The Celtics still hold a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with Game 4 here tomorrow night. The Celtics are 0-3 in Cleveland this season.
"We've got to keep thinking about every game as its own separate entity," said Cavaliers coach Mike Brown. "If we do, we're going to give ourselves a chance to win."
The Celtics had the NBA's best road record during the regular season at 31-10, including 20-6 against the Eastern Conference. But all that was forgotten during the first round of the playoffs when the East's top seed lost three road games against Atlanta. And this time, the Celtics weren't even competitive as they lost by double digits for the first time this postseason.
"We've lost four in a row on the road," Rivers said. "We haven't played well. Although two of the games in Atlanta we did [play well], but we lost them. Even if you don't [talk about being 0-4 on the road], someone will. We have to win games. You've got to win four. That's what you have to do."
When asked the reason for the Celtics' poor postseason road record, Kevin Garnett said, "There are no excuses for it. If we had that answer we wouldn't get beat on the road, huh?"
The Cavaliers romped despite the fact star LeBron James again failed to break out of his shooting slump. He shot 19 percent from the field in the first two games in Boston, an NBA playoff low for a player who had taken more than 30 shots in two games in the shot-clock era.
Last night, James missed 11 of 16 field goal attempts, but made eight free throws en route to 21 points. James also had 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocks.
"Of course, I haven't shot as well as I've liked," James said. "But the win is all that matters."
Cleveland, which had shot 40.7 percent in the first two games, connected on 53.6 percent of its attempts last night, the best mark for a Celtics opponents this postseason. Ex-Celtic Delonte West scored 21 points, a career playoff high, as five Cavaliers reached double figures.
"Look at the box sheet. It speaks for itself," James said.
