CELTICS JOURNAL
By KEVIN McNAMARA

CLEVELAND – LeBron James still isn’t shooting the ball like he’d wish but he doesn’t appear fazed. James was 5-16 from the floor in Game Three but he still filled the stat sheet with 8 assists, 4 steals, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks. Most importantly, the attention the Celtic defense pays to James helps open up room for his teammates.
“Of course I haven’t shot the ball like I would like but the win is all that matters. I can’t worry about the way I’ m shooting the ball. I still think every shot is going in. If I’m not making shots, I do so much more than just shoot the ball. It was key that so many other guys stepped up even with me having an off shooting night.”
James said he’s not concerned
I’m not in that locker room. I don’t wear Celtic green,” he said. “All I can do is worry about how we approach the game every night when we go out on the court. Like I always say, a playoff series doesn’t start until someone wins a road game. Boston got off to a slow start tonight and we took advantage of that.”
James was a victim in the game’s only overly-aggressive play. In the second quarter, James shook loose on the break and James Posey appeared to pull him to the floor. Posey grabbed James a bit high, however, and was slapped with a flagrant-1 technical.
“I was grabbed and choked by the neck. I didn’t know if he was going for my chest but he got me across the neck,” James said. “I think it was the right call.”

HOME-ROAD DISPARITY PUZZLING
Kevin Garnett, like all Celtics’ fans, can’t put his finger on why the Celtics are dominating at home but struggling on the road in the playoffs.
“It’s pretty frustrating,” Garnett said. “Obviously you don’t want to start a game like we did tonight. It’s hard. You can’t spot a team 15-20 points and try to dig ourselves out of it. We talked about it in the locker room that we have to somehow, someway play with the same urgency like we play at home. Up until this point, we feel like we can play better and we will.”
The Celtics will have a film session Sunday and try to make some adjustments. First off will be a concerted effort to get off to a better start. The Cavs have out-played Boston in the first quarter in the last two games. The Celtics rebounded nicely in Game Tow at home but fell into a monstrous hole in Game Three.
“There’s no excuses for it. If we had the answers for it we won’t be getting beaten on the road,” said Garnett. “They came out with haymakers and tried to set the tone fofr being at home. We’ll make adjustments and try to turn this thing around.”

BEN WALLACE KICKS IN
Ben Wallace was listed as doubtful before the game due to a viral infection of the inner ear but he started and played well. Wallace was not a factor in the two losses in Boston but finished with 9 points and 9 rebounds in 28 productive minutes in Game Three.
“That’s a lift. Just him being out there was a lift,” James said. “With 45 minutes on the (pre-game) clock we still didn’t know whether he was playing or not. He gave us the big lift that we needed.”

RONDO STRUGGLES
Rajon Rondo struggled early in the game for the second straight contest. He is clearly having trouble getting by Delonte West, a guard he went up against in practice during his rookie season a year ago. Rondo played better in the second half but finished with no assists and seven points.
“You have to look yourself in the mirror. It starts with the point guard so I’m going to take a lot of credit for this loss and come back and be more aggressive, especially defensively,” Rondo said.
Boston’s slow start let the Cavaliers race off to a 32-13 first quarter lead. The defense allowed the Cavs to shoot 65 percent from the field.
“It started with ourselves,” Rondo said. “We settled for a lot of jump shots and we didn’t make them and that’s when they took their lead. They beat us to a lot of loose balls and their role players stepped up and made a lot of shots. They hurt us tonight.”

