Many people would love to jump on the "Here we go again" bandwagon, but I'm not about to. After what Celtics fans went through last year, I can understand why it would be an easy thing to do, but don't. Don't fool yourself. This is not the same team.
Tonight the Celtics lost for a variety of reasons. Before you get all googly eyed, remember that the C's arrived in Cleveland at 3 AM this morning for a 7 PM tip. Remember that the Cavs are very motivated to prove they can win games without Lebron.
Oh yeah, and don't forget the C's are coming off the most emotional regular season game ever played. Don't fool yourself into believing that isn't a factor. The week and weeks leading up to Opening Night had to have completely drained the Celtics. Then they had to bust it out of town to play in a tough environment in Cleveland against a team they probably should beat.
Last year was so much different than what we saw tonight. Tonight was a Cleveland Cavalier team that hit many jump shots. The Celtics played very good defense and held the Cavs to shots away from the rim, and they just simply made them.. That stuff happens. I don't think every night J.J. Hickson will knock down jumpers from the top of the key fading away..
What I didn't see tonight was a team that was unfocused. This team knows what seeding means in the playoffs and how important home court advantage is in the postseason. Tonight was a fluke, and this stuff happens in the NBA. Don't jump to faulty conclusions.
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