Here is a look at the Celtics 2nd round opponent, the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is a team that is much different from the very athletic Hawks. They are a team that leans heavily on their superstar but also have other talented players on the team. There is a subplot to this series in that two of the Cavaliers' starters were starting for the Celtics last season. Another player, Dwayne Jones, who comes off the bench is also is a former Celtic. Here is a look at the Cleveland Cavaliers and what we can expect from them.
Starters:
Point Guard Delonte West PPG 10.2 RPG 2.80 APG 5.0 EFF + 12.67
A left-handed guard with decent quickness and a soft perimeter touch, West is a classic combo guard He can be a potent long-range threat as well as being able to pull up and shoot from mid range. West is one of the best shot-blocking guards in basketball, ranking fourth among shooting guards in blocks per minute despite being shorter than most of his contemporaries. However, he's not really a good defensive player. The blocks often are desperation plays after a man has beaten him off the dribble, and at the shooting guard spot he's undersized. When he was with Boston last season, they gave up 3.0 points more per 48 minutes when he was on the court. Having played against Rondo in practice for a year, he knows Rondo's tendencies and vice versa. This should be a very good matchup between former teamates. PER 12.13
Shooting Guard Wally Szczerbiak PPG 10.8 RPG 1.80 APG 1.5 EFF + 7.67
When ankle and knee problems aren't swallowing up his career, Szczerbiak is one of the best shooters in the game. (Who can forget the "bone on bone" hoopla when he was a Celtic?) He seems to prefer the 15- to 17-foot range, but he's a fantastic spot-up shooter who is at 40.4 percent on 3-pointers for his career. Szczerbiak is also quite strong and can abuse smaller guards in the midpost with turnaround jumpers, or overpower them going toward the rim. Those chances get him to the line (where he hits 86.2 percent for his career) much more than most jump shooters. He doesn't get much done off the dribble, however, so defenders crowd him and try to take away the jumper. Szczerbiak is a willing help defender who takes charges, but one-on-one his lateral movement was never good. This should be an interesting matchup between Ray Allen and Wally as both are among the best shooters in the league and neither is known for blazing speed. It should definitely be an easier matchup for Ray than Joe Johnson was. PER 13.99
Small Forward LeBron James PPG 29.8 RPG 9.50 APG 7.7 EFF + 32.67
One reason James often ends up trying to make a heroic shot at the end of the clock is because there is so little going on up until that point. James tends to be far too methodical when attacking defenses, often waiting several seconds to read the defense before he attacks. That tends to bring the offense to a halt and makes it easier for help defenders to collapse on him. His habit of retreating when double-teamed on the pick-and-roll makes this problem worse. James is an amazingly good ball handler for his size, acting as the Cavs' de facto point guard and ranking 12th among small forwards in assist ratio. He's almost impossible to stop once he gets some momentum toward the basket and, though a streaky shooter, can get his shot off over anyone. James is also a devastating finisher in transition and Delonte should help him in pushing the tempo. Pierce has done a good job of playing LeBron in the past and this may be one of the best matchups in the league. PER 29.23
Power Forward Ben Wallace PPG 3.2 RPG 7.20 APG 1.3 EFF + 10.33 Wallace is not a threat on offense. Anything that isn't a dunk is pretty much a no-hoper, and even the dunks aren't a sure thing because the ball slips out of his small hands so often. He has never hit half his free throws in an NBA season and is at 41.7 percent for his career; some opponents have tried to take advantage of this weakness by fouling him intentionally. Among the league's 62 centers, Wallace ranked 60th in true shooting percentage. One thing Wallace can do is pass. Wallace had the second-best assist ratio at his position last season. He also had a low turnover ratio, which is pretty remarkable for a big man who rarely shoots -- most of these guys will have a high mark by virtue of setting illegal screens, but Wallace is almost never called for illegal picks. Although Wallace isn't a threat on offense, he is a very good defender and will make things difficult in the paint for the Celtics. I expect to see Perk matched up against Wallace more than KG since Perk and Wallace both like to play inside while Ilgauskas and KG would rather play farther from the basket. PER 11.98
Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas PPG 14.5 RPG 7.30 APG 1.5 EFF + 16.6
Ilgauskas is a very good shooter and can hit the inside shot as well as his favorite move which is a sweeping hook shot in the lane. Ilgauskas is also very dangerous on the offensive boards, where despite not much elevation, he has a knack for tipping the ball multiple times before either grabbing it or tipping it in. His height (7'3") makes him able to get a shot off over most defenders. Defensively, Ilgauskas has the size to be a factor around the basket, but struggles on defense when he is pulled farther from the basket. Teams try to attack him in screen-and-roll plays, where he struggles to help on the guard and still get back to his man. For that reason, Anderson Varejao often finished games in the middle instead of Ilgauskas. As stated above, I expect to see Ilgauskas matched up with KG much of the time. PER 18.76
Bench:
