Empty the Bench

What a weird night at the Garden.

LeBron James scored the first basket of the series for either team on a layup… then didn’t register another field goal until midway through the fourth quarter. And as the final buzzer sounded in the Boston Celtics’ ugly 76-72 win over the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers, James walked off the court having committed five times as many turnovers (10) compared to how many shots he made (2-18 FG). Still, his team just about stole Game 1.

For the Celtics, 39-year-old veteran Sam “Big Brass Balls” Cassell scored just as many points in the second half (13) as Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kendrick Perkins, and Leon Powe scored combined for the game. That includes a big, fat goose egg from Ray Allen, a probable future Hall of Famer and a guy who has a career-scoring average of 21.1 points/per over his 11-year career. And, still, the Celtics hung on to the win.

LeBron James, Paul Pierce, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas Photo Credit: Icon SMI

The list of absurdities and oddities goes on:

- James Posey and Sam Cassell combined for half of the game’s total three-pointers made, including the Cavaliers, with 4.

- Pierce and Allen shot a combined 2-18 from the field. 2-18!

- Cleveland’s Anderson Varejao hauled down a grand total of 1 rebound in 11 minutes of action—that 1 board is a season low, by far.

- Normally when you hear the words “quadruple double” and “LeBron James” in the same sentence, it’s a very, very good thing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Well, here’s a sentence that’s the exception to the rule: LeBron James nearly recorded a dubious quadruple-double in Game 1 against the Boston Celtics: 12 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, and 10 turnovers. And not to rub it in again… but we can’t forget he made just 2 of 18 shots.

- The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics shot a combined 36% FG and 25% from beyond the arc.

We knew these defensive-minded teams were going to make it difficult for their opponent to score in bunches, but tonight was just ridiculous. The words “ugly,” “bruising,” and “at times unwatchable” come to mind.

That doesn’t mean we won’t be watching Game 2. And 3. And 4. And so on. Doesn’t this just feel like a six- or seven-game series?

So… yeah. What a weird game. And it just might get weirder. As my ETB compadre Andrew pointed out in a text just now, however, we will go on record as guaranteeing one thing: Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and LeBron James will never combine for just 4 FGs in one game ever again. Ever.

Tags: LeBron James, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Sam Cassell, Boston Celtics