Although I can't find it on NBA.com (and therefore, gave up), I saw a glimpse of the Doc Rivers post game presser on the Inside the NBA post game show and he said something like, "It's about us." This quote, of course, insinuating that if the Celtics play the best they will win and it's up to them to do so. Ironically, what we have in this series is the exact opposite situation...one of many confounding things about this game.
The first half for the Cavs was grotesquely low energy. Down 11 without the Celtics doing anything remotely spectacular, several missed layups and LeBron playing like he really does have a dead right arm. This, unlike what the Doc would lead you to believe, is the only type of game the Celtics can win against the Cavs. Boston has to somehow lull the Cavs into playing a slow and low energy game and sneak up on them and win at the end. This, by the way, is the reason the Celtics can't win this series. If they win a few games, the Cavs will turn up the heat and eviscerate this over-the-hill team. There's just no way you can close out a team if, once you get the other team's attention, you have no chance.
This can be a problem for the Cavs though. As we saw in the first half, the Cavs play timid and without interest sometimes. Eventually, LeBron usually makes such an amazing play that the rest of the team gets fired up and goes on an unstoppable run to win the game. The problem on Saturday was that LeBron was playing as timid as I've ever seen him play and wasn't able to bring the spark. It had to be delivered by someone else.
The spark came from the most unlikely source, Mo Williams. Not unlikely because he isn't any good, unlikely because he looks the most frightened in the playoffs of any player on the roster. After he stole the ball and dunked on Paul Pierce, his second dunk of his NBA career, he was unable to miss for the rest of the 3rd quarter. This play slapped the whole team back into reality and LeBron and Shaq were able to close it out. This time, Mo picked up LeBron.
The way LeBron and Shaq finished the game was interesting too. After a first half that was shockingly low-effort for a rivalry home playoff game, LeBron and Shaq had two or three baskets between them that were purely effort and guts. This was a great thing to see, especially from Shaq. Being able to keep him on the floor the entire fourth quarter (while feeding his ego) is fantastic.
In the end, I know old man analysts like to pick the Celtics out of respect, but I couldn't see it happening and nothing in Game 1 led me to change my mind. The Celtics played pretty well. Their one mismatch (Rajon Rondo) certainly filled that role and yet when the Cavs went on their single run of the game, there was no resistance. As my brother and I discussed, the Celtics are like a boxer trying to win a match with no right hook. All he can do is jab, jab, jab. Boston jabbed all game, and they'll continue to, but the Cavs won this match with only throwing one punch and that can't be a good sign for Boston.
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