Anderson Varejao PPG 3.2 RPG 5.80 APG 1.0 EFF + 6.00
A high-energy player who is a good defende. Varejao can defend guards in the screen and roll but is tough enough to guard many centers and power forwards inside. He can be overpowered by bigger centers but otherwise holds his own. He is very good at drawing charges. He will sometimes be in the game at the end instead of Wallace due to his problems at the line. PER 12.02
Devin Brown PPG 5.2 RPG 3.00 APG 1.2 EFF + 3.50
Brown is a 6-5 wingman who handles the ball fairly well for his size and does a little of everything but is not exceptional at anything. He's a decent outside shooter who doesn't shoot very well off the dribble. He can defend both the 2 and 3 spots. PER 11.35
Daniel Gibson PPG 11.8 RPG 1.80 APG 3.2 EFF + 10.67
Gibson is 6'2 and has a deadly outside shot that is able to spread the floor a bit for LeBron. He has decent athleticism and speed. He plays close to 30 minutes per game and so is a big part of the Cavs rotation. Defensively, Gibson seems to do better against bigger point guards, especially in the playoffs. He seemed to have a much easier time defending bigger points like Chauncey Billups and Jason Kidd than he did chasing around Tony Parker and so Rondo could give him a lot more trouble than Sam would. PER 11.77
Joe Smith PPG 5.5 RPG 4.80 APG 0.3 EFF + 7.00
Joe Smith was the #1 pick in the 1995 draft and has never lived up to expectations but has had a solid career. Smith has a reliable midrange jump shot that he likes to shoot from the elbow on pick-and-pop plays, and also has a jump hook shot he can use on the occasional post-up. Smith is very active on the boards and will get points off second shots if the Celtics don't box him out. Because Smith is thin, he can be pushed out of position by bigger players near the basket. He is a good weak side defender and will often step in to take a charge in spite of his size. PER 16.22
Damon Jones PPG 1.0 RPG 0.00 APG 0.3 EFF -0.33
Jones will look to spot up for outside shots to spread the floor but that is about the end of his abilities. He doesn't rebound or set up teammates and doesn't look to penetrate. He isn't a very good free throw shooter. He is a defensive liability in that he can't stay with quicker guards and can be pushed around by stronger guards.
PER 11.31
Sasha Pavlovic PPG 0.0 RPG 0.00 APG 0.0 EFF -1.00
Pavlovic is athletic and can defend both wing positions and is a good finisher in transition. He is a very good defender and the Cavs have used him as their stopper against high-scoring wings, similar to Posey's role on the Celtics. Pavlovic is a poor ball handler and so won't often try to take players off the dribble. PER 7.28
Dwayne Jones PPG 0.7 RPG 1.00 APG 0.0 EFF + 1.33
Jones is the third Cavalier who formerly played for the Celtics. He is a good rebounder and a good defender in the paint. He is very strong and can get position in the post for rebounds and put backs.
A fourth former Celtic is on the inactive list in Lance Allred who played for the Celtics summer league team this past summer.
Starters:
Point Guard Delonte West PPG 10.2 RPG 2.80 APG 5.0 EFF + 12.67
A left-handed guard with decent quickness and a soft perimeter touch, West is a classic combo guard He can be a potent long-range threat as well as being able to pull up and shoot from mid range. West is one of the best shot-blocking guards in basketball, ranking fourth among shooting guards in blocks per minute despite being shorter than most of his contemporaries. However, he's not really a good defensive player. The blocks often are desperation plays after a man has beaten him off the dribble, and at the shooting guard spot he's undersized. When he was with Boston last season, they gave up 3.0 points more per 48 minutes when he was on the court. Having played against Rondo in practice for a year, he knows Rondo's tendencies and vice versa. This should be a very good matchup between former teamates. PER 12.13
Shooting Guard Wally Szczerbiak PPG 10.8 RPG 1.80 APG 1.5 EFF + 7.67
When ankle and knee problems aren't swallowing up his career, Szczerbiak is one of the best shooters in the game. (Who can forget the "bone on bone" hoopla when he was a Celtic?) He seems to prefer the 15- to 17-foot range, but he's a fantastic spot-up shooter who is at 40.4 percent on 3-pointers for his career. Szczerbiak is also quite strong and can abuse smaller guards in the midpost with turnaround jumpers, or overpower them going toward the rim. Those chances get him to the line (where he hits 86.2 percent for his career) much more than most jump shooters. He doesn't get much done off the dribble, however, so defenders crowd him and try to take away the jumper. Szczerbiak is a willing help defender who takes charges, but one-on-one his lateral movement was never good. This should be an interesting matchup between Ray Allen and Wally as both are among the best shooters in the league and neither is known for blazing speed. It should definitely be an easier matchup for Ray than Joe Johnson was. PER 13.99
Small Forward LeBron James PPG 29.8 RPG 9.50 APG 7.7 EFF + 32.67
One reason James often ends up trying to make a heroic shot at the end of the clock is because there is so little going on up until that point. James tends to be far too methodical when attacking defenses, often waiting several seconds to read the defense before he attacks. That tends to bring the offense to a halt and makes it easier for help defenders to collapse on him. His habit of retreating when double-teamed on the pick-and-roll makes this problem worse. James is an amazingly good ball handler for his size, acting as the Cavs' de facto point guard and ranking 12th among small forwards in assist ratio. He's almost impossible to stop once he gets some momentum toward the basket and, though a streaky shooter, can get his shot off over anyone. James is also a devastating finisher in transition and Delonte should help him in pushing the tempo. Pierce has done a good job of playing LeBron in the past and this may be one of the best matchups in the league. PER 29.23
