Pierce not the big gun this time

Winning streak led into some losing ways

By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff  |  January 10, 2009

CLEVELAND - The last two times the Celtics defeated the Cavaliers here, Paul Pierce outscored LeBron James. But James (38 points) got the better of Pierce (11) in the Cavaliers' 98-83 victory last night.

"I think teams know that," James said when asked if the Cavaliers were regarded as an elite team. "I don't think we needed to win tonight to let teams know that.

"I think it was the energy and effort we showed defensively as a unit. That's the thing I'm most proud of. We continue to show poise, we continue to help each other defensively, and we continue to use energy and effort. That's one thing you can control, is having energy and effort, and we had it throughout the game."

The Celtics have a seven-game losing streak in Cleveland since taking a 114-107 overtime victory Dec. 18, 2004, Pierce outscoring James, 34-31. The last Celtic regulation win in Cleveland was 105-97 Dec. 13, 2003, Pierce outscoring James, 41-37.

The Cavaliers have a 19-0 home record (16.5-point differential).

The Celtics have been suffering from post-winning streak syndrome, according to coach Doc Rivers.

"Going through the 19-game streak, that had to have emotional baggage," Rivers said before the game. "When you look historically at teams with long streaks, coming out of the streaks they haven't performed that well for a while, and unfortunately, we're in that group now.

"The opponent is emotional every night and you almost have to match that emotion to win games. We started off the season, I thought we did a terrific job of that. Of late, we haven't. I don't think we've done very well with that. We've had the we'll-win-it-at-the-end mentality, and we haven't.

"The urgency is just starting to come back to where it should be. Sometimes you have to wait on your group, and that's what we're doing."

The return of rookies J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker to the Celtics could be temporary. Giddens (wrist) and Walker (knees) were injured while playing for Utah in the Development League.

Said Rivers, "We have a set rotation and the veterans kind of know how to play the game. The young guys are learning the game. That doesn't mean they won't, but it takes time."

Guard Tony Allen (ankle) could return for tomorrow's game in Toronto.

Point guard Rajon Rondo had his left shoulder wrapped following a morning workout, but said he had recovered enough to lift weights before the game.

"This is a big game for us," he said. "We're struggling right now, and if we can get a win, it can get us back jump-started as well.

"Early on in the shootaround, [Rivers] told us they're 18-0 at home. So it will be a good jump-start for us if we can knock them off."

Cavaliers coach Mike Brown noted Rondo's dropoff has affected the Celtics.

"It's not necessarily what teams are doing to the Celtics," he said. "I think the Celtics, right now, are just in a little bit of a funk, which everybody goes through in the course of the season.

"Obviously, Rondo is not playing the type of basketball he was playing when they were winning, and that has a big impact on them."

Brown's reply to the significance of last night's game: "If you say it's a statement game, that means there's a finality to it, and there's no finality to this game. We'll see how we stack up against the best team in the NBA and they'll see how they stack up against a pretty good NBA team."

Said Rivers, "Obviously, if they win they will feel good about it, but it doesn't help you in April. These games are important because it could come down to tiebreakers for the playoffs. You're going to play these teams in the playoffs, and any time you win on the road, it gives you a little bit of confidence.

And there haven't been a lot of wins in this building, from what I've heard, and it does give you an edge if you can win."

Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at f_dellapa@globe.com.