5/13 - G4 @ CLE - Didn't Come to Cleveland for the Weather

[RSN Diaspora]

If you've seen the movie Major League as many times as I have (and I'd bet a lot of you have), you're familiar with Randy Newman's song Burn On about Cleveland, and specifically the environmental degradation that led the city's main river to catch fire a dozen times before anyone did anything about it.

As Jaylen Brown said to his teammates prior to game three, "Hey, we're not here to play around. We didn't come to Cleveland for the weather. So let's go." JB then went out and did it, scoring 28 with 9 boards and helping lead us back to the series lead. Tonight, the Celtics set fire to the city of Cleveland, extinguishing their hopes for a title. Much like with Miami, game two will be a barely footnote-worthy aberration as we once again take both road games on the way to winning in five, and get the fuck out of this polluted city with shitty weather until next season.

Assuming Mitchell plays, he will not be at 100%. Yes, I'm still concerned about Al's ability to keep pace and JT's 3pt-shooting, but they are both capable of overcoming this and we have such an overall talent advantage that it will be enough.

Injuries
Porzingis is out, Kornet is probable with right calf tightness. For Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell is questionable with a left calf strain. Jarrett Allen also remains questionable with bruised ribs.

Logistics
7:00p tip @ Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. TNT/TruTV and 98.5 FM/SiriusXM 212.

WIN.

 

[Saints Rest]

"What do you expect when they build a ballpark on the ocean?”

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Hats for bats. LFG.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Ooogah Boogah:
View: https://twitter.com/timbontemps/status/1790032819189653719?s=42&t=-Ai-mpXJJ05V-SE-SPRBGA

 

[chrisfont9]

Mitchell will play. For the Cs, I agree with a now calmed down and temporarily less petulant Bill Simmons that the Celtics' defensive intensity is the swing factor. If they bring it like they did in game 3, they will be in control. But without Porzingis they need to play with urgency, knowing the margin isn't huge between the two teams. Obviously they know all this, and in the Miami series they forgot it for one day and then never again. So yeah, be like that.

 

[JohnnyTheBone]

 

[Ed Hillel]

Someone should go back and review late 3rd/early 4th to see if Mitchell tweaked something. He was useless in the 4th.

 

[Five Cent Head]

Someone should go back and review late 3rd/early 4th to see if Mitchell tweaked something. He was useless in the 4th.

LeVert bangs into him at about 9:40 in the 4th on a defensive rebound, and he comes down a little funny, then he doesn't seem to make it across half-court for Cleveland's possession. He looks a bit off for a while after that, not really participating in the offense much until he airmails a three a few minutes later.

 

[MyDaughterLovesTomGordon]

Bearded Dwayne Wade with some thoughts on guarding Tatum:

View: https://twitter.com/RealBobManning/status/1790060877707710745


(TLDR: You can't.)

 

[Ed Hillel]

LeVert bangs into him at about 9:40 in the 4th on a defensive rebound, and he comes down a little funny, then he doesn't seem to make it across half-court for Cleveland's possession. He looks a bit off for a while after that, not really participating in the offense much until he airmails a three a few minutes later.

My man.

 

[Cellar-Door]

View: https://twitter.com/celtics/status/1790126204931981436


Kornet upgraded to available, so only Porzingis out

 

[dynomite]

View: https://twitter.com/celtics/status/1790126204931981436


Kornet upgraded to available, so only Porzingis out

Great news for all of us who don't want to see a gassed Al playing 39 (?) minutes again.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

If he is out, don't play down to the competition, I swear.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Mitchell OUT
View: https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1790140397869576290?s=46&t=11SXTvIYT-tl8b6e7iEUVQ

 

[bigq]

I drove through Cleveland once. Outside of the Jimi Hendrix exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame it was thoroughly forgettable. Tonight the Celtics leave tire tracks all across the Cavs’ backs. Cross up the Cavs.

 

[LesterFan]

Now I'm worried it'll be one of those Celtics classic letdown games when an opponent is missing their best player.

 

[Helmet Head]

Now I'm worried it'll be one of those Celtics classic letdown games when an opponent is missing their best player.

They have a history of this when opposing star players are out. Hoping the fact that this is a playoff game will offset that.

 

[Light-Tower-Power]

Now I'm worried it'll be one of those Celtics classic letdown games when an opponent is missing their best player.

This would not surprise me one bit.

 

[Ed Hillel]

I’m not ceding defeat, but this has LaVert for 40 written all over it lol.

I doubt Mitchell is 100% again this series btw. He might be done.