CLEVELAND – Sam Cassell insists that of all the big shots he’s swished in his 15-year pro career, not one sticks in his mind.
Of all the wins in his 124 career playoff games, Cassell won’t brand any of them his favorites.
“All of them are special. I don’t have one particular moment,” Cassell said before playoff game number 125 last night. “I made a lot of big shots but I don’t look at it that way. It’s a team effort. It’s about bringing it each and every night.”
Last night was not a good one for Cassell or the Celtics. They lost Game Three of the playoff series to Cleveland, 108-84. Unlike other games in these playoffs, Cassell wasn't able to provide a spark off the bench as he managed one point (0-for-6 shooting) in 18 minutes.
Cassell wears two NBA championship rings on his hand thanks to his supporting actor role next to big man Hakeem Olajuwon in Houston back in 1994 and `95. Those were the 6-foot-3 guard’s first two seasons in the league but the playoffs remained a special place for Cassell as he bopped around the NBA. The Celtics are the sixth team he’s joined in time for the post-season. Four times he’s averaged more points in the playoffs than during the regular season.
“I understand playoff basketball. I don’t get too high or get too down,” Cassell says. “I just understand what’s at stake and try to do what I can to make my team successful.”
Danny Ainge knew all about Cassell’s playoff past. When Cassell was released from his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers in early March, the Celtics were the team he wanted to play for. Cassell is a former teammate of Kevin Garnett’s (with Minnesota), was friendly with several other Celtics and saw a team ready to make a legitimate championship run. Once he finally joined the team, Cassell stepped into a reserve role behind point guard Rajon Rondo and prepared himself for the playoffs.
“Before I got here, this team had won 55 games. They were good already so I didn’t have to do a whole lot,” he said. “I had to understand the terminology we use around here, the plays and get comfortable with the guys. So I think I’m in a comfort zone now where the guys understand what I’m going to do when I come into the game.”
Just as everyone assumed, Cassell has shown up in the playoffs for the Celtics. He scored in double figures in three games of the Atlanta series and bailed out the Celts in Game One against Cleveland. With both Paul Pierce and Ray Allen struggling, Cassell nailed two clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. His two free throws with 52 seconds left snapped a 70-70 tie and helped the Celtics survive, 76-72. In Game Two, Cassell came in early for a struggling Rondo and scored all nine of his points in the first half for Boston’s convincing 89-73 victory.
“He’s just good in the playoffs in general,” said coach Doc Rivers. “He was pretty big in a couple games, at home at least, against Atlanta. The guy has made big shots in his life. It’s not going to bother him if he has to take one.”
Cassell has seen more minutes in this series than the Celtics would like. Rondo struggled defensively early in Game Two and he played poorly out of the gate last night as Delonte West shot the ball over him early on and the Celtics’ offense had no flow in the first quarter. Rivers was hoping for a big bounce-back game from Rondo to combine with Cassell’s play.
“One night it’ll be Rajon, one night it’ll be Sam. The night we’re looking for is when it’s both. That would be terrific,” he said.
Cassell has taken an instant-offense role with the Celts but he usually plays with several other reserves and not the team’s leaders. Rivers had Cassell on the floor with three other reserves and Paul Pierce to begin the second quarter last night. “That’s Doc Rivers. Like he always says, we always have to be ready,” said Cassell.
Boston’s starters dug an ugly 32-13 hole after the first quarter and while Cassell and the reserves helped mount a bit of a push, the Cavaliers held a commanding 52-45 lead at the half. Cassell and his fellow bench players know they’ll be counted on again in this series and you can be sure that the veteran guard will be ready to take some more big shots.

The Celtics were ambushed by LeBron James and his much-improved teammates tonight as the Cleveland Cavaliers rolled to a 108-84 victory at The Q.
James and Delonte West both scored 21 points for the Cavs who now trail in the series, 2-1. Game Four is Monday night.

CLEVELAND - We're here at Quicken Loans Arena, or The Q as the locals call it. We'll see if the Celtics show up.
The Celts actually played pretty well in their three road losses to Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs but they know it's time to show they can win a playoff road game. Tonight could be the night.
Cleveland big man Ben Wallace is listed as doubtful but word is he will start. He's suffering from an inner ear infection. We'll see how good he is. Anderson Varajao, or Andy to the Cavs, will see a lot of time in his place. Joe Smith and ex-Celt Dwayne Jones are the big men off the bench. Ouch. If Boston can get Zydrunas Ilgauskas in foul trouble, they'd have a major advantage tonight.
It's looking like the Celtics are headed for a showdown with Detroit if they can dispatch James and the Cavs. The Pistons just won in Orlando in the final 20 seconds and now lead their series, 3-2.

Baseball
Central at Prout
North Smithfield at Burrillville (tomorrow, noon)
PCD at Fatima (Monday, 4 p.m.)
Mount Pleasant at Hope (Wednesday, 4 p.m.)
Mt. Hope at Central Falls (Wednesday, 4 p.m.)
Ponaganset at Davies (Friday, 4 p.m.)
Shea at Tolman (Friday, 6 p.m.)

Softball
Wheeler at Fatima (canceled)
Ponaganset at Cranston East
North Smithfield at Woonsocket
Barrington at Narragansett (Tuesday, 4 p.m.)
Scituate at Mount Pleasant (May 19, 4 p.m.)
Portsmouth at Tiverton (May 20, 3:30 p.m.)
Middletown at Rogers (May 26, 7 p.m.)

Boys lacrosse
PCD at Portsmouth
North Kingstown at Barrington (tomorrow, 6 p.m.)
La Salle at Hendricken (tomorrow, 6 p.m.)

Girls lacrosse
Middletown at Cranston East (May 19, 6 p.m.)
East Providence at South Kingstown (May 19, 5 p.m.)

