2010 Playoffs: Celtics @ Cavaliers, Game 5

• Shocking passiveness by LeBron during large chunks of the game. During the first half 16-0 run by Boston, LeBron took, I think, one shot (the run got to 8-0 before LeBron was put into the game to staunch the bleeding). Generally speaking, LeBron may have felt like he needed to get the team involved early in the game, but he wasn't even moving around to divert attention or penetrating and dishing. He spent many possessions standing around on the perimeter. And once the team started to struggle, his response was slow and tenative. As many others have pointed out, LeBron has the terrible habit of settling for jumpshots when he is frustrated/not playign well. This is exactly the wrong this to do.
• Terrible offensive game plan by Mike Brown. First, I assume that it was his schemes that put LeBron on the perimeter, thirty feet from the basket. Against poor defenses, LeBron can dominate getting the ball out there. But Boston has one of the best perimeter defenses, one built to stop dribble penetration. Brown clearly has not adjusted for this. Second, wither JJ HIckson? In the minutes he has gotten in this series, Hickson has been effective. Yet he has been given almost no run in the last two Cavs losses. The Hickson-Jamison-James frontcourt has been very effective this year for the Cavs. Why aren't the Cavs pushing the tempo against a much older to team whose best players have diminished endurance? Third, Brown's love affair with Shaq-in-the-low-post sometimes produces results (as in this game) but it always clogs up the lane and slows down the game's tempo (both of which favor the Celtics' defensive scheme - you know they hope Brown continues this). Has Brown so quickly forgotten how effective his team was when Shaq was injured?
• Another bad game from Mo Williams. Lots of badly timed shots. Takes touches away (at the worst time) from LeBron on offense. Williams seems to be a bad fit to play with LeBron.
• Masterful shooting by Ray Allen. His first three pointer after the half was bananas. A catch and shoot from the corner that had no business going in.
• With his teammates playing well early, Rondo, to his credit, didn't force anything, despite all of the talk after last game. Maybe LeBron felt the same way (even though it wasn't necessarily true?). Rondo turned it on in the second half, making a big difference while putting up his numbers.
• Pierce got a break defending LeBron in the first half. LeBron spent a ton of time standing around, which gave Pierce a breather on the defensive end and therefore more energy on the offensive end.
• Pierce ended up with 21 points, but he still isn't shooting well. It took him 21 shots. Good all around game though. Led his team in rebounds.
• Garnett was money early. He hit jay after jay over Jamison. Jamison isn't the type of physical defender that would give Garnett problems. His defense is average at best and non-aggressive. Varejao is better suited to play against Garnett.
• By the way, LeBron didn't defend Rondo much in the game, despite the talk to the contrary.