The first thing he did was give LeBron a little more room to maneuver.  Instead of throwing our 5 guys at LeBron, leaving the rest of the Cavs open for easy buckets, we backed off.  We didn't smother James until he got in the paint, and although he got a few easy buckets, the plan worked.  The Cavs were held to 74 points on their home court, shot 32% as a team, and everybody in white not named LeBron  shot 15-50.  If I was any good at math I'd tell you what percentage that was... but I know it's low.  Delonte was the only other Cav to score in double-digits with 10, and overall it was a great shift in philosophy.  However, two huge flaws derailed our hopes of winning.  First, we stood idle and let Cleveland swallow 16 offensive rebounds, destroying our morale and negating quite a few quality defensive stops.  Second, and more importantly, our offense was just as impotent.

We didn't crack 20 points in a single quarter, couldn't get to the free-throw line (more on that later), shot 4-16 from downtown and only converted 40% of our shots.  In a story that is becoming disgustingly stale, Kevin Garnett was the only Celtic who seemed able to score and had 25 of our 69 points.   Paul Pierce tried, converting 5 of his 15 shots, but that's it.  Rondo was disappointing after his huge game 5, basically doing nothing on the court - 2 points (that didn't come until the 4th), 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers.  Ray Allen, shooting 3-8 with no 3's is making me wonder if we wouldn't have been better off with Wally, Delonte and the #5 pick.  Perkins was a disaster, not boxing anybody out and racking up foul after foul (more on that in a moment). 

Back to my original sentence, the second thing that Doc did that we at BostonSportZ have been begging for was playing Eddie House (and keeping Cassell's ass on the bench).  After seeing only seconds of court time through the previous 5 games, Eddie was on the court for 18 minutes tonight, and played very well.  He closed out the 1st quarter with a long two, opened up the 2nd with a 3, and finished with 8 points (3-5 shooting) with 2 three's, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and no turnovers.  His defense was up to par (and far better than Cassell), and hopefully showed Doc that he deserves those backup minutes.  While Sam and Eddie are both out there looking for their shot, Sam is going to take it no matter what (usually immediately after bringing the ball up the court) while Eddie has the sense to know when he's better off passing.  It's a simple, subtle difference, but can mean the 2nd unit letting the game get out of hand, or playing good, quality basketball. 

LeBron had a good game... not a great game, a good game.  Despite what you're going to see on SportsCenter, LeBron wasn't AMAZING.   The difference between LeBron in Game 6 and LeBron in the other games is what I said at the top -- we let him get some shots tonight.  So, that alone inflated his numbers (which still weren't all that great).  Stuart Scott will tell you how "King James scored 32 with 12 rebound and 6 assists"... But what they won't say is that he had 8 turnovers and shot a paltry 9-23 from the field.  This wasn't even his best game of the series... His 21 point, 13 assist game was far superior.  Just trying to keep things in perspective here.

BOXSCORE 

I just want to take a moment now and rant about the officiating.  I'm not blaming the loss on the Ref's... I'm saving that for Ray Allen who once again brought nothing to the game.  However, I can't seem to understand how LeBron James single handedly shot more free-throws than our entire team 15-13, even though we started pounding the ball down-low instead of settling for jumpers.  It was clear (to me, at least) that our guys were getting knocked around with no repercussions, while we couldn't do anything without getting called for it.  In the last minute alone, Pierce got called on an absolute BS charging foul and he was dribbling past... you guessed it!  LeBron who was moving and not even in front of Pierce.  Ray Allen had a fast break layup in which he was fouled, put the ball up, it bounced off the backboard when Delonte came soaring in and swatted it away.  Should've been a goaltend (once the ball hits the backboard, it can't be touched).  The shot should've counted and Ray should've gone to the line for 1.  Never called.  Then, with 14 seconds left (and Boston down by 3), Cleveland inbounded the ball to Joe Smith who immediately traveled, which was never called.  I seriously think Doc needs to pull a Mark Cuban and make a "Cleveland's Most Egregious Non-Calls" highlight film and send it to the league office.  With LeBron traveling all over the court, never getting called for it, all the flopping Cleveland is doing and how much we're getting hacked with no whistles... there's something we have to be able to do.  It's absurd.

