | 59 | 14 | 35-80 | 43.7% | 55 | 18 | | 4/15/2015 | @ MILWAUKEE | 105-100 | W | 5.5 | W | 198 | O | 42-85 | 49.4% | 46 | 16 | 41-89 | 46.1% | 56 | 17 | | 4/19/2015 | @ CLEVELAND | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4/21/2015 | @ CLEVELAND | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4/23/2015 | CLEVELAND | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4/26/2015 | CLEVELAND | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| 3/10/2015 | @ DALLAS | 127-94 | W | -4 | W | 201 | O | 44-87 | 50.6% | 58 | 12 | 33-81 | 40.7% | 48 | 16 | | 3/12/2015 | @ SAN ANTONIO | 128-125 | W | -1 | W | 207 | O | 44-91 | 48.4% | 49 | 12 | 49-87 | 56.3% | 48 | 13 | | 3/15/2015 | @ ORLANDO | 123-108 | W | -11 | W | 200 | O | 45-76 | 59.2% | 42 | 16 | 42-88 | 47.7% | 51 | 13 | | 3/16/2015 | @ MIAMI | 92-106 | L | -5.5 | L | 203.5 | U | 30-79 | 38.0% | 42 | 14 | 42-76 | 55.3% | 51 | 15 | | 3/18/2015 | BROOKLYN | 117-92 | W | -12 | W | 207.5 | O | 45-82 | 54.9% | 54 | 11 | 36-80 | 45.0% | 41 | 11 | | 3/20/2015 | INDIANA | 95-92 | W | -10.5 | L | 201 | U | 35-82 | 42.7% | 54 | 9 | 36-84 | 42.9% | 47 | 8 | | 3/22/2015 | @ MILWAUKEE | 108-90 | W | -8 | W | 195.5 | O | 42-84 | 50.0% | 41 | 13 | 38-70 | 54.3% | 41 | 23 | | 3/25/2015 | @ MEMPHIS | 111-89 | W | -1.5 | W | 194 | O | 43-84 | 51.2% | 57 | 18 | 37-85 | 43.5% | 39 | 8 | | 3/27/2015 | @ BROOKLYN | 98-106 | L | -8.5 | L | 207 | U | 37-81 | 45.7% | 44 | 16 | 40-86 | 46.5% | 52 | 15 | | 3/29/2015 | PHILADELPHIA | 87-86 | W | -17 | L | 200 | U | 33-85 | 38.8% | 64 | 17 | 34-84 | 40.5% | 51 | 13 | | 4/2/2015 | MIAMI | 114-88 | W | -10.5 | W | 195 | O | 40-80 | 50.0% | 52 | 14 | 32-75 | 42.7% | 41 | 16 | | 4/5/2015 | CHICAGO | 99-94 | W | -8 | L | 194.5 | U | 35-83 | 42.2% | 50 | 10 | 34-76 | 44.7% | 55 | 16 | | 4/8/2015 | @ MILWAUKEE | 104-99 | W | -6 | L | 198.5 | O | 36-74 | 48.6% | 51 | 18 | 42-84 | 50.0% | 38 | 12 | | 4/10/2015 | BOSTON | 90-99 | L | -6 | L | 208 | U | 32-77 | 41.6% | 51 | 20 | 38-84 | 45.2% | 54 | 14 | | 4/12/2015 | @ BOSTON | 78-117 | L | 10.5 | L | 197.5 | U | 31-79 | 39.2% | 54 | 24 | 46-84 | 54.8% | 45 | 7 | | 4/13/2015 | DETROIT | 109-97 | W | -8 | W | 205 | O | 43-85 | 50.6% | 57 | 10 | 38-83 | 45.8% | 44 | 7 | | 4/15/2015 | WASHINGTON | 113-108 | W | -8 | L | 190.5 | O | 43-91 | 47.3% | 54 | 16 | 42-97 | 43.3% | 60 | 13 | | 4/19/2015 | BOSTON | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4/21/2015 | BOSTON | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4/23/2015 | @ BOSTON | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4/26/2015 | @ BOSTON | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| |  | BOSTON: GUARDS: RAJON RONDO's name is etched on the trading block. Regardless of where he lands, his injured knee should be 100 percent healthy . . . With an improved three-point shot, AVERY BRADLEY has become a complete player. His defense guarantees minutes regardless . . . MARCUS SMART seems to be waiting in the wings for a Rondo trade. In the meantime, he'll back up both guard spots. Just like in college, he'll be brilliant at times, but inconsistent . . . Local product PHIL PRESSEY will stick around as a No. 3 point guard . . . EVAN TURNER was a disaster in Indy. He'll have a tough time making this rotation . . . MARCUS THORNTON was acquired as a trade throw-in. The Celtics don't have big plans for the remorseless gunner. FORWARDS: He's isn't a legitimate No. 1 option, but JEFF GREEN will be the go-to guy again. He hasn't been able to handle the extra defensive attention, becoming increasingly inefficient . . . He has plenty of limitations on both ends of the court, but JARED SULLINGER is a crafty scorer. He'll get close to starter minutes as the Celtics search for offense . . . BRANDON BASS will see time at the 4 and the 5. He's made a pledge to improve offensively, but more likely he'll be a defensive presence and a screen-setter . . . JAMES YOUNG missed most of the summer healing a neck injury. He's going to do some damage running the floor, but he doesn't have the skills for the half-court game in the NBA . . . GERALD WALLACE is playing out the string. CENTERS: KELLY OLYNYK has the most upside in this frontcourt. His rare mobility and skill set for a 7-footer made a difference last year. It's just a question of whether he can hold up defensively down low . . . TYLER ZELLER gives them another solid 7-footer who opposing defenses have to account for. He'll fit well in head coach Brad Stevens' system . . . JOEL ANTHONY isn't going to get off the bench. |  | CLEVELAND: GUARDS: KYRIE IRVING will play off the ball more. With defenses keying on LeBron James, Irving should become a more efficient scorer . . . DION WAITERS will start for the Cavaliers at shooting guard. He shows flashes of brilliance on offense, but like Irving, doesn't play defense . . . MIKE MILLER reunites with James as a part-time floor spacer . . . JOE HARRIS' deep shooting makes him a possible long-term replacement for Miller. FORWARDS: LeBRON JAMES is the MVP favorite. He'll fill up the stat sheet while having these Cavaliers in a position to win every single night . . . KEVIN LOVE is one of the game's premier power forwards. He should have plenty of open looks this season, as he plays off of James. He'll also rack up rebounds . . . TRISTAN THOMPSON's switch from shooting left-handed to righty last season went well. He's a solid two-way player who should see time at center as well . . . SHAWN MARION will be a swiss-army knife off the bench for the Cavs. He can do a little bit of everything and will allow James to get a little rest this season. . . JAMES JONES followed James to Cleveland. He'll see minutes in a handful of games as a three-point specialist. CENTERS: ANDERSON VAREJAO stayed relatively healthy last season, and the Cavs will need him considering their thin rotation up front. He never developed much of an offensive game, but his energy, defense and rebounding fit well alongside Thompson and James. Because of this information, no power rating or computer score edges are posted for this game. