Good afternoon,
Trying to do a little work from home today heading into Friday's Game 6 at Cleveland. Just got off a conference call with Boston coach Doc Rivers. The main talk was about winning on the road, which Boston hasn't done in the playoffs this year.
The chances of the Celtics winning Game 6 on the road just got better today after the Cleveland Cavaliers announced that shooting guard Daniel Gibson won't play Friday because of a shoulder injury he sustained in the fourth quarter Wednesday night.
According to the Cavaliers, Gibson was examined at the Cleveland Clinic today and it was determined he has first-degree left acromioclavicular joint separation.
Acromioclavicular?
That's an important joint. It has to be. Any word that long is important.
In all seriousness, the injury is expected to keep Gibson out one to two weeks. Without Gibson, the Cavaliers lose a guy who has not only made big shots in his brief professional career, but he's a guy LeBron James trusts to pass it to with the game on the line.
So who do the Cavaliers go to now?
Well, you've got Delonte West. He's playing well right now, but you need another shooter. Wally Szczerbiak is a shooter and will play better at home than he has on the road.
But Cleveland coach Mike Brown has decided to spread his rotation to five perimeter players. Against the Celtics, he's gone with West, Gibson, James, Szczerbiak and Sasha Pavlovic. So Coach Brown may shorten his bench, but if he plays someone else, he'll likely be Devin Brown instead of Damon Jones.
Why?
Think about when you're struggling to do something. When all else fails, you to go to your bread and butter. What you're most comfortable doing.
With Coach Brown, it all goes back to defense. It's what he hangs his head on so with that being said, he'll likely go with Brown instead of Jones, who isn't a good defender. Brown also gives Coach Brown some size.
However Jones has made his share of big shots for the Cavaliers and he is a better shooter than Brown. The Cavaliers still need to surround James with shooters so Jones may get his chance to play.
We'll find out soon enough.
See you at Game 6.
- Duane Rankin
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