MVC: Kevin Garnett.  I said it before, and I'll say it again.... KG is the only Celtic out there who looks like he truly wants to win that ring.   25 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks -- it wasn't his strongest game, but he was the only Celtic who appeared to be competent on offense. 

Lastly, I just want to commend Doc on switching things up for Game 6 -- if Ray Allen and Rondo could've done ANYTHING the score would've been different and we could be talking about Detroit right now.   I just hope Doc sticks to the same gameplan ion Sunday -- let LeBron do what he needs to do and make the scrubs he plays with beat us on the road in Game 7.  I'm fairly confident in the outcome of that storyline.  And, oh yeah, keep House on the court.  Please.

Thanks to our boys at Redsarmy for this.

"He's Nuts" -Doc Rivers

Fans always refer to their teams in inclusive terms.

“We can’t win on the road.” 

“We’ll get them in Game 5″

“Our offense can look so bad some times”

We’ve seen the Celtics suck on the road.  We’ve heard them say how much they’re affected by the crowd.  So I say forget all the going nuts over who sucked in game 3 or game 4.  Forget getting pissed about rotation this and rotation that.  The Celtics have home court advantage… which means it’s up to US to get the job done.

It’s up to us to make a ton of noise during the intros.  It’s up to us to chant “DE-FENSE” or “Let’s Go Cel-tics (clap, clap, clap clap clap) without being prompted by the jumbotron or Lucky.  If these guys need us to help them out… then dammit… lets help them out.  Don’t be discouraged by Cleveland’s made baskets.  Don’t clam up after a 6-0 run.  The team clearly feeds off us… so lets feed them like a fat guy at a buffet.

We can debate whether their dependence on the crowd is a shortfall later.  All I know is… they clearly need us… and if we win… we can all take heart in knowing we helped them win it all.  And then there’s this:  After seeing the Pats win on neutral sites and the Red Sox win it on the road twice… won’t it be great to celebrate a championship on the streets of Boston?

The only thing I wonder is… how the hell are they going to get ALL of us on a duck boat?

What the hell is going on right now?  I know Aaron will break down tonight's game but I need to vent.  Why are the Celtics so soft all of the sudden?  Why isn't anyone stepping up in crunch time? 

I'm sick of seeing Doc laugh off bad calls with the referee when he disagrees.  Doc needs to flip out and get thrown out of one of these road games.   Do something to light a fire under the team's collective ass! 

Perk played 19 minutes and only had 2 points (both from the line) and 3 rebounds!  Really Perk?  It's time to man up and play like the beast you're supposed to be!

Leon plays only 6 minutes tonight.  6 friggin minutes?  Why all of the sudden does Doc feel like he needs to get Big Baby involved?  Leon hasn't done anything to lose his minutes so stop messing around with the rotation.  This isn't the preseason!

Sam Cassell is absolutely useless if he isn't knocking down shots.  Tonight he was useless as he went 0-5 from the field.  FREE EDDIE HOUSE!! 

Pierce and Ray need to stop playing like rookies.  These two are driving me crazy!!  Lebron had three fouls on him at the half.  Lebron finished the game with three fouls!!  Pierce needs to attack Lebron and take the ball to the hoop.  Another foul early in the 3rd would have put Lebron on the bench for a good stretch.  When Lebron went to the bench at the end of the first half it was the only time the C's did anything productive all night long.  Ray needs to stop waiting until the second half to join the action.  Would someone please tell him the first half counts?

KG was solid but I'd love to see him go towards the basket a little more instead of always falling away.  On the road you need to force the referees to make calls and you're not going to do that by taking fade away jumpers.   

I still think the C's will win this series but this road thing is getting on my nerves.  It's strictly mental at this point and the fact that this team can't overcome that is really disappointing.  I'm sick of hearing them in the post-game interview talk about how they just need to come out with more focus and energy for the next game.  Stop talking about it and just get it done! 

There are only a few definitive conclusions I can draw from this game.  First, Kevin Garnett appears to be the only Celtic (with the possible exception of Pierce) who truly wants to win that title.  He killed himself on that court tonight, and unfortunately appeared to have nothing in the tank down the stretch.  You can only carry 11 guys for so long before you start to tire.  His numbers aren't eye-popping -- 15 points (6-13 shooting) 10 rebound and 4 assists -- but his effort was.  That was, until the 4th quarter when he was effectively shutdown by the defensive stylings of Anderson Varejao... yes, the same Anderson Varejao that looks like he should be mopping the floors at the mall food court.

