The Game Itself - Celtics v. Cavs

Notes from a Regular Season Game

I had the opportunity to see last night’s Cleveland/Boston game up close with my lady, on account of an awesome birthday present by my father. Now, other than the general amazement of my first TD Banknorth Garden experience (that place is a far cry from the old rat-infested Garden – or so I’m told) I was also one of the first to see these new-look Cleveland Caveliers in action. Here’s some thoughts on the game.

- First, some words on The Garden 2.0. The place is gorgeous. And this coming from a fellow who frequents the Staples Center, which is considered the newest and greatest the NBA has to offer. While this Garden was built a full five years earlier, it boasts the full fan experience. TWO rows of televisions line the circumference of the seating area, which are constantly showing stats, graphics, and other neat little bits of information. The seats are angled higher than they are far, which provides a better vantage point…and so it doesn’t feel like you’re cheering for ants. Finally, the JumboTron is in high-def, which is much more impressive than it seems. The only matter the Staples Center bests the New Garden in is the food, and that’s because us SoCal kids are prissy bitches.

- The amount of skill Brian Scalabrine has < the amount of disappointment I feel to see him on the injury report.

- My girlfriend and I have tickets next to a guy who’s not allowed to go back to Australia, because was charged with “assault and battery…or something”. He’s got longer hair than the rest of our row put together, and is sitting with the most stoned dude I’ve ever seen in my life….when the arena music comes on, he stands up and pretends he’s a DJ, scratching the record with his eyes closed. Fun times.

- The music cuts, and the Cavs take the floor. First impression: its amazing how many big-name players they have on their rosters, and I’m talking instantly-identifiable guys. Varejao…Szczerbiak…Joe Smith...and we’re not even in the starting rotation yet. It’s like when NBA Live does the auto-draft, and you’re suddenly facing a team with Kobe, Finley, and Manu Ginobili, all in a Timberwolves jersey– it takes your mind a second to get its bearings. Point being: the Cavs have a formidable playoff lineup now.

- Let’s just say I was more than a bit nervous that KG’s abs wouldn’t be healed in time for this game. He ain’t called The Big Ticket fer nuttin.

- Delonte West gets a nice round from the audience. I liken his time with the Celtics to a traumatic experience…when you go through a season with THAT many losses together, you never forget each other. I bet the mid-90’s Dallas Mavericks still have functions together somewhere.

- Quick side-note: you forget how huge these guys are. I used to work reception for the Sports Club/LA in D.C., and we closed the basketball courts one day for the Cavs to hold a practice. Rookie LeBron (already sporting a posse) and the rest of them ambled in without giving me any recognition. I mean, I am manning the damn door, at least shoot me a nod, right?

Anyways, after a while Zydrunas Ilgauskas ducks through the door, and instantly fills the whole entryway. He had gotten lost, and evidently no one thought to send the 7’3” dude in gym clothes towards the basketball courts. He comes over to me, and (I assume) asks me where he is going exactly…in a voice that sounded like and was as distinguishable as a Led Zeppelin album played at one-third speed. I put him in the right direction, but I still haven’t gotten over how large that dude was.

- The game starts out sloppy, with like five turnovers in the first 10 possessions. Both teams are feeling each other out, and the Cavs are still feeling themselves out.

- My ladyfriend says Wally Szczerbiak looks like me, and cheers for him and him alone for about 8 straight minutes. Flattered? Yeah, I guess I am. Why not?

- If you want to see the benefits of training on basketball skill, just look at Joe Smith. The dude, once just a big body, is more chiseled at 32 than he’s ever been. He’s found a very reliable jumper, and seems to have more motor than he had a decade ago.

- On the Celtics’ side, the greatest asset to Kevin Garnett’s game is his 18-20 footer. It starts at least 9.5 feet up with a quick release, and could be the most in-defendable shot in the game right now. Honestly, if he stays healthy, there is no age that this shot won’t go down for him.

- Amidst all these notables in the Cavs lineup, there’s Devin Brown. He’s super-active, and really impresses. Consider him as a fantasy pickup.



- Prior to the game, I told friends that “I am going to see LeBron play.” I feel this is important…something to tell the grandkids about. This is before I ever realize that this was the game he would hit his 10,000th point. He hits an array of tough shots and threes, and when he drives to the bucket, he seems unmoved, no matter how many people bump into him. What an unbelievable talent.

Not only that, but it’s completely unfair that he’s developed his jumpshot. He’s already the strongest, quickest, and most physically imposing player in the league. But now he’s able to shoot too? I call shenanigans.

- Ray Allen has been the topic of much discussion lately, with his inclusion in the All-Star game over other notables such as Jose Calderon, Hedo Turkoglu…but listen, the guy is still the best shooter in the league. No discussion. His release is what dreams are made of – quick, great rotation, and the same whether he’s off the dribble or standing flat-footed. You saw him almost steal the All-Star MVP from LeBron, and it’s for good reason.

- Then, LeBron turns his ankle and goes down in a heap. The whole area realizes the importance of any injury to the NBA’s poster-child, especially considering Yao just went out for the season the day before. Everyone is hushed. After a second, he gets up, and limps quickly to the locker room. He had about 14 points at the time, so yes, technically I did get to see LeBron.

- After the half, LeBron is back out on the court. I find out later he did have an MRI, and nothing was broken, so he had the trainers tape the hell out of his ankle and went back to work. He ended up missing all of 4 minutes and 41 seconds…and I instantly have a whole new level of respect for him.

Honestly, this is one of the more gutsy performances I’ve seen in basketball. What makes it more impressive is the fact that it wasn’t a playoff game…it was just a regular season game against division rivals, two teams that will probably meet in the playoffs. But it didn’t matter. LeBron was not going to let his team down for even one game. Maybe, with time, he will see the scope of a season compared to just one game, and rest his ankle accordingly. But for the time being, his performance was absolutely worth the price of admission.

- Kurt Rambis…Ronny Turiaf…Glen Big Baby Davis. All cut from the same cloth.

- Also worth noting: at halftime, they had four dudes come out and drum-line away on four buckets, rested on their feet. And they were amazing. I have no idea who these guys were or where they came from, but they sure were entertaining. Worth nothing.

- MVP argument: in the 4 minutes and 41 that Lebron was out, the Cavs lost the game.

- Delonte West, however, looks more comfortable than ever in that Cavs uniform. He will end with 20 points, and will continue to remind me of the albino in The Divinci Code

- I know, it’s weird, no mention of Paul Pierce yet. He’s hit a couple, played some solid D on LeBron and Wally, and is becoming the player that every player wants to, well, play with. He passes, he high-fives, he hits the open three. He’s absolutely the most relieved player in the league right now. That being said, he’s beginning to blend in a bit more now, and force plays less. Not sure if this is a good thing.

- This is going to be an amazing showdown for the playoffs. But for now, the Celtics were just more familiar to their new lineup than the Cavs were to theirs. Result: 92-87 Celtics.