The Cavaliers outscored the Celtics in the paint (42-38) in Monday’s Game 4 loss, but they were awarded just seven free throws on the night, compared to 24 for Boston. As Joe Vardon of The Athletic writes, Cleveland’s players and head coach expressed their displeasure after the game with that discrepancy.
“We drive the ball … a lot,” Cavs guard Darius Garland said, emphasizing the last two words. “Seven free throws, two of those were techs, so five (free throws) in a 48-minute game, it’s tough. … I know how many times I get hit. I know many times my teammates get hit, put on the floor and we can’t reciprocate it. It’s tough.”
“I thought our guys deserved much better, the way that they were competing,” head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “They were attacking the paint. You know, they were getting after it the same (as Boston). We’re not asking for anything more, but we’re asking for equal. And I don’t think we got an equal opportunity at it tonight from that standpoint.”
The Game 4 loss puts the Cavaliers on the brink of elimination. They’ll face a 3-1 deficit as they travel back to Boston for Wednesday’s Game 5.
We have more out of Cleveland:
- Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell, who was unavailable for Game 4 due to a left calf strain, admitted that his status for Game 5 is “very much in doubt,” writes Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscription required). The injury is affecting the same leg that has bothered Mitchell in recent months — he missed 16 games down the stretch as a result of tendinitis in his left knee, and he’s wary of returning sooner than he should and risking a more serious injury. “It’s not just the calf strain,” Mitchell told Fedor. “The calf can lead to an Achilles and then things get much worse.”
- The Cavs’ issues extend beyond Mitchell. Within the same Cleveland.com story, Fedor says that Jarrett Allen‘s return from a rib contusion “doesn’t feel close” and adds that Caris LeVert aggravated a knee issue on Monday that has been bothering him as of late.
- Even Dean Wade, who has been able to suit up for the past two games following a lengthy absence due to a right knee injury, isn’t fully out of the woods. According to Fedor (subscription required), the possibility of offseason surgery hasn’t been ruled out for the Cavs forward. “There’s still concern,” said Wade, who declined to offer specific details on the diagnosis. “We’ll see what happens after the season. We had options and we took this option as the best path.”
- Lakers star LeBron James, who was in attendance at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for Monday’s Game 4, received a loud standing ovation from Cavs fans, as Vardon writes for The Athletic. In a separate story for The Athletic, Jason Lloyd – arguing that James’ public actions are always “calculated” – considers whether another return to Cleveland is a possibility for the four-time MVP before he retires. During a segment on ESPN’s Get Up, Brian Windhorst (YouTube link) also discussed James’ appearance in Cleveland.
Why doesn’t Cleveland understand this is an entertainment business? The league wants Boston to move on not the Cavaliers.
If LeBron was in town that be a different story, the Celtics wouldn’t have much chance.
The only team to threaten Boston’s path to the finals would be the Knicks. If New York can pull it together the NBA would absolutely LOVE that.
I don’t know, why were Warriors fans making the same complaints all season, Gary?
Eon I made a lot of complaints this year. You’re going to have to be more specific.
I complained about the refs? Unfavorable calls? I don’t know, we had a pretty good run honestly I’m not complaining about much.
Maybe perhaps letting Klay walk, trading Moody, and getting something back for Chris Paul’s 30 million. But the refs? I don’t know if I’m complaining about them too much lately as far as the Warriors are concerned.
In fact I think the NBA has been lenient by letting our in-house idiot continue to stay in the league LOL.
League obviously wants Curry and LeBron sitting home. Makes total sense.
Icon, they’ve been in the finals for like 10 years in a row. They’re about 40 years old. Maybe a change? You think?
Perhaps you could just tell us what teams the league wants to advance?
I mean, you obviously know.
Boston, New York, and who else is the league choosing?
Then who is the league going to choose out of Boston and New York? Then who wins the finals?
Ridiculous post, now you’re just talking wack. Just because I say it looks like Boston is getting favorable calls, how am I supposed to know if the league wants the Celtics or the knicks?
