Tonight the Cavaliers scored a 124-95 Game 3 blow-out victory over the Boston Celtics in Boston to go up 2-1 in their best of seven Eastern Conference Semi-final. The Cavs had won Game 1 on Saturday 101-93 and dropped Game 2 on Monday 104-86. Both games were played in Cleveland.
The Cavs responded to their first major dose of adversity in these playoffs like a championship-caliber team would. They took it personally and went out and annihilated the Celtics in Game 3. [Now Two-time reigning MVP] LeBron answered the critics who said he looked lethargic and let his injured elbow get the best of him by going for 38-8-7. Shaq answered the critics who said he looked old and slow by shooting 5 for 7 and playing great D. Antawn and Mo played up to their potential and contributed as well, scoring 20 points and 12 points respectively. It’s no secret that the Cavs need LeBron at his best and at least two of the other three to contribute for the Cavs to win games in the late rounds of the playoffs. And when all four are at the top of their games like tonight, the Cavs are just downright unstoppable.
Game 3 was how this series was supposed to go. Yes, the Celtics are former Champions playing with a sense of urgency to extend their run together. But the reason their core is about to be broken up is because they just don’t have the same skills that they had two years ago during their title run. I give them credit for playing with heart and a lot of guts in the two games in Cleveland. Any team who beats the Cavs at the Q deserves a lot of credit. But right now the outcomes of these games are all resting with the Cavs. When the Cavs put it all together and play with urgency for 48 mins, no one can beat them. When they lack focus and execution for extended periods, they open the door for a defeat.
Bascially nobody responds to a loss as well as these Cavaliers. All year long they rebounded from losses to put up huge performances. The next step is for the Cavs to channel that fight and desire in games following big wins as well. A win in Game 4 of this series would all but be the final blow to the aging Celtics.