Second, Ray Allen really needs to step it up.  He had his best game of the series so far --  15 points (4-10 shooting) 2 3's, 6 rebounds and 3 assists -- but didn't do much on the court for most of the game.  Perhaps someone should let him know that he's being covered by Wally freakin' Szczerbiak, not Ron Artest.  We desperately need offense, and that's what Ray Allen does.  Did... needs to do again.  Pierce is at least killing himself on D.  What are you doing, Ray?

Third, Pierce and LeBron's defensive battle may not go down in the  NBA Playoff lore, but it should.  Two of the most dynamic offensive players in the game are virtually playing eachother to a standstill.  The one advantage each has when playing lesser opponents is their strength, but that has clearly been negated facing eachother.  They are each giving 100% on the defensive end -- Pierce holding LeBron to 7-20, James holding Paul to 6-17 (with nearly all of Pierce's baskets coming against Pavlovic while LeBron was on the bench).  Unfortunately, LeBron has the advantage here because he's been able to get to the line (8 attempts to Pierce's 2), and because his teammates have been stepping up and hitting their shots.  LeBron had 13 assists tonight, and it was clear that he was comfortable letting the rest of the Cavs make their shots.  Pierce is stuck with a group in which 5 players shot a combined 0-12.  I don't mind that Pierce isn't doing much on offense, as he's killing himself on D... but we really need him to step up on both ends.

These two even brought a little excitement to the contest.  Before LeBron was about to go up for a layup, Pierce wrapped him up.  LeBron didn't like this, and as his momentum carried the two out of bounds along the baseline, they began to get a little shovey.  Anyway, it wasn't a big deal... LeBron didn't want to be wrapped up, and Pierce didn't want LeBron to get an easy bucket.  Some woman who I was about to refer to as, "some crazy lady" before I just found out was LeBron's mother, Gloria, went over to the two and began screaming at Paul until LeBron started screaming at her to get away.  KG headed over there, and it was just a weird, weird moment.  Good thing Jermaine O'Neal wasn't a Celtic or Gloria might've gotten a right-hook to the jaw.

Fourth, Sam Cassell is the worst.  He needs to stay on the bench.  He does not bring a single positive to this team.   5 shots don't seem like a lot, but in a close game his momentum-killing bricks derailed the offense and gave Cleveland a handful of easy transition buckets going the other way.  His defense is porous, as Daniel Gibson was able to score most of his 14 points running circles around Sam.  Doc, if you want to still have a job next season, I beg you, use Eddie House.  Just try it.  Do you honestly think Eddie could play worse than Cassell?  It wasn't that long ago that in this very blog I called Eddie House an "offensive wizard" and even photoshopped his picture to give him a pointy hat and a wand.  We Need Offense.  Sam Sucks.  Put In Eddie...  Please.

BOXSCORE 

MVC:  PJ Brown.  Haven't mentioned him yet, but for an old man who hasn't seen much court time, PJ gave us 22 minutes of consistent, quality basketball.  With Perk being useless, and in foul trouble, and useless, Doc turned to PJ, who returned the favor by nabbing 6 rebounds and scoring 8 points on 4-4 shooting.

So, we're headed back to Boston on Wednesday, where we'll probably win by 18... It's not right to keep toying with the hopes and dreams of small children all over New England... or guys in their mid-twenties.  Play consistent, Boston.  And play Eddie House, Doc. 

Locke Flashback

The episode begins with a girl putting a record on and dancing around her room. It is around the 1960’s and we are finally getting to meet Locke’s mom, Emily. Emily’s mom enters her room and asks if she is going to meet “him” a man she doesn’t approve of. Emily becomes upset and runs out of the house into the rain. As she is running out of the house Emily is hit by a car. When Emily wakes up she is in the hospital she tells the nurse that she is six months pregnant. A little later Emily gives birth to a little boy that she names John. Some time later Emily and her mother are standing next to the incubator. The nurses enter and tell Emily that they are thrilled because John was the youngest premature baby to survive at the hospital. They ask Emily if she is ready to hold her child and Emily becomes upset and then runs out of the hospital room. Emily’s mom then asks the nurse about adoption options. Richard Alpert is outside of the nursery looking into the room.

