Page 19 - aruba-today-20180519

A19
SPORTS Saturday 19 May 2018

Big rebound: Cavs confident they can bounce back vs Celtics

By TOM WITHERS elimination against Indi-
Associated Press ana.
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) "We played a Game 7,"
— They've survived amid Lue said. "The danger's
turmoil for months, their not like we come out and
season morphing into the don't play well tomorrow
NBA's most compelling re- and lose, it's over. We still
ality show — or, as some have games to play. It's
have called it, spectacle. not like it's a Game 7. They
The must-watch Cleve- did a good job taking care
land Cavaliers have been of their home court. They
hardened by the nonstop played well. Now we're
drama around them. So it's back at home."
not a surprise they're calm ROAD WORK AHEAD: The
despite trailing the Boston Celtics haven't traveled
Celtics 2-0 in the Eastern well in these playoffs.
Conference finals. They're just 1-4 outside Bos-
"We know what it takes," ton and their shooting per-
coach Tyronn Lue said. centages have dipped
"We're down 0-2. No need on trips to Milwaukee and
to panic." Philadelphia. But after los-
"We know what we've got ing three road games to
to do," added All-Star for- the Bucks in the first round,
ward Kevin Love on the the young Celtics showed
eve of Saturday's Game 3. poise in stealing a Game 3
The Cavs have been in dire win in Philadelphia that has
straits before in the post- convinced them they can
season. win in Cleveland.
Just two years ago, Cleve- "We're pretty confident,"
land trailed 2-0 and then Brown said. "Just as confi-
3-1 in the NBA Finals to dent as we are at home.
Golden State before com- It's different between being
ing back to win in seven on the road and at home,
games and end the city's just the energy disparity.
52-year championship At home, it's for you, away
drought. And back in the Boston Celtics guard Terry Rozier (12) and forward Marcus Morris leap in celebration near the end it's against you. But if you
of Game 2 of the team's NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals against the Cleveland Cava-
2007 playoffs, LeBron James liers, Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Boston. do what you're supposed
rallied the Cavs from a 2-0 Associated Press to do and you are who
deficit against Detroit, the you are, it'll show home or
hardwood king commenc- They have been totally out- media since Tuesday's Conference finals," Smith away."
ing his legacy by scoring played by Jaylen Brown game, screamed an ob- said. "Being in this situation NEED FOR SPEED: The Cavs
Cleveland's final 25 points and Terry Rozier so far, and scenity in frustration while repetitively for the past know they need to play
during a Game 5 road win. that could be deflating. working on his jump shot couple years, I don't want faster. On too many oc-
But while Cleveland has Not to the Celtics, who following practice. He to say you get numb to it casions in Games 1 and 2,
some comeback history on gained confidence in made 12 straight before because you don't want to Cleveland was slow bring-
its side, Boston has momen- shrugging off James' hay- a miss, but James, who is take it for granted because ing the ball up the floor,
tum and the Celtics intend maker. seeking his eighth straight obviously guys don't have which allowed the Celt-
to keep it. "That's a game-changer in Finals, knows he's going to this opportunity too many ics to get back and set up
"We're just gonna try to use itself," said Morris, one of need to be near perfect times, but this season alone their defense.
it," said forward Marcus the many defenders Celtics from here on out. has been an extremely Lue has been harping on
Morris, "and ride it." coach Brad Stevens is using James, Love, Smith and weird year and we just got his players to quicken the
As expected, James re- on James. "LeBron came Tristan Thompson are the to figure it out." pace.
sponded from a sub-par out and did everything he only holdovers from Cleve- To the outside world, Cleve- "We have to come out with
performance in Game 1 could. To his guys, they see land's 2016 title team, which land appears in trouble. a sense of urgency to at-
by scoring 42 points with 12 that and they still came up mounted its historic come- They're facing a younger, tack early, don't ease into
assists and 10 rebounds in short. That's a feeling going back in the Finals and now more physical team that the game or let this team
Game 2. Still, the Cavs lost back up, it kind of puts you must rally again. has been written off several off the hook," Lue said after
and the lack of production in a mood you don't want "I was talking to some of the times already. practice Friday. "We know
from several teammates, to be in." guys in the training room To the Cavs, this is just an- they play well at home and
most notably guards J.R. Speaking of moods. James, and I was telling people it other bump in the road. they had two good games,
Smith and George Hill. who hasn't spoken to the was already the Eastern They've already staved off so now it's our turn."q