2010 NBA Playoffs: Celtics/Cavs Game 1 (Cavs win)

• Celtics really blew it. Not just the game; I think that was their best chance to win this series. They have the matchups to keep it close, so it isn't over. But the Cavs won't lose game 2 after this scare, and then the pressure will be on the Celtics to keep it a series by winning at home. LeBron may smell blood and release a monster game to steal game 3 or 4. Its funny. Just an above average LeBron game, such as his performance in this game (35 pts on 25 shots; 7 rbs; 7 assists; dominant 4th quarter), is spectacular. So you have to keep that in perspective.  A "monster" game may not even be necessary to steal one in Boston if his teammates play well. 
• I thought Kendrick Perkins was big. O'Neal dwarfs him. And Shaq schooled him, too. Kendrick, stay at home. Make Shaq shoot over you.
• The Celtics' big four played well early, but faded down the stretch. Pierce, in particular, attacked at the start, with a chip on his shoulder. He was effective, then his game went sour. I was shocked to see that he ended up with only 13 points on 17 shots.
• Rasheed Wallace looked terrible. Just terrible.
• Strong game by Garnett. How many of those does he have in him? The Celtics need them.
• Rondo ended up four rebounds shy a triple double. But like his teammates, the best part of his game was the first half.
• Mo Williams' third quarter explosion may have saved the game for the Cavs. Boston continued to let him shoot after he got hot. Adjustment-FAIL.
• JJ Hickson, whom the commentators made a point of saying had not gotten much run in the previous series, got some run here and made the most of it, out-playing Jamison and Shaq. I think he got PT because Shaq got in foul trouble.