CLE Cavaliers at BOS Celtics (May 08, 2008)
2008-05-08 07:36:00
PA SPORTSTICKER NBA PLAYOFF PREVIEW
(CLEVELAND-BOSTON)
*Celtics seeking improved performance in Game Two*
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Cleveland at Boston 7:00 pm EDT
Eastern Conference semifinals Celtics lead, 1-0
BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Celtics managed to claim Game One
of the Eastern Conference semifinals but have plenty of room for
improvement.
The top-seeded Celtics look for an improved offensive
performance Thursday when they host the fourth-seeded Cleveland
Cavaliers in Game Two of the best-of-seven series.
Kevin Garnett, who finished third in the MVP voting announced
before Tuesday's contest, scored 28 points, including the
go-ahead layup with 21.4 seconds remaining to lift Boston to a
76-72 victory over the Cavaliers in Game One.
Garnett shouldered the offensive load as Ray Allen was held
scoreless while Paul Pierce, the team's leading scorer during
the regular season, finished with just four points.
"We didn't have a great rhythm (on Tuesday)," Allen said. "It
seemed like we were unsettled on offense, and we were rushing
through a lot of things and we got bad shots and turned over the
ball as a result of it. We had to win the game on the
defensive end."
For Allen, it marked the first time in 11 years that he failed
to score in a game. Boston won despite shooting just 43 percent
(29-of-68) and committing 21 turnovers.
"It was a tough, defensive-minded game," Cavaliers coach Mike
Brown said. "I thought both teams came out and competed and
Boston just happened to come out on top. They had one more stop
than us and one more basket down the stretch which helped them
get the win."
Cleveland kept the game close despite just 12 points from
superstar LeBron James. The 23-year-old phenom was just 2-of-18
from the field, committed 10 turnovers and also missed a layup
that would have tied the game with 8.5 seconds left.
"He had a tough night, and he is entitled to it," Brown said.
"My last press conference, as I have said, he is always
terrific, terrific and terrific. He tried to attack which is
good, and knowing him, he will definitely bounce back in Game
Two."
Pierce had the job of guarding James on defense and struggled on
the offensive end as a result, hitting just 2-of-14 shots from
the field while missing three 3-pointers.
"You try to be aggressive on offense and, at the same time, I
know I've got a tough job of trying to slow down LeBron," Pierce
said. "So, that is all playing into my hands. There is a lot
of things I've got to do to help this ballclub and,
unfortunately, the offense wasn't there."
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