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NBA PLAYOFF PREVIEW (BOSTON-CLEVELAND) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(With AP Photos.)
*Celtics-Cavaliers Preview* ===========================
By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer
Boston At Cleveland, Game One, 3:00 p.m. EDT
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Five years ago, LeBron James left the floor after Game 5 against Boston in disgrace. There were boos from the home fans, even some whispers he'd quit on the Cavaliers.
On Sunday, in his first playoff game for Cleveland since 2010, James will take his first step toward an NBA championship - toward the one that could top them all.
James and the Cavaliers open the playoffs against the Celtics, a team he knows well and the one that abruptly ended his first stay in Cleveland. Shortly before his exit to Miami in the summer of '10, the Cavs were beaten in six games by the Celtics, and that series loss, perhaps as much as any other, scarred James.
"It stuck with me a lot," he said after Friday's practice.
This opening-round matchup appears to be a mismatch for James and the Cavs, who righted themselves after a 19-20 start and are expected to easily dispatch the up-and-coming Celtics. In James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, Cleveland has an updated version of the "Big 3," while Boston traded star guard Rajon Rondo and finished two games under .500.
The oddsmakers have tabbed the Cavs co-favorites to win the title, but James knows well that there are no guarantees.
"Everyone's 0-0 when you get to this point, so our whole game plan right now is giving ourselves a chance to win the game," said James, who has never lost a first-round series.
Since that defeat by Boston in 2010, James has won two titles in Miami, and he's now hoping to quench a 51-year championship drought in a tortured city that didn't take long to re-embrace him.
Cleveland and Boston split the season series, with the Celtics winning twice last week - games in which Cavs coach David Blatt rested starters to be fresh for the postseason.
The only time both teams were at close to full strength was March 3, when the Cavs demolished the Celtics 110-79.
Boston guard Evan Turner knows for the Celtics to have any chance, James must be slowed.
"You try to make it uncomfortable for him, make him work (defensively), contest his shots," Turner said. "I know he's going to get calls, and I know he's going to make a lot of great plays."
There are some other sub-plots to the Celtics-Cavs series:
SMOOTH TRANSITION: Celtics coach Brad Stevens knows his way around the NCAA Tournament, but this is his first dance with the big boys. In 2010 and 2011, he guided Butler to consecutive NCAA title games. He took over the Celtics last season, when they went 25-57 while rebuilding.
PLAYOFF ROOKIES: Irving will make his playoff debut, a game he has dreamed of since childhood.
"This probably will be the biggest game I've played in," said Irving, who in his fourth season has developed into one of the game's elite point guards.
Irving said James has given him some pointers about what to expect in the playoffs, with "preparation" the biggest piece of advice.
Love, too, is a playoff rookie after six seasons in Minnesota. After some early resistance, he's willingly sacrificed personal stats for team goals.
"You can shoot 0 for 35. As long as you win, that's all that matters," Love said.
BIG DIFFERENCE: Boston's trade with Phoenix for 5-foot-9 guard Isaiah Thomas on Feb. 19 changed the season. The Celtics were 20-31 before the deal, 20-11 afterward. Thomas sat out 10 of those games, but Boston was 14-7 when he played, and he led them with 19 points per game.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS: Since James and Love came to town, Cleveland has been tagged as the team to beat. Blatt has spent the season trying to manage the hype.
"It's not sensible and it's not correct to put the cart before the horse," said Blatt, another playoff first-timer. "We've got a lot of tough basketball ahead of us to get anywhere. That's why I think it's a little unfair for people to start claiming that we should do this and do that.
"We haven't done anything as a team yet at this stage."
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AP Sports Writer Howard Ulman in Boston contributed to this report.
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| | Last Updated: 4/19/2024 5:57:23 PM EST. |
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