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"I’m not a one-dimensional player; meaning that if I’m not making shots then I’m out of the game. I’ve always been a guy who can rebound, assist and do other things. I can’t allow my shot to affect the way I play the game of basketball." - Cavaliers forward LeBron James
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 LeBron James swats Rajon Rondo which leads to a Delonte three-ball on the other end. Listen
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Ben Wallace finished 4-for-6 from the floor with eight boards.
Jesse D. Garrabrant
NBAE/Getty Images
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For as dominant as they were during the regular season, the Celtics hadn’t won a playoff game on the road. Trailing 0-2 with their backs against the wall, the Cavaliers made sure that trend would continue at The Q.
Boston took a 4-0 lead to start the game, but that’s as good as it would get for the Green as the Cavaliers went on a 14-0 run to take control of the game. They never looked back, taking Game 3 – 108-84.
At the Garden, Boston had been holding their opponents to an average of 75 points per game – and held Cleveland right at that mark in Beantown. But Boston was also surrendering 100 points per contest on the road. And the Wine and Gold was more than happy to continue that trend as well – netting 108 points in Saturday’s critical 24-point victory in Game 3 in Cleveland.
LeBron James didn’t have the monster comeback game that many felt was necessary for the Cavaliers to get back into the series. But on Saturday night, he didn’t have to. The Cavaliers led by as many as 26 points in the first half and Boston never cracked double-digits in the second.
After going just 8-of-42 in the previous two games of the series, LeBron netted 21 points, going 5-for-16 on Saturday night – including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc and 8-of-12 from the stripe – leading both clubs with eight dimes, four steals and three blocked shots. For good measure he grabbed five boards and turned the ball over just twice after netting 17 in Games 1 and 2.
“I’m not a one-dimensional player, meaning that if I’m not making shots, then I’m out of the game,” said James. “That doesn’t deter what I can do. I’ve always been a guy who can rebound, assist and do other things. I can’t allow my shot to affect the way I play the game of basketball.”
The real story of the Cavaliers’ offensive outburst was the four new players acquired in the 11-player trade back on February 22.
Individually, each member of the quartet – Ben Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West and Joe Smith – was crucial to the win. Collectively, they combined for 63 of the Cavaliers’ 108 points and 20 of their 37 rebounds. They were a combined 22-for-35 from the floor and 13-of-18 from the line.
Delonte West – who spent his first three years with the Celtics – led the charge, equaling LeBron’s 21-point effort and adding seven assists, five boards and a steal. West was 4-of-6 from home run range and was perfect in three attempts from the line.
Ben Wallace made a surprise start – defying pregame reports that had him listed as doubtful with a viral inner ear infection that limited him to less than four minutes of action on Thursday in Boston. Wallace stymied Kevin Garnett, while netting nine points on 4-of-6 shooting. Big Ben grabbed nine rebounds – seven on the offensive end – and swatted a pair of Celtic shots.
“An hour before the game we had (Ben) in the starting lineup and we said he could go through warm-ups and if he was able to last through warm-ups than he was going to start,” said Head Coach Mike Brown. “He went through warm-ups and was fine, and he gave us a big lift every second that he was on the floor.”
Wally Szczerbiak was critical to the Cavaliers first-half surge – netting 14 of his 16 points before intermission.
Finally, Joe Smith was absolutely sensational in his 24 minutes off Mike Brown’s bench. He was 7-of-8 from the floor for 17 points to go with six big boards and a block. Smith didn’t miss a shot until 42 seconds remained in regulation.
“I just got some good looks,” said the modest Smith. “I went out there tonight and told myself to just be aggressive and when I’m open to just take the shot. Make or miss, to just stay aggressive because we have to do something to take some of that pressure off of LeBron.”
Zydrunas Ilgauskas rounded out the Cavaliers in double-figures, netting 12 points, eight boards and a career playoff-high six assists.
The Celtics had five players in double-figures, but never quite mounted a threat on Saturday night. Kevin Garnett led them with 17 boards and nine assists, going 8-for-13 from the field. Paul Pierce followed up with 14 points and Kendrick Perkins added a dozen. James Posey – who clotheslined LeBron early in the second quarter, earning him a Flagrant 1 – finished with 11 points and Ray Allen continued to struggle, adding 10 points in the loss.
The Cavaliers will try to even the series on Monday night when they welcome the Celts back to The Q for what could be a make-or-break Game 4 in Cleveland.
NOTES
It wasn’t quite Willis Reed, but Ben Wallace made a somewhat dramatic appearance into the starting lineup on Saturday. He was introduced by the PA announcer, but Anderson Varejao actually came off the Cavaliers’ bench. When the teams lined up for the opening tip, Wallace was on the floor.
“(Wallace’s return) meant a lot,” praised LeBron. “He got a few layups. He had nine points and nine rebounds. We expected nine rebounds but it’s not expected, sometimes, for him to get nine points. That’s a lift.”
With the win, the Cavaliers are now 7-3 all-time at home against the Celtics in the postseason. Dating back to the 1995-96 season (regular season and postseason), Cleveland has gone 18-7 against Boston at The Q, including seven straight wins in Cleveland.
LeBron James did his postgame press conference with little LeBron Jr. at his side. The young Prince didn’t have the attention span for the questioning and fidgeted the entire time. LeBron joked: “Now do you see what I go through at home?”
The Wine and Gold had assists on 29 of their 37 baskets.
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