I must say, you take conversations from Hoops to ridiculous faster than most.
knowing Lebron he wants to use the Cavs as a negotiation piece in case Lakers don’t bend over for him. If he wants to win he could easily sign there for a low wage and make them one of the top teams in the east.
Guess what the league would also love…a 7 game series so they can play more ads.
Yet people keep blaming the league’s “agenda” when their team loses. Interesting how the agenda seems to favor different teams every night lol. Sometimes another team is just better. Look for a conspiracy and you’ll find it I guess.
the refs are under the spot light in the playoffs. So they are not calling touch fouls like in the regular season. The home town calls are still there. Golbert gets away with pushes in the back during regular season but now in the playoffs they are being called. That is why he made the $ sign to Refs.
Yes I agree on the seven game series. That’s probably foremost above a certain team moving on. Agree wholeheartedly.
“The league wants Boston to move on not the Cavaliers.”
Yeah, and then there’s the fact that Boston is miles better.
Okay you’re not a conspiracy guy. We get it. But if you’re not seeing things the refs are doing then you’re not paying attention. Take that for what you will.
“things the refs are doing”
Ok.
Yeah man, they’re doing things.
You didn’t notice?
Things and stuff.
The things I can deal with but stuff is where I draw the line
If lebron were in town the Celtics wouldn’t have a chance? that’ dubious
acell10, I’m thinking the league would want that, no? You’re not seeing it? okay I’m on an island here, that’s fine.
I’m thinking LeBron James means ratings a lot more than Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
I’m thinking the league wants storied franchises with big followings no? there’s many ways we can play conspiracy game
Yes that’s true too and there’s no single answer to all this. Who knows what goes on in the league meetings. I know they don’t want low ratings, that’s what I do know.
How they do it is all guess work but I still think in spite of all the opposition to my opinion here, that “things and stuff” happens.
As the 2016 Finals proved.
The NBA has always been thought of as rigged. The people of Detriot were robbed by the Lakers. The Lakers stole the 2010 finals too.
Boston in 2010, game 7.
There were a few bad calls that definitely hurt the Cavs. Merrill was definitely fouled on the three pointer he took at the end of the third quarter. But I hate blaming *everything* on the refs. In the end, you have to play better too.
The Cavs might have even won if it wasn’t for LeVert and Strus taking (and missing) several contested threes early in the shot clock, especially when Mobley was open a few of those times. A few better possessions there could have absolutely changed the game.
Challenge it?
I mean I’m not Bickerstaff but you can’t challenge a no call anyway so that wouldn’t have mattered
Lakers should let him go to Cleveland, keep their 2nd round draft pick and draft a guy who can actually play in the NBA.
Lakers need to rebuild, not rework the roster.
Another series another need for a large report headed to the NBA to get the refs paying attention fairly…
It’s always going to be a talking point until the NBA fix it…
I thought CLE played with the immediacy they needed to last night.
As for the league wanting BOS to win the series. Perhaps, but not for the reasons most believe, and I’m pretty certain they are not directing the Refs to officiate this particular series in a way that gets them that result. Do they want 6-7 game series? Of course, but I doubt they’d do anything to extend a particular series. What the league does to encourage their preferred playoff series length and results is done well in advance of the start of the playoffs. The smoking gun is buried in league’s (team neutral) officiating protocols, and the structure of the playoffs. It’s not a system that gets them 100% of their preferred results, but it can get them surprisingly close to it, and they have plausible deniability.
Bruh
The cavs have been getting away with locking up Boston’s ball handlers off arm in a boxing style clinch for 4 games straight now. That or just blatantly grabbing and pulling the off hand or arm. Nobody drives more than Tatum in this series and the fouls on him are extremely obvious. Garland also gets away with straight up pushing guys when anywhere near them, that guy should of had ten fouls yesterday. The Brown jump shot was a bad call on Garland and it got reversed. Strus is also a master grappler, locking up Boston’s off hand. Go watch some tape.
Cavs took over half their shots from three. The slight advantage in points in the paint doesn’t prove they should have gotten more calls.