Boys tennis
State singles and doubles championships (tomorrow, 1 p.m.)
Westerly at East Greenwich (May 19, 4 p.m.)

Rodriguez is on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right quadriceps. The three-time AL MVP, who resumed on-field workouts Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, could rejoin the team late next week.

A-Rod hit several long homers, including a pair that went over the center-field back drop. He also ran in the outfield.

Rodriguez said the session went "good" and gave a thumb's up as left the field for the clubhouse.

Catcher Jorge Posada took batting practice for the first time since going on the DL on April 28 with right rotator cuff tendinitis. The switch-hitter took 28 swings right-handed and 26 from the left side. Posada, expected to be out at least another month, could start a light throwing program early next week.

Right-hander Jeff Karstens, sidelined since straining his right groin March 27, could pitch in an extended spring training game Saturday. He was the front-runner for the long man role out of the bullpen before getting hurt in his last scheduled spring training appearance.

Bob Watson, baseball’s vice president in charge of discipline, announced the original penalty April 19, two days after Farnsworth threw a fastball behind the neck of Boston Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez. Farnsworth wasn’t ejected and said the ball slipped.

John McHale Jr., executive vice president for administration in the commissioner’s office, heard Farnsworth’s appeal Tuesday.

Farnsworth was to serve the suspension Friday, baseball spokesman Rich Levin said.

Your Turn: Should the Red Sox retaliate for Farnsworth's pitch the next time they play the Yankees?

Will Daniels is in Las Vegas.

No, it is not to celebrate his graduation from URI, but rather to prepare for life after college. Daniels' agent, Andy Miller, has a number of his clients -- players hoping to be drafted -- in Vegas. They are working out and playing basketball while awaiting word on who will be invited to Orlando, the final pre-draft camp.

Your Turn: Does Will Daniels have a future in the NBA?

In other URI basketball news, word is leaking out for next year, although not from the Rams. The team prefers not to discuss its schedule until everything is in place. However, Central Connecticut and New Hampshire have announced they will be visiting the Ryan Center next season.

Also, work for a tournament Thanksgiving week is apparently virtually complete. That event will include four games, one at home, one on the road and then two at The Palestra in Philadelphia to determine the title. URI is set to host Hartford and visit Monmouth. Possible opponents at The Palestra include Penn State and Villanova.

"There's still a lot to do, but we're in better shape than we were at this time last year," one school official said of the scheduling situation.

Finally, there is no word yet on the final make up of next year's team. As it is, the team has one too many players with those returning and five signed for next year. There also is word of a possible transfer.

Current indications are that any cutbacks are likely to come from the new players signed for next year. Hakim McCullar and Will Martell, two little-used freshmen last season, both are working hard and making improvements and appear likely to stay.

In one interesting Atlantic 10 development, Shawn James of Duquesne, the brother of URI forward Delroy James, has hired an agent and thus will not return to school for his final season of eligibility.

Sitting at No. 6 -- our own Boston Bruins. Golokhov writes: "To be blunt, owner Jeremy Jacobs seems to be stingy and only cares about profits. The Bruins are an Original Six team in one of the biggest American markets, but ownership only allows the front office to make enough moves to tease the fans into believing there is hope. Up until 1997, the Bruins made the playoffs in 30 consecutive seasons, but have zero Stanley Cups since Jacobs took over 33 years ago. That might be because Jacobs is more focused on making money outside of hockey: He owns the TD Banknorth Garden, running the concession stands and charging rent to the Boston Celtics (among others)."

What do you think is the worst franchise in American pro sports?

Decide for yourself (if you haven't already): Does Belichick deserve further punishment over Spygate?

Fish says that a list of videotaping documents Walsh turned over to the league includes one entry, from an October 2001 game against the Miami Dolphins, that indicates a video of offensive signals. Walsh's attorney, Michael Levy, told Fish that the Miami tape was the only one in Walsh' possession that showed offensive coaches signaling from the sidelines.

Click here to read Fish's report.

It started when Gabbard's teammate, second baseman Ian Kinsler, who had homered earlier in the game, was hit by a pitch from Seattle's Felix Hernandez.

Later, Gabbard, who was making his first start after a stint on the disabled list, threw high to Seattle's all-or-nothing power hitter Richie Sexson. The pitch wasn't really that far inside, but Sexson took exception, charging the mound and throwing his helmet at Gabbard.

Sexson was ejected. Gabbard remained in the game, but not for long. He faced two more hitters after the fourth-inning confrontation with Sexson, then left the game with an apparent leg injury.

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