 

[Light-Tower-Power]

They absolutely should win going away, but this game is going to be a gigantic pain in the ass. Cavs are going to come out with a nothing to lose attitude.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

I doubt Mitchell is 100% again this series btw. He might be done.

That was my first thought. For him not to give it a try in what is basically an elimination game, he’s not going to miraculously be fine in 48 hours.

 

[Van Everyman]

Mitchell OUT
View: https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1790140397869576290?s=46&t=11SXTvIYT-tl8b6e7iEUVQ

Ok now don’t Lakers Game Pt. 2 this. Throat stepping is the only acceptable response.

 

[radsoxfan]

I’m not ceding defeat, but this has LaVert for 40 written all over it lol.

I doubt Mitchell is 100% again this series btw. He might be done.

Yes, he’s almost certainly done.

This should definitely now be a 5 game series, though every time this Celtics team thinks they can coast… they try to.

 

[radsoxfan]

We lost KP but in general the parting of the seas for the Celtics (at least in the East) has reached crazy levels.

Almost all the top players on the other contenders got hurt and couldn’t play or have played in a limited fashion.

 

[chilidawg]

They absolutely should win going away, but this game is going to be a gigantic pain in the ass. Cavs are going to come out with a nothing to lose attitude.

We need to as well. Just stomp on these guys. Dominate.

 

[InstaFace]

Much like with Miami, game two will be a barely footnote-worthy aberration as we once again take both road games on the way to winning in five, and get the fuck out of this polluted city with shitty weather until next season.

I got nothing bad to say about Cleveland weather, after their lake-effect cold updrafts kept clouds away from us during the eclipse. They even have,uh, Dave's Cosmic subs! And, uh, Bill Watterson!

I had hoped to go to Game 6 if it got back here. Will not be disappointed if we don't, obviously.

 

[RorschachsMask]

How many camera shots will we get of him?

View: https://twitter.com/TheDunkCentral/status/1790145941493727641

 

[DeadlySplitter]

Turn on TNT.. Draymond Green is a guest analyst... back to CNN I go.

 

[InstaFace]

How many camera shots will we get of him?

Wow, it looks like in Donovan Mitchell's absence, the Cavs have activated their new signing... LeJohn Gaines? I'm trying to find something about, yeah, says he was playing in the Romanian league. He looks like he's been hitting the gym, at any rate! Let's see how he does against NBA competition.

 

[ifmanis5]

How many camera shots will we get of him?

View: https://twitter.com/TheDunkCentral/status/1790145941493727641

Not as many as Taylor Swift but more than Big Baby.

 

[Red Right Arm]

Turn on TNT.. Draymond Green is a guest analyst... back to CNN I go.

"Chuck, I don't understand how you can praise Kornet's hustle when he didn't even try to kick Mobley in the nuts."

 

[dynomite]

Wow.

Roast me later, but I think the Cavs come out desperate, take a small early lead, and then the Cs just wreck them and win by 25+ in a laugher.

 

[snowmanny]

I assume LeBron was there to talk to Mitchell.

 

[128]

Levert, IMO, is the Cav most likely to put up crazy numbers tonite.

EDIT: Or Strus.

 

[JCizzle]

Please don’t make this stressful without Mitchell.

(they will make it stressful)

 

[Caspir]

They need to crush them early and not play down to the competition. Should be fun.

 

[PedroKsBambino]

Be intense guys....this is ours to take

 

[kfoss99]

Turnovers and missed free throws. Get them outta the way early, boys.

 

[benhogan]

PP is due for a big game

 

[JohnnyTheBone]

Clanglen Brown

 

[PedroKsBambino]

Be intense guys....this is ours to take

So much for that as a start.

Dial it in!!!!

 

[Caspir]

Having a star that sucks at free throws sure isn’t fun.

And a turnover to a transition 3. Eek.

 

[JCizzle]

it’s a fucking playoff game guys, give me a break

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Can we just take the five yards instead of letting JB shoot free throws? Or decline the foul?

 

[slamminsammya]

oh sweet jaylen short on the first one always

 

[LesterFan]

Why is Jaylen so bad at free throws? It's unbelievable. 18 for 33 in the postseason after those misses.

 

[Cellar-Door]

You want a real concern going forward......

What the hell is going on with Jaylen Brown at the FT line?

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

You want a real concern going forward......

What the hell is going on with Jaylen Brown at the FT line?

He’s Shaq-like at the line

 

[MannyRam]

You want a real concern going forward......

What the hell is going on with Jaylen Brown at the FT line?

It is a huge concern and he's had these FT lulls in the past. Was under 70% in last year's postseason as well. We haven't had many close and late situations but buckle up if/when

 

[PedroKsBambino]

Lebron is there!

He must have a playoff off night...