ECF | Game 3 | Boston (0-2) @ Cavs (2-0) | May 21, 2017 | 8:30pm EST

[Randolphkeys]

We as fans deserved this for assuming the series was already over... but John Oates didn't deserve this at all. He is a hit machine and brought his A game to every performance in the late 1970s through mid-1980s. He rocked like a man of average to above average height every night.

We gave Boston a lot of second-chance points late. A LOT. It was like they scored every possession, because they got to shoot until they made it...

TT was out on the perimeter chasing Jerebko, Horford, and Pigtails. Other positions needed to play a better floor game.

 

[col63onel]

Its going to be VERY interesting what Lue does with LeBron next game.

4th game with only a day of rest in between. Is he really going to try and play LeBron 35 mins the first 3 Qrts? Maybe the Celtics will fold. However, I would not risk that strategy the following series.

LeBron is like Andrew Miller. During the regular season, you use him "normally". During the playoffs, you run him as much as he can. Since he's a cyborg, thats 42+ a night.

 

[bboy]

Despite what everyone was thinking...The Celtics are a very good team...maybe even better without IT...will the cavs win ,most likely but it was never going to be a cakewalk despite the 50 point win

 

[Lee]

Isaiah Thomas getting hurt might have been the best thing for Boston. IT is just not a playoff basketball player. His defense is such a liability, his offense stagnates them and Marcus Smart is an under rated player.

IT should be a spark off the bench, not your number one option in your starting line up.

 

[NtG]

Nobody, not one person, has said a word about the refs. And I wish I could participate in the frustration of losing tonight, because it was infuriating and there is plenty to criticize. The issue some of us have is diving straight off the deep end about the season being over, fuck this team, fire Lue, on and on and on due to one single loss. How do some Cavs fans put pen to paper with these over the top takes I'll never understand. Cavs had this game in hand and complacency finally got the best of them. Celtics didn't quit. Good for them. Now it's on the guys to realize they aren't going away and to make them go away. This loss will be a distant memory come June 1st.

The problem is that shit like this has been happening all season with this team and they have given us no reason to expect it to change. How many times have we said something like this this season where we've blown huge leads? "Oh, who cares, they'll figure it out." It should have been figured out by now.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

I just want to understand what was going on. I have PTSD from 2010, Game 5. This looked scarily like that game. I don't get the passivity. I don't get that MODE he goes into. You have very incentive to play hard every night and close them out at home. Why risk extending (or even losing) the series?

 

[Gus Zing]

LeBron is like Andrew Miller. During the regular season, you use him "normally". During the playoffs, you run him as much as he can. Since he's a cyborg, thats 42+ a night.

I'd agree when he's had multiple days of rest.

Not when he just has one day of rest. I'm actually ok with 42 mins....45 or 46...its really risking it..

 

[2 For The Brew]

The practical result of blowing the 20 point lead is we have to play Game 5. More minutes for LeBron. Two goons instead of one for injury risk - doesn't matter what happens game 4, Celtics fans will be berserk and howling for blood.

If the rest of the team played as hard as TT in the second half, this would be over Tuesday.

LeBron looked focused and grimly determined in games 1 and 2, and that carried over to the rest of the team.

Game 3 was an automatic win just for showing up - that appeared to be the attitude.

We deserved to get beat tonight. Boston competed, and we did not.

 

[brownsbuck6]

The problem is that shit like this has been happening all season with this team and they have given us no reason to expect it to change. How many times have we said something like this this season where we've blown huge leads? "Oh, who cares, they'll figure it out." It should have been figured out by now.

Winning the first 10 games in the postseason gives you no reason eh.. l fucking ol. Get a grip.

 

[2 For The Brew]

I just want to understand what was going on. I have PTSD from 2010, Game 5. This looked scarily like that game. I don't get the passivity. I don't get that MODE he goes into. You have very incentive to play hard every night and close them out at home. Why risk extending (or even losing) the series?

[comment deleted by poster]

 

[Gus Zing]

I just want to understand what was going on. I have PTSD from 2010, Game 5. This looked scarily like that game. I don't get the passivity. I don't get that MODE he goes into. You have very incentive to play hard every night and close them out at home. Why risk extending (or even losing) the series?

When LeBron said he spoils the fans. This is what he meant.

He put up one of the greatest finals runs ever. He's had one of the greatest playoff runs in a long time. One game he just DOESN'T HAVE IT while playing a boatload of mins.. The team still loses to a team missing their star player.

This is why you see Harden and John Wall fade down the stretch of games. This is why Curry/Durant try to get as much rest during the games. Its freaking hard to constantly carry the burden heavy mins every night. Some games you're just not going to have it every game with a day of rest in between.

If LeBron had played 36 mins the Cavs win. Of course Lue/LeBron are stuck on this heavy 3 Qrts pattern for whatever reason.

 

[Otsego Mar]

****

We deserved this loss, played like crap, hopefully we'll learn from it

I love this post. Very reminiscent of a regular season post.

Anyway, I had Cavs in 6. Let's get it in 5.

LeBron should have a bounce back game....

 

[Real Deal]

LeBron just straight called out Kenny Roda.

 

[redscoon]

Despite what everyone was thinking...The Celtics are a very good team...maybe even better without IT...will the cavs win ,most likely but it was never going to be a cakewalk despite the 50 point win

Said nobody until an hour ago.

 

[Gus Zing]

LeBron just straight called out Kenny Roda.

What did he say? LeBron shouldn't be calling anyone out.. Bad game. Just move on.