Years later John is playing backgammon in the living room of his foster/adoptive home. His foster mom enters the room and tells John that someone is there to see him and urges John to be on his best behavior. Richard Alpert enters the room and tells John that he works for a special school and he believes John was special enough to attend. Behind John is a picture that looks eerily like the smoke monster. Richard notices this picture and smiles. Richard takes several things out of his bag and asks John to pick out the things that are his. John picks up a few things and Richard appears disappointed with his choices. Richard gets up quickly, collects his things and tells John’s foster mom that he isn’t ready for the school.

We are then introduced to high school John. John is banging to get out of a locker when a teacher opens the door. When John exits the teacher asks for him to join him in his office. While in the office John’s teacher suggests John attend a science camp with Mittelos Laboratories. John becomes angry and tells the teacher that he likes sports and doesn’t want to go to a chemistry camp. John’s teacher responds by telling John that he is not a jock and will never be a super hero. John responds by saying, “don’t tell me what I can’t do”.

Later we see John getting some physical therapy for his legs. After his session is done a man picks him up and wheels his wheelchair toward the elevator. The man stops at the top of the stairs and John looks nervous. The orderly pushing John is Matthew Abaddon. Matthew suggests that John go on a walkabout to learn about who he really is. John tells Matthew that he cannot go on a walkabout because he can’t walk. Matthew suggests that surviving his 8-story fall is a miracle and John would be surprised with what he can do.

Jungle

Hurley, John and Ben decide to make camp overnight because it is dark. The next morning John wakes up to the sound of someone chopping down wood. He gets up and walks into the jungle until he runs into Horace from the dharma initiative. Horace stops chopping and introduces himself to Locke. He says that he is building a cabin so that he and his wife can get away from the DI every once in a while. He then tells Locke that he has been dead for 12 years. Horace tells John that to find the cabin he needs to find him first. John then wakes up and finds that he was dreaming. He tells Hurley and Ben that they need to leave. Locke walks them to the DI grave and jumps in to find Horace’s body. He finally finds Horace and a map of where the cabin is in his front pocket. John offers to let Hurley return to the beach but he declines.

They head off and find the cabin easily. Hurley and Ben decide to wait outside for John. John enters the cabin and hears a rocking chair. He moves closer and Christian Sheppard is sitting, rocking in the chair. Christian tells John that he found the cabin because he was chosen. We then see Claire sitting across the room. Christian and Claire convince John not to tell anyone that Claire is at the cabin. John then asks Christian how to save the island and Christian smiles.

Freighter

On the freighter Michael admits that he told Ben who Keamy was. After Keamy beats the crap out of him for a while he pulls out a gun and tries to shoot him. The gun doesn’t fire and Michael therefore doesn’t die. Someone on the boat helps Desmond and Sayid by getting them a boat to return to the island. Desmond decides to stay and Sayid heads off to save his friends. Keamy gets knife happy and slits the doctors throat on the boat to make a point that he will kill the crew if they don’t help him get back to the island. By doing this he convinces the pilot to return to the island, even though it is against the pilots better judgment.

Beach

Juliet becomes upset with Jack who is not resting after his surgery. As they are speaking they hear a helicopter. A parachute falls from the helicopter and there is something inside beeping. Jack pulls it out and finds another satellite phone. The phone shows that the helicopter is moving away from them. Jack assumes the helicopter wants them to follow it.

Questions and Comments

- Why doesn’t Richard Alpert age?

- John has been followed by the “island” his entire life. Has everyone else been followed in some fashion or another?

- John tells his teacher “don’t tell me what I can’t do”. He has said this before when he was attempting to go on the walkabout (pre-flight) and was told that he could not because he was paralyzed.

- Why was Claire willing to leave Aaron and stay in the cabin with Christian?

- Why don’t Claire and Christian want other people to know that Claire is at the cabin?

- Why did Frank give the losties a satellite phone?

- Why is Keamy so gung ho about killing people on the island? Why are some people on the freighter nice and Keamy so cut throat?

- So is the freighter ahead of time on island or behind time?