Here we go folks,
Game 3. Cavs down 2-0. The good news for Cleveland is LeBron James can't play any worse.
Can he?
I mean, he's shooting 19 percent from the field and hasn't made a 3-pointer in 10 tries. He looks hesitant and isn't getting into a rhythm. I haven't seen him play like this in at least two years, but the thing is, he's capable of getting himself of out.
One point people are not remembering about him is against the Celtics is in Game 1, he committed two offensive charge fouls when trying to drive past Paul Pierce. From that point, James began to show the signs of hesitancy we're seeing from him now.
So expect him to play more aggressively, but play a smarter game. One thing James did say was Cleveland needs to get easy baskets. It's one thing to say it, but if your team doesn't have that mentality to get out and run on the fast break, even after a made basket, then the chances of them doing it now isn't high.
The one thing I'm noticing here a half hour before tip is there isn't a buzz in Quicken Loans Arena yet. When Cleveland was down 2-0 against Detroit last year, there was a buzz in the arena. Sure that will change by 8.
Outside of LeBron, the Cavaliers will start Ben Wallace, who left Game 2 with dizziness. It was determined he had a viral inner ear infection in his left ear and allergies. I figured he was going to play when I didn't see him in street clothes, but Wallace actually avoided talking to the media at least three times in the Cleveland lockerroom.
But Wallace made up for it.
He opened the training room door and LeBron was in there. The media had been waiting for him for a while and Wallace said all we had to do was ask for LeBron and he'd get him.
Cool.
Oh yeah, no fro from Wallace. Is that a good or bad thing?
Some other tidbits.
Cleveland reserve Lance Allred was working hard during pregame. Sure he's not going to play, but he's putting in work. Got to respect that. Having played in the D-League, Allred is taking advantage of his time at Cleveland.
Keep it up big guy.
As I'm watching Allred, I look up and see Boston assistant coach, Clifford Ray, doing some kind of bopping and grooving to a Michael Jackson song. Some classic Michael Jackson. Not that stuff when he's just screaming. The boy could sing back in the day.
Anyway, Ray, who put in 10 years of work in the NBA as a player, was doing his thing before the game. Get down Ray.
Before getting his groove on, Ray was passing the to Boston forward Kendrick Perkins so Perkins can work on his jump shot. Perkins has an edge to his game and he's a guy that's really unsung for Boston.
Just a bit of advice. Kendrick, you don't have to have your warmups on two hours before the game. T-shirt and shorts will suffice big fella.
OK, I'm gonna grab some grub before the game. Just got to throw this out there. Boston hasn't won a road playoff game yet. If they get one tonight, the series will end Monday in Cleveland. If Cleveland wins, we'll have a series on our hands.
See you at the half.
- Duane Rankin