Power Forward Ben Wallace PPG 3.2 RPG 7.20 APG 1.3 EFF + 10.33 Wallace is not a threat on offense. Anything that isn't a dunk is pretty much a no-hoper, and even the dunks aren't a sure thing because the ball slips out of his small hands so often. He has never hit half his free throws in an NBA season and is at 41.7 percent for his career; some opponents have tried to take advantage of this weakness by fouling him intentionally. Among the league's 62 centers, Wallace ranked 60th in true shooting percentage. One thing Wallace can do is pass. Wallace had the second-best assist ratio at his position last season. He also had a low turnover ratio, which is pretty remarkable for a big man who rarely shoots -- most of these guys will have a high mark by virtue of setting illegal screens, but Wallace is almost never called for illegal picks. Although Wallace isn't a threat on offense, he is a very good defender and will make things difficult in the paint for the Celtics. I expect to see Perk matched up against Wallace more than KG since Perk and Wallace both like to play inside while Ilgauskas and KG would rather play farther from the basket. PER 11.98
Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas PPG 14.5 RPG 7.30 APG 1.5 EFF + 16.6
Ilgauskas is a very good shooter and can hit the inside shot as well as his favorite move which is a sweeping hook shot in the lane. Ilgauskas is also very dangerous on the offensive boards, where despite not much elevation, he has a knack for tipping the ball multiple times before either grabbing it or tipping it in. His height (7'3") makes him able to get a shot off over most defenders. Defensively, Ilgauskas has the size to be a factor around the basket, but struggles on defense when he is pulled farther from the basket. Teams try to attack him in screen-and-roll plays, where he struggles to help on the guard and still get back to his man. For that reason, Anderson Varejao often finished games in the middle instead of Ilgauskas. As stated above, I expect to see Ilgauskas matched up with KG much of the time. PER 18.76
Bench:
Anderson Varejao PPG 3.2 RPG 5.80 APG 1.0 EFF + 6.00
A high-energy player who is a good defende. Varejao can defend guards in the screen and roll but is tough enough to guard many centers and power forwards inside. He can be overpowered by bigger centers but otherwise holds his own. He is very good at drawing charges. He will sometimes be in the game at the end instead of Wallace due to his problems at the line. PER 12.02
Devin Brown PPG 5.2 RPG 3.00 APG 1.2 EFF + 3.50
Brown is a 6-5 wingman who handles the ball fairly well for his size and does a little of everything but is not exceptional at anything. He's a decent outside shooter who doesn't shoot very well off the dribble. He can defend both the 2 and 3 spots. PER 11.35
Daniel Gibson PPG 11.8 RPG 1.80 APG 3.2 EFF + 10.67
Gibson is 6'2 and has a deadly outside shot that is able to spread the floor a bit for LeBron. He has decent athleticism and speed. He plays close to 30 minutes per game and so is a big part of the Cavs rotation. Defensively, Gibson seems to do better against bigger point guards, especially in the playoffs. He seemed to have a much easier time defending bigger points like Chauncey Billups and Jason Kidd than he did chasing around Tony Parker and so Rondo could give him a lot more trouble than Sam would. PER 11.77
Joe Smith PPG 5.5 RPG 4.80 APG 0.3 EFF + 7.00
Joe Smith was the #1 pick in the 1995 draft and has never lived up to expectations but has had a solid career. Smith has a reliable midrange jump shot that he likes to shoot from the elbow on pick-and-pop plays, and also has a jump hook shot he can use on the occasional post-up. Smith is very active on the boards and will get points off second shots if the Celtics don't box him out. Because Smith is thin, he can be pushed out of position by bigger players near the basket. He is a good weak side defender and will often step in to take a charge in spite of his size. PER 16.22
Damon Jones PPG 1.0 RPG 0.00 APG 0.3 EFF -0.33
Jones will look to spot up for outside shots to spread the floor but that is about the end of his abilities. He doesn't rebound or set up teammates and doesn't look to penetrate. He isn't a very good free throw shooter. He is a defensive liability in that he can't stay with quicker guards and can be pushed around by stronger guards.
PER 11.31
Sasha Pavlovic PPG 0.0 RPG 0.00 APG 0.0 EFF -1.00
Pavlovic is athletic and can defend both wing positions and is a good finisher in transition. He is a very good defender and the Cavs have used him as their stopper against high-scoring wings, similar to Posey's role on the Celtics. Pavlovic is a poor ball handler and so won't often try to take players off the dribble. PER 7.28
Dwayne Jones PPG 0.7 RPG 1.00 APG 0.0 EFF + 1.33
Jones is the third Cavalier who formerly played for the Celtics. He is a good rebounder and a good defender in the paint. He is very strong and can get position in the post for rebounds and put backs.
A fourth former Celtic is on the inactive list in Lance Allred who played for the Celtics summer league team this past summer.
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