CLEVELAND (AP) -As the Boston Celtics wore down and showed their age in the fourth quarter of Game 1, one of them was still accelerating.
The Cavaliers couldn’t slow Rajon Rondo.
Shaquille O’Neal took care of that.
Cleveland’s humongous center flattened Rondo on a drive to the basket in the closing minutes, a hard – and mostly clean – two-handed foul that may have contributed to the Cavaliers’ 101-93 win as much as LeBron James’ 35 points or Mo Williams’ surprising slam dunk over Paul Pierce.
As Rondo, who finished with 27 points and 12 assists, approached the basket, O’Neal came across the lane and knocked the Celtics’ speedy point guard to the floor. After spending a few minutes gathering himself and making sure all his limbs were still functioning, Rondo missed the first free throw before making the second.
He didn’t score again.
ondo said Sunday as the Celtics prepared for Monday’s Game 2 at Quicken Loans Arena. “That’s going to happen, but I’m still going to get up.”
The Celtics led by 11 in the third quarter of Game 1 and would be up in his best-of-seven series if not for a second-half fizzle that can be partially blamed on their aging roster as well as some blown opportunities late in the game.
With Cleveland leading 92-91, Ray Allen missed a 3-pointer when he was accidentally bumped by referee Jason Phillips. Boston trailed 94-91 when Pierce tried a short jumper that bounced off the rim. Kevin Garnett was alone underneath for an easy putback but misfired.
The Celtics had their chances. They missed them.
“We had some good looks at it,” Boston coach Doc Rivers said. “Jason Phillips blocked Ray’s wide-open 3 one time. It’s not Jason’s fault, but Rondo got it to Ray in a great spot and the official ran into him. Kevin had a point-blank look. (Kendrick Perkins) bobbled a couple. I’m not that upset late in the game with some of the shots we had. I was just really upset at our guys with the execution and the next pass.
“We were so good in the first half. I just thought we settled. We’ll take those same shots.”
However, they may not be as available as in the opener.
After Williams was abused by Rondo (19 points, eight assists) in the first half of Game 1, the Cavaliers switched it up and put Anthony Parker on Rondo, who attempted just two shots after halftime. Parker’s length made it tougher for Rondo to turn the corner and find open teammates, and Pierce certainly didn’t help by going 1 for 10 from the field in the second half.
Rivers was more upset with his team’s lack of floor spacing and casual attitude on offense.
“A lot of it wasn’t Rondo’s fault,” he said. “I thought Rondo kept pushing the ball up the floor, but there were three guys behind him.”
In the first half, the Celtics looked like their old selves, opening an 11-point lead with tenacious defense and offensive execution.
In the second half, they just looked old.
Add A Comment