Rivers, Celtics Seek Better Start in Game 4
CLEVELAND, OH - For tomorrow's Game 4, Celtics Coach Doc Rivers gladly would take "either a good start or not getting off to an awful [one]." Just as long as it looks nothing like Saturday's false start.
In the first quarter of their 108-84 Game 3 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Celtics came out of the box flat, shooting a mere 31.6% from the field and turning the ball over five times. By contrast, an energized Cavs squad nailed 65% of its shots and jumped out to a daunting 32-13 lead -- an advantage from which the Celtics never recovered.
"It had nothing to do with a good start--it was just an awful start, [and] we can't get off to that for sure," Rivers said.
Knowing full well that the road can be entirely unforgiving to slow starters, Rivers professed concern following a so-so home opening in Game 2.
"I was concerned going into [Game 3] because [the Cavaliers] got off to a great start in Game 2 [in Boston]. We were at home, and we were able to come back," Rivers said. "You can come back in those games on the road, but they're difficult to do because I think the role players start getting confident and making shots, and then you're in trouble."
Guard Ray Allen echoed his coach's sentiments. "Anytime you're on the road, you're playing in a hostile building. The team that you're playing [is] juiced by that building, and so you have to bring your own intensity, and you got to be ready to stave off any run that they have.
"You got to be ready to hit them back when they attack you, so that requires more intensity, more focus than you might otherwise [have] at home when your natural juices are flowing because of your own building."
Even while anticipating a fired-up Cleveland team, still the Celtics proved unable to withstand its early blows, let alone match its intensity.
"I recall saying when we were back in Boston that it was important that they're going to hit us in the first quarter--their crowd was going to be crazy, and we had to [endure] that, and then, once everybody calmed down, then we go back on the attack," Allen said. "I can't say that [eventually] we recovered. We wobbled and picked ourselves up a little bit, but the building was into it the whole time, and everybody else started to get off."
If the message somehow did get lost en route to The Cleve, Rivers let the film do the talking on Sunday. Prior to a grueling hour-long practice, the team watched its first-quarter performance from Game 3, with the players serving as their own worst critics.
Captain Paul Pierce observed, "It was all about our start, playing better, not turning the ball over, execute, coming out with the intensity we need to start a ballgame. You can't just ease into the games and expect these guys to lay down, especially on their home court."
Tomorrow night, at 8 p.m., the Celtics look to get off on a much better foot. If successful, they just might revel in the end result as well.
